MSc and PhD students in the IPN are required to complete a research-based thesis. In addition, MSc students must complete three graduate courses and PhD students must complete four graduate courses.
NEUR 630 (PNI), NEUR 631 (PNII), and NEUR 610 (CNS) are considered core courses in the GPNS. MSc students must take at least one of these core courses and PhD students must take at least two of the core courses (PhD students must include NEUR 630 as one of the two).
For both MSc and PhD candidates, non-core course electives may be selected from the list below.
If you should wish to take a graduate-level course not on this list, we require that the supervisor email us at ipn [at] mcgill [dot] ca with his or her approval and a brief note describing why the student is recommended to take the course. This email from the supervisor is required in order to make sure the course is applied to your degree.
Graduate Courses
NEUR 630
Neurology and Neurosurgery: An overview of cellular and molecular neuroscience at the graduate level. Topics include: synthesis, processing and intracellular transport of macromolecules; development of the nervous system including neurogenesis, axonal pathfinding, synaptogenesis and myelination; neuronal survival and response to injury; generation and propagation of action potentials; neurotransmitters and synaptic transmission.
Offered by: Neurology and Neurosurgery
- Terms
- Fall 2011
- Instructors
- Alyson Elise Fournier, Peter Scott McPherson, Edward S Ruthazer
For course web site click here
NEUR 631
Neurology and Neurosurgery: An overview of the structure, function and interaction of neuronal systems of vertebrates. Topics include basic neuroanatomy, coding and processing of sensory information (somatic sensory, visual and auditory systems), control of posture and voluntary movement, learning and memory, processing of language and speech, cerebral blood flow, the neuroendocrine system and neuroimmunology.
Offered by: Neurology and Neurosurgery
- Winter
- Prerequisite: A knowledge of basic mechanisms of biology, physiology, and anatomy as covered by respective undergraduate classes is expected and necessary to succeed in this course.
- Restriction: Students must be enrolled in a graduate program at McGill University. Students from other universities, as well as undergraduate students from McGill require special permission from the Instructor.
- Terms
- Winter 2012
- Instructors
- Jens Pruessner
NEUR 610
Neurology and Neurosurgery: An interdisciplinary course including lectures in neuroanatomy and neurophysiology; laboratories in neuroanatomy, and clinical problems and demonstrations in neurology.
Offered by: Neurology and Neurosurgery
- Winter
- Terms
- Winter 2012
- Instructors
- Colin H Chalk
NEUR 602
Neurology and Neurosurgery: Current topics in Neuroscience.
Offered by: Neurology and Neurosurgery
- Fall
- Prerequisite: Permission of unit instructor
- Terms
- Fall 2011
- Instructors
- Sylvain Williams, Krista Hyde, Antoine Adamantidis
**Current Topics in Neuroscience**
NEUR 603
Neurology and Neurosurgery: A survey of computational methods commonly used to model brain function, including mathematical modeling to describe the relationship between neuronal activity and perception, action, and cognition. Mathematical basis for vision, motor control and attention. Data relevant to brain processes and models explaining these data, using engineering, statistics and artificial intelligence.
Offered by: Neurology and Neurosurgery
- Winter
- Basic neuroanatomy/neurophysiology, some mathematics (calculus, probability/statistics) or consent of instructor.
- Terms
- Winter 2012
- Instructors
- Christopher C Pack
Term: Winter
Course Instructor: Dr. Christopher Pack
NEUR 604
Neurology and Neurosurgery: Advanced seminars in neurobiology emphasizing current concepts of the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying disease of the nervous system and muscle and how the study of disease has contributed to our understanding of cell biology. Topics: genetic mutations responsible for diseases, mechanisms of selective vulnerability of cell populations, and environmental influences.
Offered by: Neurology and Neurosurgery
- Winter
- Prerequisites: NEUR 630, NEUR 631 or NEUR 610; and permission of instructor
- Enrolment limited to 12
- Symbols:
- Taught only in alternate years
- Terms
- This course is not scheduled for the academic year
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the academic year
**Biology of Neurological Disease**
NEUR 605
Neurology and Neurosurgery: This course focuses on neuronal development and maturation from a molecular aspect. We introduce various model organisms and systems that are used to study molecular aspects of development, explore their particular advantages and explore the cellular and molecular events that contribute to the development of the nervous system.
Offered by: Neurology and Neurosurgery
- Winter
- Offered alternate years - odd numbered years
- Symbols:
- Taught only in alternate years
- Terms
- This course is not scheduled for the academic year
- Instructors
- Stefano Stifani
**Control of Neural Development**
NEUR 606
Neurology and Neurosurgery: An introduction to the design and analysis of neuroimaging experiments in humans.
Offered by: Neurology and Neurosurgery
- Fall
- Prerequisite: Permission of instructor.
- Terms
- Fall 2011
- Instructors
- Jorge Armony
NEUR 550
Neurology and Neurosurgery: An interdisciplinary course on the biochemistry and cellular/molecular biology of free radicals, transition metals, oxidative stress and antioxidants and their roles in health and disease.
