Neuroscience & Behavior

Program | Faculty | Master's | Doctoral

The primary goal of this program is to offer coordinated and comprehensive training and research in Neuroscience and Behavior leading to the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. Participating faculty are members of the Departments of Psychology (Division of Behavioral Neuroscience), Biology, Computer Science, Kinesiology, Microbiology, Veterinary and Animal Sciences, and Plant, Soil, and Insect Sciences.

Prerequisites of the Program

To be considered for admission to the Neuroscience and Behavior (NSB) program, applicants should demonstrate substantial undergraduate training in the biological and physical sciences. Successful applicants usually have their undergraduate degree in a biological/life-science discipline or in physiological psychology. Students with degrees in other fields (computer science, physical sciences, mathematics, engineering) are also considered for admission. Undergraduate coursework of applicants should normally include several semesters of biological science, organic chemistry and/or biochemistry, two semesters of advanced mathematics (through calculus), one semester of statistics and at least two courses in neurobiology or physiological psychology. Individuals with a Master’s degree in a life-science discipline from another institution, as well as University of Massachusetts graduate students currently enrolled in NSB-participating departments, are also eligible for admission to the program.

General Requirements

The general requirements for the Ph.D. degree in Neuroscience and Behavior are those of the Graduate School. An up-to-date detailed description of degree requirements may be obtained from the Neuroscience and Behavior website: www.umass.edu/neuro.

Courses

699 Master’s Thesis Credit, 1-10.

899 Doctoral Dissertation Credit, 18.