Graduate Study in Neurosciences - Coursework

Ph.D. Degree Requirements

The neuroscience curriculum is subdivided into core courses that all students must complete and electives representing the 2 major specializations,

• Cell and Molecular Neuroscience and
• Cognitive and Systems Neuroscience.

There is considerable flexibility in the curriculum to accommodate specific interests of the students and course availability. Course choices should be done by consulting your mentor and the Director of the Neuroscience Program prior to establishing a graduate committee. A 5-member faculty advisory committee including at least 3 members of the neuroscience program should be in place at the beginning of the second year of study to help the student choose electives if needed but more so to provide guidance on the research progress. Students should meet with the committee in the Fall of their second year of study and present their research progress to the committee and an outline of their thoughts for preparing a 6 page proposal for their oral defense in the spring/summer of the second year

Continued enrollment in the neuroscience seminar is required and students are expected to present a yearly seminar. This can constitute a literature review for first year students and subsequent presentations are typically on research progress.

Students also receive training in the responsible conduct of research and teaching in the neurosciences. For the Ph.D., the student completes the core curriculum as well as research skills training, comprehensive oral examination, preparation of a dissertation, and final oral examination and defense of the dissertation.

All students must complete a research skill. Commonly used areas are radiation biology and radiation safety, cell culture methodology, techniques of electron and confocal microscopy, molecular biology laboratory training, computer science training, statistics, and training in electronics and instrumentation.

Note: Contact your department or program for more information about research skills and responsible scholarship, and the current requirements for doctoral students. Current Lawrence and Edwards Campus policies on Doctoral Research Skills and Responsible Scholarship are listed in the KU Policy Library.

Given the breadth of neuroscience research, the Neuroscience curriculum at KU-Lawrence is individualized for each student’s needs and interests. However, there is a series of core courses the student will need to either have taken or complete during the program. A range of elective courses in statistics, genomics, medicinal chemistry, pharmacology, toxicology, sensory and developmental neurobiology or molecular cell biology may supplement the core courses. Credit hours listed.

Core Curriculum for the Ph.D. in Neurosciences

   * Completion of written and oral comprehensive exam

The following is a likely curriculum for a student enrolling in the KUMC Graduate Studies in Neurosciences program:

Year 1: Fall Semester

• IGPBS Module1: Protein Structure, Thermodynamics, Kinetics
• IGPBS Module 2: Cell Metabolism
• IGPBS Module 3: Molecular Biology
• Lab rotations
• Neuroscience seminar

Year 1: Spring Semester

• Advanced Neuroscience
• IGPBS Module 4: Cell and Developmental Biology
• IGPBS Module 5: Molecular and Physiological Basis of Disease
• Lab rotations/Faculty research seminar series
• Neuroscience Seminar

Year 2: Fall Semester

• Course in Bio-Behavioral Neuroscience
• Course in Cell and Molecular Neuroscience
• First Elective for Molecular & Cellular Neuroscience or Cognitive and Systems Neuroscience
• Second Elective for Molecular & Cellular Neuroscience or Cognitive and Systems Neuroscience
• Neuroscience Seminar

Year 2: Fall Semester

• Completion of written and oral comprehensive exam
• Research Skill
• Bioethics
• Neuroscience Teaching Principles

Year 3: Fall/Spring Semester

• Dissertation Research

Year 4: Fall/Spring Semester

• Dissertation Research