Graduate Biomedical Neuroscience Online Certificate Program
The field of neuroscience is a rapidly changing area that has a large impact on several fields of medicine including public health, public policy and sports medicine, as well as on the military and the pharmaceutical industry. The last decade has witnessed a dramatic increase in our understanding of normal brain function across the lifespan and how brain function is altered by aging and neurodegenerative disease. Diseases normally associated with the aging population are becoming more common and include Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, stroke, diabetic neuropathy and brain tumors. Moreover, research efforts are revealing that many of the major public health problems of our society, including obesity and addictive behaviors, are intimately associated with neural systems.
The Graduate Biomedical Neuroscience Certificate is designed to provide postgraduate students and working professionals, whose professions are impacted by the field of neuroscience, with an understanding of normal brain function and the clinical expression and underlying pathogenesis of common neurological disorders. The certificate is based on successful completion of 4-5 courses covering topics that will provide students with the tools required to understand the most common nervous system-related issues facing our society today.
The Graduate Biomedical Neuroscience Certificate is offered by the College of Medicine at UF. This program is designed for working professionals as well as postbaccalaureate students who would like to improve their applications to either graduate or medical school. This program is offered fully online so students will not have to relocate or sacrifice commitments to their family or career in order to further their education and enhance their career. Please feel free to visit our Facebook page using the link https://www.facebook.com/BiomedicalNeuro/ or by searching the web using @BiomedicalNeuro.
Prerequisites/Requirements
Your application package will be evaluated by certificate program faculty. We will consider all aspects of your package when making our decision. You must have completed a BA or BS degree. All candidates must have completed introductory and advanced coursework with a B or better in either biology, chemistry, neuroscience or physics or have demonstrated professional experience in a neuroscience-related field. Your cumulative undergraduate GPA should be 3.0 or higher. We evaluate your performance in science courses throughout your undergraduate career and the strength of your personal statement. Certificate students must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher in order to be awarded the certificate by the UF graduate school.
Application Instructions
- Complete the UF Certificate Application located at UF Admissions Start. Scroll down to “Certificate” and choose whether you are a currently enrolled UF student or new student.
- List ALL previously attended institutions in the Academic History.
- Upload unofficial transcripts from ALL institutions attended, which will be used for the initial review. If unable to upload, you may also send them to the Academic Coordinator for the Certificate Program, Melissa Naidu. Official transcripts from ALL institutions the applicant has attended will be required within the first semester if admitted to the program. If courses were transferred from one university to another, separate transcripts from both universities should be included.
- Courses Taken: Use this form to report courses you have taken in the subject areas indicated. You are not expected to have taken courses in all areas. The Admissions Committee will need to be able to find the courses you list on your submitted transcript(s).
If sending official transcripts (electronic or post), order them as soon as possible. It may take several weeks for the transcript to be matched to your application once it is received by the Admissions Office and be available to the Department.
If ordering electronic transcripts, please be aware that the Office of Admissions only accepts PDF transcripts from Parchment, National Clearing House, and eScript. The email address for receipt of these transcripts is TE@admissions.ufl.edu
Posted physical transcripts can be sent to:
University of Florida Office of Admissions
ATTN: Graduate Admissions
201 Criser Hall
P.O. Box 114000
Gainesville, FL 32611-4000
- Send your personal statement to the Academic Coordinator, Melissa Naidu. Your personal statement is a very important part of your application. In addition to your academic and/or research experience, it should explain your interest in our program and how you expect it will help you to reach goals you have. Please include in your statement how you found out about our program whether through Facebook, online searches, or personal recommendations. Your statement should be approximately 500-600 words or approximately 1 single-spaced page.
- Neuroscience Assignment: Applicants will be asked to complete a required assignment that will demonstrate their readiness for Graduate-level coursework. Applicants will be sent a link to the assignment and will have 30 minutes to complete it in one, uninterrupted sitting on a computer with internet access.
- The link will be sent to the email address you entered on your application. The email will come from the Academic Coordinator for the Online Neuroscience Certificate, Melissa Naidu (michie@ufl.edu). If you do not receive the link at least one week after the application deadline, make sure to check your spam/junk folders and email the Academic Coordinator.
- For more information about the certificate program, you may also visit the Biomedical Neuroscience Distance Learning website.
Alumni Testimonials
Valerie Harjani
I started this program with the intent of strengthening my medical school application while also delving deeper into an interest I’ve had for a few…
Leila A.
This program has opened up my eyes to many neurological subjects. Additionally, it has been a great foundation to advance in the field of biomedical…
Victoria Lord
When I was considering how to strengthen my medical school application, I found this graduate certificate program. I had an interest in neuroscience…
Faculty Mentors
The teaching faculties for this graduate certificate are from the Department of Neuroscience and the Department of Psychology. The certificate, course and section coordinators are:
Sue Semple-Rowland, Ph.D.
Professor, Department of Neuroscience, MSc Program Director, lecturer, and course Director and sole lecturer for Fundamentals of Neuroscience (GMS6007), Neuroscience Professional Survival Skills (GMS7795), Biological Clocks in Neural Health and Disease (GMS6712), Brain Journal Club (GMS6029), Co-director and lecturer in Principles of Neuroscience I: Organization and Development of the Nervous System (GMS6021) and Functional Human Neuroanatomy (GMS6705).
Ronald Mandel, Ph.D.
Professor, Department of Neuroscience, lecturer and course director for Molecular Pathobiology of Neural Disease (GMS6750) and co-course director and lecturer for Functional Human Neuroanatomy (GMS6705) and Neurobiology of Behavioral Disorders (GMSXXXX).
Neil Rowland, Ph.D.
Professor, Department of Psychology, course director and sole lecturer for Topics in Psychology (Psychobiology of Eating and Obesity) (GMS7795/PSY6826) and Nobel Prizewinners in Neuroscience (GMS7795/PSY6930).
Matthew Sarkisian, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Department of Neuroscience, lecturer and co-director of Principles of Neuroscience I: Organization and Development of the Nervous System (GMS6021) and Director and sole lecturer for Developmental Neurobiology (GMS6073)
Cost of Certificate
The tuition for this program is:
- Florida Resident $528.41 per credit hour
- Non Florida Resident $550.00 per credit hour
Fees are approximately $36 per credit hour.
Part-time registration and financial aid: Graduate students should be aware that in order to qualify for most financial aid programs, students must be enrolled at least half-time. For financial aid purposes, a grad student must be enrolled for five hours during fall or spring term, four hours during summer term.
Students enrolled in graduate certificate programs are not eligible for federal student aid. Students enrolled in approved graduate certificate programs may be eligible for Alternative loans. Contact the Office of Student Financial Aid and Scholarships for more information.