Program Overview
Doctor of Philosophy (Neuroscience)
The Neuroscience and Mental Health Institute at the University of Alberta offers a graduate program designed for students who desire a broad training in various experimental and theoretical aspects of neuroscience while maintaining a research program that may be more specialized.
Why Study This Program?
This program is ideal for students who wish to draw on the expertise of specialists from various departments throughout the University who have research interests in neuroscience. The graduate program in Neuroscience offers both PhD and MSc degrees through thesis research.
Entrance Requirements
Applicants to the MSc program are expected to have completed the following courses or their equivalents:
- ZOOL 342 or PMCOL 371
- PHYSL 372 Students deficient in this area may be expected to take these courses as extra-to-degree as a condition of admission. Applicants to the PhD program who do not have a sufficient Neuroscience background may be required to take additional courses to ensure an adequate background.
Program Requirements
The program for each student will be determined by their supervisory committee and will be subject to approval by the Neuroscience Graduate Program Committee. Additional coursework may be required.
Program Core Competencies
PhD students are required to complete 3 units of graduate-level coursework in Critical Reading/Thinking and Background Knowledge core competencies (total 6 units). PhD students entering the program with an MSc in a relevant discipline may only be required to complete 3 units of graduate-level coursework, at the discretion of the Director of Graduate Studies in consultation with the Supervisor.
Professional Development and Ethics
Students must complete the GPS Ethics and Academic Citizenship Training Requirement and the GPS Professional Development Requirement.
Communication
Students are required to attend Neuroscience seminars and participate in Neuroscience Research Day (NRD) on an annual basis.
Critical Reading/Thinking
Students have options for developing competency in this area, including NEURO 500, NEURO 501, or a directed reading course.
Background Knowledge
The list of pre-approved courses includes:
- CELL 502 - The Birth and Death of a Cell
- EDPY 500 - Introduction to Data Analysis in Educational Research
- EDPY 505 - Quantitative Methods I
- NEURO 500 - Research in Neuroscience
- NEURO 501 - Graduate Research Project
- NEURO 510 - Cellular and Molecular Aspects of Normal Aging and Neurodegenerative Disorders
- NEURO 511 - Clinical and Basic Science Aspects of Age-related Neurodegenerative Disorders
- NEURO 520 - Neuroplasticity
- NEURO 525 - Neuroimaging in Neuroscience
- NEURO 572 - Current Topics in Autonomic Neuroscience
- NEURO 603 - Graduate Colloquium in Neuroscience
- NEURO 621 - The Art of Grant Writing
- NEURO 698 - Undergraduate Research Mentoring
- NEURO 699 - Undergraduate Research Mentoring
- PHYSL 544 - Current Topics in Neuroscience
- PMCOL 575 - Signal Transduction Systems as Pharmacological Targets
- PMCOL 612 - Drugs and the Nervous System
- PSYCH 574 - Advanced Topics in Neuroscience
- PSYCH 576 - Cognitive Neuroscience
- PSYCI 511 - Biological Aspects of Psychiatry
- PTHER 567 - Neuroscience for Rehabilitation
PhD Thesis Proposal
See the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry PhD Thesis Proposal and Thesis Proposal Meeting requirements.
Candidacy Exam
See the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry Doctoral Candidacy Examination requirements.
Thesis
Registration in 900-level THES is required. Students must prepare and defend a thesis on a topic approved by their supervisor and supervisory committee.
Length of Program
See the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry Minimum Length of Time in Program and the Graduate Program Services Time Limit for Completion of Graduate Programs requirements.
Courses
Descriptions of these courses can be found under the relevant subject headings:
- Biomedical Engineering (BME)
- Cell Biology (CELL)
- Educational Psychology (EDPY)
- Neuroscience (NEURO)
- Pharmacology (PMCOL)
- Physical Therapy (PTHER)
- Physiology (PHYSL)
- Psychiatry (PSYCI)
- Psychology (PSYCH)
Additional courses offered by other departments that are deemed relevant to the student's research interests may be approved on an individual basis.
Tuition and Fees
Financial assistance in the form of Graduate Research Assistant Fellowships from supervisor operating funds is normally available to students in good standing. Students may also be eligible for awards from the Faculty of Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies and the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry.
Scholarships and Financial Support
The Faculty of Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies administers over $29 million each year in scholarships, awards, and financial support for graduate students. Additional scholarships are also available for specific faculties and programs.