Medical Courses

NEUROSCIENCES
GRADUATE COURSES

Neurosciences and neurology instruction spans all four years of the medical curriculum. The department's objectives are to familiarize the student with the structure and function of the healthy nervous system, to learn how various diseases affect the nervous system and to students to obtain a neurological history and perform a neurological exam.
 

1. Neuroscience I Course
The department initially organized a curriculum in neurosciences in 1972 which is now a 90 hour required course in the first year. This integrated basic science/clinical course covers primarily neuroanatomy and neurophysiology, with some neurochemistry and neuropharmacology, as well as clinical correlations. The Neuroscience course is taught by basic scientists and neurologists in the Department of Neurosciences. In 1990, the LCME cited this course as being one of the best in New Jersey Medical School, and in 1996 our medical students selected the Neuroscience course as the best basic science course. In the 1997-1998 academic year the Neuroscience course received the highest evaluation scores by students in the first year class. 
 

2. ICS Course
The department teaches a Neurology component in the Introduction to Clinical Science (ICS) course in the second year curriculum, and also participates in the second year Psychiatry course. 
 

3. Neurology Clerkship
A required four week clerkship in neurology has been given to fourth year students since 1973 and is currently available to third year students who defer other clinical rotations. The LCME positively cited the course during its review. In addition, our students have performed well above the national average on national shelf exams which cover clinical neurological topics. 
 

4. Emergency Medicine Course
The department participates in the fourth year medical student clerkship in Emergency Medicine which is a four week required rotation. 
 

5. Awards
Over the past 16 years, faculty members of the Department of Neurosciences have been selected for sixteen Gold Apple Awards (given by medical students for excellence in teaching), and three UMDNJ Foundation Excellence in Teaching Awards. 
 

6. Dental Neuroanatomy Course
The department provides a 36-38 hour Neuroanatomy course for the first year students in the New Jersey Dental School. This course surveys the whole nervous system with some basic neurophysiology and many clinical correlations. This course has been highly rated by dental students on their reviews.