Program Overview
Neuroscience, MS
Degree Awarded:
Master of Science in Neuroscience
Department Chair:
Alfredo Fontanini, PhD, Life Sciences Building 573
Program Director:
Mary Kritzer, PhD, Life Sciences Building 538
Program Coordinator:
Lindsey Czarnecki, PhD, Life Sciences Building 573
Master's Program Website
The Graduate Program in Neuroscience, in the College of Arts and Sciences and the Renaissance School of Medicine, offers training toward a Master's degree in the rapidly expanding field of neuroscience. Through coursework and independent research, students are trained to approach research problems in neuroscience with a broad perspective. Program faculty have expertise in the areas of: molecular and biochemical control of development, physiology and cellular/molecular properties of receptors and ion channels in relation to cellular physiology, analysis of local circuits and networks, behavioral neuroscience, the cellular basis of integrative functions, theoretical and computational neuroscience, and the structural basis for communication among neurons. Graduate students will receive in-depth research training in molecular, biochemical, physiological, behavioral, anatomical, and theoretical/computational neurosciences. In addition, the Program offers unique opportunities to draw from one or more of these disciplines through multidisciplinary, co-sponsored/co-mentored research projects. Concepts and skills are taught through a series of required core courses, with the remaining coursework consisting of advanced electives and special topics courses. Students will be exposed to advanced neuroscience research techniques, approaches, and theory culminating with the MS degree.
Admission Requirements
- Application Website: Students are expected to fulfill basic requirements of the Graduate School: a bachelor's degree from a recognized university, a grade point average corresponding to 3.0 on a 4.0 scale or higher, and three letters of recommendation. In addition, those who are not native or primary speakers of English must score a minimum of 80 on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL iBT), an overall score of 6.5 (with no subsection lower than 6) on the IELTS. Deficiencies in these requirements do not preclude admission, and special consideration will be made to promising applicants.
- Application Deadline: March 15 for MS applications
- Additional Requirements: Successful MS candidates have often completed college-level courses in the sciences, including advanced biology. It is recommended that students will have undergraduate neuroscience coursework. However, students are also accepted into the program without this prior coursework. These students may be asked to take the appropriate preparation course(s) prior to undertaking specific graduate-level courses.
Degree Requirements
- Credits Required: 30
- GPA Requirement: 3.0
Required Courses
- NEU 501: Introduction to Neuroscience Research (3 credits)
- NEU 502: Reading, Writing, and Speaking Neurobiology (2 credits)
- BNB 560: Introduction to Mammalian Neuroanatomy (1 credit)
- BNB 697: Neuroscience Seminar Series (0-2 credits)
- NEU 548: MS Research Practicum in Neuroscience (0-9 credits)
One course from each of the following core areas:
- Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience:
- NEU 521: Introduction to Cellular Neuroscience (2-3 credits)
- NEU 522: Introduction to Molecular Neuroscience (2-3 credits)
- Systems Neuroscience:
- NEU 531: Sensory and Motor Systems (2 credits)
- NEU 532: Neural Plasticity Learning and Memory (2 credits)
- Computational Neuroscience:
- NEU 547: Introduction to Neural Computation (3 credits)
- BNB 567: Statistics and Data Analysis in Neuroscience I: Foundations (2 credits)
- BNB 568: Statistics and Data Analysis in Neuroscience II: Applications (2-3 credits)
- NEU 536: Introduction to Computational Neuroscience (2-3 credits)
Additional Required Courses for the Thesis Track
- NEU 549: MS Thesis Research (0-9 credits)
Electives
- NEU 517: Principles of Cell Signaling (3 credits)
- NEU 534: Principles of Neurobiology (3 credits)
- NEU 537: Neurotransmission and Neuromodulation (3 credits)
- BNB 563: Advanced Topics in Neuroscience: Individual Learning Plans (1 credit)
- BNB 564: Advanced Topics in Neuroscience: Curriculum Development (1 credit)
- BNB 565: Advanced Neuroscience (1 credit)
- BNB 566: Neurobiology of Disease (1 credit)
- BNB 597: Seminar Themes (1 credit)
- COM 565: Foundations of Science Communication (3 credits)
- GRD 500: Responsible Conduct of Research and Scholarship (0-3 credits)
- BGE 510: Graduate Genetics (3 credits)
- MCB 503: Molecular Genetics (3 credits)
- MCB 520: Graduate Biochemistry I (3 credits)
- MCB 656: Cell Biology (3-4 credits)
