Neuroscience Program Coursework

If you’re interested in pursuing a degree in neuroscience, read the description of coursework below to get a feel for Kent State’s Neuroscience Program.

Keep in mind that all students must complete a common core of courses in morphology, physiology, and chemistry of the nervous system. However, in order to tailor to specific training needs and interests, students in our Neuroscience Program are also able to select their own set of electives.

Program of Instruction

M.S. in Biomedical Sciences - Neurosciences

Students seeking a MS in BMS-Neuroscience must complete the following core curriculum:

Credits Course
1 credit BMS 61001 Introduction to Biomedical Sciences
1 credit BMS 61000 Responsible Conduct of Research
4 credits BMS 60729 Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience
4 credits BMS 60462 Neurobiology: Systems and Behavior
3-5 credits Quantitative Methods and Statistics (one of the following):
  ANTH 68637 Analysis of Bioanthropological Data I (5 cr)
  ANTH 68638 Analysis of Bioanthropological Data II (3 cr)
  BSCI  60104 Biological Statistics (4 cr)
  PSYC 61651 Quantitative Statistical Analysis I (3 cr)
  PSYC 61654 Quantitative Statistical Analysis II (3 cr)

M.S students should enroll in elective courses to reach a minimum of 17 credit hours of formal graded coursework.  Electives are specialized to a student’s subdiscipline and are approved by the student’s thesis committee.

M.S. students must add 6 credit hours of Thesis I and additional research hours, if necessary, to reach a minimum total of 32 credit hours.

Ph.D. in Biomedical Sciences - Neurosciences

Students seeking a PhD in BMS-Neurosciences (without previously earning a MS) must complete the following core curriculum:

Credits Course
1 credit BMS 71001 Introduction to Biomedical Sciences
1 credit BMS 71000 Responsible Conduct of Research
4 credits BMS 70729 Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience
4 credits BMS 70462 Neurobiology: Systems and Behavior
3-5 credits Quantitative Methods and Statistics (one of the following):
  BMS 78637  Analysis of Bioanthropological Data I (5 cr)
  BMS 78638  Analysis of Bioanthropological Data II (3 cr)
  BSCI 70104  Biological Statistics (4 cr)
  PSYC 71651 Quantitative Statistical Analysis I (3 cr)
  PSYC 71654 Quantitative Statistical Analysis II (3 cr)
4 credits BMS 70120 Laboratory Techniques in Biomedical Sciences (2 cr), taken twice

PhD students should enroll in elective courses to reach a minimum of 21 credit hours of formal graded coursework.  Electives are specialized to a student’s subdiscipline and are approved by the student’s dissertation committee.

Ph.D. students must add additional research hours to reach a total of at least 60 credit hours prior to enrolling in Dissertation I.  Upon admission to candidacy, doctoral students must register for BMS 80199 Dissertation I for two semesters for a total of 30 hours and thereafter BMS 80299 Dissertation II until all requirements for the degree have been met.

Students seeking a PhD in BMS-Neuroscience (with previous MS degree) must complete the following core curriculum:

Credits Course
1 credit BMS 71001 Introduction to Biomedical Sciences
1 credit BMS 71000 Responsible Conduct of Research
4 credits BMS 70729 Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience
4 credits BMS 70462 Neurobiology: Systems and Behavior
3-5 credits Quantitative Methods and Statistics (one of the following):
  BMS 78637 Analysis of Bioanthropological Data I (5 cr)
  BMS 78638 Analysis of Bioanthropological Data II (3 cr)
  BSCI 70104 Biological Statistics (4 cr)
  PSYC 71651 Quantitative Statistical Analysis I (3 cr)
  PSYC 71654 Quantitative Statistical Analysis II (3 cr)
4 credits BMS 70120 Laboratory Techniques in Biomedical Sciences (2 cr), taken twice
 

PhD students should enroll in elective courses to reach a minimum of 21 credit hours of formal graded coursework.  Electives are specialized to a student’s subdiscipline and are approved by the student’s dissertation committee.

Ph.D. students must add additional research hours to reach a total of at least 30 credit hours prior to enrolling in Dissertation I.  Upon admission to candidacy, doctoral students must register for BMS 80199 Dissertation I for two semesters for a total of 30 hours and thereafter BMS 80299 Dissertation II until all requirements for the degree have been met.

Professional Development

Candidates for the Ph.D. are expected to engage, to the extent possible, in other activities beneficial to their professional development. The teaching of laboratories and lecture courses, as appropriate, is considered valuable, and each student should have this experience during his or her graduate career, including those on non-teaching scholarships or research appointments for most or all of their tenure. Students should also seek membership in professional organizations, attend meetings to present research results, and maintain currency in the relevant literature.