About the Program

The Neuroscience Graduate Program at UC Berkeley is a unique, diverse PhD training program that offers intensive, integrated training in multiple areas of neuroscience research.

The program involves more than 60 faculty from different campus departments, with expertise ranging from molecular and cellular neuroscienceto developmental neuroscience, systems and computational neuroscience, and human cognitive neuroscience.

We provide a highly interdisciplinary, intellectually dynamic training environment of coursework, research training, and mentoring, within a strong research program that produces fundamental advances in knowledge and cutting-edge techniques.

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The following minimum requirements apply to all graduate programs and will be verified by the Graduate Division:

The Graduate Council views academic degrees not as vocational training certificates, butas evidence of broad training in research methods, independent study, and articulation of learning. Therefore, applicants who already have academic graduate degrees should be able to pursue new subject matter at an advanced level without the need to enroll in a related or similar graduate program.

Programs may consider students for an additional academic masters or professional masters degree only if the additional degree is in a distinctly different field.

Applicants admitted to a doctoral program that requires a masters degree to be earned at Berkeley as a prerequisite (even though the applicant already has a masters degree from another institution in the same or a closely allied field of study) will be permitted to undertake the second masters degree, despite the overlap in field.

The Graduate Division will admit students for a second doctoral degree only if they meet the following guidelines:

Applicantsmay apply only to one single degree program or one concurrent degree program per admission cycle.

If applicants have previously been denied admission to Berkeley on the basis of their English language proficiency, they must submit new test scores that meet the current minimum from one of the standardized tests.Official TOEFL score reports must be sent directly from Educational Test Services (ETS). The institution code for Berkeley is 4833. Official IELTS score reports must be mailed directly to our office from the British Council. TOEFL and IELTS score reports are only valid for two years.

Visit the Berkeley Graduate Divisionapplication page.

Applicants to the program should have a bachelor's degree in science from a four-year college and at least one year of laboratory experience. Applicants are required to submit Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General Test scores.

During the first year of graduate study, each neuroscience graduate student spends three 10-week periods performing research projects in different faculty laboratories. The goal is to expose students to different techniques and approaches in neuroscience and to provide training in experimental design, critical analysis of data, and presentation of research findings. Performance in rotations is evaluated and graded. Rotations also allow students to identify the laboratory in which their thesis research will be performed. During the first-year students also take Neurosci 290A/B Methods & Career Skills Classes whichintroduce a broad range of modern neuroscience research methods in didactic lectures and provide advising in initial career skills. Neurosci 290A (Fall) includes a survey of cutting-edge research methods, advising on how to choose a thesis mentor, training in scientific rigor and reproducibility, and an introduction to the use and misuse of statistics in neuroscience research. Neurosci 290B (Spring) includes in-depth training on how to give a top-notch scientific talk, advising on how to write effective research papers, and on scientific project management.

Step II: Qualifying Exam

Students complete an oral qualifying exam during the spring semester of Year 2. This exam is structured around two written proposalsone in the students proposed area of thesis research, and the other in an area of neuroscience outside the thesis topic. During the exam, a faculty committee tests the students knowledge of these areas and general neuroscience. Students must demonstrate the ability to recognize important research problems, propose relevant experimental approaches, and display comprehensive knowledge of relevant subjects. Students must pass the qualifying examination before advancing to doctoral candidacy.

Students undertake research for the PhD dissertation under a four-person committee in charge of their research and dissertation. Students do original research using a wide variety of cutting-edge neuroscience methods. The students then write a dissertation based on the results of this research. On completion of the research and approval of the dissertation by the committee, the students are awarded the doctorate.

Total normative time is 5.5 years.

Students can either take one graduate-level course from each category, or three graduate level coursesfrom two areas, plus a selected advanced undergraduate course from a third area. They are taken in years 12. Courses offered will vary depending on the semester. The courses below are samples of courses that fulfill the area requirements.

Students must take one additional elective course. This can be either a graduate-level seminar or graduate-level lecture course, and can be 1 unit or more. This is typically taken in years three-four. You may also select a foundation course as an elective. Consult your thesis adviser and thesis committee to select the most appropriate course for you.

