The Senior Project consists of a one or two semester-long course(s) focusing on an intensive piece of independent work, and it culminates in an empirical or theoretical thesis. The project will provide the opportunity for students to synthesize what they have learned in coursework in the concentration by requiring them to take an in-depth look at a particular question in neuroscience and to produce an original piece of scholarship. In order to have a sufficient background in a topic area to pursue a senior project during the senior year, students should elect appropriate advanced courses during their junior year. During the Spring Semester of the junior year, students complete an online survey with (1) their first, second, third, and fourth choices for faculty that they would like to work with during their senior project experience and (2) the term(s) in which they would like to complete the work. Every effort is made to accommodate the first choice, within the constraints of laboratory facilities and faculty resources. 

The thesis is due the last day of classes of the semester in which the work was completed. All students submit the thesis to the faculty mentor. The thesis is to be prepared in the style of the American Psychological Association Publication Manual. An example of a title page for the thesis is presented below. Each student also makes an oral presentation of the senior project work at a meeting held during the last few weeks of classes of the semester when the project is completed. In addition to the senior project requirements described above, students have meetings with their faculty supervisors to discuss progress on their research, issues of relevance to all students working in a given specialty area, and other work assigned by the faculty supervisor. The final grade for the senior project will be determined by the faculty supervisor on the basis of the written thesis, the oral presentation, and the progress in theoretical, laboratory, field, or internship work throughout the term.