Major in Neuroscience

The Major in Neuroscience is a competitive entry program with admission limited to 50 students per year.  For details on the application process and requirements, consult the Applying page.  

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, physiology, psychology, a well as mathematics, physics, immunology and computer science.

A full list of program requirements, courses and course descriptions can be found in the official eCalendar program entry (see below).

 

Neuroscience Major Program eCalendar entry

Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) - Major Neuroscience(65 Credits)

    Offered by:Science
    Degree:Bachelor of Science

Program Requirement:

The Neuroscience Major is a focused program for students interested in how the nervous system functions. It is highly interdisciplinary and borrows principles and methodologies from a number of fields including: biology, biochemistry, physiology, psychology, mathematics, physics, computer science, and immunology. To ensure that they have the appropriate foundation, students are required to take 29 credits in lower-level courses from physiology, biology, mathematics, computer science, psychology, and ethics. 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 complementary courses to obtain more specialized training in areas of neuroscience that best suit their interests.

Enrolment in the Neuroscience Major is limited to a total of 50 students per year. U0 students seeking admission to this program should consult the neuroscience website for admissions requirements and should have completed the courses listed below or their equivalents.

Program Prerequisites

Students may complete this program with a minimum of 65 or a maximum of 67 credits.

Notes on admission to the Neuroscience Major program: Enrolment in the Neuroscience Major is limited to a total of 50 students per year. U0 students seeking admission to this program should consult the neuroscience website for admissions requirements and should have completed the courses listed below or equivalent.

* Students complete one of MATH 139, MATH 140 OR MATH 150.
** Students complete one of either MATH 141 OR MATH 151.
*** Students complete one of either PHYS 101 OR PHYS 131.
+++ Students complete one of either PHYS 102 OR PHYS 142.


  • BIOL 112 Cell and Molecular Biology 3 Credits
      Offered in the:
    • Fall
    • Winter
    • Summer

  • CHEM 110 General Chemistry 1 4 Credits
      Offered in the:
    • Fall
    • Winter
    • Summer

  • CHEM 120 General Chemistry 2 4 Credits
      Offered in the:
    • Fall
    • Winter
    • Summer

  • MATH 139 Calculus 1 with Precalculus 4 Credits*
      Offered in the:
    • Fall
    • Winter
    • Summer

  • MATH 140 Calculus 1 3 Credits*
      Offered in the:
    • Fall
    • Winter
    • Summer

  • MATH 141 Calculus 2 4 Credits**
      Offered in the:
    • Fall
    • Winter
    • Summer

  • MATH 150 Calculus A 4 Credits*
      Offered in the:
    • Fall
    • Winter
    • Summer

  • MATH 151 Calculus B 4 Credits**
      Offered in the:
    • Fall
    • Winter
    • Summer

  • PHYS 101 Intro Physics - Mechanics 4 Credits***
      Offered in the:
    • Fall
    • Winter
    • Summer

  • PHYS 102 Intro Physics-Electromagnetism 4 Credits+++
      Offered in the:
    • Fall
    • Winter
    • Summer

  • PHYS 131 Mechanics and Waves 4 Credits***
      Offered in the:
    • Fall
    • Winter
    • Summer

  • PHYS 142 Electromagnetism & Optics 4 Credits+++
      Offered in the:
    • Fall
    • Winter
    • Summer


Core Required Courses (20 credits)

Note: Students who have successfully completed an equivalent of CHEM 212 in CEGEP or elsewhere must replace these credits with a 3-credit elective course to satisfy the total credit requirement for the Neuroscience Major.


