Neuroscience Doctoral Programs

University of California at Los Angeles

• Founded in 1919, the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) is a public institution with more than 39,000 undergraduate and graduate students. In the "Best Colleges of 2011" rankings published by U.S. News and World Report, the university received the 25th-place ranking among all universities in the United States. Admission to the college's doctorate program in neuroscience requires a baccalaureate degree with previous course experience in general and organic chemistry, biochemistry, calculus-based physics and molecular and cell biology. The college admits roughly 15 students per year into the program. Areas of specialization available to UCLA neuroscience students include learning and memory; neural development, degeneration and repair; neurogenetics; neuroimaging and synapses, cells and circuits. All students admitted to the program receive full financial assistance, which provides health insurance, covers full tuition and pays a monthly stipend.

  University of California Los Angeles
  405 Hilgard Ave.
  Los Angeles, CA 90095
  310-825-3101
  ucla.edu

Harvard University Medical School

• Located in Boston, Harvard University Medical School received the first-place ranking for research among all medical schools in the United States from U.S. News and World Report's 2011 medical school rankings. The medical school offers a Ph.D. program in neuroscience, which is available to students who have at least a bachelor's degree. As a part of the curriculum, students complete eight to 12 week rotations working in various neuroscience laboratories both at the medical school and on Harvard University's campus in nearby Cambridge. During this time, students select an adviser who will work with them throughout the writing of their dissertations. All students admitted to the neuroscience program receive full tuition funding as well as a stipend. Students have the option to teach undergraduate courses while completing their degree, but this is not required.

  Harvard University Medical School
  25 Shattuck St.
  Boston, MA 02115
  617-432-1550
  hms.harvard.edu

Emory University

• Affiliated with the United Methodist Church, private Emory University is in Atlanta, Georgia, and serves as home to nearly 13,000 undergraduate and graduate students. The school ranked 20th among all universities in the United States on U.S. News and World Report's "Best Colleges 2011" rankings. Approximately 98 students are enrolled in the university's doctoral program in neuroscience. Three laboratory rotations are included in the curriculum. Among the research areas for the program are behavioral neuroscience, computational neuroscience, neuropharmacology, neurological and psychiatric diseases, motor control and movement science, and systems neuroscience and cellular, molecular and developmental neuroscience. All students must serve as a teaching assistant for at least one course though opportunities exist for additional assistantship positions as well as independent teaching. Typically, all students admitted to the Ph.D. program receive a full tuition scholarship and a stipend for the academic year.

  Emory University
  201 Dowman Drive
  Atlanta, GA 30322
  404-727-6036
  emory.edu