We are a highly interactive and exciting Neuroscience community that offers training towards a Ph.D. or M.S. degree in many areas of neuroscience. The Neuroscience graduate program is a multidisciplinary program with over 60 faculty and courses from many campus units, including the Colleges of Liberal Arts, Science, and Engineering, and the School of Medicine. Study programs lead to the Master of Science and the Doctor of Philosophy degree. The program provides training in the core foundations of neuroscience, ranging from cellular mechanisms to cognition and behavior, with a wide range of options for advanced training and specialization within specific subdisciplines. Students develop their critical thinking and research skills in preparation for a wide range of possible career avenues, either in academia or the public or private sectors.<br><br>The program trains students to possess three key abilities:<br> A comprehensive understanding and ability to critically evaluate current knowledge and theories in neuroscience<br> Research skills to effectively identify, design and conduct independent research in the field<br> Enhanced professional development skills in areas including communication, teaching, grant writing and ethics<br>For the Ph.D. degree, students may choose to do research rotations in the first year without a designated dissertation faculty advisor, or may enter the program with an initial faculty advisor and begin their dissertation in that lab. Near the end of the first year, students take a written and oral examination which will be based on a research/rotation project conducted in the first year. Next, students establish a dissertation committee who advise and guide them through their graduate studies. During the third year, students will prepare a dissertation proposal in the form of a fellowship or grant application outlining their planned research for their dissertation. Students are expected to give a seminar on the proposed research and will then hold an oral defense with their committee. Approval of the proposal by the committee will advance the student to candidacy as a Ph.D. student. In the final year, students must write and defend their dissertation research in a seminar, which will be open to the general public, followed by a final oral examination by the committee in a closed session.