  • BIOL 200 Molecular Biology 3 Credits
      Offered in the:
    • Fall
    • Winter
    • Summer

  • CHEM 212 Intro Organic Chemistry 1 4 Credits
      Offered in the:
    • Fall
    • Winter
    • Summer

  • NSCI 200 Intro. to Neuroscience 1 3 Credits
      Offered in the:
    • Fall
    • Winter
    • Summer

  • NSCI 201 Intro. to Neuroscience 2 3 Credits
      Offered in the:
    • Fall
    • Winter
    • Summer

  • NSCI 300 Neuroethics 3 Credits
      Offered in the:
    • Fall
    • Winter
    • Summer

  • NSCI 400D1 Neuroscience Seminar 0.5 Credits
      Offered in the:
    • Fall
    • Winter
    • Summer

  • NSCI 400D2 Neuroscience Seminar 0.5 Credits
      Offered in the:
    • Fall
    • Winter
    • Summer

  • PSYC 311 Human Cognition and the Brain 3 Credits
      Offered in the:
    • Fall
    • Winter
    • Summer


Complementary Courses (45-47 credits)

3 credits from:


  • BIOL 373 Biometry 3 Credits
      Offered in the:
    • Fall
    • Winter
    • Summer

  • MATH 324 Statistics 3 Credits
      Offered in the:
    • Fall
    • Winter
    • Summer

  • PSYC 305 Statistics for Exper Design 3 Credits
      Offered in the:
    • Fall
    • Winter
    • Summer


3 credits from:


  • COMP 202 Foundations of Programming 3 Credits
      Offered in the:
    • Fall
    • Winter
    • Summer

  • COMP 204 Comp. Programming for Life Sci 3 Credits
      Offered in the:
    • Fall
    • Winter
    • Summer


3 credits from:
Note: Students who have successfully completed an equivalent to MATH 222 at CEGEP or elsewhere, must replace these credits with a 3-credit elective course to satisfy the total credit requirement for the Neuroscience Major.


  • BIOL 309 Mathematical Models in Biology 3 Credits
      Offered in the:
    • Fall
    • Winter
    • Summer

  • MATH 222 Calculus 3 3 Credits
      Offered in the:
    • Fall
    • Winter
    • Summer


Streams

15 credits selected from one of the following streams:



    A. Cell and Molecular Stream

    9 credits as follows:


    • BIOC 311 Metabolic Biochemistry 3 Credits
        Offered in the:
      • Fall
      • Winter
      • Summer

    • BIOL 202 Basic Genetics 3 Credits
        Offered in the:
      • Fall
      • Winter
      • Summer

    • PHGY 311 Channels, Synapses & Hormones 3 Credits
        Offered in the:
      • Fall
      • Winter
      • Summer


    3 credits from:


    • BIOC 212 Molec Mechanisms of Cell Funct 3 Credits
        Offered in the:
      • Fall
      • Winter
      • Summer

    • BIOL 201 Cell Biology & Metabolism 3 Credits
        Offered in the:
      • Fall
      • Winter
      • Summer


    3 credits from:


    • MIMM 214 Intro Immun: Elem of Immunity 3 Credits
        Offered in the:
      • Fall
      • Winter
      • Summer

    • PHAR 300 Drug Action 3 Credits
        Offered in the:
      • Fall
      • Winter
      • Summer


    B. Neurophysiology/Neural Computation Stream

    3 credits as follows:


    • PHGY 311 Channels, Synapses & Hormones 3 Credits
        Offered in the:
      • Fall
      • Winter
      • Summer


    3 credits as follows:


    • BIOC 212 Molec Mechanisms of Cell Funct 3 Credits
        Offered in the:
      • Fall
      • Winter
      • Summer

    • BIOL 201 Cell Biology & Metabolism 3 Credits
        Offered in the:
      • Fall
      • Winter
      • Summer


    3 credits from:


    • BIOL 306 Neural Basis of Behaviour 3 Credits
        Offered in the:
      • Fall
      • Winter
      • Summer

    • PHGY 314 Integrative Neuroscience 3 Credits
        Offered in the:
      • Fall
      • Winter
      • Summer


    6 credits from:

    Note: Students who have successfully completed an equivalent to MATH 222 at CEGEP or elsewhere, must replace these credits with a 3-credit elective course to satisfy the total credit requirement for the Neuroscience Major.


