Campuses:
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Twin Cities Campus
Neuroscience Ph.D.Neuroscience
Medical School
Link to a list of faculty for this program.
Contact Information
Department of Neuroscience, 6-145 Jackson Hall, 321 Church Street SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455 (612-626-6474; fax: 612-626-6460)
Email:
neurosci@umn.edu
Website: http://www.neuroscience.umn.edu
Along with the program-specific requirements listed below, please read the
General Information section of
this
website for requirements that apply to all major fields.
Neuroscience is an interdisciplinary field of inquiry. The objects of this inquiry, the brain and nervous system, are sufficiently complex and unique among biological systems to require experimental and analytical approaches that cross the traditional boundaries of molecular and cell biology, behavioral biology, biochemistry, genetics, pharmacology, physiology, and psychology. In some instances, neuroscientific inquiry may also encompass computer science, information processing, engineering, physics, and mathematics.
Program Delivery
Prerequisites for Admission
Special Application Requirements:
Applicants whose native language is not English are required to take the TOEFL and obtain a minimum score of 625 (paper) or 107 (Internet); or obtain 6.5 on the IELTS examination. There is no minimum GPA requirement to apply.
International applicants must submit score(s) from one of the following tests:
The preferred English language test is Test of English as Foreign Language.
Key to test
abbreviations
(TOEFL, IELTS).
For an online application or for more information about graduate education admissions, see the
General Information section of this
website.
Program Requirements
24
credits are required in the major.
24 thesis credits are required. Plan A: Plan A requires
23
major credits,
up to
credits outside the major,
and
10
thesis credits.
The final exam is oral.
This program may be completed with a minor.
Use of 4xxx courses toward program requirements is permitted under certain conditions with adviser approval.
A minimum GPA of 3.00
is required for students to remain in good standing.
At least 2 semesters must be completed
before filing a Degree Program Form.
The neuroscience PhD curriculum begins in the summer session with the intensive laboratory course in cellular and molecular neurobiology (NSC 5551), held at the Itasca Biological Station and Laboratories.
While taking courses, students explore research opportunities in the faculty's laboratories and thereby select a thesis advisor.
Summer - First Year (4 credits)
Take the following course or, with DGS approval, a substitute course.
NSC 5551 - Itasca Cell and Molecular Neurobiology Laboratory
(4.0 cr)
Fall - First Year (8.5 credits)
Take the following courses or, with DGS approval, substitute courses. Take 1-2 credits of NSC 8334.
NSC 5461 - Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience
(3.0 cr)
NSC 5561 - Systems Neuroscience
(4.0 cr)
NSC 8321 - Career Skills and Understanding Responsibilities as a Neuroscientist
(0.5 cr)
NSC 8334 - Laboratory Neuroscience
(1.0-3.0 cr)
Spring - First Year (9.5 credits)
Take the following courses or, with DGS approval, substitute courses. Take 2-3 credits of NSC 8334.
NSC 5661 - Behavioral Neuroscience
(2.0 cr)
NSC 8111 - Quantitative Neuroscience
(3.0 cr)
NSC 8211 - Developmental Neurobiology
(2.0-4.0 cr)
NSC 8321 - Career Skills and Understanding Responsibilities as a Neuroscientist
(0.5 cr)
NSC 8334 - Laboratory Neuroscience
(1.0-3.0 cr)
Fall - Second Year (2 credits)
Take the following courses or, with DGS approval, substitute courses.
NSC 5xxx
Spring - Second Year (0.5 credits)
Take the following course or, with DGS approval, substitute course.
NSC 8321 - Career Skills and Understanding Responsibilities as a Neuroscientist
(0.5 cr)
Thesis Credits
Take at least 24 doctoral thesis credits.
NSC 8888 - Thesis Credit: Doctoral
(1.0-24.0 cr)
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Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Grading Basis: | S-N or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Summer |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 4.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 0.5 [max 2.0] |
Grading Basis: | S-N or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 1.0 -3.0 [max 10.0] |
Grading Basis: | S-N or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 2.0 [max 4.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 2.0 -4.0 [max 4.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 0.5 [max 2.0] |
Grading Basis: | S-N or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 1.0 -3.0 [max 10.0] |
Grading Basis: | S-N or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 0.5 [max 2.0] |
Grading Basis: | S-N or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 1.0 -24.0 [max 100.0] |
Grading Basis: | No Grade |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |