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Doctor of Philosophy - Neuroscience

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This interdisciplinary Ph.D. program provides coursework and research training in neuroscience, with research mentoring spanning a range of different dimensions (basic to applied/clinical neuroscience, molecular to cognitive neuroscience, various types of nervous system measurement approaches, etc.). Students’ dissertation chairs and other committee members will come from various colleges and units at UNLV. This program will primarily prepare graduates to pursue post-doctoral research and independent research careers in neuroscience and related fields in academic, medical, government, or private industry settings.

Application fees are $60 for domestic applicants and $95 for international applicants. If this fee poses a financial hardship, you may request a potential reimbursement for the fee. Please email the program coordinator ( [email protected] ) and provide a one paragraph explanation for the request for reimbursement and documents to support the request, such as the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). Reimbursements are limited and not guaranteed. Decisions will be made based on need, pending available funding and department chair approval.

Available Options

Post-bachelor's track, post-master's track, accreditation.

For information regarding accreditation at UNLV, please head over to Academic Program Accreditations .

Students should have broad knowledge of neuroscience methods, theories, and findings, and deep knowledge in at least one specific area of neuroscience.
Students should have the ability to conduct, present, and publish literature reviews and empirical research in at least one specific area of neuroscience.
Students should be able to prepare and submit applications for research funding.
Students should have the ability to ethically perform independent research in academic, medical, and government institutions, as well as private industry.

Most graduates of this program will pursue post-doctoral research, followed by independent research careers in a variety of workplace settings, including academic, medical, and government institutions, as well as private industry. Neuroscience research has a wide and growing range of medical and technological applications, so some graduates of the program will also be poised to apply some of their own research and tool development to the creation of marketable intellectual property in the form of patents and start-up companies, some of which will likely be based in Nevada, and therefore provide high-tech job opportunities for Nevada residents.

Documents/Downloads

Plans of study.

NEUR 711 316.73 KB
NEUR 721 127.45 KB

Degree Worksheets

Graduate handbooks.

Program Handbook 363.29 KB

Additional Downloads

Neuroscience Faculty Mentors 76.34 KB

Graduate Coordinator

Rochelle hines, ph.d..

Associate Professor

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Doctor of Philosophy in Brain and Cognitive Sciences Fields

Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences

Program Requirements

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The PDF includes all information on this page and its related tabs. Subject (course) information includes any changes approved for the current academic year.

Philosophy-Neuroscience-Psychology

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Arts & Sciences
Graduate Studies in A&S

About the Program

PNP is an innovative program that fosters engagement between different disciplines addressing the mind-brain. Key elements of such an interdisciplinary approach include knowledge of cognitive neuroscience, philosophy, psychology and artificial intelligence. The advent of new and powerful brain imaging techniques such as PET (positron-Emission Tomography) scanning and fMRI (functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging), along with the increasing use of computational models of neural systems, has given rise to the field of cognitive neuroscience as a rich arena for interdisciplinary cooperation.

In addition to the Core PNP Faculty, a range of affiliated faculty from other disciplines participate teach classes that count for PNP credit, and support PNP student’s research endeavors. PNP also funds Post-Doctoral Research Fellows. The Department of Philosophy also offers a Ph.D. in Philosophy-Neuroscience-Psychology.

Research & Publications

Research is actively encouraged at all levels of the PNP program. The PNP Research Centre sponsors a wide range of research activity, including conferences, workshops, seminar series and colloquia. Through the Research Centre the PNP program hosts visiting faculty, including the Clark-Way-Harris Visiting Professors. On the web, the Research Centre maintains an archive of papers and links of interest.

PNP Program

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Philosophy-Neuroscience-Psychology

The Graduate Program of Philosophy-Neuroscience-Psychology is a track within the Ph.D. program in Philosophy. At the graduate level, the department offers a Ph.D. in PNP. We do not accept students interested in pursuing only an MA. PNP is not a general cognitive science program. PNP supplements graduate training in philosophy with additional course work and research on modes of inquiry, empirical results and theoretical perspectives of psychology and the neurosciences. The aim of the Program is to turn out first-rate philosophers with a strong ancillary competence in areas pertaining to Neuroscience and Psychology. Admission to the Program is highly competitive.

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Neuroscience - Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

The neuroscience community at CU Boulder is made up of over 80 faculty and research associates rostered in 13 departments and institutes. Neuroscience activities on the campus are coordinated by the Center for Neuroscience.

The graduate PhD program in neuroscience is an interdepartmental program currently consisting of eight tracks to a PhD:

Behavioral, Psychiatric and Statistical Genetics (Integrative Physiology, Psychology & Neuroscience)
Behavioral Neuroscience (Psychology & Neuroscience)
Clinical Neuroscience (Psychology & Neuroscience)
Cognitive Neuroscience (Psychology & Neuroscience)
Social Neuroscience (Psychology & Neuroscience)
Integrative Physiological Neuroscience (Integrative Physiology)
Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Neuroscience (Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology)
Speech, Language and Hearing Neurosciences (Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences)

The neuroscience curriculum includes a year-long intensive core course, graduate seminar courses linked to an invited speaker series and wide-ranging neuroscience courses offered by many departments and institutes across campus.

Interested students are encouraged to visit the Center for Neuroscience website, which provides detailed information on the program, application process, courses, faculty and current trainees.

Requirements

Admission requirements.

Students apply for admission to one of the participating departments, which determines whether to admit the student to CU Boulder and provide financial support. Once in residence, students enter the neuroscience PhD program while still maintaining their "home" in the department to which they were admitted. They receive a PhD that lists both their home department and neuroscience. All students are admitted with the expectation that they will work toward the PhD degree. Many students receive a Master of Arts degree in the course of working toward the PhD. Students who receive the PhD degree must demonstrate that they are proficient in some broad subject of learning and that they can critically evaluate work in this field; furthermore, they must show the ability to work independently in their chosen field and must make an original contribution of significance to the advancement of knowledge.

Required Courses and Semester Credit Hours

Before admission to candidacy for the PhD degree, the student must pass a comprehensive examination in the field of concentration and related fields. This examination tests the student mastery of a broad field of knowledge, not merely the formal coursework completed.

A variety of advanced research seminars are taught on a regular basis. Students are required to be enrolled in at least one substantive course in the department each semester until the comprehensive examinations have been successfully completed. Upon completing the comprehensives, students engage in the dissertation research, culminating in a public oral defense.

Potential applicants are encouraged to visit the Center for Neuroscience website, which provides detailed information on the program, application process, courses, faculty and current trainees.

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