Curriculum and Requirements

The master’s degree is a two-year program that combines coursework and a research intensive thesis. Students must complete a total of 42 academic credits, including the following didactic courses:

Prior to entering the program, students must identify a faculty mentor from the graduate faculty who agrees to serve as a mentor for the student’s research project. Perspective students can identify faculty mentors of interest from our searchable database. During the first year, students will complete coursework and begin research in their mentor’s laboratory.

By the end of the first year of study, students must form a committee that includes three faculty members from the graduate faculty. and and propose a thesis project that can be completed by the end of the second year. By the end of the second year, students will have completed the research project and prepared a written thesis. Students will then present this work to their committee and complete an oral exam related to their work. Upon successful completion of the coursework, written thesis and the oral exam, students will be awarded the master’s degree.

Required courses (course substitutions may be made with prior approval from the program director)

  • Choose
    • GMS6701:  Advanced Functional and Comparative Neuroanatomy for Professionals – 5 credits
      • OR
    • GMS 6007: Fundamentals of Neuroscience (100% Online) – 3 credits 
  • GMS 6022: Principles of Neurophysiology – 3 credits
  • GMS 6023: Neuropharmacology – 3 credits
  • GMS 6029: “Hot Topics in Neuroscience” Journal Club – 1 credit
  • GMS 7794: Neuroscience Departmental Seminar – 2 credits
  • GMS 7877: Responsible Conduct in Research
  • GMS 6971/GMS 6090/GMS 6905: Research Credit – Variable