The master of science (M.S.) program is primarily intended for students who desire training for technical positions in academia or industry. It is designed to give students:
- a broad knowledge of the fundamentals of neuroscience
- the ability to present their research in formal settings
- research experience in the student's chosen specialty.
Broad knowledge of neuroscience is provided by the Neuroscience Core and elective graduate courses provide specialized education appropriate to the student's research. Presentation skills are provided by Seminars in Neuroscience, in which students and faculty present their research or lead discussions of recent journal articles.
Research experience is provided by the design and implementation of a master's thesis. The course of study depends on the student's research area and academic history, and is determined by negotiation among the student, the student's advisor, and the advisory committee. However, all master's students must provide evidence of mastery of the material contained in the Neuroscience Core and in Biostatistics either by acceptable performance in these courses here or by having passed equivalent courses elsewhere.
All master's students take Seminars in Neuroscience every quarter. At the end of their first year, students provide an acceptable research proposal to their advisor and advisory committee.
The M.S. degree requires a minimum of 45 total credit hours (including research and thesis), of which 30 hours must be formal course work. Students are encouraged to finish the program within two years; the average is two and one-quarter years.
--> Ph.D. program
