Curriculum

During the first year, students participate in coursework and undertake three laboratory rotations.

Typically, one rotation in the fall semester and two rotations in the spring semester of the first year are carried out to develop laboratory technical skills, learn ways to design and analyze experiments and to begin to identify potential laboratories to carry out thesis research.

Students are required to maintain a 3.0 GPA in courses and, at the end of the first year, must pass a qualifying exam. This exam consists of a written paper on one of a given set of topics and an oral exam on the year’s coursework.

During the second year, students begin to focus on their thesis research but have a number of required courses as well as the opportunity to choose from a wide variety of electives.

Before the beginning of the fall semester of the third year, students must pass a Comprehensive Exam. This exam consists of a written research proposal followed by an oral examination and is administered by the student’s doctoral committee.

Completion of the requirements for a PhD in Neuroscience entails the preparation of a dissertation (written thesis), a final oral examination (thesis defense), and formal acceptance of the thesis by the student’s doctoral committee.