Admissions Requirements
The Neuroscience application deadline is December 1.
PRIORITY DEADLINE FOR INTERNATIONAL APPLICANTS IS NOVEMBER 1.
Applications received by December 1 will be given first consideration for admission to the Fall Semester of the following year, but applications received subsequently may also be considered.
An application for admission must include the following:
- Graduate School on-line application (Includes resume, statement of purpose and research statement)
- A $50 (domestic) or $75 (international) non-refundable application fee. An application will not be processed without payment. Fee waivers are available for qualified applicants.
- Three (3) letters of recommendation
- International Applicants should review the additional requirements on the International Admissions Website: https://www.ucdenver.edu/international-admissions/apply-for-admission/graduate
- One (1) unofficial or official transcript of all academic work completed to date. An official transcript will be required following acceptance to matriculate into our program and must come from the issuing institution directly and sent either electronically or mailed to:
Electronic Transcript(s): graduate.school@cuanschutz.edu
Mailed Transcript(s):
University of Colorado Denver
Graduate School
Mail Stop C296
Fitzsimons Building, C5000
13001 E. 17th Place
Aurora, CO 80045
Exams | The GRE is not required. International students may be required to submit proof of English language proficiency.
Undergraduate Coursework | An undergraduate degree or its equivalent is required. A baccalaureate degree in a biological science, chemistry, physics or engineering is recommended.
GPA | There is no absolute requirement for grade point average above that required by the graduate school, but successful applicants will generally have GPAs above 3.2 (A=4.0).
Research Experience | Research experience is strongly recommended.
Degree Requirements
First Year
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | |
| BMSC 7806 | Core I: Foundations in Biomedical Sciences | 6 |
| NRSC 7501 | Introduction to Neuroscience | 1 |
| NRSC 7615 | Developmental Neurobiology | 3 |
| NRSC 7650 | Research in Neuroscience | 2 |
| NRSC 7662 | Survey of Neuroscience | 1 |
| NRSC 7663 | Neuroscience Journal Club | 1 |
| Hours | 14 | |
| Spring | ||
| NRSC 7600 | Cellular & Molecular Biology | 3 |
| NRSC 7610 | Fundamentals of Neurobiology | 3 |
| NRSC 7650 | Research in Neuroscience | 1 |
| NRSC 7662 | Survey of Neuroscience | 1 |
| NRSC 7663 | Neuroscience Journal Club | 1 |
| Hours | 9 | |
| Total Hours | 23 | |
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Summer | Hours | |
| NRSC 8990 | Doctoral Thesis | 1-10 |
| Hours | 1-10 | |
| Total Hours | 1-10 | |
Second Year1
| Second Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | |
| BMSC 7811 | Responsible Conduct of Research | 1 |
| BMSC 7820 | Statistics and Data Analyses for the Biomedical Sciences | 3 |
| NRSC 7650 | Research in Neuroscience | 1-10 |
| NRSC 7663 | Neuroscience Journal Club | 1 |
| Hours | 6-15 | |
| Spring | ||
| NRSC 7650 | Research in Neuroscience | 1-10 |
| NRSC 7612 | Nervous System Modeling with NEURON | 1 |
| ELEC 5375 | Engineering Neuroscience | 3 |
| BIOE 5053 | Optics & Microscopy in Biomedical Research | 3 |
| NRSC 7657 | Workshop in Advanced Programming for Neuroscientists | 1 |
| MOLB 7950 | Informatics and Statistics for Molecular Biology | 3 |
| NRSC 7661 | Grant Proposal Writing Workshop | 1 |
| NRSC 7663 | Neuroscience Journal Club | 1 |
| Hours | 14-23 | |
| Total Hours | 20-38 | |
| Second Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Summer | Hours | |
| NRSC 8990 | Doctoral Thesis | 1-10 |
| Hours | 1-10 | |
| Total Hours | 1-10 | |
Third Year & Beyond1
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| NRSC 8990 | Doctoral Thesis | 1-10 |
- 1
Students in Year 2 or 3 are required to take a minimum one-credit elective course that provides training in quantitative methods in neuroscience. Some options include: MOLB 7950 Informatics and Statistics for Molecular Biology, NRSC 7612 Nervous System Modeling with NEURON, ELEC 5375 Engineering Neuroscience, BIOE 5054 Introduction to Regulatory Affairs, NRSC 7657 Workshop in Advanced Programming for Neuroscientists.
Learning Objectives
Graduate education in general | Doctoral education is the foundation of future scholarship and the “engine” of the research enterprise. It prepares future faculty and leaders in the academy and other areas of industry and society.
Program/Student Learning Outcomes | The PhD program in Neuroscience trains graduate students to become proficient and successful investigators who are able to:
- Demonstrate a basic knowledge of central concepts in the biomedical sciences.
- Understand the current concepts in Neuroscience.
- Read and critically evaluate the scientific literature.
- Formulate hypotheses based on current concepts in the field and design, conduct, and interpret their own research projects.
- Present research results in peer-reviewed publications and in a dissertation.
- Communicate research results effectively through oral presentations at scientific seminars, conferences, and other venues.
- Write a competitive application for research funding.
- Develop ancillary skills, where necessary, to obtain positions outside of scientific research.
Courses
Policies
Please refer to the Office of Research Education and the Graduate School policy pages.
- https://graduateschool.cuanschutz.edu/forms-resources/resources
- https://medschool.cuanschutz.edu/ore/forms-and-resources
The Neuroscience Program handbook is located on the curriculum page of our website: https://www.cuanschutz.edu/graduate-programs/neuroscience/curriculum
Contact Us
Nidia Quillinan, PhD
Associate Professor
Program Co-Director
nidia.quillinan@cuanschutz.edu
Gidon Felsen, PhD
Professor
Program Co-Director
gidon.felsen@cuanschutz.edu
Kayla Thomas
Program Administrator
Kayla.2.Thomas@cuanschutz.edu
NRSC@cuanschutz.edu