Students who have satisfactorily completed graduate courses with comparable content can be exempted from NACS 600, 641, 642, 643, 644, and 645 core course requirements with written permission of their committee and the Graduate Director. This includes students with prior training in neural, cognitive, and/or computational neuroscience, and students entering the NACS Program with a Master’s degree in a related field.
In addition to the core courses, each NACS student must complete three courses (minimum of 9 credits) that are relevant to their program of research. These courses should be approved by the student’s committee. Credits from core courses beyond the three mandated will count toward the total of 9 credits.
The student’s advisory committee may require additional course work to remedy any areas of weakness in the student’s previous training.
The Graduate School requires 12 credits of 899 dissertation research credits before graduation. Students must be registered for at least one credit during the semester they intend to graduate.
| Course |
Description |
|
 |
| |
| NACS 600 |
Ethics in Scientific Research (offered every Spring) |
| |
Instructors: Arthur N. Popper |
| |
Day & Time: Wed 3:00-5:00pm (BPS 2249) |
| |
|
| |
Instructors: Robert Dooling and Cynthia Moss |
| |
Day & Time: Tues 2:00-4:00pm (BRB 1103) |
| |
|
| |
Description: This class is a discussion and seminar of important topics dealing with how to do scientific research. Topics include mentoring, data ownership, animal and human subjects, peer review, publication, inventions and patents, etc.
|
| |
Prerequisites: At least one year of doctoral studies. Permission of instructors is required. This course is required for all NACS students. |
| |
|
 |
| |
| NACS 608 |
Neuroscience and Cognitive Science Seminar (offered every Fall and Spring) |
| |
Instructors: Ricardo Araneda and Daphne Soares |
| |
Day & Time: Friday 12:00-1:00pm (BPS 1208) |
| |
 |
| |
|
| NACS 641 |
Introduction to Neuroscience (offered every Fall) |
| |
Instructors: Ricardo Araneda, Daphne Soares, Avis Cohen |
| |
Days & Time: TuTh 4:00pm-5:15pm; Wed 3:00pm-4:00pm (Discussion) |
| |
Description:Detailed examination of neuroanatomy, neurophysiology, neural development and plasticity, sensory processing, motor control, and 'higher' CNS (Cognitive & Neural Science) functions, such as language and memory. |
| |
Prerequisites: Permission of instructor. |
| |
 |
| |
| NACS 642 |
Cognitive and Computational Neuroscience (offered every Spring) |
| |
Instructor: David Poeppel |
| |
Days & Time: Mon and Wed 1:00-2:45pm (MMH 0108) |
| |
Description: A study of the fundamental concepts and techniques of cognitive and computation. Recurring themes in the field, such as face recognition, learning, and language, are examined. |
| |
Prerequisites: NACS 641 or permission of instructor. |
| |
 |
| |
| NACS 643 |
Computational Neuroscience (offered every Spring) |
| |
Days & Time: TBA |
| |
Instructor: TBA |
| |
Description: Provides a mathematical foundation in computational neuroscience. |
| |
Prerequisites: NACS 641 and calculus or permission of instructor. Formerly NACS 728N. |
| |
 |
| |
| NACS 644 |
Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience (not offered Spring 2008) |
| |
Days & Time: Tue & Thur 3:30-5:30pm (PLS 1113) |
| |
Instructor: Elizabeth Quinlan |
| |
Description: Overview of recent insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying the structure and function of the nervous system, including the molecular machinery subserving neuronal function, intracellular signaling cascades initiated by synaptic activation, and synaptic plasticity. In addition, we examine the techniques employed to gain these insights. |
| |
Prerequisites: NACS 641 or permission of the instructor. |
| |
 |
| |
| NACS 645 (728Y) |
Introduction to Cognitive Science (offered every Fall) |
| |
Days & Time: Tues & Thur 2:00-4:00pm (SQH 1121) |
| |
Instructor: William Idsardi |
| |
Description: Graduate seminar on selected topics in contemporary neuroscience and cognitive science. Extensive readings from the primary literature. Topics vary by semester. |
| |
Prerequisites: none |
| |
 |
| |
| NACS 728B |
Quantitative Analysis of Biological Data (offered Fall 2007, Fall 2009) |
| |
Days & Time: TuTh 12:00-1:15pm (CHE 2118); Mon 3:30-5:00pm (PLS 1129) Lab |
| |
Instructor: Jonathan Z. Simon |
| |
Description: Methods of analysis for time series and other data, including spatial data. Analysis methods include signal processing, statistics, and simple modeling. Matlab programming is taught and used throughout the course. Topics include data smoothing, Fourier/frequency analysis, spectrograms, and bootstrap error estimation. The class format is two 75 minute lectures plus one hands-on computer lab. |
| |
Prerequisites:Students from biology, neuroscience, cognitive science, and related fields are encouraged. There are no formal prerequisites beyond calculus, but willingness to learn both mathematical techniques and some programming is essential. Basic calculus, complex numbers, and related concepts will be reviewed. |
| |
 |
| |
| NACS 728K |
Advanced Seminar in Neurological Basis of Human Communication |
| |
(offered Spring 2008) |
| |
Instructor: Yasmeen Shah |
| |
Day & Time: Mon 1:00PM-3:30PM (TYD 2111) |
| |
Description:
Basic neurology as it pertains to anatomical and physiological substrates of speech and language. |
| |
Prerequisites: Permission of instructor. |
| |
 |
| |
| NACS 728Q |
Biological Bases of Behavior Laboratory (offered Spring 2008) |
| |
Instructor: David Yager |
| |
Days & Time: Mon & Wed 9:00-9:50AM (BPS 1236) and one 4-hour lab (BPS 0263) |
| |
Description: Explores the anatomical and physiological systems that underlie animal behavior using current neuroanatomical and neurophysiological techniques. |
| |
Prerequisites: Permission of instructor. |
| |
 |
 |
| |
| NACS 898 |
Pre-Candidacy Research (offered every Fall and Spring) |
| |
Description: Individual instruction course. Contact department or instructor to obtain section number. |
| |
 |
| |
| NACS 899 |
Doctoral Dissertation Research (offered every Fall and Spring) |
| |
Description: Individual instruction course. Contact department or instructor to obtain section number. |