Ph.D. in Interdisciplinary Neuroscience

Curriculum

NEU Course Descriptions Elective Courses Advising SheetINP Program Handbook (PDF)

The Ph.D. program requires successful completion of a Qualifying Exam or an earned M.S. with thesis in an appropriate discipline, a comprehensive examination, and dissertation defense. As the Qualifying Exam is meant to be equivalent to the M.S. degree, the exam must be taken no later than the first semester following the completion of eighteen credits of coursework.

A minimum of 64 credits is required. Of these, 30 credits must be earned through required coursework and 9 credits of required electives (more may be taken), 25 of which may be earned through dissertation research credits (NEU 699) – (less can be taken if more elective credits are achieved). Up to 30 transfer credits can be accepted for students who have already earned an M.S. degree. (Depending on your previous training and experience, certain requirements may be waived at the discretion of your dissertation committee and the Graduate School.)

Required courses include:

  • NEU 502: Introduction to Neurobiology (4 cr)
  • NEU 503: Introduction to the Neurosciences (3 cr)
  • NEU 504: Neuroethics (1 cr)
  • NEU 511: Human Neuroscience and Neurology (5 cr)
  • PSY/STA 532: Experimental Design (3 cr)
  • NEU 581 and 582: Neurosciences Colloquium (Seminar – 1 cr each)
  • one additional statistics or computational analysis course (e.g. STA  502, 536, 541, 542, 545)

Other requirements:

  • Two semesters of NEU 591: Special Projects in Neurosciences (Independent Study), one in your primary area of research, and one in a related discipline.
  • Enrollment in journal club (NEU 587: Seminar in Neurobiology or equivalent with permission) for a minimum of 3 credits
  • A dissertation proposal and successful defense of dissertation
  • In the final semester, a formal presentation of thesis research is recommended in 581/582

Graduate Learning Outcomes

  1. Graduates will have an advanced knowledge of interdisciplinary neuroscience to integrate information effectively from multiple disciplines.
  2. Graduates will conduct original research integrating ethical research practices using appropriate applications of quantitative and qualitative methods in interdisciplinary neuroscience.