The 4+1 Neuroscience MS program is a joint program between the Wake Forest University College of Arts and Sciences and the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. In this program, students pursuing the Neuroscience minor will complete the full curricula for the Bachelor’s Degree while beginning graduate research training in the junior year. Students will have two full years to work with internationally recognized investigators in state-of-the-art research facilities to develop and pursue an independent thesis research project. With one additional year following the Bachelor’s Degree, students complete the graduate curriculum and experiments for the research thesis, write and defend their thesis, and prepare a journal publication(s) of their work.
This program provides highly motivated students with the opportunity to become part of a vibrant and productive research team. Students will gain hands-on experience to develop a novel component of a research project. At the same time, students will receive one-on-one mentoring with experienced research faculty to develop an in depth understanding of principles of neuroscience. Students will build career skills that include oral and written presentation, time management and community engagement. Students who have completed the program go onto to diverse careers that include multimedia production and science communication, law, clinical research, professional and graduate schools.
Why Wake Forest?
Students will gain graduate course credit and an enhanced research experience that will provide them with a competitive edge to apply to graduate, professional schools or to pursue non-academic careers that require research expertise in the life sciences.
The program is jointly sponsored by the Wake Forest University College of Arts and Sciences, and the Graduate School of Arts and Science. It offers Wake Forest University undergraduates pursuing a BS or BA degree in Wake Forest College of Arts and Sciences with a minor in Neuroscience the opportunity to earn a research-oriented MS degree with a concentration in Neuroscience with one additional year of study.
The program builds on the existing Neuroscience Minor and utilizes existing course and research opportunities associated with the Graduate School’s Neuroscience Program.