Graduate Program Guidelines - Physiology and Neurobiology ...

Departmental Requirementsand Procedures forGraduate Degrees inPhysiology andNeurobiologyEffective: September, 2013 to Present

TABLE OF CONTENTSA. Research and Rotations 1B. Curriculum 1C. Advisory Committee and Plan of Study 2D. Requirements for the Research (Plan A) Master’s Degree in PNB 2Master’s Thesis Defense (Equivalent to Oral Portion of General Exam) 2E. Requirements for the Coursework (Plan B) Master’s Degree in PNB 3Oral Examination 3F. Requirements for the Ph.D. in Physiology and Neurobiology 3General Examination & Dissertation Prospectus 3Advisory Committee Meetings 3Dissertation Defense (Final Examination for Ph.D. degree) 5Checklist for the Ph.D. in Physiology and Neurobiology 5G. Important Additional Information 5Funding Travel for Doctoral Students 5Work Study and Other Financial Aid 5Doctoral Dissertation Fellowships Program 6Appendix 7

1“Essential reading for all new PNB graduate students”Departmental Requirements and Proceduresfor Graduate Degrees in Physiology and Neurobiology *Summary: The department of Physiology and Neurobiology offers a course ofgraduate study leading to M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Physiology and Neurobiology(PNB). In the first two years, students begin research in one, or rotate throughtwo, department laboratories and take comprehensive core courses covering thefundamentals of Physiology and Neurobiology. Starting in the second and thirdyears, students take more advanced specialty courses in areas relevant to theirresearch and develop a thesis (M.S.) or a dissertation project (Ph.D.). Studentspursuing the M.S. Degree complete their final requirement typically at the end ofthe second year by passing an oral examination or by successfully defending awritten Master’s Thesis. Before the end of the third year, Ph.D. students satisfythe General Examination by successfully defending a written research proposal.Students typically complete the Ph.D. degree after proposing, writing and defendinga dissertation of original research (4-5 years).A. Research and RotationsEach student in the Ph.D. program selects a laboratory for dissertation research eitherimmediately upon entering the program or after completing two single semester rotations in thefirst year. Students who choose to rotate must complete two rotations and their rotations shouldbe taken as up to 3 credits of research (PNB 5397). Masters students (whether Plan A or Plan B)also typically get involved in research in the department laboratories immediately upon their arrival.B. CurriculumStudents in the first two years of the program take a four-semester core of courses:PNB 6417, 5302, 6418, and 6426. PNB 5302 is offered every Spring semester. The othercourses are offered in alternating years. Each student is expected to pass all four courses with agrade of “B-” or better. In addition, students typically take 1 or 2 other 3-4 credit courses offeredin PNB and in other departments. In the second and third years, students continue course workin advanced specialty courses as specified in their individual Plan of Study. Students typically* These requirements are in addition to, or emphasize, those of the Graduate School as noted in the Graduate Catalog(http://catalog.grad.uconn.edu/PDF/standards.pdf and http://www.grad.uconn.edu/forms.html).

2complete 8-10 lecture or seminar classes. Students are also encouraged to enroll in several onecredit seminar courses offered within the department that cover recent topics in areas of physiologyand neurobiology, and, each year, all graduate students are required to enroll in as well asparticipate in and present in (after their first year) the departmental Journal Club (PNB 6405).C. Advisory Committee and Plan of StudyAt the beginning of the first year, each student confers with the major advisor and selectsan Advisory Committee. The Advisory Committee is made up of at least three faculty memberson the graduate faculty, i.e., the student’s major advisor and two or more associate advisors. Thestudent should meet with the Advisory Committee every semester and should decide upon a Planof Study (i.e., select the additional advanced courses to complete in the second and third years)by the end of the second year. The Plan of Study may be done online(http://www.grad.uconn.edu/forms.html ) (see Appendix) and three original copies must besigned by the student and the Advisory Committee. Three signed copies are then submitted tothe Graduate Records Office for approval by the Executive Committee of the Graduate FacultyCouncil. The Research Master’s (Plan A) requires no fewer than fifteen credits of advancedcourse work and not fewer than nine additional credits of Master’s Thesis Research (GRAD5950 or GRAD 5960). For the Course Work Masters (Plan B) a minimum of 24 credits of advancedcourse work must be completed. For the Ph.D. a minimum of 44 credits is required withat least 15 credits completed in research (GRAD 495). Either the foreign language requirementor 6 credits in a related area must be completed for the Ph.D.D. Requirements for the Research (Plan A) Master’s Degree in PNBMaster’s Thesis Defense (Equivalent to Oral Portion of General Exam) (Plan A)No less than four weeks before the public oral thesis defense the student should present awritten version of the Master’s Thesis to all members of the Advisory Committee (seehttp://www.grad.uconn.edu/pdf/thesis_specs.pdf andhttp://catalog.grad.uconn.edu/PDF/standards.pdf ). The student then must post a public notice ofthe time and place (see template in Appendix: Item #B) one week before the defense. The finalthesis must be unanimously approved by the Advisory Committee for partial fulfillment of the

