Completion of all course requirements usually occurs in the second year. It is also during this year that students begin to choose laboratories in which they concentrate research efforts, and begin to formulate a topic for a major area paper used for advancement to candidacy toward the Ph.D. Various laboratory rotations are encouraged during the first two years of training. In the third year, students are expected to pass the major area paper and continue work on projects that may be a portion of their Ph.D. thesis. Completion of requirements for the Ph.D. are contingent on successful presentation and defense of a written proposal, an oral presentation of dissertation work before the neuroscience graduate program, a written thesis, and successful defense of the thesis. The students' program of courses is developed through close consultation with their faculty advisor.
Attention is placed on flexibility in the program.
Each student's program is tailored to meet individual needs and interests. Note There is no foreign language requirement. The neuroscience brochure may be consulted for further information. This program is administered by the Neuroscience Graduate Committee which is chaired by David Hill in the Department of Psychology. Neurobiology Introduces cellular, molecular, and developmental neuroscience.