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Neuroscience

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Neuroscience

Location

Location

  • Interim Director of Neuroscience
  • Professor Monroe Cohen
  • Department of Physiology
  • McIntyre Medical Sciences Building, Room 1150
Interdisciplinary Programs Adviser

About Neuroscience

About Neuroscience

Neuroscience is a multidisciplinary science devoted to the understanding of the nervous system. The brain is one of the most complex systems in the universe, and understanding how it functions is among the most challenging questions in science. Scientists are investigating the brain at many levels, from the molecules at synapses to complex forms of behaviour, and use methods of inquiry that are drawn from a number of disciplines, including molecular and cellular biology, physiology, behavioural sciences and cognitive psychology, computer science and artificial intelligence. In addition, scientists are investigating the nervous system of many different animals, from simple invertebrates to humans. These wide-ranging investigations are providing a clearer understanding of how neurons work; how they communicate with one another; how they are organized into local or distributed networks; how the connections between neurons are established and change with experience; how neuronal function is influenced by pharmacological agents, and during disease states. As a result, we are gaining deeper insights into the neural basis of mental activity, as well as developing new therapeutic approaches to alleviate neurological and psychological diseases.

Please note: New students are required to attend an Information Session held at the end of August. Please consult the neuroscience website in early August for the date and location.

Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) - Minor Neuroscience (24 credits)

The Minor is composed of 24 credits, 18 of which must be selected from two of the five topic areas listed below. Twelve credits of the 18 must be at the 400- or 500-level and from two different departments. A maximum of 6 credits can be counted both for the student's primary program and for the Minor Neuroscience, where appropriate.

All course selections for the Minor Neuroscience must be approved by an adviser. Contact Ms. Wendy Brett at wendy.brett [at] mcgill.ca.

Complementary Courses (24 credits)

6 credits selected from:

*Students may select one of NSCI 201 or BIOL 306 or PHGY 311.

ANAT 321 (3) Circuitry of the Human Brain
BIOL 306* (3) Neural Basis of Behaviour
NEUR 310 (3) Cellular Neurobiology
NSCI 201* (3) Introduction to Neuroscience 2
PHGY 311* (3) Channels, Synapses & Hormones

18 additional credits:

9 credits each from 2 of the 5 areas listed below, 6 credits in each area must be from 400- or 500-level courses.

Neurobiology and Behaviour

BIOL 306 (3) Neural Basis of Behaviour
BIOL 389 (3) Laboratory in Neurobiology
BIOL 514 (3) Neurobiology Learning and Memory
BIOL 530 (3) Advances in Neuroethology
PHGY 311 (3) Channels, Synapses & Hormones
PHGY 556 (3) Topics in Systems Neuroscience
PSYC 318 (3) Behavioural Neuroscience 2
PSYC 427 (3) Sensorimotor Behaviour
PSYC 505 (3) The Psychology of Pain
PSYC 522 (3) Neurochemistry and Behaviour
PSYT 500 (3) Advances: Neurobiology of Mental Disorders

Molecular and Developmental Neurobiology

ANAT 321 (3) Circuitry of the Human Brain
BIOC 455 (3) Neurochemistry
BIOL 532 (3) Developmental Neurobiology Seminar
BIOL 588 (3) Advances in Molecular/Cellular Neurobiology
NEUR 310 (3) Cellular Neurobiology
PHGY 311 (3) Channels, Synapses & Hormones
PHGY 451 (3) Advanced Neurophysiology

Neurophysiology

ANAT 322 (3) Neuroendocrinology
BIOL 389 (3) Laboratory in Neurobiology
BIOL 514 (3) Neurobiology Learning and Memory
BIOL 588 (3) Advances in Molecular/Cellular Neurobiology
PHGY 311 (3) Channels, Synapses & Hormones
PHGY 451 (3) Advanced Neurophysiology
PHGY 520 (3) Ion Channels
PHGY 556 (3) Topics in Systems Neuroscience
PSYC 427 (3) Sensorimotor Behaviour

Neuropsychology

ANAT 321 (3) Circuitry of the Human Brain
ANAT 322 (3) Neuroendocrinology
BIOL 306 (3) Neural Basis of Behaviour
PSYC 311 (3) Human Cognition and the Brain
PSYC 318 (3) Behavioural Neuroscience 2
PSYC 410 (3) Special Topics in Neuropsychology
PSYC 470 (3) Memory and Brain
PSYC 505 (3) The Psychology of Pain
PSYC 522 (3) Neurochemistry and Behaviour
PSYC 526 (3) Advances in Visual Perception

