All students must pass the qualifying examination in order to become candidates for the Ph.D. degree in behavioral and neural sciences. These examinations take place early in the fall semester of the student's third year in the program, typically during September. Please see our website for detailed information about the various formats available.
The examination is administered by a committee composed of faculty members of the graduate program in behavioral and neural sciences. It consists of an oral presentation of the research project lasting 20 minutes followed by questions about the project and related areas of neuroscience.
Terminal Master's Degree
If the student fails to pass all components of the qualifying examination that student must leave the program. Upon recommendation by the qualifying examination committee and with the approval of the director of the graduate program, however, such candidates may be awarded a terminal master's of science degree. Conferral of this degree is contingent upon the student having already completed at least 30 credits of graduate courses with a B average. In addition, each of these students must submit to the qualifying examination committee an acceptable write-up of the early research project or a separate master's thesis on a related topic.
