Academics

The Neuroscience and Behavior Graduate Program at UMass Amherst is an interdepartmental PhD degree-granting academic unit that brings together faculty members from various departments to provide cutting-edge research training. We also offer a Fast-Track Master's Program to UMass undergraduates working in the lab of an NSB faculty member.

Neuroscience is arguably the most challenging and exciting of all scientific frontiers. All voluntary and involuntary actions, perceptions, feelings, and thoughts are controlled by the brain and nervous system, yet the most fundamental questions about how these events are accomplished remain the most complex puzzle imaginable for us to solve.

Neuroscientists study questions of how the nervous system works, how it interacts with the other systems of the body, and how the outside world influences the nervous system. Neuroscience and Behavior continues to attract researchers from virtually every other scientific field, ranging from physics, chemistry, engineering, and molecular biology to cognitive and social psychology and psychiatry. The ongoing development of innovative techniques at the molecular and organismic levels continues to drive an explosive growth in knowledge and interdisciplinary collaborations that provide a myriad of opportunities for unraveling the complexities of behavior and mental processes.

The Graduate Program in Neuroscience and Behavior at the University of Massachusetts Amherst offers doctoral training that reflects both the diversity and interdisciplinary focus of research in this exciting field. A broad range of departments and academic colleges are represented by participating faculty members, postdoctoral research fellows, graduate students, and undergraduates. Faculty members from four nearby colleges (Amherst College, Smith College, Mount Holyoke College, and Hampshire College) are also affiliated with the Program, thereby enhancing our expertise and our scholarly resources. We also have strong ties to the Molecular and Cellular Biology Program, the Organismic and Evolutionary Biology Program, and the Center for Neuroendocrine Studies.

The NSB Program comprises five broadly defined areas of research and training (1) Neuroendocrinology, (2) Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience, (3) Animal Behavior and Learning, (4) Neural and Behavioral Development, and (5) Sensorimotor, Cognitive, and Computational Neuroscience.

State-of-the-art facilities are available for neural and behavioral studies at all levels of investigation from molecules to whole organisms. Indeed, many researchers within the NSB Program are carrying out multidisciplinary studies that cut across multiple levels of analysis. Perhaps one of our most distinctive features is the number of faculty members and students who work on behavior as a focus for their cellular and molecular studies.

We recognize that students have a broad range of background interests and career goals, so flexibility in individual training is a hallmark of our program. Core courses are intended to provide a common base of knowledge in contemporary Neuroscience and Behavior. These are supplemented with elective courses, which enable students to delve into more specialized topics.  We have a vibrant colloquium series and a variety of journal clubs to supplement course work.

The Program offers a comprehensive, integrated, and flexible graduate training program in a stimulating educational environment located in a lovely setting in the Connecticut River Valley of western Massachusetts. Read about Admissions Requirements.

Doctoral Program

To be considered for admission to the NSB doctoral program, applicants should demonstrate substantial undergraduate training in the biological and physical sciences. Successful applicants normally have their undergraduate degree in a biological/life science discipline or in experimental psychology. Students with degrees in other fields (physical sciences, mathematics, engineering) and a strong interest in the foundations of neuroscience and behavior are also encouraged to apply. Undergraduate coursework of all applicants should include several semesters of biological science, organic chemistry and/or biochemistry, two semesters of mathematics (through calculus), one semester of statistics and at least two courses in neurobiology or physiological psychology. Outstanding applicants with some deficiencies in their undergraduate preparation may also be considered for admission. 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 participating departments, are eligible for admission to the program.

An initial evaluation of each applicant's record and credentials is the responsibility of an Admissions Committee composed of Neuroscience and Behavior core faculty members. Recommendations to the Dean of the Graduate School for acceptance originate from the Graduate Program Director in close consultation with the Admissions Committee and Neuroscience and Behavior Steering Committee.

Admissions criteria include a B average or above in undergraduate and/or graduate-level coursework, and at least two strong letters of recommendation from individuals who are able to assess the applicant's potential for a career in research and teaching in the field of Neuroscience and Behavior. Demonstrated potential for independent research is a particularly important criterion for admission to the program.  Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores are not used for determining admission and should not be submitted.  Students accepted into the NSB Program are normally supported through their fifth year in residence. Support is provided through research assistantships, teaching assistantships, training grants, University fellowships, and federal funding applied for by the student.