Graduate Calendar Archives: 1998 / 1999

Neuroscience

Life Sciences Research Building 325
Telephone: 520-4020
Fax: 520-4052
E-mail: jkelly@ccs.carleton.ca

The Institute

Director, J.B. Kelly

Neuroscience is an emerging academic discipline that includes physiological, anatomical, biochemical, and behavioural studies of the nervous system. At Carleton University, neuroscience research and graduate training are coordinated by the Institute of Neuroscience. Both M.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees, with a Specialization in Neuroscience, are offered through either the Departments of Biology or Psychology with supervision by one of the faculty members of the Institute. Application for admission, scholarships, and teaching assistantships should be made through either the Departments of Biology or Psychology depending on background and interests of the student. Further information about the degree programs may be obtained from the director of the Institute of Neuroscience or the supervisor of graduate studies in either Biology or Psychology.

Members of the Institute

• Hymie Anisman, Stress, Brain-Immune Interactions, Depression
• John Durkin, Neurochemistry, Cell Signalling, Cerebral Ischemia (Adjunct)
• Phillip Hicks, Neural Plasticity, Somatosensory and visual Cortex (Adjunct)
• Bin Hu, Thalamic Neurophysiology, Synaptic Signalling (Adjunct)
• J.B. Kelly, Central Auditory System, Electrophysiology and Behaviour
• D.C. McIntyre, Epilepsy, Kindling, Learning and Memory
• B.A. Pappas, Brain Development and Aging, Alzheimer's Disease
• Leo Renaud, Hypothalamic Function, Autonomic Regulation, Neuropharmacology (Adjunct)
• D.C.S. Roberts, Mechanisms of Drug Abuse and Reinforcement
• Shu Hui Wu, Auditory Brainstem, Brain Slice Neurophysiology
• Robert. M. Zacharko, Intracranial Self-stimulation, Stress, Depression, Dopamine, Anhedonia

The Specialization in Neuroscience

Coordinator of the Specialization, J.B. Kelly

The University of Ottawa and Carleton University jointly offer a multi-disciplinary Specialization in Neuroscience. The Specialization is intended to augment the research and training which the student receives through his or her primary department. The degree will in each case specify the discipline of the participating unit with Specialization in Neuroscience. The participating departments are:

• Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Ottawa
• Department of Biology, Carleton University
• Department of Biology, University of Ottawa
• Department of Pharmacology, University of Ottawa
• Department of Physiology, University of Ottawa
• Department of Psychology, Carleton University
• School of Psychology, University of Ottawa

Four clinical departments from the University of Ottawa Medical School are also affiliated.

• Department of Medicine (Division of Neurology)
• Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine (Neuropathology)
• Department of Psychiatry
• Department of Surgery (Division of Neurosurgery)

Application should be made to the primary department which is most appropriate to the student’s research interest. Once accepted by the department, students must be sponsored by a member of the neuroscience faculty.

Application forms and further information can be obtained by writing directly to any of the primary departments.

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 primary department which participates in the specialization
• 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

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

Program Requirements

The Specialization requires that, in addition to fulfilling the requirements for the master’s program of the department in which they are enrolled, the student must successfully complete Psychology 49.520. The thesis research must concern a neuroscience topic and must be supervised by a member of the neuroscience faculty.

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 primary department which participates in the specialization
• 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
• Two additional letters of recommendation from University faculty who are familiar with the candidate’s academic and research career
• Students with less than a high honours standing in their undergraduate and graduate courses will not normally be recommended for admission.

Selection of master’s and doctoral students is carried out by the neuroscience specialization coordinating committee which will select and rank the admissible candidates. Admission is determined by priority of ranking, and the number of admissions depends upon the available positions in the specialization.

Program Requirements

Students must fulfil the Ph.D. program requirements of the department in which they are enrolled. The requirements for the specialization also include the following, some of which may satisfy the Ph.D. requirements of the participating departments:

• Successful completion of the following neuroscience courses: Psychology 49.520 and 49.620 and Biology 61.623 and 61.624
• A thesis in the area of neuroscience, which must be defended at an oral examination

Graduate Courses

Not all of the following courses are offered in a given year. For an up-to-date statement of course offerings for 1998-99, 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 (PSY6201)
Basics of Neuroscience

A comprehensive neuroscience course from membrane and cellular levels to neural systems and behaviour. Lectures and tutorials will cover such aspects of neuroscience as neuroanatomy, neurophysiology, behavioural neuroscience and neuropharmacology. (Also listed as Biology 61.534)

Biology 61.623F1
Neuroscience Techniques I

Completion of a research project carried out under the supervision of a neuroscience faculty member. Students may carry out their project in any department participating in the neuroscience specialization provided they have approval from the administrative head of their particular program. For example, students in the neuroscience specialization must obtain approval from the neuroscience committee. Students in the biopsychology concentration must obtain approval from the Department of Psychology. The purpose of the course is to grant credit for learning new research techniques. (Also listed as Psychology 49.624)

Biology 61.624W1
Neuroscience Techniques II

Completion of a research project carried out under the supervision of a neuroscience faculty member. Students may carry out their project in any department participating in the neuroscience specialization provided they have approval from the administrative head of their particular program. For example, students in the neuroscience specialization must obtain approval from the neuroscience committee. Students in the biopsychology concentration must obtain approval from the Department of Psychology. The purpose of the course is to grant credit for learning new research techniques. (Also listed as Psychology 49.625)

Psychology 49.620T2
Advanced Seminar in Neuroscience

A comprehensive proseminar covering specialized topics in neuroscience and biopsychology. The presentations will focus on the active research areas and interests of faculty members and will provide an in-depth coverage of research strategies, methods and results. Graduate student presentations of current research projects will be an integral part of the course. (Also listed as Biology 61.633).
Prerequisite: Psychology 49.520.

Psychology 49.620T2
Advanced Seminar in Neuroscience

A comprehensive proseminar covering specialized topics in neuroscience and biopsychology. The presentations will focus on the active research areas and interests of faculty members and will provide an in-depth coverage of research strategies, methods and results. Graduate student presentations of current research projects will be an integral part of the course. (Also listed as Biology 61.633).
Prerequisite: Psychology 49.520.