Graduate Field
Neurobiology and Behavior
Program Description
Requirements for the Ph.D. degree include a minimum one semester of teaching experience, a survey course in neurobiology behavior, and an annual meeting of the Special Committee. The field has no formal language requirement, but one can be imposed by the student's Special Committee. The field also requires each student to give a publicly announced seminar as part of the dissertation defense.
Concentrations
- Behavioral ecology
- Chemical ecology
- Ethology
- Neuroethology
- Sociobiology
Program Information
- Instruction Mode: In Person
- Location: Ithaca, NY
- Minimum Credits for Degree: 72
Program Requirements
- Minimum Semesters for Degree: 6
Graduate School Milestones
- Responsible Conduct of Research Training: Required
- Open Researcher and Contributor ID (ORCID): Required
- Student Progress Reviews (SPR) begin: Second Year
- Examination for admission to candidacy (A Exam): Spring of third year
- Defense of Dissertation (B Exam): Spring of fifth year
Field Specific Milestones
- One semester of teaching assistantship required
Course Requirements
Additional course requirements may be set by the student’s Special Committee. Program specific requirements that apply to all students are included below.
First Year
- BIONB 2210 Neurobiology and Behavior I: Introduction to Behavior
- BIONB 2220 Neurobiology and Behavior II: Introduction to Neuroscience
University Graduation Requirements
Requirements for All Students
In order to receive a Cornell degree, a student must satisfy academic and non-academic requirements.
Academic Requirements
A student’s college determines degree requirements such as residency, number of credits, distribution of credits, and grade averages. It is the student’s responsibility to be aware of the specific major, degree, distribution, college, and graduation requirements for completing their chosen program of study. See the individual requirements listed by each college or school or contact the college registrar’s office for more information.
Non-academic Requirements
Conduct Matters. Students must satisfy any outstanding sanctions, penalties or remedies imposed or agreed to under the Student Code of Conduct (Code) or Policy 6.4. Where a formal complaint under the Code or Policy 6.4 is pending, the University will withhold awarding a degree otherwise earned until the adjudication process set forth in those procedures is complete, including the satisfaction of any sanctions, penalties or remedies imposed.
Financial Obligations. Outstanding financial obligations will not impact the awarding of a degree otherwise earned or a student’s ability to access their official transcript. However, the University may withhold issuing a diploma until any outstanding financial obligations owing to the University are satisfied.
Learning Outcomes
A candidate for a Ph.D. in Neurobiology and Behavior is expected to demonstrate mastery of knowledge in the field of NBB, and to contribute significant, original research to our understanding of behavior within their sub-discipline. In so doing, the candidate shall demonstrate the ability to:
- Critically evaluate the state of their field by analyzing available scientific literature.
- Synthesize current knowledge and identify novel research questions in their chosen field.
- Master appropriate research techniques and collect original data.
- Analyze results using appropriate technological and statistical methods.
- Place and interpret results into a scholarly context and identify their biological importance.
- Paster communication skills including the publication of scientific papers, the presentation of scientific talks and the delivery of pedagogically sound lectures.
- Stay abreast of the current state of their chosen field.
- Support and disseminate knowledge through collaboration, teaching and mentoring.
- Uphold standards for scientific rigor and ethical behavior.
