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College of Medicine: Department of Neuroscience

Graduate Program

GPIBS Neuroscience Track

The Graduate Program in Interdisciplinary Biomedical Sciences (GPIBS) at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences offers students the opportunity to pursue training in a wide range of disciplines while providing a foundation in the basic sciences.

Learn More About the GPIBS Program

Credit Requirements

Year 1 Fall (10 credit hours)

GPIBS Core Curriculum

Year 1 Spring (12 credit hours)

1 credit hour Seminar (NBDS 51051)
1 credit hour Scientific Communication and Ethics II (PHAR 51191)
3 credit hours Biostatistics I (BIOS 50133) ) or Experimental Design & Quantitative Analysis (PCOL 51433)
1 credit hour research (NBDS 5107V)
3 credit hours Basic Neuroscience (NBDS 51003)
3 credit hours Cellular and Developmental Neuroscience (NBDS 51043)

The fall and spring semesters include 18 credit hours of the 24 hours of required didactic coursework. Electives (6 hours minimum) are chosen based on advice from the student’s advisor and/or advisory committee.

Year 1 Summer (1 credit hour)

1 credit hour Research (NBDS 5107V)

Year 2 Fall (10 credit hours)

1 credit hour Seminar (NBDS 51051)
1 credit hour Scientific Communication and Ethics III (PHAR 51201)
8 credit hours Electives, and/or Research (NBDS 5107V)

Year 2 Spring (10 credit hours)

1 credit hour Seminar (NBDS 51051)
1 credit hour Scientific Communications and Ethics IV (PHAR 51231)
8 credit hours Electives, and/or Research (NBDS 5107V)

Year 2 Summer

1 credit hour Research (NBDS 5107V)

Candidacy Exam (research proposal submitted to committee followed by oral defense)

Year 3 – Until Degree Completion

For each remaining Fall and Spring semester (10 credit hours):
1 credit hour Seminar (NBDS 51051)
9 credit hours of Doctoral Dissertation (NBDS 6200V) and/or Research (NBDS 5107V)

For each remaining Summer semester (1 credit hour): 1 credit hour of Doctoral Dissertation (NBDS 6200V) or Research (NBDS 5107V)

Students must successfully defend their research projects in written and oral format prior to completion of the degree. A minimum of 72 semester credit hours, including 18 credit hours of Doctoral Dissertation (NBDS 5107V), are required for GPIBS Ph.D. program completion.

*Students may either take BIOS 50133 (Year 1 Spring) or PCOL51433 (Year 2 Fall) to fulfill the NEURO track statistics course requirement. If PCOL51433 is taken, then students may choose to instead register for an elective or adjust the number of research hours for Year 1 Spring.