Neuropharmacology

ANAT 321 (3) Circuitry of the Human Brain
BIOC 455 (3) Neurochemistry
BIOL 588 (3) Advances in Molecular/Cellular Neurobiology
PHAR 300 (3) Drug Action
PHAR 301 (3) Drugs and Disease
PHAR 562 (3) General Pharmacology 1
PHGY 311 (3) Channels, Synapses & Hormones
PHGY 451 (3) Advanced Neurophysiology
PHGY 520 (3) Ion Channels
PSYT 301 (3) Issues in Drug Dependence
PSYT 500 (3) Advances: Neurobiology of Mental Disorders
Faculty of Science—2010-2011 (last updated Apr. 22, 2010) (disclaimer)

Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) - Major Neuroscience (68 credits)

This interdisciplinary Major program in Neuroscience is a focused program for students interested in how the nervous system functions. Research in neuroscience is highly interdisciplinary in nature, and borrows principles from a number of subjects including: biology, biochemistry, immunology, physiology, psychology, as well as mathematics, physics and computer science. To ensure that students have the appropriate foundation, they are required to take 32 credits in lower-level courses from physiology, biology, mathematics, computer science, psychology, and ethics. While flexible, the program offers students a concentrated selection of 15 credits to be taken from one of three areas of current scientific activities in the neurosciences: Cell/Molecular, Neurophysiology/ Computation, or Cognition/Behaviour. In addition, students select 21 credits from a wide array of upper-level complementary courses to obtain more specialized training in areas of neuroscience that best suit their interest.

All course selections for the Major Neuroscience MUST be approved by an adviser. Contact Ms. Wendy Brett at wendy.brett [at] mcgill.ca.

Students must take a minimum of 67 credits to complete this major.

Program Prerequisites

Note: Enrolment in the Neuroscience Major program is limited to a total of 50 students per year. U0 students seeking admission to this program must have a minimum overall average of 3.2 and have completed the courses listed below or equivalent.

* Students complete either MATH 139 OR MATH 140, but not both.

BIOL 112 (3) Cell and Molecular Biology
CHEM 110 (4) General Chemistry 1
CHEM 120 (4) General Chemistry 2
MATH 139* (4) Calculus 1 with Precalculus
MATH 140* (3) Calculus 1
MATH 141 (4) Calculus 2
PHYS 101 (4) Introductory Physics - Mechanics
PHYS 102 (4) Introductory Physics - Electromagnetism

Core Required Courses (20 credits)

* Note: If CHEM 212 is taken prior to the start of the program, credits must be replaced with an alternative three- or four-credit course with approval from the program adviser.

BIOL 200 (3) Molecular Biology
CHEM 212* (4) Introductory Organic Chemistry 1
NSCI 200 (3) Introduction to Neuroscience 1
NSCI 201 (3) Introduction to Neuroscience 2
NSCI 300 (3) Neuroethics
NSCI 400D1 (.5) Neuroscience Seminar
NSCI 400D2 (.5) Neuroscience Seminar
PSYC 311 (3) Human Cognition and the Brain

Complementary Courses (48 credits)

Core Complementary Courses

12 core credits selected as follows:

3 credits from:

PSYC 211 (3) Introductory Behavioural Neuroscience
PSYC 212 (3) Perception
PSYC 213 (3) Cognition

3 credits from:

BIOL 373 (3) Biometry
PSYC 305 (3) Statistics for Experimental Design

3 credits completed by taking the course below or an equivalent in Computer Science.

COMP 202 (3) Introduction to Computing 1

3 credits from:

BIOL 309 (3) Mathematical Models in Biology
MATH 222** (3) Calculus 3

** Note: Students who have successfully completed an equivalent to MATH 222 at CEGEP or elsewhere, may substitute another 3-credit course for MATH 222.

Streams

15 credits selected from one of the following streams:

A. Cell and Molecular Stream

15 credits selected as follows:

* Students take either BIOL 201 OR BIOC 212, but not both.

BIOC 212* (3) Molecular Mechanisms of Cell Function
BIOC 311 (3) Metabolic Biochemistry
BIOL 201* (3) Cell Biology and Metabolism
BIOL 202 (3) Basic Genetics
MIMM 314 (3) Immunology
PHGY 311 (3) Channels, Synapses & Hormones

B. Neurophysiology/Neural Computation Stream

15 credits selected as follows:

9 credits from:

* Students take either BIOL 201 OR BIOC 212, but not both.

