Neuroscience (NEUR)
Departments of Biomedical Sciences (Ontario Veterinary College), Human Health and Nutritional Sciences (College of Biological Science), Molecular & Cellular Biology (College of Biological Science), and Psychology (College of Social and Applied Human Science).
Major (Honours Program)
This Honours program provides a foundation in the natural sciences and an opportunity to develop advanced knowledge of nervous system structure and function, and the skills required for independent inquiry within neuroscience. The specialization is unique in its emphasis on integrative/interdisciplinary problem solving. Through the use of electives, students may structure a program that emphasizes molecular and biomedical neuroscience, behavioural and cognitive neuroscience, or comparative neuroscience.
The major prepares students for professional programs in health science (medical, physiotherapy, pharmacy, veterinary medicine, nursing), post-graduate degrees in neuroscience research, and provides a strong foundation for students wishing to pursue careers in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries, public health, teaching, and scientific publishing & journalism.
Students may enter this major in Semester 1 or any semester thereafter. A student wishing to declare the major may wish to consult with a Faculty Advisor. A minimum total of 20.00 credits is required to complete the major.
Students lacking Grade 12 or 4U Biology, Chemistry or Physics should follow the revised schedule of study for this major found at: https://www.uoguelph.ca/bsc/revised_SS/.
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
Semester 1 | ||
BIOL*1080 | Biological Concepts of Health | 0.50 |
CHEM*1040 | General Chemistry I | 0.50 |
MATH*1080 | Elements of Calculus I | 0.50 |
PHYS*1080 | Physics for Life Sciences | 0.50 |
0.50 Liberal Education electives | 0.50 | |
Semester 2 | ||
BIOL*1070 | Discovering Biodiversity | 0.50 |
BIOL*1090 | Introduction to Molecular and Cellular Biology | 0.50 |
CHEM*1050 | General Chemistry II | 0.50 |
PHYS*1070 | Physics for Life Sciences II | 0.50 |
PSYC*1000 | Introduction to Psychology | 0.50 |
Semester 3 | ||
BIOC*2580 | Introduction to Biochemistry | 0.50 |
MBG*2040 | Foundations in Molecular Biology and Genetics | 0.50 |
NEUR*2000 | Foundations in Neuroscience | 0.50 |
STAT*2040 | Statistics I | 0.50 |
or PSYC*1010 | Making Sense of Data in Psychological Research | |
0.50 Liberal Education electives | 0.50 | |
Semester 4 | ||
MCB*2050 | Molecular Biology of the Cell | 0.50 |
PHYS*2030 | Biophysics of Excitable Cells | 0.50 |
PSYC*3410 | Behavioural Neuroscience II | 0.50 |
1.00 electives or restricted electives | 1.00 | |
Semester 5 | ||
BIOM*3000 | Functional Mammalian Neuroanatomy | 0.50 |
NEUR*3100 | Molecular Mechanisms of Neurological Disorders | 0.50 |
PSYC*3270 | Cognitive Neuroscience | 0.50 |
1.00 electives or restricted electives | 1.00 | |
Semester 6 | ||
BIOM*3090 | Principles of Pharmacology | 0.50 |
NEUR*3500 | Techniques in Neuroscience | 1.00 |
1.00 electives or restricted electives | 1.00 | |
Semester 7 | ||
NEUR*4000 | Current Issues in Neuroscience | 0.50 |
NEUR*4100 | Neuropharmacology | 0.50 |
1.50 electives or restricted electives | 1.50 | |
Semester 8 | ||
2.50 electives or restricted electives | 2.50 |
Note: Physiology restricted elective (# 3) must be taken before registering in BIOM*3090 Principles of Pharmacology in semester 6.
Restricted Electives
Students are advised to pay particular attention to pre-requisite requirements when choosing individual courses, and seek advice as needed.
