Certificate Program Overview
The Center for Mind, Brain, and Culture (CMBC) Graduate Certificate Program provides a formal means for doctoral students interested in multiple disciplinary perspectives on the study of mind, brain, and culture to pursue these interests.
The goal is to provide students with a greater understanding of multidisciplinary approaches to these topics, and to develop tailored plans of study that augment their own research endeavors.
Designation that graduates have completed this certificate will appear on their transcripts, as a formal mark of credentials in this additional area, and shall increase student marketability in an environment that increasingly values interdisciplinarity.
Simply put, it is the graduate school version of a “minor” or secondary area of specialization. Students undertake additional focused coursework beyond their primary course of study in their home program.
Who is eligible to pursue the CMBC Graduate Certificate?
Students from any doctoral program at Emory interested in issues associated with mind, brain, culture or their intersections are eligible to pursue this certificate.
Although the following groups cannot receive a formal certification, they may participate in CMBC programming without pursuing a formal certiticate.
- ADVANCED UNDERGRADUATES may participate in MBC courses with permission of the instructor. Students should confirm with advisors prior to seeking instructor approval, and should also confirm with advisors if courses will count toward the UGRAD degree. Undergraduates are not eligible to receive a certificate.
- GRADUATE STUDENTS from other institutions may register for MBC courses via ARCHE if they attend a participating institution, but cannot receive an official certificate from Emory. Students are classified as non-degree and the admission process is different. Learn more about ARCHE and the admission/enrollment process here. Graduate students outside Emory are not eligible to receive a certificate.
- POST DOCS at Emory may enroll in MBC courses under a non-degree status but cannot receive official course credit for these activities.
Students from any doctoral program at Emory interested in issues associated with mind, brain, culture or their intersections are eligible to pursue this certificate.
When is the required Core Course offered?
We anticipate offering the Core Course (MBC501) at least every other year.
How do I sign up to participate?
To enroll in the Certificate Program, you will need to complete a training plan in consultation with the Certificate Program Director, Dr. Dietrich Stout (dwstout@emory.edu) and your primary academic advisor in your home program.
We encourage you to meet with Dr. Stout (or, at minimum, correspond by email) about your interest in the program prior to preparing a draft of your training plan.
Can courses already completed count towards the certificate?
Yes, provided that you can make a compelling case for how and why those courses meet the elective requirements and address your articulated training goals.
Is funding available to support my participation?
Yes, Certificate Program students are eligible to apply for small grants from the CMBC to support interdisciplinary activities. Examples of such activities might include conference attendance, data collection, methods training or similar that students might not otherwise be able to afford with existing funding. Students may apply for this funding once a year on a rolling deadline. Amount of available funding will vary depending on annual budgets, but we anticipate typical awards of up to $1,000. Awardees will be required to submit a brief outcomes report following completion of the activity. To apply, please submit a one-page justification via e-mail to CMBC Program Coordinator, Tamara Beck. Be sure to:
- Clearly describe the nature and purpose of proposed activity
- Explain the activity’s interdisciplinary nature and how it will contribute to your professional development
- Justify the need for CMBC funding