Behavioral Neuroscience

To obtain specific instructions for how to apply to the M.S. and/or Ph.D. 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.

Plan 1 Thesis

RequirementsHours
PY 653Foundations of Behavioral Neuroscience4
PY 716
& 716L		Introduction to Statistics and Measurement
and Lab for Introduction to Statistics and Measurement		4
Required Statistics Elective3-4
Applied Statistical Methods
and Lab for Applied Statistical Methods
Advanced Research Design
Program Electives 119
Plan 1 Thesis Research
PY 698Premaster's Degree Graduate Research6
PY 699Master's Level Thesis Research6
Total Hours42-43

Plan 2 Non-Thesis

RequirementsHours
PY 653Foundations of Behavioral Neuroscience4
PY 716
& 716L		Introduction to Statistics and Measurement
and Lab for Introduction to Statistics and Measurement		4
Required Statistics Elective3-4
Applied Statistical Methods
and Lab for Applied Statistical Methods
Advanced Research Design
Program Electives 119
Total Hours30-31
1

Program Electives: 

PY 520, PY 620, PY 635, PY 687, PY 693, PY 704, PY 707, PY 708, PY 717, PY 717L, PY 718, PY 719, PY 719L, PY 720, PY 746, PY 792, NBL 625

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.
RequirementsHours
PY 792Introduction to Neurobiology (Summer Before Year One) 16
Year One
PY 619Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in Research and the Workplace1
PY 653Foundations of Behavioral Neuroscience4
PY 716
& 716L		Introduction to Statistics and Measurement
and Lab for Introduction to Statistics and Measurement		4
PY 717
& 717L		Applied Statistical Methods
and Lab for Applied Statistical Methods		4
PY 756Research Seminar in Behavioral Neuroscience2
PY 798Predoctoral Degree Graduate Research4-6
Psychology Elective 23
Year Two
PY 756Research Seminar in Behavioral Neuroscience (Take Twice in Year Two)1
PY 756Research Seminar in Behavioral Neuroscience1
PY 798Predoctoral Degree Graduate Research7
PY 798Predoctoral Degree Graduate Research (Summer of Year Two)3-5
Three Psychology Electives 29
Year Three
GRD 717Principles of Scientific Integrity3
PY 756Research Seminar in Behavioral Neuroscience (Take Twice in Year Three)1
PY 756Research Seminar in Behavioral Neuroscience1
PY 798Predoctoral Degree Graduate Research12
PY 798Predoctoral Degree Graduate Research1
PY 798Predoctoral Degree Graduate Research (Summer of Year Three)3-5
Year Four
PY 756Research Seminar in Behavioral Neuroscience (Take Twice in Year Four)1
PY 756Research Seminar in Behavioral Neuroscience1
PY 799Doctoral Dissertation Research4
PY 799Doctoral Dissertation Research12
PY 799Doctoral Dissertation Research (Summer of Year Four)3-5
Year Five
PY 756Research Seminar in Behavioral Neuroscience (Take Twice in Year Five)1
PY 756Research Seminar in Behavioral Neuroscience1
PY 799Doctoral Dissertation Research12
PY 799Doctoral Dissertation Research4
PY 799Doctoral Dissertation Research (Summer of Year Five)3-5
Total Hours112-122
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 635, PY 687, PY 693, PY 717, PY 717L, PY 718, PY 719, PY 719L, 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 561, CH 562, CS 665, NBL 729, NBL 730, 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.