Curriculum and Requirements

woman researcher looking through a microscope

All students enrolled in the Neuroscience Ph.D. Program will pursue a rigorous didactic and research scientific curriculum that encompasses extensive fundamental neuroscience knowledge, the development of skills in experimental design and reproducibility, and training in biomedical research involving leading-edge experimental approaches as well as professional development. The highly integrated curriculum is designed to prepare doctoral students for the challenges of the next generation of neuroscientists.

The curriculum includes many required fundamental courses such as Functional and Comparative Neuroanatomy for Professionals (GMS 6701), Principles of Neurophysiology (GMS 6022), Molecular Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology (GMS 6023) as well as Statistics for Neuroscientists (GMS 6025C). Most students enrolled in the program complete the majority of their required didactic coursework by the end of the second year. In addition to the core courses, trainees may select advanced elective courses from those offered by the Neuroscience Program or from other doctoral programs at the University of Florida. Each student is required to participate in the Neuroscience Graduate Research Seminars (GMS 6792), Neuroscience Seminars (GMS 7794), and one journal club each fall and spring semester starting in their third year. The journal clubs’ topics are tailored to our students’ specific educational needs and vary each semester.

Students are expected to publish their scientific findings in peer-reviewed journals and present their data at scientific conferences. All students enrolled are required to maintain a 3.0 grade point average.

Overview of Coursework

Students will take common core coursework in years 1 and 2, with customization enabled through a selection of journal clubs and electives. Core coursework is finished by the second Spring semester with students submitting an F30/31 before the beginning of their third year. In years 3-5 of the program, Ph.D. students will focus fully on individualized training objectives and completing their dissertation research.

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