3M.S. in Physiology and Neurobiology. A student who then wishes to go on for a Ph.D. mustcomplete the NIH proposal requirement of the General Examination for the Ph.D.E. Requirements for the Coursework (Plan B) Master’s Degree in PNBOral ExaminationIn the oral examination the student presents and defends three research questions preparedin consultation with his or her Advisory Committee. The exam is administered by the AdvisoryCommittee and all faculty are invited to attend (see template of public notice in Appendix:Item #E). Public notice must be posted and distributed to faculty no less than one week beforethe scheduled exam.F. Requirements for the Ph.D. in Physiology and NeurobiologyGeneral Examination and Dissertation ProspectusPh.D. students must defend a dissertation-related oral proposal by the end of their 3rdyear in the program. The proposal should be written in the format of an NIH or NSF application(i.e. R01) describing the student’s planned Ph.D. research. The oral examination on the proposalwill occur in a closed session with the student’s committee consisting of a major advisor and twoassociate advisors, at least two examiners, and any interested faculty. The committee membersand examiners will be given the proposal at least two weeks before the examination. An announcementof the examination time and place will be made by the student one week prior to theexamination. A satisfactory proposal may be used as the student’s Prospectus and will be forwardedby the department head to the Graduate School as reviewed and approved.Advisory Committee MeetingsEach student must meet with his or her Advisory Committee at least twice a year. Thetypical Advisory Committee includes additional members with specific expertise in the area ofthe student’s dissertation research. Students are encouraged to select at least one member fromoutside the University. The semi-annual meetings are an essential component of each student’sprogram. In these meetings, the student presents research progress and describes future goals for

4the dissertation. The committee should give the student a clear assessment which may includerecommendations for additional experiments and (or) analyses.Dissertation Defense (Final Examination for Ph.D. degree)No less than four weeks before the public oral dissertation defense the student shouldpresent a written version of the dissertation(http://www.grad.uconn.edu/pdf/dissertation_specs.pdf ) to all members of the Advisory Committee(other requirements apply – http://catalog.grad.uconn.edu/PDF/standards.pdf andhttp://www.grad.uconn.edu/forms.html ). The student then makes a public presentation of thedissertation research. The time and place of the public defense must be sent by the Major Advisor,on a special form, to the Graduate School and to the UConn Advance Office in time to appearnot later that seven days prior to the examination. Public notice must be also posted withinthe Department (http://www.grad.uconn.edu/pdf/phdannounce.pdf ) (see Appendix). The finaldissertation must be unanimously approved by a minimum of five faculty members including theAdvisory Committee for partial fulfillment of the Ph.D. in Physiology and Neurobiology.

