Collaborative Specialization in Neuroscience - MSc/MBS/PhD
The Collaborative Specialization in Neuroscience provides a specialization for Master’s and PhD students engaged in research in the rapidly expanding field of neuroscience, by permitting students to combine their departmental degree program with multidisciplinary exposure to the field of neuroscience. This unique combination of multidisciplinary studies provides students with the best possible foundation for academic careers in neuroscience and related areas. The spcialization includes participation from core faculty in the following departments: Animal Biosciences, Biomedical Science, Clinical Studies, Human Health and Nutritional Sciences, Integrative Biology, Molecular and Cellular Biology, Pathobiology, Population Medicine, and Psychology.
Administrative Staff
Dr. Boyer Winters, Director
Psychology, MCKN Rm 3005, Ext. 52163
bwinters@uoguelph.ca
Dr. Mark Fenske, Graduate Coordinator
Psychology, MCKN Rm 3020, Ext. 56411
mfenske@uoguelph.ca
Graduate Program Assistant
Robin Sorbara (on leave)
Psychology, MCKNEXT Rm 4014, Ext. 53508
psycgpa@uoguelph.ca
Academic Advisor and Manager
Sharon Helder
Psychology, MCKNEXT Rm 4015, Ext. 53260
shelder@uoguelph.ca
Graduate Faculty
Craig D. Bailey
Biomedical Sciences
Andrew J. Bendall
Molecular and Cellular Biology
Leah R. Bent
Human Health and Nutritional Sciences
Nicholas J. Bernier
Integrative Biology
Giannina Descalzi
Biomedical Sciences
Mazyar Fallah
Dean, College of Biological Science (Human Health and Nutritional Sciences)
George Harauz
Canada Research Chair, Molecular and Cellular Biology
Andreas Heyland
Integrative Biology
Nina Jones
Canada Research Chair, Molecular and Cellular Biology
Bettina E. Kalisch
Biomedical Sciences
Jibran Khokhar
Biomedical Sciences
Frederic Laberge
Integrative Biology
Jasmin Lalonde
Molecular and Cell Biology
Ray Lu
Molecular and Cellular Biology
David W.L. Ma
Human Health and Nutritional Sciences
Neil J. MacLusky
Biomedical Sciences
Georgia Mason
Canada Research Chair, Integrative Biology
Robert L. McLaughlin
Integrative Biology
Amy Newman
Integrative Biology
Linda A. Parker
Canada Research Chair, Psychology
Melissa Perreault
Biomedical Sciences
Geoff Power
Human Health and Nutritional Sciences
Tarek Saleh
Biomedical Sciences
Shaun Sanders
Molecular and Cell Biololgy
John Z. Srbely
Human Health and Nutritional Sciences
Lori A. Vallis
Human Health and Nutritional Sciences
Terry Van Raay
Molecular and Cellular Biology
John Vessey
Molecular and Cellular Biology
Tina Widowski
Animal Biosciences
John L. Zettel
Human Health and Nutritional Sciences
As a practical matter, however, any faculty member who is approved by the Board of Graduate Studies for graduate faculty status and is a member of a participating unit within the collaborative specialization will be able to advise a masters or doctoral student.
Master’s Program (MSc or MBS)
The Collaborative MSc or MBS (Master of Biomedical Science) Specialization in Neuroscience enables students engaged in neuroscience Master’s thesis research to combine their departmental degree program with a multidisciplinary specialization in the field of neuroscience.
Admission Requirements
Master’s students in the Collaborative Specialization in Neuroscience must meet the admission requirements of the participating department in which they are enrolled. The application process has two stages: first, application to the primary program of interest, identifying interest in the Collaborative specialization as a secondary focus. If the student is admitted to the primary program, the second stage is then admission to the Collaborative Specialization. Students may add the Collaborative Specialization at any time during their degree (except for the last semester before graduation), as long as they complete the program requirements via a “Study Option or Degree Program Transfer” form with the Graduate Program Assistant in their home department.
Degree Requirements
In addition to coursework in their respective departments, students in the Master’s program must complete NEUR*6000: Principles of Neuroscience (0.5 credits), as well as registering for NEUR*6100: Seminar in Neuroscience (0.0 credits) every Fall and Winter semester that they are in the program. In NEUR*6100, students and faculty will meet once a month to discuss issues/ hear talks/ present research in neuroscience. Note that students registered in the Collaborative Neuroscience Specialization cannot use NEUR*6000 as an elective to satisfy the requirements of their home department program.
Please note that NEUR*6100 is a two-semester commitment, and students must register for the course twice each year: once in the Fall and once in the Winter. Students who do not register for both terms will have incomplete coursework on their transcript, and will be unable to complete the Master’s program until it is resolved.
PhD Program
The Collaborative PhD Specialization in Neuroscience enables students engaged in neuroscience dissertation research to combine their departmental degree program with a multidisciplinary specialization in the field of neuroscience.
Admission Requirements
PhD students in the Collaborative Specialization in Neuroscience must meet the PhD admission requirements for the participating department in which they are enrolled. Students may add the Collaborative Specialization at any time during their degree (except for the last semester before graduation), as long as they complete the program requirements via a “Study Option or Degree Program Transfer” form with the Graduate Program Assistant in their home department.
Degree Requirements
If a student enters the Collaborative PhD Specialization in Neuroscience at the doctoral level, in addition to coursework in their respective departments, students must complete NEUR*6000: Principles of Neuroscience, or show evidence of course equivalence in prior training. Note that students registered in the Collaborative Neuroscience Specialization cannot use NEUR*6000 as an elective to satisfy the requirements of their home department program. Students must be engaged in neuroscience dissertation research. Doctoral students must also enroll in NEUR*6100: Seminar in Neuroscience (0.0 credit) every Fall and Winter semester that they are in the program. Failing to register for both the Fall and Winter semesters every year could delay graduation. The seminar will meet monthly. Students must take their qualifying exams within five semesters of entering the program, as required by University graduate policies. One member on the qualifying exam committee must be a core member of the Collaborative specialization in Neuroscience outside the student’s home department or a faculty member from another university approved by graduate studies. Furthermore, one member of the student’s advisory committee must be a core member of the neuroscience collaborative specialization outside the student’s home department or a faculty member from another university approved by graduate studies.
Courses
NEUR*6000 Principles of Neuroscience
NEUR*6100 Seminar in Neuroscience