    • ANAT 321 Circuitry of the Human Brain 3 Credits
        Offered in the:
      • Fall
      • Winter
      • Summer

    • BIOL 309 Mathematical Models in Biology 3 Credits
        Offered in the:
      • Fall
      • Winter
      • Summer

    • COMP 206 Intro to Software Systems 3 Credits**
        Offered in the:
      • Fall
      • Winter
      • Summer

    • COMP 250 Intro to Computer Science 3 Credits
        Offered in the:
      • Fall
      • Winter
      • Summer

    • MATH 222 Calculus 3 3 Credits
        Offered in the:
      • Fall
      • Winter
      • Summer

    • MATH 223 Linear Algebra 3 Credits
        Offered in the:
      • Fall
      • Winter
      • Summer


    C. Cognitive/Behavioural Stream

    6 credits as follows:


    • PSYC 213 Cognition 3 Credits
        Offered in the:
      • Fall
      • Winter
      • Summer

    • PSYC 318 Behavioural Neuroscience 2 3 Credits
        Offered in the:
      • Fall
      • Winter
      • Summer


    3 credits from:


    • BIOL 306 Neural Basis of Behaviour 3 Credits
        Offered in the:
      • Fall
      • Winter
      • Summer

    • PHGY 314 Integrative Neuroscience 3 Credits
        Offered in the:
      • Fall
      • Winter
      • Summer


    6 credits from:


    • ANAT 321 Circuitry of the Human Brain 3 Credits
        Offered in the:
      • Fall
      • Winter
      • Summer

    • PSYC 302 The Psychology of Pain 3 Credits
        Offered in the:
      • Fall
      • Winter
      • Summer

    • PSYC 317 Genes and Behaviour 3 Credits
        Offered in the:
      • Fall
      • Winter
      • Summer

    • PSYC 342 Hormones & Behaviour 3 Credits
        Offered in the:
      • Fall
      • Winter
      • Summer


    Other Complementary Courses

    21-23 credits chosen as follows:

    3-16 credits from:


    • BIOL 301 Cell and Molecular Laboratory 4 Credits
        Offered in the:
      • Fall
      • Winter
      • Summer

    • BIOL 389 Laboratory in Neurobiology 3 Credits
        Offered in the:
      • Fall
      • Winter
      • Summer

    • NSCI 410D1 Independent Research 1 3 Credits
        Offered in the:
      • Fall
      • Winter
      • Summer

    • NSCI 410D2 Independent Research 1 3 Credits
        Offered in the:
      • Fall
      • Winter
      • Summer

    • NSCI 420D1 Independent Research 2 4.5 Credits
        Offered in the:
      • Fall
      • Winter
      • Summer

    • NSCI 420D2 Independent Research 2 4.5 Credits
        Offered in the:
      • Fall
      • Winter
      • Summer

    5-20 of the credits should be taken from the following lists. At least 15 of the 21-23 credits must be at the 400- or 500-level, which could include the above NSCI 410D1/NSCID2 or NSCI 420D1/NSCI 420D2 research courses:


    200- and 300-level courses:

    * Students take either BIOL 201 OR BIOC 212, but not both.
    ** Students take either COMP 206 or COMP 250, but not both.


    • ANAT 321 Circuitry of the Human Brain 3 Credits
        Offered in the:
      • Fall
      • Winter
      • Summer

    • BIOC 212 Molec Mechanisms of Cell Funct 3 Credits*
        Offered in the:
      • Fall
      • Winter
      • Summer

    • BIOC 311 Metabolic Biochemistry 3 Credits
        Offered in the:
      • Fall
      • Winter
      • Summer

    • BIOL 201 Cell Biology & Metabolism 3 Credits*
        Offered in the:
      • Fall
      • Winter
      • Summer

    • BIOL 202 Basic Genetics 3 Credits
        Offered in the:
      • Fall
      • Winter
      • Summer

    • BIOL 300 Molecular Biology of the Gene 3 Credits
        Offered in the:
      • Fall
      • Winter
      • Summer

    • BIOL 306 Neural Basis of Behaviour 3 Credits
        Offered in the:
      • Fall
      • Winter
      • Summer

