Description
The Neuroscience and Cognitive Science (NACS) Program at the University of Maryland offers a Post-Baccalaureate Certificate for students pursuing graduate degrees in related departmental programs. This certificate program allows students to obtain significant interdisciplinary training that complements their graduate degree in a NACS-related discipline. The NACS Certificate serves to acknowledge this training.
Course Requirements
Students must earn a minimum of 16 credits through completing the following courses with a grade of B (3.0) or better in each class. PLEASE NOTE: Courses that are used to fulfill the student's Ph.D. requirements cannot be used to fulfill the NACS certificate course requirements.
1. Students must complete a core of 10 credits comprising:
a. At least two of the courses within the NACS core curriculum. Currently, the NACS
core curriculum consists of the following five courses:
NACS 641 Introduction to Neurosciences (4 credits)
NACS 642 Cognitive Neuroscience (4 credits)
NACS 643 Computational Neuroscience (4 credits)
NACS 644 Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience (4 credits)
NACS 728Y Introduction to Cognitive Science (4 credits)
b. Two semesters of NACS 608, Neuroscience and Cognitive Science Seminar, one credit per semester. This course requires attendance at the weekly NACS Colloquium.
2. Students must complete at least 6 additional credits from interdisciplinary graduate courses approved by the NACS program. The student's NACS advisor and the NACS Graduate Director must approve the courses taken to fulfill these credits. Courses taken at the 400-level require the approval of the NACS Graduate Director.
Eligibility and Admission
Only students enrolled in a Ph.D. degree program at the University of Maryland, College Park, will be eligible for the NACS Certificate. Students enrolled in the NACS Ph.D. program are not eligible. Interested students are encouraged to contact the NACS office for advisement on coordinating the NACS Certificate requirements with their Ph.D. requirements. Admission will be at the discretion of the NACS Graduate Director, with the advice and consent of the NACS Executive Committee. Students must submit a letter to the NACS Graduate Director requesting admission to the Certificate Program and outlining their plan of study for the NACS Certificate. Students must also identify a NACS faculty member to serve as their Certificate advisor. In many cases this may be the student’s existing departmental Ph.D. advisor. Study for the Certificate must be completed by the end of the fifth year after admission to the program. Download an APPLICATION
Academic Advising
Students entering the Certificate Program must identify a NACS faculty member who will serve as their academic advisor, with responsibility for advising them on their plan of coursework and monitoring their academic progress. Students will meet annually with their advisor.
