The College of Liberal Arts’ graduate Neuroscience degree offerings include a masters of science in neuroscience and a neuroscience PhD specialization. You have three areas of study to choose from in the master’s program. Learn more about the required Master’s Project, careers in Neuroscience and how to apply. 

Program Overview

Our MS in Neuroscience: Systems, Behavior and Plasticity provides highly advanced training and faculty-mentored research in a rapidly evolving field with practical applications in careers ranging from health care to public policy and economics.

This innovative program was developed by top faculty from the Departments of Psychology and Neuroscience, Physical Therapy, and Kinesiology, to help qualified students gain core expertise in specific areas of neuroscience — including molecular, cellular, systems and behavioral neuroscience.

PhD Specialization in Neuroscience

The Specialization in Neuroscience is for PhD students interested in studying neuroscience. It is open to any graduate student enrolled in a PhD program at Temple. Graduate students are admitted to the program after they have been accepted into a Temple PhD program. Upon successful completion of their departmental and neuroscience specialization requirements (see below), students receive a PhD degree in the discipline represented by their department with a specialization in neuroscience. To receive a Specialization in Neuroscience a student must fulfill the following requirements:

• Be a graduate student in good standing in a Temple University PhD program.
• Meet all the obligations of the student’s participating department.
• Have one member of the neuroscience program on their dissertation committee.
• Attend and participate in the Readings in Neuroscience (NSCI 9381) course, that also involves participation in the Journal Club for the Neuroscience Seminar Series of the CLA Neuroscience program, for three semesters by enrolling for one credit each of three semesters.

Take two courses in each of the Neuroscience Specialization Areas:

• Behavioral /Cognitive / Systems Neuroscience
• Cellular/Molecular Neuroscience

Master’s Project

Students are required to work on a master’s project for both semesters in the second year. Depending upon their career goals, students may opt to engage either in a laboratory-based research project or in a non-laboratory project. Those students who are motivated to join doctoral programs or are interested in research positions will likely gain by working independently on a neuroscientific investigation under the supervision of a faculty member that maintains an active neuroscience research program. The purpose of the project will be to not only train students in specific neuroscientific techniques, but also to train students to develop scientific and analytical approach towards a problem, formulate clear research questions, conduct experiment, and analyze/interpret data.

On the other hand, students who are not intending bench-level research upon graduation and are interested in non-research jobs (such as teaching, counseling, research administration, public policy etc.), may get engaged in a non-laboratory project of a similar scope. This may include activities such as conducting a literature review on a topic and presenting it to the audience, drafting a scope of work for a grant funding agency, or preparing a consulting proposal for a prospective client.

Admissions Process

Please visit the Neuroscience Graduate Admissions page to learn more about graduate program requirements, dates and deadlines and instructions on how to apply.