Neuroscience Courses

This is a required course for all third year Basic Sciences students and all MD/PhD students entering doctoral study but who are not on the CPHR track. The PARC course helps to center our students in areas that are foundational to success in research: responsible data management; management of intellectual property; the ethical use of research subjects; recognizing and resolving conflicts of interest, professionalism in peer review and publishing; engaging mentors; and career exploration and planning. The PARC course comprises faculty-led presentations and small group discussions with case studies and workshop material. An online learning module (CITI training program comprising many case studies) is also included and must be completed before the end of the fall semester. 

Credits: 1

Prerequisite(s): None

Fulfills an elective requirement: No

Course Directors: Anthony Imbalzano, Cynthia Fuhrmann

Semester Offered: Fall 

Last Taught: Fall 2023

This course will help prospective scientists in the biological and medical sciences communicate their work effectively, in writing, graphics, and oral presentations. The course teaches how to prepare a research paper using words, statistics, and figures; how to present science to a lay audience; how to write a grant proposal; and how to present orally to scientific peers.

Credits: 2

Prerequisite(s): None

Fulfills an elective requirement: No

Course Directors: Jill Zitzewitz, Daryl Bosco, and Nese Kurt Yilmaz

Semester Offered: Fall 

Last Taught: Fall 2023

This problem-based course provides learning opportunities through exploration of multidisciplinary areas of contemporary biomedical research, and creates a forum for practice in the skills required for research.

Credits: 6

Prerequisite(s): Matriculation in the PhD Program

Fulfills an elective requirement: No

Course Directors: Jill Zitzewitz, Neal Silverman, Elizabeth Shank

Semester Offered: Fall

Last Taught: Fall 2023

This course has two parts. Part I focuses on electrical properties of neurons, transmitters, receptors, and neurotransmitter release. Part 2 focuses on neurodevelopment. Videos, problem sets, paper discussions and take-home assignments are integrated with subject introductions by faculty for efficient, but active learning. Modern methods and research preparations are introduced along with subject matter to prepare students for thesis research.

Credits: 3

Prerequisite(s): BBS 614 or BBS 748 (non-degree students) or course equivalent

Fulfills an elective requirement: Yes

Course Director: Ann Rittenhouse

Semester Offered: Spring

Last Taught: Spring 2024

This advanced topics course will be an in-depth study of specific areas of the neurochemical, anatomical, cell biological and genetic basis of nervous system disease. It will teach students skills in critically reading, literature and presentation of research material. The course topics are divided into sections covering disorders of neuronal migration and development; neurodegenerative diseases; and behavioral disorders. These topics cover the cell and molecular biological processes of brain function in health and disease. 

Credits: 2

Prerequisite(s): BBS 614 or BBS 748 (non-degree students) or course equivalent or permission from course coordinator

Fulfills an elective requirement: Yes

Course Director: Claudio Punzo

Semester Offered: Fall, even years

Last Taught: Fall 2022

The genetics of behavior represents a focal point in contemporary neuroscience research. Genetic screens have been conducted to identify mutants affecting behavior in model systems, and this has converged with advances in understanding the neurobiological basis of behavior. This course will synthesize the state of the art regarding the genetic basis of behavior in model organisms (worms, flies and mice), including discussion of learning and memory, circadian rhythms, and social behaviors. Lectures will include descriptions of systems for identifying mutations, genes that have been identified, and how identification of these genes contributes to understanding the underlying neural mechanisms of behavior. The course format will include faculty lectures, student presentations and discussion of assigned readings. 

Credits: 2

Prerequisite(s): BBS 760 Introduction to Neuroscience or permission from course director

Fulfills an elective requirement: Yes

Course Director: David Weaver

Semester Offered: Fall, even years

Last Taught: Fall 2021

Neuroscience Journal Club gives students the opportunity to present and discuss exciting new papers in neuroscience in an informal setting. Student presentations occur weekly (Wednesday 12-1). Students are also expected to attend the Neuroscience Program Seminar series (Thursday 12:15-1:15) and to meet with external speakers (Thursday 1:40-2:20). Program in Neuroscience students are required to take 2 semesters of BBS 808.  BBS 838 substitutes for 808.

Credits: 2

Prerequisite(s): None

Fulfills an elective requirement: No

Course Director: David Weaver 

Semester Offered: Fall, Spring

Last Taught: Fall 2021

Participants in this course will attend the Program in Neuroscience Seminar Series. Attendance at > 60% of seminars in a semester is needed for a passing grade. Two semesters of Neuroscience Seminar are required for Neuroscience Program students.

