The graduate PhD program in neuroscience is an interdepartmental program currently consisting of eight tracks to a PhD: behavioral genetics (psychology); behavioral neuroscience (psychology); clinical neuroscience (psychology), cognitive neuroscience (psychology); social neuroscience (psychology); integrative physiological neuroscience (integrative physiology); molecular, cellular, and developmental neuroscience (MCD-biology); or speech, language, and hearing neurosciences (SLHS). Students apply for admission to one of the participating departments and their admission to CU-Boulder and financial support are determined by that department. Once in residence, students enter the neuroscience PhD program while still maintaining their “home” in the department to which they were admitted. They receive a PhD that lists both their home department and neuroscience.
The neuroscience curriculum includes a year-long intensive core course, graduate seminar courses linked to an invited speaker series, and wide-ranging neurosciences courses offered by many departments and institutes across campus.
Potential applicants are encouraged to visit the neuroscience website, which provides detailed information on the program, application process, courses, faculty, and current trainees: www.colorado.edu/neuroscienceprogram.
The Graduate Certificate in Neuroscience and Behavior focuses on understanding the nervous system and its relationship to disease and behavior. This understanding encompasses the molecular, cellular, and behavioral aspects of neuroscience.
Students come from such graduate programs as ecology and evolutionary biology; behavioral genetics; molecular, cellular, and developmental biology; psychology; and integrative physiology. They receive a PhD in their department and a certificate in neuroscience.
The neuroscience core curriculum includes courses in the following areas: neuroscience methods laboratory, neuroanatomy (PSYC 5263), neurochemistry or neuropharmacology (e.g., PSYC 5062, PSYC 5132), neurophysiology or systems neuroscience (e.g., PSYC 5042, EPOB 5190), behavioral neuroscience or animal behavior (e.g., EPOB 5240, KINE 5610, PSYC—to be developed), molecular neuroscience or molecular genetics or developmental neuroscience (e.g., PSYC 5232, EPOB 5200, MCDB—to be developed).
Students are required to attend a weekly journal club or discussion group and neuroscience colloquia.