PhD Neuroscience Programs in Illinois

Neuroscience Ph.D programs are held within departments like psychology or biology.

Neuroscience is the study of the brain, mental processes, behavior and the nervous system. The discipline is taught at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. Doctoral programs in neuroscience are offered through departments of psychology, biology, medicine, physics or chemistry, and incorporate elements of those fields in the curriculum. Graduate-level programs prepare students for academic careers in colleges or universities or for non-academic careers in medical facilities or pharmaceutical companies.

University of Chicago

The University of Chicago offers three programs in neuroscience. Neurobiology is a broad program that incorporates disciplines that contributed to neuroscience, such as molecular and cellular neurobiology. Computational neuroscience combines neurobiology and mathematics, statistics, computer science and psychology. It prepares students for careers in biomedical engineering or research. Both of these programs are offered through the university's Division of Biological Sciences. The third program, integrative neuroscience, is offered through the Department of Psychology and prepares students for careers as cognitive, social or behavioral neuroscientists.

Neuroscience at the University of Chicago
947 E. 58th St., MC 0928
Chicago, IL 60637
[phone]
uchicago.edu

Southern Illinois University

The Department of Psychology at Southern Illinois University offers a PhD Brain & Cognitive Sciences Program that integrates neurobiological prespectives, like genetics, neuropsychology and neurophysiology, with behavioral, computational and developmental psychological perspectives. The emphasis is on research with faculty-supervised research during the entire program. Requirements are a master's thesis (unless the student already earned a master's) and a doctoral dissertation. Graduates of the program work in pharmaceutical companies, government research facilities or hospitals or in academic settings within schools of psychology or medicine.

Southern Illinois University Carbondale
900 S. Normal Ave.
Carbondale, IL 62901
[phone]
siu.edu

Northern Illinois University

The Department of Psychology at Northern Illinois University offers a PhD program in Neuroscience and Behavior that combines neuropsychology and courses in other disciplines. The latter include neuroanatomy, neuropharmacology, research methology and sensory/perceptual processes. The program prepares students for academic or research careers. Students have the opportunity to work on projects one-on-one with the department's faculty members.

Department of Psychology
Psychology-Computer Science Building, Rm. 400
Northern Illinois University
DeKalb, IL 60115
[phone]
niu.edu

References

• The University of Chicago: Graduate Programs in Neuroscience
• Southern Illinois University: Brain & Cognitive Science Program
• Northern Illinois University: Neuroscience and Behavior
• Neuroscience Advisement Guide