M.D./Ph.D. Interdisciplinary Program in Neuroscience

About the Program

The M.D./Ph.D. Interdisciplinary Program in Neuroscience requires students to complete 18.5 credits in core neuroscience courses, compared to the 34 credits required for Ph.D. students. The remaining credits will be absorbed from medical coursework.

The requirement for 10.5 electives and the following courses are waived for M.D./Ph.D. students: NSCI 5008: Organization of the Nervous System (for Medical School Neuroscience) and NSCI 5004: Neurobiology of Disease (for Medical School Neuroscience). Students may elect to take electives if they wish.

M.D./Ph.D. Course Schedule

MD/PhD Timeline showing MD Years and PhD Years on an overall timeline. Year 1 and half of Year 2 are MD Years (Medical Coursework); the second half of Year 2 through the first half of Year 6 are PhD Years (PhD Program Coursework and Thesis Research); and the second half of Year 6 through Year 8 are MD Years (Clinical Rotations and 4th Year Activities)

After M1
Year 1 of Ph.D.
Year 2 of Ph.D.
Years 2-4 of Ph.D.

After M1

Summer 0

Course Name	Credit(s)
NSCI 9985: NSCI Lab Rotation – Summer	0 (Pass/Fail)
	0 Credits

Review the BGE New Student Checklist
Attend the mandatory Biomedical Graduate Education Summer Orientation
Review the requirements and expectations of Lab Rotations
Send a Post-Rotation Form to the head of the Student Advisory Committee (SAC) for 1st rotation

Fall 0

MD/PhD students enrolled in School of Medicine (SOM) for M2.

Spring 0

M.D./Ph.D. students will be officially enrolled in graduate school. However, they are not expected to actually begin their rotation until they have taken the USMLE STEP I board exam. M.D./Ph.D. students are required to take STEP I by the same deadline as students in the regular M.D. program.

Course Name	Credit(s)
NSCI 9986: NSCI Lab Rotation – Spring	0 (Pass/Fail)
	0 Credits

Send a Post-Rotation Form to the head of the SAC for 2nd rotation
Give Student Seminar Series talk about 2nd Rotation

Year 1 of Ph.D.

Summer 1

Course Name	Credit(s)
NSCI 8001: Experiences in Neuroscience	0
NSCI 9986: NSCI Lab Rotation – Summer	0 (Pass/Fail)
	0 Credits

Attend the mandatory IPN orientation
Send a Post-Rotation Form to the head of the SAC for 3rd rotation and choose a thesis lab
Register for Fall Courses and Thesis Research

Fall 1

Course Name	Credit(s)
NSCI 5002: Cellular & Molecular Neuroscience	6
NSCI 5001: Neuroscience Survey I	2
NSCI 5003: Critical Readings I	1
NSCI 5009: Practical Data Analysis & Experimental Design	1.5
NSCI 9999-03: Thesis Research (section 3)	0
	10.5 Credits

Give Student Seminar Series talk at Fall Retreat
Register for Spring Courses and Thesis Research

Spring 1

Course Name	Credit(s)
NSCI 5005: Systems & Cognitive Neuroscience	5
NSCI 5003: Neuroscience Critical Readings	1
NSCI 5007: Survey Skills & Ethics for Science	2
NSCI 9999-03: Thesis Research (section 3)	0
	8 Credits

Take the Written Comprehensive Exam before the end of Year 1
Register for Summer Thesis Research

Year 2 of Ph.D.

Summer 2

Course Name	Credit(s)
NSCI 9999-61: Thesis Research	0 (Pass/Fail)
	0 Credits

Choose Oral Committee and schedule Oral Exam
Register for Fall Thesis Research

Fall 2

Course Name	Credit(s)
NSCI 9999-01: Thesis Research After Fall 2, you will be automatically registered for Thesis Research (NSCI 9999-01) courses.	0 (Pass/Fail)
	0 Credits

Organize thesis committee and get SAC Approval by December
Full-time Thesis Research [register for NSCI 9999-01]
Give Annual Student Seminar Talk
Set up the first meeting with the thesis committee and bring the completed GSAS Thesis Proposal form for approval

Years 2-4 of Ph.D.

Meeting with the thesis committee
Expect to submit your first manuscript before the end of your 3rd year
Completion of Degree
PhD Graduating Student Checklist
Graduation and Commencement
Need to register with SOM for Spring 4