During the second semester, the students continue in the weekly and student seminar courses, the laboratory apprenticeship, and take Integrated Systems and Cognitive Neuroscience , as well as CNS Development and an elective of their choice. The students are also encouraged to engage in research apprenticeships in other laboratories. In the third year, the students are expected to pass an advancement to candidacy examination. After advancement to candidacy, students develop a dissertation research project, write and defend a dissertation proposal, and finally write and defend the dissertation. A student's program of courses is developed through close consultation with his or her faculty advisor.
Attention is placed on flexibility in the program.
Each student's program will be tailored to meet individual needs and interests. The Neuroscience brochure may be consulted for further information. This program is administered by the Neuroscience Graduate Committee which is chaired by Kevin Lee in the Department of Neurosurgery.