    • BIOL 307 Behavioural Ecology 3 Credits
        Offered in the:
      • Fall
      • Winter
      • Summer

    • BIOL 320 Evolution of Brain & Behaviour 3 Credits
        Offered in the:
      • Fall
      • Winter
      • Summer

    • CHEM 222 Intro Organic Chemistry 2 4 Credits
        Offered in the:
      • Fall
      • Winter
      • Summer

    • COMP 206 Intro to Software Systems 3 Credits**
        Offered in the:
      • Fall
      • Winter
      • Summer

    • COMP 250 Intro to Computer Science 3 Credits**
        Offered in the:
      • Fall
      • Winter
      • Summer

    • MATH 223 Linear Algebra 3 Credits
        Offered in the:
      • Fall
      • Winter
      • Summer

    • MATH 315 Ordinary Differential Eqns 3 Credits
        Offered in the:
      • Fall
      • Winter
      • Summer

    • MATH 323 Probability 3 Credits
        Offered in the:
      • Fall
      • Winter
      • Summer

    • MATH 324 Statistics 3 Credits
        Offered in the:
      • Fall
      • Winter
      • Summer

    • MIMM 214 Intro Immun: Elem of Immunity 3 Credits
        Offered in the:
      • Fall
      • Winter
      • Summer

    • MIMM 314 Intermediate Immunology 3 Credits
        Offered in the:
      • Fall
      • Winter
      • Summer

    • NEUR 310 Cellular Neurobiology 3 Credits
        Offered in the:
      • Fall
      • Winter
      • Summer

    • PHAR 300 Drug Action 3 Credits
        Offered in the:
      • Fall
      • Winter
      • Summer

    • PHGY 210 Mammalian Physiology 2 3 Credits
        Offered in the:
      • Fall
      • Winter
      • Summer

    • PHGY 311 Channels, Synapses & Hormones 3 Credits
        Offered in the:
      • Fall
      • Winter
      • Summer

    • PHGY 314 Integrative Neuroscience 3 Credits
        Offered in the:
      • Fall
      • Winter
      • Summer

    • PSYC 213 Cognition 3 Credits
        Offered in the:
      • Fall
      • Winter
      • Summer

    • PSYC 302 The Psychology of Pain 3 Credits
        Offered in the:
      • Fall
      • Winter
      • Summer

    • PSYC 315 Computational Psychology 3 Credits
        Offered in the:
      • Fall
      • Winter
      • Summer

    • PSYC 317 Genes and Behaviour 3 Credits
        Offered in the:
      • Fall
      • Winter
      • Summer

    • PSYC 318 Behavioural Neuroscience 2 3 Credits
        Offered in the:
      • Fall
      • Winter
      • Summer

    • PSYC 319 Computational Models-Cognition 3 Credits
        Offered in the:
      • Fall
      • Winter
      • Summer

    • PSYC 342 Hormones & Behaviour 3 Credits
        Offered in the:
      • Fall
      • Winter
      • Summer


    400- and 500-level courses:


    • BIOL 414 Invert Brain Circuits & Behav 3 Credits
        Offered in the:
      • Fall
      • Winter
      • Summer

    • BIOL 506 Neurobiology of Learning 3 Credits
        Offered in the:
      • Fall
      • Winter
      • Summer

    • BIOL 530 Advances in Neuroethology 3 Credits
        Offered in the:
      • Fall
      • Winter
      • Summer

    • BIOL 532 Developmental Neurobiology Sem 3 Credits
        Offered in the:
      • Fall
      • Winter
      • Summer

    • BIOL 580 Genet Approaches to Neur Syst 3 Credits
        Offered in the:
      • Fall
      • Winter
      • Summer

    • BIOL 588 Advances in Mol/Cell Neurobiol 3 Credits
        Offered in the:
      • Fall
      • Winter
      • Summer

    • BMDE 519 Biomedical Signals & Systems 3 Credits
        Offered in the:
      • Fall
      • Winter
      • Summer

