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Two overlapping sets of requirements must be met in order to earn a PhD in Neurosciences at Stanford University. Those set by the Neurosciences Program Committee deal with the types of courses students take, the preliminary exam, and procedures for progressing towards the degree. Requirements set by the University deal primarily with advancement towards candidacy and the final University Oral Exam. The requirements of the Neurosciences Program Committee are considered first.
Formal coursework is designed to provide students with a solid foundation in several areas of neuroscience that can be built upon with more advanced courses. The formal course requirements are minimized to enable students to devote a considerable amount of time to their research, even during the first two years.
All of these courses must be taken for a letter grade (not pass/fail). Students must receive a B or better for the course to count towards their PhD degree. Students concurrently in the MD program do not receive grades for medical school courses.
A student may place-out of any of these courses by demonstrating to the instructor a command of the material presented in the course.
Each student must complete three basic requirements.
1. The Nervous System (Neurobiology 206)
2. Professional Development and Integrity in Neuroscience - Journal Club (Neurobiology 300)
3. Distribution Requirements. Five advanced courses. Each student is required to take at least one course in each of the three research areas listed below. Two additional courses are electives, to be selected in any area by the student, which provide additional scientific breadth in an area related to the student’s research interests. If the elective course is one of the core courses listed here, no prior approval is necessary. Courses from outside the neuroscience core can satisfy the elective requirement with the approval of the Program Director.
In addition, in consultation with their Thesis Advisor and Thesis Committee, students may take the opportunity to select, from the hundreds of courses available at Stanford, additional courses that meet their specialized needs, which they can audit or take for credit.
A. The Nervous System (Neurobiology 206)
This course provides an introduction to the structure and function of the nervous system, including neuroanatomy, neurophysiology and neurochemistry. Topics range from the properties of neurons to the mechanisms and organization underlying higher functions. This lecture and laboratory course is designed to present a coherent framework as a preparation for more advanced work in neurobiology. Advanced students may participate as teaching assistants in this course.
Barres, Knudsen, Moore, Newsome, Raymond, Clandinin Win; 9 units.
Students who wish to have the Neurobiology 200 requirement waived because they have taken an equivalent course elsewhere should indicate so in writing to the Course Director within the first four weeks of the Autumn quarter.
The course director will act on the student's request. The student may need to demonstrate competence in the subject material by performing adequately on a written examination administered by the director, if there is uncertainty about the applicability of the student's previous course work. Arrangements to take this exam are made on an individual basis, with the director of the course. This examination should be taken prior to the start of the Winter quarter.
B. Professional Development and Integrity in Neuroscience (Neurobiology 300)
Required of Neurosciences PhD students every quarter until they attain TGR status. Develops professional skills in critical assessment and oral presentation of findings from current neuroscience literature, in visual presentation of quantitative data and writing research grants. Additional topics include the role of animals in lab research, fraud in science, responsibility of authors and reviewers, science in a multicultural environment, and the relationship between student and mentor. Student and faculty presentations and discussions. A faculty mentor assists students in preparing for the literature presentations. 2 units, Autumn, Winter, Spring (Moore)
Current Quarter Journal Club Schedule
The Journal Club meets on a regular basis during the academic year. Currently, we are meeting on Tuesdays at noon in LKSC, room 102. The Journal Club takes the summers off and will resume meeting in the Fall Quarter.
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