Doctor of Philosophy
Major Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| BMS 700 | Scientific Integrity | 1 |
| BMS 701 | Scientific Rigor and Ethics | 1 |
| BMS 702 | Biomedical Lab Experience | 2 |
| BMS 706 | Biomedical Research Methods | 1 |
| BMS 707 | Experiential Learning for Biomedical Trainees | 2 |
| BMS 720 | Scientific Writing | 2 |
| BMS 747 | Foundations for Contemporary Biomedical Research I | 4 |
| BMS 777 | Foundations for Contemporary Biomedical Research 2 | 4 |
| Research | 35 | |
| Research | ||
| Research Forum | 7 | |
| Neuroscience Research Forum | ||
| Journal Club | 5 | |
| Neuroscience Journal Club | ||
| NSCI 764 | Human Functional Neuroanatomy | 3 |
| NSCI 770 | Fundamentals of Neuroscience 1 | 6 |
| F31+ Document and Oral Defense | ||
| Dissertation Proposal | ||
| Dissertation Defense | ||
| Electives | 6 | |
| Total Hours | 79 | |
Suggested Plan of Study
| First Year | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | Summer | Hours |
| BMS 700 | 1 | BMS 701 | 1 | NSCI 797 | 1 |
| BMS 702 | 2 | NSCI 760 | 1 | ||
| BMS 706 | 1 | NSCI 761 | 1 | ||
| BMS 747 | 4 | NSCI 797 | 3 | ||
| BMS 777 | 4 | NSCI 764 | 3 | ||
| 12 | 9 | 1 | |||
| Second Year | |||||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | Summer | Hours |
| NSCI 760 | 1 | NSCI 760 | 1 | BMS 720 | 2 |
| NSCI 761 | 1 | NSCI 761 | 1 | NSCI 797 | 1 |
| NSCI 770 | 6 | Written Rigor of Prior Research | F31+ Document and Oral Defense | ||
| NSCI 797 | 3 | NSCI 797 | 7 | ||
| 11 | 9 | 3 | |||
| Third Year | |||||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | Summer | Hours |
| NSCI 760 | 1 | NSCI 760 | 1 | NSCI 797 | 1 |
| NSCI 761 | 1 | NSCI 761 | 1 | BMS 707 | 2 |
| NSCI 797 | 5 | NSCI 797 | 7 | ||
| Elective | 2 | ||||
| Dissertation Proposal | |||||
| 9 | 9 | 3 | |||
| Fourth Year | |||||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | Summer | Hours |
| NSCI 761 | 1 | NSCI 761 | 1 | NSCI 797 | 1 |
| NSCI 797 | 8 | NSCI 797 | 8 | ||
| 9 | 9 | 1 | |||
| Total credit hours: 85 | |||||
NOTE: The graduate curriculum is finalized with a plan of study once the mentor and laboratory have been selected in the first year. The plan of study is developed by the graduate committee in consultation with the student. The courses listed above include the required and elective coursework necessary for the student to finalize his/her plan of study. When the student enters the laboratory of his/her doctoral dissertation mentor repetitive enrollments in research, seminars, and colloquia are typical and will determine total hours necessary for degree completion.
*This is a suggested plan of study. Course sequences and length of time in program may vary depending on student and altered total credit hours.
Seminars and Research Forum
Students are required to register for seminar in each semester of residence.
Journal Club
Students are required to enroll in Journal Club each semester. The course involves the presentation and discussion of current research papers and will help acquaint students with the variety of methods used in scientific research.
Doctoral Research
Students will conduct research with a dissertation mentor during time in the program. Students register for research credits each semester, and their performance is graded by their dissertation mentor.
Written Rigor of Prior Research
A Written Rigor of Prior Research is completed during the second year of study.
F31+ Document and Oral Defense
An F31+ Document and Oral Defense will be completed in the second year of study.
Dissertation Proposal/Ph.D. Candidacy
The dissertation proposal is completed during the third year of study. Admission to Ph.D. candidacy occurs following the successful defense of the dissertation proposal.
Dissertation Defense and First-Author Paper Requirement
Students are allowed to defend their dissertation when a minimum of one manuscript with the student as first author, based on dissertation research, is accepted in a peer-reviewed journal. A second manuscript is also required, but does not have to be first-authored or on the dissertation research. The final examination for the Ph.D. degree consists of orally defending a written dissertation in a public seminar and then in private to the graduate dissertation committee. Satisfactory performance in the oral defense will result in recommendation for granting of the Ph.D. degree.
Major Learning Outcomes
Neuroscience
- Independently design experimental protocols, conduct the experiments, analyze the results, and defend the experimental approach to other scientists.
- Develop and plan the test of hypotheses regarding significant problems in neuroscience.
- Effectively reference relevant literature in support of the student's research project. Identify significant gaps in knowledge on a scientific topic in neuroscience. Critically evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of scientific literature.
- Effectively communicate research in abstracts written for research presentations, manuscripts for publication, research grant proposals, and the final dissertation.
- Effectively communicate both the student's research and general scientific topics in both informal and formal settings.
- Develop experimental rigor and strategies for conducting reproducible research.
- Demonstrate principles of ethics associated with appropriate research conduct.
- Acquire broad knowledge of the structure, function and development of the nervous system and of the core principles and methods of modern neuroscience.
- Locate and identify features of the external and internal anatomy of the brain and spinal cord, as well as CNS tracts, nuclei, vasculature, ventricular system, and peripheral nerves.
- Describe the pathways and anatomical connections that underlie human behavior, sensorimotor integration, emotion, and cognition.
- Understand the general role of CNS structures in mediating symptoms of clinical disorders including neurodegenerative diseases, neuromuscular disorders, and brain trauma.