Doctor of Philosophy in Biological Sciences - Neuroscience

If studying the relationship between brain and behavior excites you, the neuroscience specialization gives you opportunities to do interdisciplinary research and gain a strong foundation in the core concepts of neuroscience. This specialization includes 15 credit hours of coursework in neuroanatomy, endocrinology, neurobiology, neuropharmacology and medical neurosciences.A Ph.D. in biological sciences is the highest degree in biology and offers a general track as well as specializations in integrative biology and neuroscience. You will spend a large portion of your time doing independent and in-depth collaborative research in areas such as aquatic and terrestrial ecology, sustainability, plant and animal physiology, molecular biology, and more. The Doctor of Philosophy in Biological Sciences is intended for students that are interested in careers in research and/or academia.

Graduates will be well-trained to pursue research and funding in the area of complex biological systems within academic settings. Graduates will also be able to market themselves to prospective employers who seek microbiologists, environmental scientists, natural sciences managers, medical scientists or postsecondary biological science educators.

Official transcript(s) verifying receipt of an undergraduate degree and all academic work at the undergraduate and graduate levels (in English or with translation). Transcripts must be complete (e.g., if currently enrolled, work-in-progress coursework must be included, foreign transcripts must include a grading scale, and for countries that issue, copy of degree certificate/diploma i.e., India, Nepal, etc.). The USD Graduate School and/or academic units retain the right to require credential evaluations from organizations, such as Educational Credential Evaluators/World Education Services (ECE/WES), for a student if such an evaluation is deemed necessary. Baccalaureate degree or an equivalent degree from an institution with Institutional accreditation for that degree. A minimum undergraduate cumulative GPA of 3.0 on conferred degree and/or graduate cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better, based on a 4.0 scale, on all graduate coursework is required for full admission. Each graduate program may admit students on provisional status per university policy. Applicants with degrees from countries other than the United States who have obtained a high school diploma, undergraduate, or graduate degree from an institutionally accredited American college or university or from an accredited institution in the approved list of English-speaking countries are not required to submit an approved English proficiency exam score. For all other applicants with degrees from other countries, a minimum score of 79 on the Internet-Based TOEFL (iBT), 550 on the Paper-Based TOEFL (PBT), 8.5 on the TOEFL Essentials, 6.0 on the IELTS Academic, 53 on the PTE, or 110 on Duolingo is required for graduate admission. Applicants are required to submit a statement of purpose explaining the choice to pursue graduate education through the program.