Curriculum Overview

Although the course work, seminars, journal clubs, and tutorials are vital aspects of a student's education, the Neuroscience Program recognizes that the most critical part of training is laboratory research. Hands-on laboratory research is a critical component of any Neuroscience training program. For this reason, students in the Neuroscience MS program pursue thesis research. Because of the nature of the program, MS students are encouraged to identify labs and advisors early in the first semester. The Program Director and MS Student Advisory Committee assist students with finding labs and thesis advisors who align with the student’s research interests.

In addition to the technical training that comes from laboratory research, students also gain experience in

  • Literature review and critique,
  • Experimental design and interpretation
  • The ability to collect, organize and analyze data 

Whiles these skills lead to the ability to draw conclusions, importantly, they also lay the foundation for the development of future directions and approaches. Together, this is a critical skill set for a productive career. Students also acquire skills to present their experimental results in an oral presentation and peer-reviewed publications. Abstracts and publications of research resulting from thesis work are expected.

Required and Elective Courses