There is no formal defense of the completed dissertation. Neuroscience students are required to publicly present a thesis seminar about their dissertation research in their final year.

During their fourth year of study, students are required to make a presentation on the progress of their thesis work while enrolling in NEUROSC294(Neuroscience Graduate Student Presentation Seminar), a journal club, for a letter grade.

Neuroscience students are required to serve as graduate student instructors (GSIs) for two semesters. Whenever possible, GSI assignments are determined with an eye toward student research interests. Teaching occurs during fall semester of the second year and spring semester of the third. Teaching affords students supervised experience in a variety of educational situations, including labs, discussion sections, and demonstrations. GSIs also participate in record-keeping, grading, advising, and student consultations.

GSIs are evaluated by both supervising faculty and the students they teach. These evaluations become a permanent part of the student file. Deserving GSIs are nominated for the Outstanding Graduate Student Instructor Award.

Expand all course descriptions [+]Collapse all course descriptions [-]

Terms offered: Spring 2017, Spring 2015, Spring 2014, Spring 2013This course will survey the field of Alzheimer's disease (AD) from a biological and public health perspective by reading original research papers in the fields of medicine, neuroscience, and epidemiology. The course will begin with a historical survey of the concept of AD, followed by a description of clinical and neuropathological features. Subsequent classes will cover the genetics and molecular biology of the disease, as well as biomarkers, epidemiology, risk factors, treatment, development of new diagnostic approaches, and ethical issues. The course will also serve as a model for the analysis of complex diseases with multiple genetic and environmental causes, and late onset neurodegenerative diseases. The course will also serve as a model for the analysis of complex diseases with multiple genetic and environmental causes and late-onset neurodegenerative disease.Biological and Public Health Aspects of Alzheimer's Disease: Read More [+]

Terms offered: Fall 2020, Fall 2019, Fall 2018This course covers the molecular/cellular basis of neuron excitability (membrane potentials, action potential generation and propagation, ion channels), synaptic transmission and plasticity, sensory receptor function, and developmental neurobiology.Cellular and Developmental Neurobiology: Read More [+]

Terms offered: Spring 2020, Spring 2019, Spring 2018Advanced coverage of current research problems in systems-level neuroscience, and experimental and computational techniques used for these studies.Circuit and Systems Neurobiology: Read More [+]

Rules & Requirements

Repeat rules: Course may be repeated for credit without restriction.

Hours & Format

Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture per week

Additional Details

Subject/Course Level: Neuroscience/Graduate

Grading: Letter grade.

Also listed as: MCELLBIC262

Circuit and Systems Neurobiology: Read Less [-]

Terms offered: Prior to 2007This course provides an introduction to the theory of neural computation. The goal is to familiarize students with the major theoretical frameworks and models used in neuroscience and psychology, and to provide hands-on experience in using these models. Topics include neural network models, supervised and unsupervised learning rules, associative memory models, probabilistic/graphical models, and models of neural coding in the brain.Neural Computation: Read More [+]

Rules & Requirements

Prerequisites: Calculus, differential equations, basic probability and statistics, linear algebra, and familiarity with high level programming languages such as Matlab

Hours & Format

Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture per week

Additional Details

Subject/Course Level: Neuroscience/Graduate

Grading: Letter grade.

Instructor: Olshausen

Also listed as: VISSCIC265

Neural Computation: Read Less [-]

Terms offered: Spring 2017, Spring 2016, Spring 2015Seminar on the presentation and evaluation of research results for first-year neuroscience graduate students. During the first weeks, faculty present their research (FERPS); later, students present individual research results and evaluate their own and each other's work. Course enrollment limited to 15.Neuroscience First Year Research: Read More [+]

Rules & Requirements

Prerequisites: Graduate standing in Neuroscience Graduate Group; concurrent enrollment in 291A-291B

Hours & Format

Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 2 hours of seminar per week

Additional Details

Subject/Course Level: Neuroscience/Graduate

Grading: Letter grade.

