Admission

Admission Requirements

To be considered for admission to the Graduate Certificate in Neuroscience and the Law, students must have:

1. A bachelor’s degree
2. A cumulative undergraduate grade point average of 2.25
3. Three letters of recommendation
4. A written reflective essay describing how the certificate will enhance professional and personal development

GRE scores are not required for admission.

Application Deadline

Applications for Fall Semester admission are due on June 1.

How to Apply

For consideration, submit the following materials:

• Application: Complete the online MSU Application for Graduate Certificate.
  • Start a new application
  • Choose "Graduate Certificate" for the application type
  • After you submit your personal background information, you will be able to select "Neuroscience and the Law" as your major preference 

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. 

• Application Fee: The application fee of $65 for domestic, or $75 for international students. University policy states that applications will not be processed unless the application fee is paid, without exception.
• Personal Statement: Describe your interest in pursuing graduate education in Neuroscience and the Law. 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. Submit with your online application.  
•  Letters of Recommendation: Under the “References” section, the application will allow you to submit three (or more) names and email addresses – information will then be sent to each recommender on how to submit a letter for you.
• Official Transcripts: For each college/institute attended, 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. 
  

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

Tuition

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

Lifelong Education

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 Neuroscience and the Law Graduate Certificate 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 may be converted to graduate credit if accepted to a program, provided they are approved courses.

Current MSU Graduate Students

All current MSU graduate students studying in a social science, law, or criminal justice field are invited to enroll in our courses.