    • COMP 546 Computational Perception 4 Credits
        Offered in the:
      • Fall
      • Winter
      • Summer

    • MATH 437 Mathematical Meth in Biology 3 Credits
        Offered in the:
      • Fall
      • Winter
      • Summer

    • MIMM 414 Advanced Immunology 3 Credits
        Offered in the:
      • Fall
      • Winter
      • Summer

    • MIMM 509 Inflammatory Processes 3 Credits
        Offered in the:
      • Fall
      • Winter
      • Summer

    • NEUR 502 Bas&Clin Aspects of Neuroimmu 3 Credits
        Offered in the:
      • Fall
      • Winter
      • Summer

    • NEUR 503 Computational Neuroscience 3 Credits
        Offered in the:
      • Fall
      • Winter
      • Summer

    • NEUR 507 Topics in Radionuclide Imaging 3 Credits
        Offered in the:
      • Fall
      • Winter
      • Summer

    • NEUR 550 Free Radical Biomedicine 3 Credits
        Offered in the:
      • Fall
      • Winter
      • Summer

    • PHAR 562 Neuropharmacology 3 Credits
        Offered in the:
      • Fall
      • Winter
      • Summer

    • PHGY 425 Analyzing Physiological Sys. 3 Credits
        Offered in the:
      • Fall
      • Winter
      • Summer

    • PHGY 451 Advanced Neurophysiology 3 Credits
        Offered in the:
      • Fall
      • Winter
      • Summer

    • PHGY 513 Translational Immunology 3 Credits
        Offered in the:
      • Fall
      • Winter
      • Summer

    • PHGY 520 Ion Channels 3 Credits
        Offered in the:
      • Fall
      • Winter
      • Summer

    • PHGY 524 Chronobiology 3 Credits
        Offered in the:
      • Fall
      • Winter
      • Summer

    • PHGY 556 Topics in Systems Neuroscience 3 Credits
        Offered in the:
      • Fall
      • Winter
      • Summer

    • PSYC 410 Sp Topics in Neuropsychology 3 Credits
        Offered in the:
      • Fall
      • Winter
      • Summer

    • PSYC 427 Sensorimotor Neuroscience 3 Credits
        Offered in the:
      • Fall
      • Winter
      • Summer

    • PSYC 433 Cognitive Science 3 Credits
        Offered in the:
      • Fall
      • Winter
      • Summer

    • PSYC 443 Affective Neuroscience 3 Credits
        Offered in the:
      • Fall
      • Winter
      • Summer

    • PSYC 444 Sleep Mechanisms and Behaviour 3 Credits
        Offered in the:
      • Fall
      • Winter
      • Summer

    • PSYC 470 Memory and Brain 3 Credits
        Offered in the:
      • Fall
      • Winter
      • Summer

    • PSYC 502 Psychoneuroendocrinology 3 Credits
        Offered in the:
      • Fall
      • Winter
      • Summer

    • PSYC 506 Cognitive Neuroscience of Attn 3 Credits
        Offered in the:
      • Fall
      • Winter
      • Summer

    • PSYC 513 Human Decision-Making 3 Credits
        Offered in the:
      • Fall
      • Winter
      • Summer

    • PSYC 514 Neurobiology of Memory 3 Credits
        Offered in the:
      • Fall
      • Winter
      • Summer

    • PSYC 522 Neurochemistry and Behaviour 3 Credits
        Offered in the:
      • Fall
      • Winter
      • Summer

    • PSYC 526 Advances in Visual Perception 3 Credits
        Offered in the:
      • Fall
      • Winter
      • Summer

    • PSYC 529 Music Cognition 3 Credits
        Offered in the:
      • Fall
      • Winter
      • Summer

    • PSYT 455 Neurochemistry 3 Credits
        Offered in the:
      • Fall
      • Winter
      • Summer

    • PSYT 500 Adv: Neur of Mtl Disorders 3 Credits
        Offered in the:
      • Fall
      • Winter
      • Summer


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