- A minimum of 0.50 credits of Critical thinking/ Philosophy / Ethics from:
Course List Code Title Credits BIOM*3210 Critical Thinking in the Health Sciences 0.50 PHIL*2100 Critical Thinking 0.50 PHIL*2110 Formal Logic 0.50 PHIL*2120 Ethics 0.50 PHIL*2180 Philosophy of Science 0.50 PHIL*2240 Knowledge and Belief 0.50 - A minimum of 0.50 credits of Developmental Biology
Course List Code Title Credits BIOM*3040 Medical Embryology 1 0.75 MBG*3040 Molecular Biology of the Gene 0.50 ZOO*3050 Developmental Biology 0.50 - A minimum of 0.50 credits of Physiology
Course List Code Title Credits BIOM*3200 Biomedical Physiology 1.00 HK*2810 Human Physiology I - Concepts and Principles 2 0.50 ZOO*3600 Comparative Animal Physiology I 1 0.50 - A minimum of 0.50 credits of additional statistics or experimental design
Course List Code Title Credits PSYC*2360 Psychological Methods and Statistics 0.50 STAT*2050 Statistics II 0.50
- 1
Indicates courses that require additional prerequisites.
- 2
Note: If HK*2810 Human Physiology I - Concepts and Principles is completed in Semester 4, HK*3810 Human Physiology II - Integrated Systems must be completed in Semester 5 in order to meet the BIOM*3090 Principles of Pharmacology pre-requisite requirement
Lists of Recommended Electives
The following lists contain recommended electives for students wishing to emphasize particular areas in neuroscience.
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
Psychology | ||
PSYC*2330 | Principles of Learning | 0.50 |
PSYC*2390 | Sensation and Perception | 0.50 |
PSYC*2650 | Cognitive Psychology | 0.50 |
PSYC*3030 | Neurochemical Basis of Behaviour 3 | 0.50 |
PSYC*3100 | Evolutionary Psychology 3 | 0.50 |
PSYC*3330 | Memory and Attention 3 | 0.50 |
PSYC*3410 | Behavioural Neuroscience II | 0.50 |
PSYC*4470 | Advanced Topics in Behavioural and Cognitive Neuroscience | 0.50 |
PSYC*4570 | Special Topics in Applied Psychology | 0.50 |
Computation, Modeling and Statistics | ||
CIS*1300 | Programming | 0.50 |
CIS*2500 | Intermediate Programming 3 | 0.50 |
MATH*1090 | Elements of Calculus II | 0.50 |
MATH*1160 | Linear Algebra I | 0.50 |
MATH*2270 | Applied Differential Equations 3 | 0.50 |
MATH*3510 | Biomathematics 3 | 0.50 |
PSYC*3250 | Psychological Measurement 3 | 0.50 |
PSYC*3290 | Conducting Statistical Analyses in Psychology 3 | 0.50 |
STAT*3240 | Applied Regression Analysis 3 | 0.50 |
Biological Science | ||
BIOC*3560 | Structure and Function in Biochemistry | 0.50 |
BIOC*4580 | Membrane Biochemistry 3 | 0.50 |
BIOM*4070 | Biomedical Histology 3 | 0.50 |
MBG*3050 | Human Genetics | 0.50 |
MCB*3010 | Dynamics of Cell Function and Signaling | 0.50 |
MCB*4010 | Advanced Cell Biology 3 | 0.50 |
ZOO*3000 | Comparative Histology 3 | 0.50 |
Health & Disease | ||
BIOM*3040 | Medical Embryology 3 | 0.75 |
BIOM*4030 | Endocrine Physiology 3 | 0.50 |
BIOM*4050 | Biomedical Aspects of Aging 3 | 0.50 |
HK*3100 | Neuromuscular Physiology 3 | 0.50 |
HK*3810 | Human Physiology II - Integrated Systems 3 | 0.75 |
HK*4070 | Clinical Biomechanics 3 | 0.50 |
TOX*4000 | Medical Toxicology | 0.50 |
Research Based | ||
For students who are interested in graduate studies, a research course is recommended | ||
BIOM*4500 | Literature-based Research in Biomedical Sciences | 0.50 |
BIOM*4510 | Research in Biomedical Sciences | 1.00 |
BIOM*4521 | Research in Biomedical Sciences | 1.00 |
BIOM*4522 | Research in Biomedical Sciences | 1.00 |
HK*4230 | Advanced Study in Human Health and Nutritional Sciences | 0.50 |
HK*4360 | Research in Human Health and Nutritional Sciences | 1.00 |
HK*4371 | Research in Human Health and Nutritional Sciences II | 0.50 |
HK*4372 | Research in Human Health and Nutritional Sciences II | 0.50 |
IBIO*4500 | Research in Integrative Biology I | 1.00 |
IBIO*4510 | Research in Integrative Biology II | 1.00 |
IBIO*4521 | Thesis in Integrative Biology | 1.00 |
IBIO*4522 | Thesis in Integrative Biology | 1.00 |
MCB*4500 | Research Project in Molecular and Cellular Biology I 3 | 1.00 |
MCB*4510 | Research Project in Molecular and Cellular Biology 3 | 1.00 |
MCB*4600 | Topics in Molecular and Cellular Biology 3 | 0.50 |
NEUR*4401 | Research in Neurosciences | 0.50 |
NEUR*4402 | Research in Neurosciences | 0.50 |
NEUR*4450 | Research in Neurosciences | 1.00 |
PSYC*3240 | Independent Research Project 4 | 0.50 |
PSYC*4240 | Advanced Independent Research Project 4 | 0.50 |
PSYC*4870 | Honours Thesis I 4 | 0.50 |
PSYC*4880 | Honours Thesis II 4 | 1.00 |
- 3
Indicates courses that require additional prerequisites.
