NEUROSCIENCE

Interim Program Director: William Greenough

Correspondence and Admission Information: Neuroscience Program, 393 Morrill Hall, 505 South Goodwin Avenue, Urbana, IL 61801; (217) 333-3166; Fax: (217) 265-0927; E-mail: jcornell@life.uiuc.edu

URL: www.life.uiuc.edu/neuroscience/home.html

GRADUATE DEGREE PROGRAM

The neuroscience program is an interdisciplinary and highly individualized Ph.D. program. Students have varied backgrounds but typically have undergraduate degrees in psychology, biology, electrical engineering, or computer science. The neuroscience program guides students to become productive, scholarly neuroscientists with the objective of preparing for research and teaching positions at major universities and research institutions. A joint M.D./Ph.D. program is available. The following areas of concentration exemplify the breadth of the program: cognitive and behavioral neuroscience, neuroanatomy, neurophysiology, neurochemistry, neuroendocrinology, developmental neuroscience, molecular neuroscience, computational neuroscience, and biomedical neuroscience.

ADMISSION

Applications are considered individually by the admissions committee, usually for the fall semester. Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores are required. International applicants are required to have a minimum paper-based Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score of 570 (230 on the computer-based test). Admission and financial aid are considered together.

DOCTORAL DEGREE PROGRAM

Because of the breadth of the fields in this program, the coursework is tailored to the student's fields of interest as declared by a major and at least two minor areas of concentra tion from among those listed above. A faculty committee of representatives from the major and minor areas will then meet regularly with the student to plan coursework and research experience. The goal of this plan is to allow maximum flexibility while providing students with close guidance. Courses and laboratory research experience are supplemented by weekly seminars in neurobiology.

FINANCIAL AID

The neurosicence program generally supports all students in good standing with a stipend and tuition and partial fee waivers throughout their tenure in the program. Support may come in the form of fellowships, traineeships, research assistantships, or teaching assistantships according to the student's qualifications.