Overview
The Collaborative Specialization in Neuroscience offers the opportunity for Master’s and PhD students to combine their departmental degree program with multidisciplinary exposure to the field of neuroscience. This unique training experience provides students with the best possible foundation for academic careers in neuroscience and related areas.
Doctoral and Master’s (thesis or course work and major research paper) students wishing to undertake graduate studies with emphasis on neuroscience will be admitted by a participating department and will register in both the participating department and in the collaborative specialization.
Collaborative Specialization in Neuroscience Brochure PDF
Participating Departments
- Animal Biosciences
- Biomedical Sciences
- Clinical Studies
- Human Health and Nutritional Sciences
- Integrative Biology
- Molecular and Cellular Biology
- Pathobiology
- Philosophy
- Population Medicine
- Psychology
Admissions
Prospective students can apply at the time of their application to the University of Guelph. 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.
As a practical matter, 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 is allowed to advise a participating student. However, 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 Collaborative Specialization outside the student’s home department or a faculty member from another university approved by graduate studies.
Degree Requirements | Master’s Program (MA/MSc/MBS)
Students in the MA/MSc/MBS Collaborative Specialization must complete NEUR*6000 Principles of Neuroscience and a major project/paper or thesis in the field of Neuroscience. Students who have completed an undergraduate degree with a major in Neuroscience may be exempt from NEUR*6000 upon consultation with their faculty advisor and the Neuroscience Graduate Program Coordinator. Further, all students must register for NEUR*6100 Seminar in Neuroscience each term that they are in the Collaborative Specialization. In NEUR*6100 Seminar in Neuroscience, students and faculty will meet monthly to discuss issues/hear talks/present research in neuroscience.
Requirements of this Collaborative Specialization may also serve as elective requirements in the student’s home program.
Degree Requirements | PhD Program
If a student enters the PhD Collaborative Specialization in Neuroscience at the doctoral level, students must complete NEUR*6000 Principles of Neuroscience, or show evidence of course equivalence in prior training. Students must be engaged in neuroscience dissertation research. During each term of their program of studies, doctoral students must enroll in NEUR*6100 Seminar in Neuroscience. The seminar will be held monthly. As required by University graduate policies, students must take their qualifying exams within five semesters of entering the program. 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. Also, 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.
Requirements of this Collaborative Specialization may also serve as elective requirements in the student’s home program.