Graduate Calendar Archives: 2001 / 2002

The Specialization in Behavioural Neuroscience

Application for admission, scholarships, and teaching assistantships should be made through either the Departments of Psychology or Biology, whichever is most appropriate to a student's research interest, and should indicate the intention to specialize in behavioural neuroscience. This specialization is a collaboration of the Departments of Biology and Psychology at Carleton University, the School of Psychology at the University of Ottawa and the Institute of Mental Health Research (Psychiatry) at the University of Ottawa. It is intended to augment the research and training which the student receives and to provide opportunity in clinical neuroscience.

Master's Program

Admission Requirements

The requirements for admission to the master's neuroscience specialization are as follows:

* Prior admission to the master's program of the Psychology or Biology department.

*A letter of recommendation to the Director of the Institute from a faculty member of the Institute of Neuroscience, indicating the willingness of the faculty member to supervise the candidate's research program .

* Recommendation of admission by the graduate committee representative(s) from the Institute of Neuroscience faculty.

Students with less than a high honours average in their undergraduate and graduate courses will not normally be recommended for admission.

Program Requirements

* Fulfillment of the requirements of the master's program of either Psychology or Biology Department

* Successful completion of Psychology 49:520 (Biology 61:534)

* Thesis research must concern a neuroscience topic and be supervised by a member of the Institute

Doctor of Philosophy

Admission Requirements

Admission requirements to the Ph.D. neuroscience specialization are as follows:

* Prior admission to the Ph.D. program of the Psychology or Biology department.

* A letter of recommendation from a participating faculty member of the neuroscience specialization, indicating the willingness of the faculty member to supervise the candidate's research program

* Recommendation of admission by the graduate committee representative(s) from the Institute of Neuroscience faculty.

* Students with less than a high honours standing in their undergraduateand graduate courses will not normally be recommended for admission.

Program Requirements

Fulfillment of the requirements of the Ph.D. program of either the Psychology or Biology Department. A credit in Neuroscience Techniques (49.624) may be substituted for one of the following 0.5 credit courses normally required to satisfy the Psychology Ph.D. program requirements in statistics: 49.541, 49.542, 49.543 , 49.546

* Successful completion of Psychology 49.520 (Biology 61.534), Psychology 49.620 (Biology 61.633) and at least one credit in Psychology 49.624 (Biology 61.624)

Thesis research must concern a neuroscience topic and be supervised by a member of the Institute.

Graduate Courses

Not all of the following courses are offered in a given year. For an up-to-date statement of course offerings for 2001-2002, please consult the Registration Instructions and Class Schedule booklet published in the summer.

F,W,S indicates term of offering. Courses offered in the fall and winter are followed by T. The number following the letter indicates the credit weight of the course: 1 denotes 0.5 credit, 2 denotes 1.0 credit, etc.

Neuroscience courses are available through the primary departments. Course offerings vary slightly from year to year and a complete listing can be obtained from the specialization coordinator.

The following are the core courses of the curriculum.

Psychology 49.520T2 (Biology 61.534)

Basics of Neuroscience

A comprehensive neuroscience course from cellular levels to neural systems and behaviour. Topics covered will include aspects of neuroanatomy, neurophysiology, neuropharmacology and behavioural and cognitive neuroscience. (Also listed as PSY6201 at the University of Ottawa)

Psychology 49.620T2 (Biology 61.633)

Advanced Seminar in Neuroscience

A seminar focusing on the active research areas and interests of faculty, guest lecturers and graduate students and as well current trends in diverse areas of neuroscience.

Psychology 49.624 F1,W1,S1 (Biology 61.624)

Neuroscience Techniques

Completion of a research project carried out under the supervision of a neuroscience faculty member. The student will learn a new neuroscience technique and apply it to a research objective. May be repeated for different projects. Students must obtain approval from the Director of the Neuroscience Specialization

Psychology 49.630 F1, W1

Special Topics in Psychology

An in depth study of current topics in neuroscience. Course content varies yearly and has recently included cognitive neuroscience, neuropharmacology, neurodegeneration, behavioural medicine and molecular neuroscience.