This Advanced Topics course will cover sensory and motor systems, Integrative neuroscience, motivated behaviors, and model organisms. The course will consist of lectures, student presentations, and paper discussions. Intended to follow BBS 780, but 780 is not a prerequisite. Strongly recommended for Program in Neuroscience students; others are welcome.

Credits: 3

Prerequisite(s): BBS 614 or BBS 748 (non-degree students) or course equivalent

Fulfills an elective requirement: Yes

Course Director: Patrick Emery

Semester Offered: Fall

Last Taught: Fall 2023

This course will demonstrate the major elements that distinguish a great presentation, and identify areas in which each student can improve their presentations through peer critiques and self-assessment. Importantly, this class will allow students many opportunities to see their skills improve throughout the course. Substitutes for Neuroscience Journal Club in meeting Neuroscience Program requirements.

Credits: 1

Prerequisite(s): Students conducting research in the neuroscience field will have priority if maximum enrollment is reached, but the course is open to students from other Programs and areas of research on a space-available

Fulfills an elective requirement: No

Course Director: David Weaver

Course Offered: Fall

Last Taught: Fall 2020

Tutorials offer the opportunity for one student or a small group of students to discuss research in a specific research area, or a series of selected papers, with one or more faculty members. The small group format allows extensive discussion and interaction. This course number allows faculty and students the flexibility to develop a syllabus of their making. The proposed syllabus must be approved by the Neuroscience Program director. Tutorials are arranged with individual faculty members. Students may re-enroll for multiple tutorials.

Credits: 1

Prerequisite(s): Permission from Neuroscience Program Director

Fulfills an elective requirement: No

Course Director: David Weaver

Semester Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer

Last Taught: Fall 2021

Research rotations are defined periods of research experience under the direction of a faculty member. They are intended to familiarize the student with concepts and techniques in several areas of research and to assist the student in evaluating research laboratories and projects that might be developed into a dissertation project. The student will participate in an ongoing research project; gain familiarity with concepts underlying the research; acquire a working knowledge of techniques used in the research; and write a report and present an oral summary of the results of the research.

In the summer term, only MD/PhD students may register.

Credits: 2-5

Fulfills an elective requirement: No

Course Director: Varies

Semester Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer

Last Taught: Taught every Fall, Spring, and Summer

Summer Research – Year 1 is for first year BBS students.  Expectations are for students to (1) formulate initial hypotheses and/or goals, (2) design and begin to execute research plans, (3) Critically read and evaluate relevant literature.

Credits: 6

Fulfills an elective requirement: No

Course Director: Varies

Semester Offered: Summer

Last Taught: Taught every Summer

Students are required to register for this course in the fall semester of the academic year in which they are to pass their Qualifying Examination.

Credits: 1

Fulfills an elective requirement: No

Course Director: Mary Ellen Lane

Semester Offered: Fall

Last Taught: Taught every year 

All graduate students are required to have at least one Thesis Research Advisory Committee (TRAC) meeting each academic year. After passing their Qualifying Examination and selection of their TRAC, students are required to register for this course each fall semester until their Dissertation Advisory Committee is formed.

MD/PhD Goals: 1) To periodically review progress along thesis research project advised by content experts 2) To provide guidance for establishing a thesis research project consistent with the MD/PhD Program goals

MD/PhD Curricular Expectations: Two Thesis Research Advisory Committee (TRAC) meeting each academic year as define by the Professionalism Benchmark Checklist

Credits: 1

Fulfills an elective requirement: No

Course Director: Mary Ellen Lane

Semester Offered: Fall

Last Taught: Taught every year

This course is for students who have selected a program and thesis advisor but who have not yet passed the Qualifying Examination. 

Credits: 9

Fulfills an elective requirement: No

Course Director: Student's thesis advisor

Semester Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer

Last Taught: Taught every semester

Students register for Thesis Research fall term of year three of the program (MD/PhD Students: Fall term of year four in the program), after passing the Qualifying Exam.

Credits: 12

Fulfills an elective requirement: No

Course Director: Student's thesis advisor

Semester Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer

Last Taught: Taught every semester

Students register for Graduate Research fall term of year four (MD/PhD Students: Fall term of year five+) in the PhD Program and will continue to register each semester until they complete all remaining requirements.

Credits: 0

Fulfills an elective requirement: No

Course Director: Student's thesis advisor

Semester Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer

Last Taught: Taught every semester