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Neurosciences Graduate Program Neurograd
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Degree Plan and Timeline

Please refer to the NGP Student Handbook for detailed information

Ph.D in Neuroscience Neurosciences
Ph.D. in Neuroscience with Computational Neuroscience Specialization Computational Neuroscience

As an NGP student, you are expected to maintain a normal timeline towards your degree. The “Normative Timeline” encourages a time to degree of 5-6 years. You are expected to make sure you are completing the necessary steps needed to complete your Ph.D. degree at a reasonable pace and at the level of performance expected of those who receive a degree from our program. Here are the expectations outlined below:

  • Completion of the Ph.D Coursework by the end of your second year 
  • Completion of the Doctoral Advancement to Candidacy Oral Examination by the end of your 3rd year
  • Completion of the Dissertation Defense by the end of your 6th year.  

General Timeline

NGP-Course-Timeline.png 

 

 

 

 

First Year

G1 

 

Curriculum 
  1. Neuroscience Bootcamp 
  2. Society for Neuroscience Workshops, Sessions, and Posters 
  3. Neuroscience Core Coursework 
  4. Neuroscience Series (200A/B/C) 
  5. Neuroanatomy (NEUG 257) 
  6. Statistics (COGS 243, PSYC 201, BGGN 215) 
  7. Weekly Seminar and Presentation Attendance 
  8. Journal Club 
  9. Neuroscience Seminar Series 
  10. Research Rounds 

Extra-Curricular 

First Year students are required to join a student committee, attend the Neuroscience Symposium during interview week, attend the graduate program’s retreat,  

Research Milestones 

By the end of the first year, you will select a Thesis Advisor and join a Lab.  

Evaluation 

Your annual evaluation will be held by the Program Director or First Year Coach 

⚕️ MD. Ph.D: 

MSTP students will begin their thesis research, enroll and pass Minor Prop, and hold a pre-thesis meeting at the end of the year 

 

Second Year

G2 

 

Curriculum 
  1. Research Ethics  
  2. Minor Proposition  
  3. Research Rounds 
  4. Elective Courses 

 

Extra-Curricular 

Second year students may chair a student committee. All second-year students are required to host an interviewee during interview week, and present their data during the program retreat. 

Research Milestones 

You will start your research. By the end of the second year you will pass the Minor Proposition exam, add two additional doctoral committee members, and hold your pre- thesis committee meeting. 

Evaluation 

Your annual evaluation is synonymous with your Pre-Thesis Meeting 

⚕️ MD. Ph.D: 

MSTP students will continue their thesis research, present at Research Rounds in Spring, and advance to candidacy at the end of the year 

 

MD PhD Timeline

MSTP students are expected to have completed at least two research rotations before joining the graduate program and must complete a total of three rotations before joining a thesis lab. At least two of the rotations must be in labs associated with the Neurosciences Graduate Program. MSTP students must complete all rotations by fall Quarter after entering the graduate program and must select a thesis lab by the end of the fall Quarter. 

Doctoral Time Limits

As an NGP student, you are expected to maintain a normal timeline towards your degree. The “Normative Timeline” encourages a time to degree of 5-6 years. You are expected to make sure you are completing the necessary steps needed to complete your Ph.D. degree at a reasonable pace and at the level of performance expected of those who receive a degree from our program. Here are the expectations outlined below: 

  • Completion of the Ph.D Coursework by the end of your second year 
  • Completion of the Doctoral Advancement to Candidacy Oral Examination by the end of your 3rd year 
  • Completion of the Dissertation Defense by the end of your 6th year.  

Pre-Candidacy Time Limit: 4 Years