Program Overview

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Neuroscience, PhD

The Doctor of Philosophy program in neuroscience requires a minimum of 72 s.h. of graduate credit. Students must maintain a cumulative grade-point average of 3.00. The program's curriculum is designed around three tracks: molecular/cellular, developmental/systems, and cognitive/behavioral. Following broad-based instruction in a core curriculum, students specialize in one of the tracks.

Learning Outcomes

Graduates will:

• achieve a broad and deep knowledge base in neuroscience spanning the subdisciplines from cell/molecular to systems/cognitive neuroscience;
• achieve a high proficiency in research theory, design, and practice, including the ability to apply appropriate quantitative methods and statistical approaches, design and carry out the research with rigor and reproducibility, and incorporate responsible conduct in all phases of the research;
• develop strong oral and written communication skills so that they can be conversant with neuroscientists in any area of the field and can bring a broad interdisciplinary perspective to their own research;
• develop teaching effectiveness in formal and informal settings and establish credentials in teaching excellence; and
• provide impactful service to the program, institution, and scientific community, and understand the value of providing engaging outreach to society to prepare them for effective entry into the workforce and society.

Background Requirements

Successful students will have demonstrated preparedness for graduate training in neuroscience by completing a bachelor's degree and substantive prior research experience in one or more of the following areas: biochemistry, general physiology, cell biology, and statistics. Didactic coursework in quantitative methods, statistics, and/or computer programming is also beneficial.

Neuroscience Core

The following courses form the core of the neuroscience graduate curriculum.

• NSCI:5653 | Fundamental Neurobiology I | 3
• NSCI:7235 | Neurobiology of Disease | 3
• ACB:6252 | Functional Neuroanatomy | arr.
• BMED:7270 | Scholarly Integrity/Responsible Conduct of Research I | 0
• BMED:7271 | Scholarly Integrity/Responsible Conduct of Research II | 0
• PSY:6370 | Principles of Neuropsychology | 3
• One statistics course | 3-4 In addition, students register for the following two courses each semester:
• NSCI:6265 | Neuroscience Seminar | 0-1
• NSCI:7305 | Neuroscience Research | arr.

Electives

Elective requirements may be met by completing 8 s.h. from a list of courses offered by the departments of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Biology, Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Neuroscience and Pharmacology, Psychological and Brain Sciences, and other departments as appropriate. With permission of the Student Advisory Committee, students may satisfy the elective requirement wholly or in part by registration in the following courses.

• NSCI:5212 | Foundations in Behavioral and Cognitive Neuroscience | 4
• NSCI:5365 | Seminar: Neuropsychology and Neuroscience | arr.
• BIOL:3343 | Animal Physiology | 3
• BIOL:4213 | Bioinformatics | 2,4
• BMED:5207 | Principles of Molecular and Cellular Biology | 3
• CSD:5234 | Acquired Cognitive-Communication Disorders | arr.
• CSD:6230 | Psychoacoustics | 2-3
• GENE:6200 | Current Topics in Genetics | 1
• HHP:6300 | Motor Control Seminar | 1
• MATH:5750 | Mathematical Biology I | 3
• MICR:5218 | Microscopy for Biomedical Research | arr.
• MMED:6220 | Mechanisms of Cellular Organization | 3
• MMED:6226 | Cell Cycle Control | 1
• MMED:6227 | Cell Fate Decisions | 1
• PCOL:5135 | Principles of Pharmacology | 1
• PCOL:5137 | Neurotransmitters | 1
• PCOL:6207 | Ion Channel Pharmacology | 1
• PCOL:6225 | Growth Factor Receptor Signaling | 1
• PSY:3320 | Psychopathology | 3
• PSY:5070 | Programming for Psychologists | 3
• PSY:5080 | Foundations in Cognitive Neuroscience | 4
• PSY:5610 | Proseminar in Cognition and Perception | 3
• PSY:6440 | Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience | 3
• PSY:7150 | Current Topics in Psychology | 3
• PSY:7210 | Seminar: Advanced Topics in Behavioral and Cognitive Neuroscience | 3
• RHET:7500 | Science Communication in the Digital Age | 2-3
• STAT:6300 | Probability and Stochastic Processes I | 3

PhD/MD

Students may work toward the Doctor of Medicine degree and a PhD in neuroscience in a combined degree program offered by the Graduate College and the Carver College of Medicine.

Sample Plan of Study

Sample plans represent one way to complete a program of study. Actual course selection and sequence will vary and should be discussed with an academic advisor.

• First Year:
  • Fall:
    • NSCI:5653 | Fundamental Neurobiology I | 3
    • NSCI:6265 | Neuroscience Seminar | 1
    • NSCI:7235 | Neurobiology of Disease | 3
    • NSCI:7305 | Neuroscience Research | 5
    • PSY:6370 | Principles of Neuropsychology | 3
  • Spring:
    • ACB:6252 | Functional Neuroanatomy | 4
    • NSCI:6265 | Neuroscience Seminar | 1
    • NSCI:7305 | Neuroscience Research | 7
    • Elective course | 3
• Second Year:
  • Fall:
    • BMED:7270 | Scholarly Integrity/Responsible Conduct of Research I | 0
    • NSCI:6265 | Neuroscience Seminar | 1
    • NSCI:7305 | Neuroscience Research | 8
    • Statistics course | 3-4
    • Elective course | 3
  • Spring:
    • BMED:7271 | Scholarly Integrity/Responsible Conduct of Research II | 0
    • NSCI:6265 | Neuroscience Seminar | 1
    • NSCI:7305 | Neuroscience Research | 12
    • Elective course | 2
• Third Year:
  • Fall:
    • NSCI:6265 | Neuroscience Seminar | 1
    • NSCI:7305 | Neuroscience Research | 3
  • Spring:
    • NSCI:6265 | Neuroscience Seminar | 1
    • NSCI:7305 | Neuroscience Research | 3
• Fourth Year:
  • Fall:
    • NSCI:6265 | Neuroscience Seminar | 1
    • NSCI:7305 | Neuroscience Research | 1
  • Spring:
    • NSCI:6265 | Neuroscience Seminar | 1
    • NSCI:7305 | Neuroscience Research | 1
    • Exam: Doctoral Final Exam |

General Information

This Interdisciplinary graduate program is designed within a framework of core, track-specific, and elective courses. Students pursue a program of study individually designed according to their undergraduate training and graduate research goals. The curriculum is designed around three tracks: molecular/cellular, developmental/systems, and cognitive/behavioral; following broad-based instruction in a core curriculum, students specialize in one of the tracks.

Students must complete specific requirements in the University of Iowa Graduate College after program admission. Refer to the Graduate College website and the Manual of Rules and Regulations for more information.

Graduate College program GPA is comprised of all courses that are approved degree requirements. If a student takes more than the minimum required number of semester hours to complete the degree, but all courses taken are eligible to count toward the degree, those courses will be included in the Graduate College program GPA.

Each student is expected to complete three rotations in faculty laboratories before selecting a dissertation advisor. Rotations ordinarily last 12 weeks but may last from 8 to 16 weeks. Under special circumstances, two rotations may be in the same laboratory, an arrangement that permits a student to learn a variety of techniques and approaches before settling down to work on the dissertation project.

Elective requirements may be met by completing 8 s.h. from a list of courses offered by the departments of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Biology, Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Neuroscience and Pharmacology, Psychological and Brain Sciences, and other departments with approval.

Work with faculty advisor to select an appropriate course.

Dissertation defense.