Program directors

Program description

Neuroscience is the scientific study of the nervous system. Studies in neuroscience can be multifaceted and combine physiology, anatomy, molecular biology, developmental biology, cytology, computer science and mathematical modeling to understand the fundamental and emergent properties of the many different cells in the brain and how they interact and co-regulate each other.

Students integrate several levels of analysis --- molecular, cellular, systems, behavioral and cognitive --- to investigate basic, translational and clinical questions about the relationship between the brain and behavior.

The PhD program in neuroscience includes aspects of graduate-level training from many different units on campus as well as from the program's partner institutions distributed across the greater Phoenix area. Partner institutions include Barrow Neurological Institute, Translational Genomics Research Institute, University of Arizona College of Medicine and Sun Health Research Institute.

Degree requirements

The current degree requirements are below. Remember you are required to fulfill the requirements from the academic year you were admitted. Please refer to the handbook from your year of admission as needed.

84 credit hours, an oral and written exam, a prospectus and a dissertation

Required Core (8 credit hours)

• BIO 610 Introduction to Responsible Conduct of Research in Life Sciences (1)

• NEU 556 Human Systems Neuroscience (4)

• NEU 576 Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience (3) 

Other Requirements (6 credit hours)

• NEU 558 Neuroscience Journal Club (1)

• NEU 591 Neuroscience Research and Public Speaking Series  (1) 

*NEU 558 and NEU 591 are both 1 credit hour seminars, 1 of which is taken each semester for at least 6 semesters

Electives and Research (63 credit hours)

Research

• NEU 792 Research (12 minimum credit hours required)

The department and the student's advisor determine additional elective courses in conjunction with the student. Some examples include the following (not an exhaustive list):

• NEU 792 Research (additional)

• BIO 530 Scientific Teaching

• BIO 533 K-12 STEM Education & Outreach

• BIO 539 Computing for Research

• BIO 541 SOLS Seminar Series

• BIO 542 SOLS Current Topics in the Life Sciences

• BIO 543 Molecular Genetics and Genomics

• BIO 579 Data Analysis and Visualization in R

• BIO 591 Communication for Scientists

• BIO 591 Genetics and Genomics of Behavior

• BIO 620 Research Prospectus Writing

• MCB 500 Research Methods

• MCB 540 Functional Genomics

• MCB 591 Virology Journal Club

• MCB 598 Immunology: Molecular and Cellular Foundations

• MCB 598 Advanced Developmental Biology

• NEU 591 Data Analysis in Neuroscience

• NEU 598 Neurophysiology

• NEU 598 Neurodegenerative Disorders of the Aging Brain

• NEU 598 Brain and Emotion

Culminating Experience (12 credit hours)

• NEU 799 Dissertation (12)

*Taken after advancing to candidacy

*Note: It is very important you do exactly 12 dissertation credit hours. You may begin completing dissertation credits after advancing to candidacy. These 12 can be divided and taken over multiple semesters, but they must sum 12 credits exactly (no more, no less) to avoid issues when graduating. If you need to enroll in dissertation or equivalent hours after meeting your 12 total, please take NEU 792 Research hours instead, which has no maximum limit.

Comprehensive exams

Please communicate with your faculty advisor and refer to your academic year's SOLS handbook for specific details about what is required for your comprehensive exams and prospectus defense. The Neuroscience PhD program requires you complete this by the end of your 2nd year of training. You must pass your oral and written exams as well as your prospectus defense in order to advance to candidacy.

To schedule your exams:

• • Confirm your iPOS is approved and your faculty committee section is up to date.

  • Please fill out this form to both schedule and initiate your electronic pass/fail form. This will be sent to your committee members and Program Director. 

After your exams:

• Once your pass/fail form has been completed, the SOLS Graduate Office will input your results in your iPOS. If you passed each component, you will advance to candidacy and receive a formal candidacy letter from ASU.

• If you advance to candidacy by the deadlines detailed here, you will receive a post-candidacy pay increase the following semester (and each subsequent semester).