Behavioral Neuroscience
To obtain specific instructions for how to apply to the graduate concentration in Behavioral Neuroscience, prospective students should visit this page: https://www.uab.edu/cas/psychology/graduate-programs/behavioral-neuroscience
The curriculum in Behavioral Neuroscience provides a student with advanced training that is broadly based in neuroscience. All students have a plan of coursework that includes Overview of Behavioral Neuroscience, a two-semester statistics sequence (PY 716-PY 717), and an ongoing seminar in current research (PY 756). Advanced academic coursework is determined by the student and mentor. The student initially rotates among faculty and laboratories during the first year to obtain breadth in points of view and experimental techniques. Student then chooses a mentor with whom they normally complete the remainder of their research training. Before admission to candidacy, each student must complete a 2nd Year research requirement and pass the qualifying examination. Following acceptance of a proposal for dissertation research, the student is admitted to candidacy. The Ph.D. degree is awarded upon successful defense of the dissertation.
If entering with a baccalaureate degree:
- Completion of 48 credit hours of course work prior to candidacy.
- Up to 16 credits of the 48 can be as non-dissertation research credits.
- Up to 10 credits of the 48 can be as lab rotation, seminar, or directed study credits.
- Must complete at least two semesters in candidacy and accumulate at least 24 credit hours in 799 research OR
- must complete at least two semesters in candidacy and have accumulated at least 12 credit hours in 799 research AND, either during or before candidacy, 12 credit hours in other appropriate research-based coursework that has been approved by the graduate student’s program.
If entering with a previous Masters degree appropriate to the PhD degree field:
- Completion of 27 credit hours of course work prior to candidacy.
- Up to 6 credits of the 27 can be as non-dissertation research credits.
- Up to 6 credits of the 27 can be as lab rotation, seminar, or directed study credits.
- Must complete at least two semesters in candidacy and accumulate at least 24 credits in 799 research OR
- must complete at least two semesters in candidacy and have accumulated at least 12 credit hours in 799 research AND, either during or before candidacy, 12 credit hours in other appropriate research-based coursework, which has been approved by the graduate student’s program.
| Requirements | Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| PY 792 | Introduction to Neurobiology (Summer before Year 1) 1 | 6 |
| Year One | ||
| PY 619 | Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in Research and the Workplace | 1 |
| PY 653 | Foundations of Behavioral Neuroscience | 4 |
| PY 716 | Introduction to Statistics and Measurement | 3 |
| PY 716L | Lab for Introduction to Statistics and Measurement | 1 |
| PY 717 | Applied Statistical Methods | 3 |
| PY 717L | Lab for Applied Statistical Methods | 1 |
| PY 756 | Research Seminar in Behavioral Neuroscience (Take Twice in Year 1) | 1 |
| PY 756 | Research Seminar in Behavioral Neuroscience | 1 |
| PY 798 | Predoctoral Degree Graduate Research | 1 |
| PY 798 | Predoctoral Degree Graduate Research (Summer of Year 1) | 3-5 |
| Year Two | ||
| PY 756 | Research Seminar in Behavioral Neuroscience (Take Twice in Year Two) | 1 |
| PY 756 | Research Seminar in Behavioral Neuroscience | 1 |
| PY 798 | Predoctoral Degree Graduate Research | 7 |
| Four Psychology Electives 2 | 12 | |
| PY 798 | Predoctoral Degree Graduate Research (Summer of Year 2) | 3-5 |
| Year Three | ||
| GRD 717 | Principles of Scientific Integrity | 3 |
| PY 756 | Research Seminar in Behavioral Neuroscience (Take Twice in Year 3) | 1 |
| PY 756 | Research Seminar in Behavioral Neuroscience | 1 |
| PY 798 | Predoctoral Degree Graduate Research | 12 |
| PY 798 | Predoctoral Degree Graduate Research | 1 |
| PY 798 | Predoctoral Degree Graduate Research (Summer of Year 3) | 3-5 |
| Year Four | ||
| PY 756 | Research Seminar in Behavioral Neuroscience (Take twice in Year Four) | 1 |
| PY 756 | Research Seminar in Behavioral Neuroscience | 1 |
| PY 799 | Doctoral Dissertation Research | 4 |
| PY 799 | Doctoral Dissertation Research | 12 |
| PY 799 | Doctoral Dissertation Research (Summer of Year 4) | 3-5 |
| Year Five | ||
| PY 756 | Research Seminar in Behavioral Neuroscience (Take Twice in Year Five) | 1 |
| PY 756 | Research Seminar in Behavioral Neuroscience | 1 |
| PY 799 | Doctoral Dissertation Research | 12 |
| PY 799 | Doctoral Dissertation Research | 4 |
| PY 799 | Doctoral Dissertation Research (Summer of Year 5) | 3-5 |
| Total Hours | 112-122 | |
| 1 | PY 792 is completed during the summer, mid July to August, prior to the first semester in the Behavioral Neuroscience program. |
| 2 | Elective Classes: PY 520, PY 620, PY 687, PY 693, PY 719, PY 720, PY 727, PY 746, PY 751 PY 791, BY 511, BY 616, BY 648, BME 664, BME 764, BME 665, BME 765, CH 461, CH 561, CH 562, CS 665, NBL 729, NBL 730, NBL 755, NTR 718, PHR 701 |
Dauphin Island
Prior to starting the first semester of courses, students attend a three week course held at the Dauphin Island Research Facility. This course introduces students to many of the basic techniques and issues in the field of neuroscience and is paid for by the department.