During Year 1, all new graduate students
in the biomedical sciences graduate programs matriculate in a common
interdisciplinary core curriculum. This integrated first year allows
students to build competence in key areas of contemporary science, gain
exposure to the various training program options, meet potential thesis
advisors, and form social connections with each other before having to select an
advisor, training program, or research specialization.
Thus, the first year of the Ph.D.
program is both undifferentiated and integrated to provide maximum
flexibility. This enables students to select a training program that fits
their goals. For students who had pre-selected a specific department upon
application, this integrated first year gives them the opportunity to change
programs at the end of Year 1 without disrupting their academic progress or
their stipend support.
In the second
semester of Year 1, students who already have clear research or program
interests may customize their coursework by selecting from an array of
program-specific electives. At the end of Year 1, students can select
Interdisciplinary Neuroscience, or one of the other program tracks, for
their graduate research training.
Ph.D. training typically takes 4-5 years
to complete. Stipend
support and tuition waivers are provided for the duration of this
training.
MD/PhD
Study in Neuroscience offers a joint M.D./Ph.D. program.
These students take the first two years of the medical curriculum, followed
typically by three years of research for the Ph.D. degree, before returning
to the M.D. program.
Curriculum: Interdisciplinary
Neuroscience Training
Element
Y1
Y2
Y3
Y4
Y5
Integrated Core Curriculum
Entrance to Interdisciplinary Neuroscience
Weekly Seminar Series Attendance
and Participation
Journal Club
Attendance and Participation
Advanced Required Coursework
and Research
Advanced Elective Coursework
Teaching
Preliminary Examination and Oral Defense
Dissertation Proposal and Oral Defense; Admission to
Candidacy