Neuroscience Graduate Program Core Courses
YEAR 1: BN 203/204 Advanced Molecular and Cellular Neurobiology (Dr. Lipscombe)
This course focuses on molecular and cellular approaches used to study the nervous system and
illustrates that many neuronal functions can be understood at the level of single molecules, cells, and
synapses. In the first semester students will learn about fundamental mechanisms by which information
is transferred, integrated, and stored in the nervous system. In the second semester focus turns to the
fundamental mechanisms underlying neural development. Topics include the patterning of the nervous
system, birth and death of neurons, guidance of nerve processes to their targets, and the formation,
maintenance and plasticity of synaptic connections. Emphasis is on the cellular and molecular bases of
these events.
YEAR 1: BN 205/206 Advanced systems, cognitive and computational Neuroscience (Dr. Sanes)
This course focuses on systems, cognitive and computational approaches to study nervous system
function. Lectures and discussions emphasize neurophysiology in mammalian species, neuroimaging in
humans, and lesion studies. Computational approaches are integrated into the material throughout the
course. In the first semester, students will learn about basic sensory, regulatory, and motor systems.
Initial lectures lay the groundwork for neural coding and computational approaches. In the second
semester, students learn in-depth about the behavioral, neuroimaging, and computational methods
used to investigate cognitive neuroscience problems. Thereafter, we focus on the neuroscience of
major cognitive systems; topics include perception, decision making, attention, learning and memory,
emotion, reward processing, language, and higher function.
YEAR 1: BN 165 Structure of the Nervous System (Dr. Berson)
This is a combined lecture and laboratory course on the anatomy of the central nervous system.
Lectures provide an overview of the circuitry of the major neural systems for sensation, movement,
cognition, and emotion and emphasize a functional perspective. The embryology, microcircuitry, and
chemical neuroanatomy of the brain are also considered. Laboratory exercises include brain
dissections, analysis of histological slides of neural tissue, and axon-tracing experiments.
YEAR 2: Electives, journal clubs, and teaching experience (Faculty)
In their second year, students select from a rich list of courses to supplement their research (see below), they attend one of several weekly journal clubs, serve as a teaching assistants for one semester, and are encouraged to attend select Neurology Grand Rounds at Rhode Island Hospital.
| Year 1 | Year 2 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Semester 1 | Semester 2 | Semester 3 | Semester 4 | |
| Core Curriculum | BN203 | BN204 | Electives and Seminars | |
| BN205 | BN206 | |||
| BN165 | Neurology Grand Rounds | |||
| Research | Rotation | Rotation | Thesis Research | |
| Career Development | NSGP Seminar Series & Discussion Group | |||
| Ethics & Skills Workshop | ||||
| Journal Club | ||||
| TA | ||||
| Comprehensive | Thesis Proposal | |||
ALL YEARS: Research, Seminar Series, Ethics and Skills Workshop
Students start laboratory rotations as soon as they enter the Program. Students rotate in at least two different laboratories and select their dissertation advisor by the end of their third semester.
All students attend the Neuroscience Graduate Program weekly seminar series that hosts prominent scientists from around the country. '06/'07 series download here. This event serves as the weekly focal point of the program and is regularly attended by faculty and members of their laboratories from several different departments.
First and second year students also attend a monthly skills and ethics workshop. Topics rotate on a two year schedule. Sessions are led by experts within and from outside the Program. Ethics sessions involve informal small group sessions allowing for discussion of often complex issues and situations. Workshops instruct in skills necessary for effective science writing and oral communication. Session also include insights into the mechanics of submitting manuscript and grants, as well as editorial and peer review processes.