Instructor: Ngai

Neuroscience First Year Research: Read Less [-]

Terms offered: Fall 2020, Fall 2019, Fall 2018Professional core competency training for graduate students involved in neuroscience research at Berkeley. Includes survey of modern research methods, and professional skills including principles of experimental design and data reproducibility.Neuroscience Research Design and Analysis: Read More [+]

Rules & Requirements

Prerequisites: Restricted to 1st year PhD students in Neuroscience-related PhD Programs (Neuroscience PhD Program, MCB PhD Program, Psychology PhD Program, Biophysics PhD Program), or permission of instructor

Hours & Format

Fall and/or spring: 8 weeks - 1.5 hours of lecture per week

Additional Details

Subject/Course Level: Neuroscience/Graduate

Grading: Offered for satisfactory/unsatisfactory grade only.

Instructors: Feldman, Neuroscience Graduate Advisors, Guest faculty speakers

Neuroscience Research Design and Analysis: Read Less [-]

Terms offered: Spring 2020, Spring 2019, Spring 2018Professional core competency training for graduate students involved in neuroscience research at Berkeley. Includes training in giving scientific presentations, scientific writing, and project management.Neuroscience Career Skills: Read More [+]

Rules & Requirements

Prerequisites: Restricted to 1st year PhD students in Neuroscience-related PhD Programs (Neuroscience PhD Program, MCB PhD Program, Psychology PhD Program, Biophysics PhD Program), or permission of instructor

Hours & Format

Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 1.5 hours of seminar per week

Additional Details

Subject/Course Level: Neuroscience/Graduate

Grading: Offered for satisfactory/unsatisfactory grade only.

Instructors: Feldman, Neuroscience Graduate Advisors, Guest faculty speakers

Neuroscience Career Skills: Read Less [-]

Terms offered: Fall 2020, Fall 2019, Fall 2018Closely supervised, intensive laboratory experimental research under the direction of an individual faculty member. For first-year neuroscience graduate students, this course will provide an introduction to experimental methods and research approaches in the different areas of neuroscience. Grade awarded on completion of sequence, which includes 3 ten-week laboratory rotations spread out over the fall and spring semesters.Neuroscience Introduction to Research: Read More [+]

Rules & Requirements

Prerequisites: Graduate standing in Neuroscience Graduate Group; consent of instructor

Hours & Format

Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 20-40 hours of laboratory per week

Additional Details

Subject/Course Level: Neuroscience/Graduate

Grading: Letter grade. This is part one of a year long series course. A provisional grade of IP (in progress) will be applied and later replaced with the final grade after completing part two of the series.

Instructor: Ngai

Neuroscience Introduction to Research: Read Less [-]

Terms offered: Spring 2020, Spring 2019, Spring 2018Closely supervised, intensive laboratory experimental research under the direction of an individual faculty member. For first-year neuroscience graduate students, this course will provide an introduction to experimental methods and research approaches in the different areas of neuroscience. Grade awarded on completion of sequence, which includes 3 ten-week laboratory rotations spread out over the fall and spring semesters.Neuroscience Introduction to Research: Read More [+]

Rules & Requirements

Prerequisites: Graduate standing in Neuroscience Graduate Group; consent of instructor

Hours & Format

Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 20-40 hours of laboratory per week

Additional Details

Subject/Course Level: Neuroscience/Graduate

Grading: Letter grade. This is part two of a year long series course. Upon completion, the final grade will be applied to both parts of the series.

Instructor: Ngai

Neuroscience Introduction to Research: Read Less [-]

Terms offered: Fall 2020, Summer 2020 10 Week Session, Spring 2020For graduate students in neuroscience in their second or later years. During the summer, the course will count for 3-6 units. Individual research under faculty supervision. In this course each graduate student conducts basic thesis and dissertation research after successful completion of the first-year laboratory rotation, Neuroscience 291A-291B. Laboratory work provides the basis for students' thesis research, preparation for the preliminary examination, and continued progress toward completion of Ph.D. dissertation.Neuroscience Graduate Research: Read More [+]

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