ANAT 321 (3) Circuitry of the Human Brain
BIOC 212* (3) Molecular Mechanisms of Cell Function
BIOL 201* (3) Cell Biology and Metabolism
PHGY 311 (3) Channels, Synapses & Hormones

3 credits from:

BIOL 306 (3) Neural Basis of Behaviour
PHGY 314 (3) Integrative Neuroscience

3 credits from:

BIOL 309 (3) Mathematical Models in Biology
COMP 206 (3) Introduction to Software Systems
MATH 222** (3) Calculus 3

** Note: Students who have successfully completed an equivalent to MATH 222 at CEGEP or elsewhere, may substitute another 3-credit course for MATH 222.

C. Cognitive/Behavioural Stream

15 credits selected as follows:

3 credits:

PSYC 318 (3) Behavioural Neuroscience 2

12 credits from:

* Students take either BIOL 306 OR PHGY 314, but not both.

BIOL 306* (3) Neural Basis of Behaviour
LING 390 (3) Neuroscience of Language
PHGY 314* (3) Integrative Neuroscience
PSYC 317 (3) Genes and Behaviour
PSYC 342 (3) Hormones and Behaviour
PSYC 410 (3) Special Topics in Neuropsychology
PSYC 427 (3) Sensorimotor Behaviour
PSYC 470 (3) Memory and Brain

Upper Level

21 credits selected as follows:

At least 18 of the 21 credits must be 400- or 500-level courses.

3-9 credits - One course MUST be taken from the following list:

BIOL 301 (4) Cell and Molecular Laboratory
BIOL 389 (3) Laboratory in Neurobiology
NSCI 410 (6) Independent Research 1
NSCI 420 (9) Independent Research 2

12 - 18 credits from the following list:

200- and 300-level courses:

BIOC 311 (3) Metabolic Biochemistry
BIOL 300 (3) Molecular Biology of the Gene
BIOL 301 (4) Cell and Molecular Laboratory
BIOL 306 (3) Neural Basis of Behaviour
BIOL 389 (3) Laboratory in Neurobiology
CHEM 222 (4) Introductory Organic Chemistry 2
COMP 206* (3) Introduction to Software Systems
LING 390 (3) Neuroscience of Language
MATH 315 (3) Ordinary Differential Equations
MATH 323 (3) Probability
MATH 324 (3) Statistics
NEUR 310 (3) Cellular Neurobiology
PHGY 311 (3) Channels, Synapses & Hormones
PHGY 314 (3) Integrative Neuroscience
PHIL 306 (3) Philosophy of Mind
PHIL 341 (3) Philosophy of Science 1
PSYC 317 (3) Genes and Behaviour
PSYC 318 (3) Behavioural Neuroscience 2
PSYC 342 (3) Hormones and Behaviour

* or equivalent 300- or 400-level Computer Science course.

400- and 500-level courses:

BIOC 455 (3) Neurochemistry
BIOL 514 (3) Neurobiology Learning and Memory
BIOL 530 (3) Advances in Neuroethology
BIOL 532 (3) Developmental Neurobiology Seminar
BIOL 588 (3) Advances in Molecular/Cellular Neurobiology
BMDE 519 (3) Biomedical Signals and Systems
MATH 437* (3) Mathematical Methods in Biology
MIMM 414 (3) Advanced Immunology
MIMM 509 (3) Inflammatory Processes
NEUR 550 (3) Free Radical Biomedicine
PHAR 562 (3) General Pharmacology 1
PHAR 563 (3) General Pharmacology 2
PHGY 451 (3) Advanced Neurophysiology
PHGY 513 (3) Cellular Immunology
PHGY 520 (3) Ion Channels
PHGY 556 (3) Topics in Systems Neuroscience
PHYS 413* (3) Physical Basis of Physiology
PSYC 410 (3) Special Topics in Neuropsychology
PSYC 427 (3) Sensorimotor Behaviour
PSYC 470 (3) Memory and Brain
PSYC 505 (3) The Psychology of Pain
PSYC 526 (3) Advances in Visual Perception
PSYC 532 (3) Cognitive Science
PSYT 500 (3) Advances: Neurobiology of Mental Disorders

* Students may select either MATH 437 OR PHYS 413, but not both.

Faculty of Science—2010-2011 (last updated Apr. 22, 2010) (disclaimer)
Faculty of Science—2010-2011 (last updated Apr. 22, 2010) (disclaimer)
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