Path through the Program

Most students complete the PhD in Neuroscience in five to six years at Mason. Please consult the catalog and the COS Doctoral Student Handbook for additional information. 

Years One through Four
During the first two to four years students complete the required course work (see the Neuroscience PhD catalog), to include three NEUR 703 lab rotations. Students with a relevant master's degree often finish course work in two years (see Transfer of Credits policy) while new graduate students typically need three to four years. Neuroscience doctoral students typically take 9 credits/3 courses per semester until coursework is complete.  
Students should also select a graduate advisor and research lab within the first two years of the program. A preliminary program of study should be planned under the guidance of the graduate advisor, with consultation from the Grad Program Director and submitted to the program coordinator.
In the last year of required coursework, students should discuss and plan for the Advancement to Candidacy process with their faculty advisor. Students will enroll in NEUR 998 Dissertation Proposal (recommended 12 credits total), develop a dissertation proposal, and form a dissertation committee. 

Dissertation committees must include a dissertation chair and a minimum of two additional Mason Graduate Faculty members. Students, in consultation with their advisor, identify which faculty are appropriate to be a part of their committee.  At least two members must be part of the Interdisciplinary Program in Neuroscience at Mason and at least one of the committee members must be outside of the dissertation chair's department. Committee members external to the university are permitted but must obtain Affiliate Faculty status at Mason. If the external member is member 1 or member 2 of the committee, they must also obtain Graduate Faculty status. Please contact the graduate program director and coordinator to assist the external member with obtaining Affiliate and/or Graduate Faculty status. 

To advance, the student must have a 3.0 GPA in coursework, pass the comprehensive exam and receive approval for their dissertation proposal from their committee. Please see the Advancement to Candidacy page for deadlines and required forms. 
Advancement to candidacy must be achieved no later than six years minus one semester from the time of first enrollment as a degree seeking student. 

Years Four and beyond
After advancing, students must enroll in a NEUR 999 Doctoral Dissertation credits until the dissertation is complete and the student is ready to defend. The program directs students to meet with their committee members at least once a year until the dissertation is complete and ready to defend. Please see the Doctoral Dissertation page for deadlines and required forms. Candidates must successfully defend their dissertation no later than nine years from the time of first enrollment as a degree seeking student.