Interdisciplinary Graduate Minor in Neuroscience

The Departments of BCMB and Psychology in the College of Arts and Sciences; the Departments of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science; Mechanical, Aerospace, and Biomedical Engineering; and Industrial and Systems Engineering in the Tickle College of Engineering; and the Department of Child and Family Services in the College of Education, Health and Human Sciences participate in the Interdisciplinary Graduate Minor in Neuroscience (IGMN) program. Any student pursuing a master’s or PhD with a major in these departments can receive a minor in Neuroscience by completing the appropriate IGMN requirements. For further information, see the description of the IGMN below or visit the IGMN web site at http://IGMN.utk.edu/.

The Interdisciplinary Graduate Minor in Neuroscience (IGMN) is a formal academic program at the University of Tennessee established to allow students to earn a minor in Neuroscience simultaneously with a master’s or doctorate in another academic discipline. The program is open to graduate students in all departments that have approved the IGMN program. The program is administered by a committee composed of representatives, including program faculty, from all colleges that have approved the IGMN program.

The graduate minor consists of a Neurobiology course (BCMB 550 ; 3 credit hours), a Neuropsychology elective (PSYC 524 , PSYC 525 , or PSYC 527 ; 3 credit hours), one elective course (3 credit hours) chosen from BME 503 , BME 511 , BME 574 , BME 580 , or BME 674  (check with Program Committee if additional electives are available), and the Workshop on Computational Neuroscience.

Neuroscience is an interdisciplinary field of science. Faculty members from BCMB, Chemistry, Psychology, Child and Family Studies, Computer Science, Biomedical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Nursing and many other disciplines across the university are engaged in research and training that contribute to and enhance our understanding of the brain. Because modern Neuroscience demands computational and analytical skills that supplement an understanding of nervous system function, the IGMN program is designed to provide students seeking an advanced degree in one of the participating departments with additional knowledge and experience centered on Neuroscience research and computational analyses. In addition to the core courses, the minor currently includes elective courses in EECS, MABE, and Psychology, which are selected according to a plan approved by the respective home departments and then approved by the IGMN Program Committee.

Procedures
The student’s home department (i.e., the department in which the student is currently pursuing an advanced degree) must have approved a program of courses with the IGMN Program Committee prior to declaration of the IGMN minor. That program will specify the Neuroscience courses, selected from the IGMN approved list, that are considered appropriate by the home department, and the home department must verify fulfillment of non-Neuroscience degree requirements. Students wishing to participate in this program should contact their college representatives or the Chair of the IGMN Program Committee.

The student’s graduate committee must include a member of the IGMN faculty.

The student’s Admission to Candidacy Application must contain all courses required for the chosen degree program delineated and labeled “Courses required for the minor in Neuroscience.” Should the student decide not to apply for admission to the program until after completion of some of the courses, the student’s major professor should file a program change with the cooperating departments and assist the student in obtaining an IGMN faculty member to serve on the student’s graduate committee.

Successful completion of the graduate minor in Neuroscience is recognized by appropriate documentation on the student’s transcript. Students who do not complete the requirements of the minor will still receive academic credit for the courses they have successfully completed. For more information contact Dr. Rebecca Prosser at rprosser@utk.edu or visit http://IGMN.utk.edu/.