Program Curriculum
Required Courses
The following courses (or their equivalents) are required of all students in the Neuroscience Program. Each student must register for at least 9 credit hours per semester to maintain status as a full-time student.
SEMESTER 1 (FALL): Total Credits: 13
| Course Number | Course Title | Credits |
| IBS 526 | Neuroanatomy and Systems Neuroscience | 7 Credits |
| NS 551 | Techniques in Neuroscience (S/U) | 2 Credits |
| NS 570R | Professional Development, Communication & Ethics (S/U) | 2 Credits |
| IBS 530R | Frontiers Seminar (S/U)* | 1 Credit |
| NS 597R | Laboratory Rotation | 1 Credit |
| JPE 600 | Jones Program in Ethics (pre-semester) | 0 Credits |
SEMESTER 2 (SPRING): Total Credits: 13
| Course Number | Course Title | Credits |
| IBS 514 | Cellular, Dev. Molecular and Translational Neuroscience | 7 Credits |
| IBS 530R | Frontiers Seminar (S/U)* | 1 Credit |
| IBS 538 | Design & Analysis of Experiments (statistics)** | 3 Credits |
| NS 597R | Laboratory Rotation | 2 Credits |
SUMMER (Between Years 1 & 2): Total Credits: 9
| Course Number | Course Title | Credits |
| IBS 699R | Advanced Graduate Research | 9 Credits |
| EXAM | Written Qualifying Exam (Administered in June) | — |
SEMESTER 3 (FALL): Total Credits: Minimum 11
| Course Number | Course Title | Credits |
| IBS 699R | Advanced Graduate Research*** | 5–9 Credits |
| IBS 522R | Hypothesis Design and Scientific Writing | 4 Credits |
| TATT 600 | Teaching Assistant Training & Teaching (pre-semester) | 1 Credit |
| IBS 530R | Frontiers Seminar (S/U)* | 1 Credit |
SEMESTER 4 (SPRING): Total Credits: Minimum 9
| Course Number | Course Title | Credits |
| IBS 699R | Advanced Graduate Research*** | 8 Credits |
| IBS 530R | Frontiers Seminar (S/U)* | 1 Credit |
Oral Qualifying Exam: Late spring or early summer.
(*) Frontiers Seminar: Students are allowed no more than two absences per semester. If a rotation is needed in Semester 3, this course must be replaced by NS 597R.
() Statistics:** Alternative statistics classes may be acceptable with approval from the Director of Graduate Studies (DGS).
() Research Credits:* The number of IBS 699R credits should be adjusted to reach a total of 9 credit hours for the semester.
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SEMESTER 5+: Total Credits: Minimum 9
| Course Number | Course Title | Credits |
| NS 799R | Dissertation Research (Candidacy) | 9 Credits |
| JPE 610 | Jones Program in Ethics (6-hour workshop) | 0 Credits |
Key Milestone: Dissertation Committee
Committee Formation: If not already completed, you must formalize your Dissertation Committee.
Meeting Requirement: You are required to meet with your committee at least once every 6 months (or once per semester) to review research progress.
Candidacy Status: Once you have reached candidacy, you register for 799R (Dissertation Research)
Additional Coursework
Students are also required to complete JPE 610, which consists of a minimum of 4 workshops. These workshops will be sponsored by the LGS, the Emory Center for Ethics and take place throughout the academic year. Students will register for these sessions individually, and participation will be recorded on the student’s transcript. These workshops can be completed after candidacy.
Students are encouraged to pursue supplemental courses that are relevant to their development as a neuroscientist, in consultation with their advisor and thesis committee.
