Neuroscience and Cognitive Science (NACS)

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Abstract

The NACS program offers a wide range of research and training opportunities for students who are interested in pursuing doctoral-level research in a variety of areas within neuroscience and cognitive science. Faculty research interests extend from molecular and cellular neuroscience to studies of language and cognition. Research approaches include both the theoretical and experimental, with several laboratories doing both. The experimental work includes cutting-edge methodologies; the theoretical includes mathematical, computer, and engineering studies. Research and training activities of NACS take place within the laboratories of faculty in 14 participating departments: Animal and Avian Sciences, Biology, Chemistry and Biochemistry, Computer Science, Electrical and Computer Engineering, English, Entomology, Hearing and Speech Sciences, Human Development, Kinesiology, Linguistics, Nutrition and Food Science, Philosophy, and Psychology. The Program requires the completion of two required core courses and three out of four core courses, including cognitive neuroscience, computational neuroscience, cellular and molecular neuroscience, and cognitive science. The goal of the Program is to bring together the diverse perspectives and strengths of all the included disciplines in order to understand the working of the nervous system, the mind, and behavior. For more information, please visit our web site: http://www.nacs.umd.edu.

Admissions Information

Admission to the NACS Program requires a bachelor's degree from a recognized undergraduate institution. Course work in calculus is strongly recommended, as is some background in neuroscience, computational science, or cognitive science. Students with strong academic records but missing relevant coursework will be allowed to make up deficiencies. The Program requires the Graduate Record Examination scores, transcripts, statement of goals and research interests and experiences, and three letters of recommendation.

Application Deadlines

	Fall	Spring
Domestic Applicants: U.S. Citizens and Permanent Residents
Domestic Applicant Deadlines	Applications must be received by December 14 .	Spring applications accepted only for UM Transfer Graduate Students. Applications must be received by September 1 .
International Applicants: Applicants from Outside the U.S. or U.S. Citizens / Permanent Residents with Non-U.S. Credentials IMPORTANT:   International Applicants and U.S. Applicants with Non-U.S. Credentials must follow the domestic deadlines above if they are earlier than the deadlines listed below.
Applicants seeking admission under F (Student) or J (Exchange Visitor) visas	February 1 If Domestic Deadline is after Feb. 1	June 1 If Domestic Deadline is after Jun. 1
Applicants seeking admission under A, E, G, H, I, and L visas and immigrants	May 1 If Domestic Deadline is after May 1	October 1 If Domestic Deadline is after Jun. 1
U.S. Citizens and Permanent Residents with foreign credentials	May 15 If Domestic Deadline is after May 15	October 31 If Domestic Deadline is after Oct.31

Application Requirements

1. GRE General
2. Statement of goals and research interests and experiences
3. Transcripts
4. 3 Letters of Recommendation

Degree Requirements

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)

The NACS Program emphasizes research training and thus requires only 27 credits of course work over the first two years. Specific requirements include two core courses--a scientific ethics course and an introduction to neuroscience course--and three out of four core courses from among cognitive neuroscience, computational neuroscience, cellular and molecular neuroscience, and cognitive science. A formal qualifying examination is given at the beginning of the third year to ensure that all students have a core knowledge of basic neuroscience, cognitive science, and computational neuroscience, and that each student has the knowledge and skills necessary to develop a dissertation proposal. By the end of their fourth year, students formally present their dissertation proposal and are admitted to candidacy. The dissertation is normally completed within two years of the proposal defense.

Related Graduate Degree Programs ()
Several other graduate programs at the University of Maryland, College Park, have common interests and overlapping activities with the NACS Program. These include the graduate programs in Molecular and Cellular Biology; Cognitive Studies; Behavior, Ecology, Evolution and Systematics; and Nutritional Sciences. Many NACS Program faculty also have affiliations with these programs, and opportunities abound for students to take advantage of these programs. Further information about these programs may be obtained by writing to the Program Director. Courses at the Medical School in Baltimore and at University of Maryland, Baltimore County, are open to NACS Program students in residence at the University of Maryland, College Park. NACS has developed a very close collaboration with the National Institute of Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) of the NIH. NACS students can conduct research in cellular and molecular neurobiology and imaging of the human CNS with mentors at NIDCD, most of whom are NACS adjunct faculty. Thus, the NIDCD-NACS relationship extends research and training opportunities for students while they get their degrees from the NACS program. Recently, NACS has developed a similar joint research program with researchers at the Children's National Medical Center (CNMC).

Facilities and Special Resources

The Program, by virtue of its breadth, has access to the facilities of all the departments and Institutes of its faculty members. These include the Institute for Systems Research, Institute for Advanced Computer Studies, Center for Automation Research, and the various well-equipped research laboratories and department facilities of the faculty. Animal facilities are available where necessary.

Financial Assistance

Graduate fellowships are available on a competitive basis to both entering and continuing students, while qualified students may also receive teaching assistantships. In addition, some of the faculty have graduate research assistantships for their students. There are also NIH graduate training grant fellowships for students interested in studying auditory neuroscience.

Contact Information

Director - Robert J. Dooling
2123D Biology/Psychology Building, College Park
MD  20742
Telephone: (301) 405-5925
Fax: (301) 314-9566
dooling@psyc.umd.edu

Graduate Director - Bill Idsardi
1417 Marie Mount Hall, College Park
MD  20742
Telephone: 301-405-8376
idsardi.umd.edu

Admissions Director - Sandra Gordon-Salant
0119L Le Frak Hall, College Park
MD  20740
Telephone: 301-405-4225
sgordon@hesp.umd.edu

Assistant Director - Pam Komarek
2131 Biology-Psychology Building, College Park
MD  20740
Telephone: 301-405-8910
Fax: 301-314-9566
pkomarek@umd.edu

http://www.nacs.umd.edu

Courses: NACS

Related Programs and Campus Units

Biology
Kinesiology
Animal Sciences
Nutrition
Linguistics
Hearing and Speech Sciences
Clinical Audiology
Psychology
Human Development (Institute for Child Study)
Engineering: Electrical & Computer Engineering
Engineering: Bioengineering
Computer Science
Education: Human Development