Admission

To be considered for admission to the Graduate Certificate in Medical Neuroscience, students must:

1. Have a bachelor’s degree in a biological science background or in another area with equivalent work experience.
2. Have an undergraduate or graduate grade-point average or work experience that would indicate expected success in graduate school.
3. Write a reflective essay describing how the master’s program will enhance their professional and personal development.
4. Provide three letters of recommendation.
5. Submit a CV or resume.

Start a new MSU Application. Choose "Graduate" for the application type

Personal background: Complete this section

Choose program: Under the "Other Information" section of your application, you will be asked to select the first semester to enroll (admissions are for fall only) and a major preference. Under the College of Natural Science, please select Medical Neuroscience (Masters).  

Other information, conduct questions, academic history: Complete these sections

Test scores: GRE scores are not required for admission.

References: Submit name and email address of three individuals you would like to provide letters of recommendation on your behalf. The system will automatically notify the recommender of your request and instruct the recommenders of the procedure to submit the letters in PDF form electronically. The recommendation letters may be addressed to the Neuroscience Admissions Committee. Letters submitted by applicants will NOT be accepted.

Supplemental Question (Personal Statement): Describe your interest in pursuing graduate education in Medical Neuroscience. Explain how the certificate will enhance your professional and personal development. Include relevant information such as work and educational background, personal attributes and qualities, and other experiences that will help you succeed in this program. 

Signature: Submit your signature.

Review: Make sure your information is complete and correct. 

Application Fee: Submit the application fee of $75. University policy states that applications will not be processed unless the application fee is paid, without exception.

Curriculum Vitae: An updated CV that includes all current experience and education.

Official Transcripts: For each college/institute listed in the Academic Hisory section of the applications, please request from the registrar an official copy of your transcript. Colleges and Universities generally require both fees and time to process requests for transcripts. In addition, where the original documents are not issued in English, also provide an official English translation of each document. To be considered "official," the transcripts must have a university seal or notarization mark and state "degree conferred" or "degree awarded". Unofficial transcripts or transcripts uploaded by the applicant will not be accepted for admission. 

Transcripts must be sent directly from the college/institute in either of the following ways:

• Electronically to admis@msu.edu
• Mailed to the following address:

Michigan State University
Office of Admissions
Hannah Administration Building,
426 Auditorium Road, Room 250
East Lansing, MI 48824

After you have completed your application, please feel free to contact the Neuroscience Program office at neurosci@msu.edu to verify your application is complete. Our admissions committee does not review incomplete applications. Applications are also not reviewed prior to the application deadline. 

Please view the Controller's Office website for tuition rates for in-state and out-of-state enrollment.

Learn about loans and financial aid for graduate programs

Individuals interested in taking our courses as a non-degree seeking student can apply for MSU Lifelong Education status. There are no admissions requirements to apply for Lifelong Education.

If you choose to apply to the Medical Neuroscience Master's Program after completing some coursework, the Admissions Committee does take prior coursework into consideration. However, the Neuroscience Program cannot guarantee a seat in a program even with successful completion of coursework. Up to 9 Lifelong Education credits over a 3.0 GPA may be converted to graduate credit if accepted to a program, provided they are approved courses.

Please feel free to contact the Neuroscience Program office at neurosci@msu.edu at any point during your application process.