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Program Provisions Year 2

A printable version of the Program Provisions (9/1/08) can be downloaded here.

In their second year, students may choose a specialty defined by one of the three concentrations defined below and take required courses in that specialization. Students will be expected to take at least three of the courses in the concentration they choose.

Always check the Course Schedule (Timetable - see the Table of Contents) for the availability of classes each semester.

The following list of courses, while representative of the three concentrations, are not exhaustive and would be expected to change over time. It is not guaranteed that these courses will be offered every year. It would be expected that students take at least three courses in their area of research specialization, but every effort will be made to provide a flexible curricular experience for the students. When registering for graduation, you will have the option of applying for a concentration in one of these three areas.

Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience

Systems and Integrative Neuroscience

Human/Therapeutic Neuroscience and Methods of Neural Imaging

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In their second year, it is recommended that students take two modules of Research Methods (GCLS 504 and GCLS 505) or other methods-based courses (see list below) for a total of 4 credit hours which will count toward their total elective credit.

GCLS 504 Research Methods I, First Semester -
• Module I - Separation Methods (Chromatography, Electrophoresis, Mass Spectrometry)
• Module II - Molecular Biology Techniques and Discovery Bioinformatics
• Module III - Spectroscopic and Structural Biology Methods

GCLS 505 Research Methods II, Second Semester -
• Module IV - Cell Physiology and Imaging Methods
• Module V - Advanced Molecular Genetics Methods
• Module VI - Biochemical and Chemical Methods
• Module VII - Immunological Methods

Other courses that can fulfill these recommendations include:

BIOS 489 Cellular Neurobiology Laboratory
NEUS 582 Methods in Modern Neuroscience
NEUS 588 Human Neuroscience: Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging

as well as 400 level courses in Bioengineering for those students following that track.

Students will be required to take a statistics course that is appropriate for their research concentration and dissertation work.

Each semester, students will be required to register for and participate in NEUS 595, Seminar in Neuroscience (i.e. the Neuroscience Program Journal Club). This seminar will allow Neuroscience students to come together as a group on a weekly basis to listen to and interact with invited speakers as well as to present and lead discussions on timely research topics. A grade of satisfactory/unsatisfactory will be given.

Students will also be expected to register and participate in 0 credit hour course in research ethics and the use of animals in research as required by the Graduate College and the National Institutes of Health.

Starting in their second year, students will register for NEUS 599, thesis research, to complete the 96 required credit hours.

In general, the same assessment standards used in the first year will be applied during the second year, which includes the maintenance of a 3.0 GPA and satisfactory progress in the laboratory as evaluated by their thesis advisor in consultation with the Director of Graduate Study. Students will maintain a continued exposure to the integrative aspects of the program through their required participation in Journal Club, their participation in the Annual Graduate Student Symposium and their attendance at required seminars and special lectures.

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