This program affords you additional training opportunities in anatomy, biochemistry, pharmacology, physiology, and molecular neuroscience. You will pursue an individualized program of study, prepared in cooperation with your faculty adviser, that gives consideration to program core requirements as well as your background, interests and competence. Every student must complete one year of teaching experience at the undergraduate level. Typically, it is the year immediately after you complete your master's degree, or the third year of study. Successfully completing the CE admits you to Ph.D. candidacy.
Most students complete the program after four or five years of study.
Instead, you focus your full-time efforts on research related to the Ph.D. dissertation. Sometimes, students complete a dissertation plan during the third year of study. This is done so that a pilot project, which will determine the feasibility of the proposed dissertation, can be completed. All dissertation proposals must be approved by your thesis committee that is composed of your advisor and at least two other faculty members. Financial Support Fellowships, research assistantships, and teaching associateships are available on a competitive basis.