The Master of Science (MS) in Cognitive and Behavioral Sciences (CaBS) program comprises 36 semester credit hours for completion and is dedicated to understanding how the central nervous system influences human behavior across the lifespan, including health, disease, typical and atypical development. By combining biochemistry, computation science, genetics, neuroscience, psychiatry, and psychology the program aims to explore the fundamental principles underlying behavior.
Further, students will receive extensive training in experimental design and research techniques. This research includes physiological underpinnings of learning, memory, decision-making, motivation, emotion, and treatment effectiveness. Students will also work closely with dedicated research mentors on faculty research projects and a thesis. Upon completion, graduates will have the foundation to support mental health research in the fields of data sciences, enter academia and/or industry and be responsible for the execution of experiments that have been designed by the faculty member/supervisor, serve as a program manager, carry out complex experiments, teach, or transition to a PhD or MD.
Admission requirements for the Master of Science in Cognitive and Behavioral Sciences include:
- Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution of higher education or equivalent (if an international student) with a major in psychology, biology, statistics, neuroscience, or a related field.
- Grade point average of at least 3.0 on a scale of 4.0 on all undergraduate and graduate coursework.
- The GRE is not required.
- Students with international college transcripts must submit a course-by-course evaluation report by either World Education Services (WES) or Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE). Final transcript credential evaluation results must be submitted with the application.
- A personal statement including purpose in applying, interest in the field in general, the program specifically, commitment to a career in cognitive and behavioral science following the degree, community service or outreach, past research experience, and, if the applicant desires, examples of success in overcoming any challenges faced in career path goals. This personal statement is mandatory and should not exceed one page.
- Previous research experience is not required for the MS in CaBS program. However, if the applicant has previous research experience, the applicant is encouraged to include a list of references for any posters or papers that were related to the research in the personal statement, along with letters of recommendation from former teachers or mentors who can attest to the student’s prior research experience.
The admissions committee for the MS in CaBS program will consider multiple factors beyond GPA and academic record. Factors including research experience, undergraduate program curriculum and objectives, honors and awards, community service and outreach, responsibilities outside of academia including family, and success in overcoming any challenges, if these have been discussed by the applicant, will all be considered when evaluating the application. Only full-time students will be accepted.
Academic Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Semester 1 - Fall | ||
| CABS 5111 | Responsible Conduct of Research | 1 |
| CABS 5301 | Biological Statistics & Study Design I | 3 |
| CABS 5303 | Neurobiology and Neuroanatomy of Complex Behavior | 3 |
| CABS 5211 | Research Tutorials (Rotations 1 of 2) | 2 |
| Semester 2 - Spring | ||
| CABS 5304 | Models of Human Cognition and Behavior | 3 |
| CABS 5302 | Biological Statistics and Study Design II | 3 |
| CABS 5100 | Journal Club | 1 |
| CABS 5211 | Research Tutorials (Rotations 2 of 2) | 2 |
| Semester 3 - Fall | ||
| CABS 6301 | Biological Basis of Behavioral Disorders | 3 |
| Prescribed Elective | Elective 1 of 2 | 3 |
| CABS 9300 | Research | 3 |
| Semester 4 - Spring | ||
| Prescribed Elective | Elective 2 of 2 | 3 |
| CABS 5100 | Journal Club | 1 |
| CABS 6211 | Thesis | 2 |
| CABS 9300 | Research | 3 |
| Prescribed Electives (students choose 2 courses below) | ||
| Advanced Assessment and Analysis of Behavior | ||
| Advanced Data Science for Neuroscience | ||
| Applied Behavioral Genomics | ||
| Total Hours | 36 | |