Offered by: Neurology and Neurosurgery
- Winter
- Prerequisite: BIOL 200, BIOL 201, BIOC 311, BIOC 312, PHGY 209, PHGY 210 or permission of instructor.
- Symbols:
- Taught only in alternate years
- Terms
- Winter 2012
- Instructors
- Konstantinos Pantopoulos, Hyman M Schipper
NEUR 507
Neurology and Neurosurgery: The course deals with neuroreceptor and oncologic imaging and imaging of cerebral bloodflow and metabolism. The role of radiochemistry and physics will be demonstrated in the context of clinical and research applications. Understanding how radiochemistry and physics intermingle with the medical aspects of radiotracer development will result in a deeper insight into the complex pathways of tracer design and the methods necessary to properly interpret the data obtained.
Offered by: Neurology and Neurosurgery
- Fall
- Restriction: Not open to students who have taken NEUR 607.
- Terms
- Fall 2011
- Instructors
- Ralf Schirrmacher, Alexander Thiel
NEUR 560
Neurology and Neurosurgery: A historical survey of neuroscience, from antiquity to the major discoveries of the 20th century. Conceptual and technical advances having led to our current understanding of brain function and dysfunctions will be discussed. Particular attention will be given to sensory systems and cognitive processes.
Offered by: Neurology and Neurosurgery
- Fall
- Prerequisite: Permission of the instructor.
- Terms
- Fall 2011
- Instructors
- Naguib Mechawar, Joseph Rochford
NEUR 570
Neurology and Neurosurgery: Current methods that are used to investigate human brain structure and function will be discussed with an emphasis on Magnetic Resonance-based techniques including functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy, and Diffusion Tensor Imaging.
Offered by: Neurology and Neurosurgery
- Prerequisite: Permission of the instructor.
- Restriction: Students must be enrolled in the Integrated Program in Neuroscience (IPN) graduate program at McGill University. McGill students enrolled in other graduate programs as well as undergraduate students and students from other universities are encouraged to apply and should contact the course instructors.
- Contact hours: by appointment - please contact any of the responsible instructors by email
- Terms
- Fall 2011
- Instructors
- Petra Schweinhardt, Sridar Narayanan, Amir Shmuel
GRADUATE COURSES IN OTHER DEPARTMENTS
Note: Students may choose elective courses pertinent for their course of study from any department conditional upon approval by the Advisory Committee and the Chair of the Graduate Program Committee. These include, but are not limited to, the following courses.
Department of Biology
BIOL 532
Biology (Sci): Discussions of all aspects of nervous system development including pattern formation, cell lineage, pathfinding and targeting by growing axons, and neural regeneration. The basis for these discussions will be recent research papers and other assigned readings.
Offered by: Biology
- Winter
- 1 hour lecture, 2 hours seminar
- Prerequisites: BIOL 303 or BIOL 306 or permission of instructor
- Terms
- Winter 2012
- Instructors
- Donald Van Meyel, Artur Kania, Edward S Ruthazer
BIOL 588
Biology (Sci): Discussion of fundamental molecular mechanisms underlying the general features of cellular neurobiology. An advanced course based on lectures and on a critical review of primary research papers.
Offered by: Biology
- Symbols:
- Taught only in alternate years
- Terms
- This course is not scheduled for the academic year
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the academic year
Department of Psychiatry
PSYT 500
Psychiatry: Current theories on the neurobiological basis of most well known mental disorders (e.g. schizophrenia, depression, anxiety, dementia). Methods and strategies in research on genetic, physiological and biochemical factors in mental illness will be discussed. Discussion will also focus on the rationale for present treatment approaches and on promising new approaches.
Offered by: Psychiatry
- Winter
- 3 hours
- Prerequisite (Undergraduate): BIOC 212 and BIOC 311, or BIOC 312, or BIOL 200 and BIOL 201, or PHGY 311, or PSYC 308 and an upper-level biological science course with permission of the instructors, or equivalent. Basic knowledge of cellular and molecular biology is required.
- Restriction: Open to U3 and graduate students only.
- Restriction: Graduate Studies: strongly recommended for M.Sc. students in Psychiatry.
- Terms
- Winter 2012
- Instructors
- Lalit K Srivastava, Kenneth Robert Bruce, Andrea R Ashbaugh
PSYT 515
Psychiatry: Critical assessment of research tools, reported data, and theoretical perspectives on drug addiction, with an emphasis on multi-factorial and inter-disciplinary approaches.
Offered by: Psychiatry
- Winter
- Prerequisite: PSYT 301 or permission from one of the instructors.
- Restrictions: Priority will be given to graduate students registered in Psychiatry, Psychology or Neuroscience graduate programs. Open to undergraduates who have completed PSYT 301 or an equivalent course. Undergraduates must obtain permission of the instructors before registration. Not open to students who have taken PSYT 615.
- Terms
- This course is not scheduled for the academic year
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the academic year
PSYT 630
Psychiatry: Statistics needed for analysing the types of data generated in a laboratory setting, with emphasis on the neurosciences, will be covered. Hypothesis testing, parametric and non-parametric statistics will be studied with a practical approach, using data generated by the students. Computer analysis will be introduced.
