Graduate: Masters – Program for Non-Tulane Undergraduates

Dr. Gary Dohanich

Program Director
Phone: 504-862-3307
Email: dohanich@tulane.edu

Dr. Beth Wee

Co-Director
Phone:504-314-7548
Email: bwee@tulane.edu

Sherrie Calogero

Program Coordinator
Neuroscience Office: 2013 Stern Hall
Phone: 504-862-3305
Email: sherrie@tulane.edu

Tulane University offers a master of science degree in Neuroscience for students with baccalaureate degrees from other institutions. Students in the M.S. program take courses relevant to their interests in Neuroscience and related fields. The mission of the M.S. program is to prepare students for admission to doctoral programs in the neurosciences and for admission to medical schools. Completion of the M.S. program does not guarantee acceptance to Tulane's Ph.D. programs or medical school.

Admission Criteria

Acceptance into the program is competitive and based on the decision of a Steering Committee comprised of faculty members of the Neuroscience Graduate Program. Candidates should have a strong background in and demonstrated knowledge of college level biology, chemistry, math, and physics and exhibit the potential for graduate study. Applicants will need a minimum of 1100 on their GRE (or a 24 on their MCAT) and 3.2 undergraduate GPA. The deadline for receipt of the COMPLETED APPLICATION, INCLUDING ALL SUPPORTING MATERIALS is June 1 to start in the fall semester and October 15 to start in the spring semester. Completed applications received prior to the deadline will be reviewed on a rolling basis as early as March 1 for students applying to start in the fall and October 15 for students applying to start in the spring.

Contact Dr. Wee regarding specific admission procedures.

Costs

The cost of the Masters Program for Non-Tulane Undergraduates for the 2009-2010 Academic Year is $18,650 for tuition and approximately $1650 for fees. In addition, all students are required to have health insurance while enrolled at Tulane. Students may elect to enroll in the Tulane sponsored health insurance plan which is $1893 this year. Estimated personal expenses are about $1500.

Curriculum

Consistent with the training model for our doctoral students, each M.S. student follows an individualized program of study. Most students concentrate on a specific area of Neuroscience, and their course work reflects that focus. The degree requires 30 credits at the graduate level. Courses should be chosen in consultation with Dr. Wee or Dr. Dohanich. For further information and advising, view a list of faculty members and courses which students may take. Please note that MS students are required to take Methods in Neuroscience and Trends/Seminar (1 or both semesters) and either Cellular Neuroscience or Graduate Neuroscience.

Duration of Study

Students may enter the program during either the fall or spring semester of any academic year. Students should complete their degree requirements within two academic semesters.

Neuroscience Education at Tulane University

Tulane offers an undergraduate major in Neuroscience (B.S.) within the School of Science and Engineering that is the fastest growing major on campus. The 4+1 Program in Neuroscience provides Tulane graduates with training for one additional year beyond the baccalaureate degree. The Neuroscience Graduate Program (Ph.D.) is an interdepartmental graduate program at Tulane. The mission of the program is to provide Ph.D. students with a broad education in the theoretical and practical aspects of Neuroscience research and teaching.

Course List for the M.S. Degree in Neuroscience at Tulane University

NSCI 600/601 (F)	3,1	Methods in Neuroscience	Wee
NSCI 603 (F,S)	1	Neuroscience Seminar	Wee
NSCI 604 (F,S)	1	Trends in Neuroscience	Dohanich, Schrader
NSCI 611	3	Brain and Language	Howard
NSCI 631 (F)	3	Cellular Neuroscience	Tasker
NSCI 632 (S)	3	Systems Neuroscience	Schrader
NSCI 633	3	Neurobiology of Learning and Memory	Daniel
NSCI 634 (S)	3	Neurobiology of Disease	Cronin
NSCI 635 (S)	3	Developmental Neurobiology	Inglis
NSCI 637 (F)	3	Molecular Neurobiology	Inglis
NSCI 651 (S)	3	Biological Psychology	Colombo
NSCI 653 (F)	3	Psychopharmacology	Dohanich
NSCI 655 (S)	3	Behavioral Neuroendocrinology	Dohanich/Wee
NSCI 657 (S)	3	Cognitive Neuroscience	Golob
NSCI 689 (F)	1	Service Learning	Wee
NSCI 690 (F, S)	3	Service Learning Internship	Wee
NSCI 710 (F, S)	0-4	Special Topics in Neuroscience	Staff
NSCI 711 (F)	3	Graduate Neuroscience	Tasker
NSCI 798 (F, S)	1-6	Research in Neuroscience	Staff
SCEN 703/713	3, 1	Anatomy and Physiology I/Lab	Dancisak/Parrish
SCEN 704/714	3, 1	Anatomy and Physiology II/Lab	Dancisak/Parrish
CELL 601 (F)	3	Cellular Biochemistry	Hopkins
CELL 608	3	Advanced Developmental and Cell Biology	Muneoka
CELL 611	3	Cells and Tissues	Staff
CELL 613	4	Embryology - Lecture and Lab	Muneoka
CELL 616 (F)	3	Developmental Biology	Cserjesi
CELL 621 (F)	3	Cellular Physiology	Cronin
CELL 701 (F, S)	3	Cell Biology	Dotson
CELL 711 (F, S)	3	Molecular Biology	Thien, Mullin
PSYC 609 (F)	3	Univariate Statistics I	Corey
PSYC 611 (S)	3	Univariate Statistics II	Corey
PSYC 613 (F)	3	Multivariate Statistics	Corey
EBIO 708	3	Biostatistics and Experimental Design	Staff

Additional relevant electives are offered by other departments and programs. However, only courses at the 600 and 700 levels receive graduate course credit. Students should look at the registrar's course list to know what is offered each semester.

Example Curriculum
Fall	Spring
NSCI 631/636 (3)	NSCI 632 (3)
NSCI 600 (3)	Elective (3)
NSCI 603 & 604 (2)	Elective (2-3)
Elective (2-3)	Elective (2-3)
Elective (2-3)	Elective (2-3)

View a list of all graduate courses available to graduate students in neuroscience.