Doctor of (M.D.) Medicine/Doctor of (Ph.D.) [dual degree] Neuroscience

Graduate study in the neuroscience program in the School of Medicine is a highly individualized undertaking and required course work represents only one component. Each student’s program is tailored to meet his or her particular interests, with the primary emphasis on developing research skills and the capacity for independent scholarship and with the recognition that career goals for many M.D.-Ph.D. physician-scientists are distinct from those of most Ph.D. trainees. Program goals The objectives of this dual degree program are: Students in the M.D.-Ph.D. program in neuroscience will acquire the foundational skills to allow them, after further clinical specialty and postdoctoral research training, to become independent physician-scientists. Program graduates ultimately pursue careers in academic medicine, biotechnology and pharmaceutical industry, research institutes and government agencies as clinicians, scientists, educators and administrators. Students will gain a progressive mastery of concepts in neuroscience and related disciplines, an understanding of the current state of research investigations in the field, an ability to synthesize information and apply foundational concepts to identify key areas for innovative investigation and experimentation, and the knowledge to design, execute and interpret experiments and publish studies that address the questions identified. Students will develop skills in various means of communicating core knowledge in the field and the details of experimental design, results and interpretation to a variety of potential audiences.

Minimum Undergraduate Science GPA 3.3 (average 3.7)Minimum MCAT 503 (average 513)Graduate GPA 3.5 or above (minimum 27 credit hours in a basic science degree program)CERT students with a 3.5 GPA or higher and 508 MCAT are eligible for a guaranteed interview.Prerequisite courseworkRequired coursework requirementsBiology with lab - One academic year [may be satisfied by general biology, general zoology or botany]General Chemistry with lab - One academic yearOrganic Chemistry I with lab - One semester or institutional equivalentOrganic Chemistry II with lab – One semester or institutional requirement [ONLY if required by institution for major or as a prerequisite for upper-level coursework]Physics with lab - One academic yearBiochemistry - One semester or institutional equivalentMath - One academic year [must be College Algebra or higher]English - One academic year of intensive writing courses that can be through a course(s) in English or another subject where the course has been designated a writing-intensive courseClinical experienceMinimum 40 hours in-person physician shadowing in the U.S.Minimum 60 hours direct, hands-on patient care activities (examples include scribing, language interpretation, nursing care, medical assistant, hospice, EMT, etc.)Community serviceMinimum 100 hours meaningful service activities required designed to address community-identified needs (average for matriculants is 200+ hours)Examples include volunteering for tutoring/after-school programs, food banks, hospice/nursing homes, homeless shelters, crisis hotlines, Peace Corps, AmeriCorps, Special Olympics, etc.Personal statementLetters of recommendation