- 4
Faculty advisor will determine if this course is an eligible science elective, depending on the instructor and topic
Credit Summary
(20.00 Total Credits)
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
First year science core | 4.00 | |
Required science courses semester 3-8 | 7.50 | |
Restricted elective (#1,2,3,4 in restricted electives list) | 2.00 | |
Approved Science Elective 1 | 2.50 | |
Required Liberal Education Elective 2 | 0.50 | |
Liberal Education Electives | 1.00 | |
Free Electives | 2.50 | |
Total Credits | 20 |
- 1
3.00 Approved Science Electives if a PHIL*XXXX course is selected for restricted electives #1
- 2
PSYC*1000 Introduction to Psychology
Of the 20 total credits required, students must complete 16.00 credits in science of which a minimum of 2.00 credits must be at the 4000 level and an additional 4.00 credits must be at the 3000 or 4000 level.
Minor (Honours Program)
A minor in Neuroscience requires a minimum of 5.00 credits including:
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
BIOL*1090 | Introduction to Molecular and Cellular Biology | 0.50 |
PSYC*1000 | Introduction to Psychology | 0.50 |
PSYC*2330 | Principles of Learning | 0.50 |
NEUR*2000 | Foundations in Neuroscience | 0.50 |
or PSYC*2410 | Behavioural Neuroscience I | |
PSYC*1010 | Making Sense of Data in Psychological Research | 0.50 |
or STAT*2040 | Statistics I | |
Select a minimum of 0.50 credits from the following: | ||
BIOM*2000 | Concepts in Human Physiology | 0.50 |
BIOM*3200 | Biomedical Physiology | 1.00 |
HK*2810 | Human Physiology I - Concepts and Principles | 0.50 |
ZOO*3600 | Comparative Animal Physiology I | 0.50 |
Select a minimum of 2.00 credits from the following: | ||
BIOM*3000 | Functional Mammalian Neuroanatomy | 0.50 |
BIOM*3090 | Principles of Pharmacology | 0.50 |
BIOM*4030 | Endocrine Physiology | 0.50 |
HK*3100 | Neuromuscular Physiology | 0.50 |
MBG*2040 | Foundations in Molecular Biology and Genetics | 0.50 |
MBG*3050 | Human Genetics | 0.50 |
MCB*2050 | Molecular Biology of the Cell | 0.50 |
NEUR*3100 | Molecular Mechanisms of Neurological Disorders | 0.50 |
NEUR*4000 | Current Issues in Neuroscience | 0.50 |
NEUR*4100 | Neuropharmacology | 0.50 |
PHYS*2030 | Biophysics of Excitable Cells | 0.50 |
PHYS*2330 | Electricity and Magnetism I | 0.50 |
PSYC*2390 | Sensation and Perception | 0.50 |
PSYC*2650 | Cognitive Psychology | 0.50 |
PSYC*3030 | Neurochemical Basis of Behaviour | 0.50 |
PSYC*3270 | Cognitive Neuroscience | 0.50 |
PSYC*3330 | Memory and Attention | 0.50 |
PSYC*3410 | Behavioural Neuroscience II | 0.50 |
PSYC*4750 | Seminar in Motivation and Emotion | 0.50 |
Of the 2.00 additional credits, students may select one course from the following: | ||
BIOM*3040 | Medical Embryology | 0.75 |
MBG*4040 | Genetics and Molecular Biology of Development | 0.50 |
ZOO*3050 | Developmental Biology | 0.50 |
Please note that some of the restricted electives require prerequisites that are not included in the minor.