To expand on the range of topics covered in current elective offerings, students are encouraged to develop their own elective course drawing on the expertise of the UR faculty. Reading courses usually depend on primary literature readings and discussions although text and specialty books can also be a good source material for reading courses. Typically, students will approach one or more faculty with expertise in a topic they want to explore to determine if there is time and interest in collaboratively developing a reading course, selecting topics and readings, as well as deciding on course format and grading basis. The majority of reading courses are based on a weekly syllabus that determines the topic covered and the readings required, meet 1-2 hours each week and are graded based on discussion, participation and possibly a term paper. A course description must be submitted to the NGP Director 2 months before the start of the semester. Once approved the course will be advertised to the NGP student community so that other students can participate. Below are examples of recently advertised reading courses.

Requirements for credit hours are the following

"A credit hour is defined as 15 “hours” of instruction. That may be fulfilled with 15- “50 minute” classes. The expectation is that a 3 credit class would meet for example on a three day per week schedule 45 times over the 15 week semester. It is required that students should expect 2 hours of outside work for every one hour of instruction. Therefore a 3 credit class requires 45 instructional hours plus 90 outside study hours for a total of 135 work hours." A more detailed description can be found: https://www.rochester.edu/provost/assets/PDFs/UR-Credit-Hour-Policies-March2016.pdf

Example 1

Course Title: Circuits in Sensory Systems
Number of Credit Hours: 2
Class Schedule: One 20 minute prep meeting and one 1.5 hour journal club meeting per week. Meeting day/time TBD
Instructors: Dr. Farran Briggs & Dr. Krishnan Padmanabhan

Method of Grading: In addition to presenting and discussing papers, students will work together to prepare and submit a “Journal Club” article to the Journal of Neuroscience based on one of their readings.

Course Descriptions: This Course aims to provide an overview of circuit structure and function in the domain of sensory systems. Topics will be guided by student interest and will include vision, olfaction, audition, and somatosensation as well as methods and techniques used to study sensory systems. Discussion will be led by students with guidance from faculty and will focus on understanding the necessary background for the reading, the results of the paper, and how the findings fit into the literature. The overall goal will be to gain familiarity with research in sensory systems and circuits, allowing students to understand how their work fits into the current field.

Example 2

Course Title: Plasticity in the Lateral Geniculate Nucleus
Number of Credit Hours: 2
Class Schedule: Wednesday 2:00-4:00 pm
Instructor: Dr. Richard Libby

Method of Grading: Based on oral paper presentations.

Course Description: Provides a broad overview of plasticity in the central visual system. Topics covered include organization and development of central visual target fields, modular mechanisms underlying plasticity in the adult brain, brain changes induced following damage to retinal cells, and the functional relevance of plastic changes induces in disease states and following injury.

Example 3

Course Title: Modern Genetic Techniques in Neuroscience
Number of Credit Hours: 1
Class Schedule: 1 hour per week. Meeting day/time TBD
Instructor: Dr. Douglas Portman

Method of Grading: Grading will be determined based upon the amount of active participation in weekly paper discussions.

Course Description: Over the past few decades, the field of Neuroscience has seen an explosion in the number of novel techniques developed to explore the structure and function of the nervous system. These methods have helped to shape the field into a dynamic, diverse, and highly productive discipline. To better understand these techniques, as well as how they have shaped modern Neuroscience research, this reading course will focus on hallmark genetic methods that have become prevalent in the field, including Cre-Lox systems, optogenetics, RNS interference and circuit tracing. In doing so a dominant, current technology will be paired with its historical lineage and context.