Offered by: Psychiatry
- Terms
- Winter 2012
- Instructors
- Joseph Rochford
Department of Psychology
PSYC 526
Psychology: We examine in detail the structure of the visual system, and its function as reflected in the perceptual abilities and behaviour of the organism. Parallels are also drawn with other sensory systems to demonstrate general principles of sensory coding.
Offered by: Psychology
- Fall
- 2 lectures
- Terms
- Fall 2011
- Instructors
- Frederick A A Kingdom, Kathleen T Mullen
PSYC 710
Psychology
Offered by: Psychology
- Terms
- Winter 2012
- Instructors
- Maria Pompeiano
Department of Dentistry
DENT 654
Dentistry: Presentation of the neurobiology of pain and analgesia, clinical pain conditions, basic and applied research methods in the study of pain, and the theory and practice of pain management. The course is designed for graduate students interested in pain mechanisms and clinical residents interested in pain management.
Offered by: Dentistry
- Restriction: Open to all health professionals
- Terms
- This course is not scheduled for the academic year
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the academic year
Department of Physiology
PHGY 556
Physiology: Topics of current interest in systems neurophysiology and behavioural neuroscience including: the neural representation of sensory information and motor behaviours, models of sensory motor integration, and the computational analysis of problems in motor control and perception. Students will be expected to present and critically discuss journal articles in class.
Offered by: Physiology
- Winter
- Restriction: Permission of the instructor required.
- Restriction: Not open to students who have taken PHGY 456
- Terms
- Winter 2012
- Instructors
- Kathleen E Cullen, Daniel E Guitton
Department of Biomedical Engineering/Medical Physics Unit
BMDE 501
Biomedical Engineering: An overview of how techniques from engineering and the physical sciences are applied to the study of selected physiological systems and biological signals. Using specific biological examples, systems will be studied using: signal or finite-element analysis, system and identification, modelling and simulation, computer control of experiments and data acquisition.
Offered by: Biomedical Engineering
- (3-0-6)
- Terms
- Fall 2011
- Instructors
- Christophe Grova
BMDE 650
Biomedical Engineering: Review of advanced techniques in medical imaging including: fast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), functional MRI, MR angiography and quantitative flow measurement, spiral and dynamic x-ray computed tomography, 2D/3D positron emission tomography (PET), basic PET physiology, tracer kinetics, surgical planning and guidance, functional and anatomical brain mapping, 2D and 3D ultrasound imaging, and medical image processing.
Offered by: Biomedical Engineering
- Terms
- This course is not scheduled for the academic year
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the academic year
Medical Physics
MDPH 607
Medical Physics: A review of the principles of medical imaging as applied to conventional diagnostic radiography, digital subtraction radiography, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging. The course emphasizes a linear system approach to the formation, processing and display of medical images.
Offered by: Medical Physics Unit
- Prerequisite: MDPH 615
- Terms
- Winter 2012
- Instructors
- Gilbert Bruce Pike, Andrew J Reader
Other departments offering relevant graduate-level courses
Anatomy and Cell Biology, Biochemistry, Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Human Genetics, Medical Physics Unit, Experimental Medicine, Microbiology and Immunology, Pathology, Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Physical and Occupational Therapy.
Notes: A Ph.D. level student may receive certain exemptions if he/she can display equivalency.
Course Exemption procedures:
Requests for course exemptions will be considered only for the following courses
O • NEUR 630 PRINCIPLES OF NEUROSCIENCE 1
O • NEUR 631 PRINCIPLES OF NEUROSCIENCE 2
O • NEUR 610 CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM
• Students may request exemptions for a maximum of two of these three courses
• Exemptions will be considered on the basis of content equivalency. That is, an exemption will be granted if and only if it is demonstrated that a graduate-level course successfully completed by the student at another university shares a sufficient degree of content overlap with the McGill course for which exemption is being requested
• In the event that a student requests exemptions for two courses, it is the responsibility of the student to provide evidence of equivalency for both courses.
• A course taken at another university can be used as evidence for equivalency for only one McGIll course
The Application Process
• Students must complete the Application for Course Exemption Form
• Students must clearly indicate, on the application form, the course (courses) for which they are seeking exemption(s)
• Students must provide evidence of equivalency, in the form of a copy of the syllabus from the course taken at another university. In the event that the student requests an exemption for two courses, the student must supply evidence of equivalency for both courses (i.e., two different syllabi must be provided)
• The completed application form, along with all supporting documentation, must be submitted to the Graduate Program Office, Room 141, Montreal Neurological Institute.
Incomplete applications will not be considered.
The Decision Process
• Completed applications will be forwarded to the coordinator(s) of the course(s) requested for exemption. The coordinator(s) will provide written feedback with respect to equivalency.
• The application, along with the feedback from the coordinator(s) will be forwarded to the Curriculum Subcommittee of the Graduate Program, which will make the final decision
• The student will be informed of the final decision by the Graduate Program Secretary
Course Exemption Form [.pdf]