5Checklist for the Ph.D. in Physiology and Neurobiology1. Complete Core Courses (PNB 5417, 5302, 5418, 5426) with grade of “B-” or better.2. Form and meet with Advisory Committee at the beginning of the first year.3. Submit a Plan of Study to the Advisory Committee and then to the Graduate School.4. General Exam: Submit and orally defend a research proposal by end of 3 rd year.5. Twice yearly meetings with Advisory Committee.6. Submit Dissertation Prospectus to the Advisory Committee and then the Graduate School.7. Submit Dissertation to the Advisory Committee.8. Public Defense of the Dissertation.IMPORTANT ADDITIONAL INFORMATIONFunding Travel for Doctoral StudentsUnder the guidance of faculty mentors, graduate students play a major role in the discoveriesmade in our department. They are trained not only on how to do research but also on howto communicate their discoveries in formal presentations to an audience in national meetings.We encourage graduate students to present their discoveries in these meetings and we give themfinancial support for travel. http://www.grad.uconn.edu/news.html As soon as a graduate studenthas successfully passed the General Examination, $1,000 will be available for their travel tonational and international meetings. This means of awarding travel gives every dissertator anequal opportunity to present their research at national and international meetings.Work Study and Other Financial AidFederal Work-Study is awarded to United States citizens or permanent residents of theUnited States (but not International Students) as part of their financial aid package (up to $3,000awarded per academic year). http://www.grad.uconn.edu/financial_aid.htmlStudents may apply for need-based financial aid, which includes Federal Stafford Loans(FSL), Federal Work Study, and University of Connecticut Tuition Remission Grant. The requiredapplication for need-based aid is the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)or Renewal FAFSA. Application materials are available on the web at: http://www.fafsa.ed.gov.For more information on FAFSA, visit: http://www.ucc.uconn.edu/~wwwfaid Need-based financialaid deadlines are March 1 for continuing UConn graduate students and May 1 for enteringUConn graduate students. Applications received after the deadline will be considered for

6Federal Stafford Loans only. If a student is enrolled in Work Study, the student may not takemore than 6 credits. For more information, please contact the Student Financial Aid Servicesoffice at 486-2819.Doctoral Dissertation Fellowships ProgramIn addition, each year the Office of the Vice Provost for Research, through its faculty advisorybody, the Research Advisory Council (RAC), budgets funds to support fellowships foradvanced doctoral students. The Doctoral Dissertation Fellowships program is designed to assistadvanced Ph.D. students in completing their dissertations. Minimum eligibility requirements includehaving passed the doctoral general exam, having a fully approved dissertation proposal onfile with the Graduate School, and not exceeding certain annual income limits. Maximumamount eligible students may apply for is $2,000. Please seehttp://www.rac.uconn.edu/docdissfell.html for an application. A Doctoral Dissertation ExtraordinaryExpense Award for up to $500 for non-routine expenses directly related to data collectionfor the dissertation is available to eligible Ph.D. students who have passed the general exam andwhose dissertation proposal has been fully and officially approved.http://www.grad.uconn.edu/financial_aid.html. Contact: Tom Peters 486-0977 or email thomas.b.peters@uconn.edu.

7APPENDIXPlan A Master’s Degree Plan of Study .................................................................................... A.Plan A Master’s Defense Public Notice Template .................................................................. B.Specifications for M.S. Thesis ................................................................................................. C.Plan B Master’s Degree Plan of Study .................................................................................... D.Plan B Master’s Oral Exam Public Notice Template .............................................................. E.Report on Final Exam for M.S. Degree ................................................................................... F.M.S. Alumni Exit Information ................................................................................................. G.Ph.D. Plan of Study .................................................................................................................. H.Report on Ph.D. General Exam ................................................................................................. I.Dissertation Proposal Submission Form and Instructions ........................................................ J.UConn Advance Defense Announcement ................................................................................ K.Ph.D. Tentative Approval Page ............................................................................................... L.Ph.D. Defense Departmental Public Notice ............................................................................ M.Specifications for Ph.D. Dissertation ....................................................................................... N.Report on Final Examination for Ph.D. .................................................................................. O.Ph.D. Alumni Exit Information ............................................................................................... P.Graduate Catalog Section on Standards and Degree Requirements ........................................ Q.UConn Storrs Campus Map…………………………. http://admissions.uconn.edu/virtualtour/GlowWorm HD:Users:andrewmoiseff:Downloads:Graduate Program Guidelines-Rev 9-13.docx