EDUCATION : Graduate Program

Applying

A strong undergraduate background in basic science is recommended. Scores on the General Test of the GRE are required, and international applicants must take the Subject Test in the area most relevant to their field of interest. Scores more than ten years old are unacceptable. Applications may be submitted at any time; however, to ensure consideration for assistantship support, they must be completed by March 1.

Financial Aid and Cost of Study

Graduate students can obtain support in a variety of ways. Assistantships are funded by numerous research projects being conducted by the faculty. This research frequently qualifies as a dissertation or research project. Assistantships, which pay $19,000 for twelve months ($21,000-$27,500 in 04-05) are also awarded to highly qualified students on a competitive basis through the Office of the Dean. Tuition and other fees in 2001 are $4,150 for in-state and $5,274 for out-of-state students for the entire year. Tuition is reduced for those on assistantships.

Living and Housing Costs

Off-campus rooms and apartments are available at a wide range of costs for students attending the Medical University of South Carolina.

MUSC-Off Campus Housing Harper Student Center

Location

The historic seaport city of Charleston is famous for its architecture and its gardens. Students may enjoy programs offered by the Charleston Symphony, the Charleston Opera Company, and the Choral Society, as well as by many church groups. The Footlight Players are well-known for their productions. The Charleston Museum, Charleston Library, and Gibbes Museum of Art satisfy a variety of cultural interests. Charleston is also the site of the annual, internationally celebrated Spoleto Arts Festival. The presence of nearby colleges, beaches and rivers and a pleasant subtropical climate add to Charleston's many charms. Outdoor activities include a variety of water sports such as skiing, surfing and wind surfing, as well as camping opportunities on the barrier islands in the adjacent wildlife sanctuaries. The Appalachian Mountains are a three hour drive from and provide for hiking camping and snow skiing.

Program of Study

The goal of the Neuroscience Graduate Program is the training of neuroscientists to assume active roles in research and teaching in educational institutions, industry, or government-sponsored laboratories. The Program offers graduate study leading to a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree. The Program also participates in the Medical Scientist Training Program, in which students earn the combined M.D./Ph.D. degrees. This program is designed primarily for those who wish to pursue careers in both academic medicine and research. The faculty in the Neuroscience Graduate Program consists of over 50 members with diverse research interests in molecular, cellular, behavioral, and clinical neuroscience. Major areas of investigation include cell and membrane physiology, neuroendocrinology, molecular biology of sensory processing, cell signaling and spinal cord function, and understanding the molecular basis and neural plasticity in addiction to drugs of abuse.

The institute is committed to high-quality education that develops both research and teaching skills. The graduate program is designed to give students a comprehensive knowledge of neuroscience, from basic molecular and cellular aspects to the function of integrated systems. The program provides for the development of imaginative thinking and research skills in a specialized area of the discipline.

Research Facilities

Neuroscience research laboratories at MUSC are well supplied with equipment needed for contemporary neuroscience research. There are many central departmental areas including tissue culture laboratories, chromatography and behavioral facilities and conference rooms. Computing facilities include a network of microcomputers with access to the University central library computer research facility and the Internet. Students are provided with individual study areas in addition to research space in the laboratory of the student mentor.

Student Group

The majority of the University's student body is native to South Carolina, although students come from many other states and countries. Approximately 60% of the students in the College of Graduate Studies are from out-of-state.

The University

The Medical University of South Carolina was chartered in 1824 as a school of medicine. As the need arose, other divisions of the health sciences have been organized as colleges. The College of Graduate Studies evolved from a program of graduate education in the basic medical sciences organized in 1949, becoming a division in 1965. Its purpose is to further the objectives of the Medical University by offering qualified students opportunities for advanced learning and research and promoting the extension of knowledge in the biomedical sciences. The Medical University of South Carolina is situated on a 45-acre complex that includes six hospitals as well as the Medical University Hospital. There are six colleges in the University: Dental Medicine, Graduate Studies, Health Related Professions, Medicine, Nursing, and Pharmacy.