Two Phase Qualifying Process for Candidacy for the Neuroscience Ph. D.

Phase I: Successful completion of Phase I of the Ph.D. Qualifying process is determined by satisfactory passing of all courses. During Phase I, students are expected to cultivate a scholarly foundation in neuroscience, refine critical thinking abilities, and demonstrate their mastery of course material by earning at least a B in each required class and an overall B average when both required and elective courses are considered. There are two potential outcomes of the Phase I process: pass or fail. Students who pass Phase I will continue on to Phase II of the Qualifying Examination process as outlined below. Students who fail Phase I (i.e., earn a grade of C or less more than once) will be dismissed from the program.

Phase II: Phase II of the Qualifying Process consists of two parts: a written examination followed by an oral one. The written portion of Phase II is submitted in the summer of the second year of study, after Phase I of the Qualifying Examination is successfully completed. The oral portion of Phase II takes place early in the subsequent Fall semester.

The written examination is a research proposal presented in the format of a National Research Service Award (NRSA) grant proposal. This document serves as a first version of the Dissertation Thesis Proposal and should include a description of a clearly-stated research problem that relates to a student's area of experimental inquiry, as well as experiments designed by the student to test a specific hypothesis. This portion of Phase II is designed to evaluate skills critical to research excellence, including clear and concise writing, creativity, and the ability to generate and test hypotheses.

The oral examination will be 1 1/2 to 2 hours in duration, and examinations for all students will be held in late September- early October. The purpose of the oral exam is to evaluate the student's knowledge base, understanding of experimental design, capacity to connect related concepts, and ability to think critically. If the committee approves the NRSA written proposal and finds the oral performance by the student acceptable, the student is officially designated as a Ph.D. candidate.

An initial organizational meeting to prepare students for the Phase II Qualifying Examination will be held during March of the students' qualifying year. At this meeting, proper NRSA format and examples of questions likely to be asked during the oral portion of Phase II will be reviewed, and the Director of Graduate Studies and members of the Oversight Committee for Students will be present to answer questions.