Neuroscience


Faculty List
  • I. Anreiter, B. Sc. (Universidade Ténica de Lisboa), M.Sc. (Universidade Nova de Lisboa), Ph. D. (Toronto), Assistant Professor
  • B.C. Armstrong, B.Sc., M.A. (Toronto), M.S., Ph.D., (Carnegie Mellon), Assistant Professor
  • M. Arruda-Carvalho, B.Sc., M.Sc. (Rio de Janeiro), Ph.D. (Toronto), Assistant Professor
  • M.W. Best, B.Sc., M.Sc., Ph.D. (Queens), Assistant Professor
  • R. Boonstra, B.Sc. (Calgary), Ph.D. (British Columbia), Professor Emeritus
  • J.S. Cant, B.A., M.Sc., Ph.D. (Western), Associate Professor
  • L. Cirelli, B.A. (Laurentian), Ph.D. (McMaster), Assistant Professor
  • S. Erb, B.Sc. (Wilfrid Laurier), M.A., Ph.D. (Concordia), Associate Professor
  • V. Goghari, B.A. (British Columbia), M.A., Ph.D. (Minnesota), Professor
  • J.W. Gurd, B.A. (Mount Allison), Ph.D. (McGill), Professor Emeritus
  • D.W. Haley, B.A. (Annapolis), M.A. (San Francisco), Ph.D. (Albuquerque), Associate Professor
  • C. Hutcherson, B.A. (Harvard), Ph.D. (Stanford), Associate Professor
  • M. Inzlicht, B.A. (McGill), M.Sc., Ph.D. (Brown), Professor
  • R. Ito, B.A. (Oxford), Ph.D. (Cambridge), Professor
  • J.C. LeBoutillier, B.Sc., M.A., Ph.D. (Toronto), Associate Professor Emerita, Teaching Stream
  • A.C.H. Lee, B.A. (Oxford), Ph.D. (Cambridge), Professor
  • A.C. Mason, B.Sc. (Guelph), M.Sc., Ph.D. (Toronto), Professor
  • P. McGowan, B.Sc. (Concordia), M.A., Ph.D. (Duke), Professor
  • J.E. Nash, B.Sc. (Aberdeen), M.Sc., Ph.D. (Manchester), Associate Professor
  • A. Nestor, B.A. (Bucharest), M.Sc. (New Bulgarian), Ph.D. (Brown), Associate Professor
  • M. Niemeier, M.A. (Hamburg), Ph.D. (Tubingen), Professor
  • T.L. Petit, B.Sc., M.A. (Louisiana), Ph.D. (Florida), Professor Emeritus
  • O. Podolak Lewandowska, B.Sc (McMaster), M.A., Ph.D. (Toronto), Assistant Professor, Teaching Stream
  • S.G. Reid, B.Sc., Ph.D. (Ottawa), Associate Professor
  • R. Rozeske, B.A. (St. Olaf), M.A., Ph.D. (Colorado), Assistant Professor
  • A.C. Ruocco, B.Sc. (York), M.Sc., Ph.D., C. Psych (Drexel), Professor
  • M. Souza, B.A., M.A. (UC Davis), Ph.D. (Berkeley), Associate Professor, Teaching Stream
  • T.R. Thiele, B.A. (Hamilton College, Clinton, NY), Ph.D. (Oregon), Assistant Professor
  • R. Thiruchselvam, B.Sc. (Toronto), Ph.D. (Stanford), Assistant Professor, Teaching Stream
  • K.K. Zakzanis, B.A., M.A., Ph.D., C.Psych. (York), Professor

Chair: S. Erb
Associate Chair, Undergraduate and Program Supervisor: K. Danielson
Undergraduate Program Administrator: psychundergrad.utsc@utoronto.ca
Co-op Contact: askcoop@utoronto.ca

For more information, visit the Department of Psychology website.

Neuroscience is a highly interdisciplinary scientific field of study that offers insight into the structure and function of the brain and the nervous system. Our nervous system is responsible for an enormous range of tasks, from regulating essential body functions such as breathing and digestion to producing our thoughts, emotions, and behaviours. Neuroscientists are interested in understanding the normal development and activity of the nervous system, as well as what happens under atypical circumstances such as neurological injury (e.g., stroke, brain injury), neurodegenerative diseases (e.g., Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s disease), neuropsychiatric disorders (e.g., addiction, schizophrenia, depression) and neurodevelopmental disorders (e.g., autism). Applied neuroscience research has the potential to produce evidence-based strategies for the diagnosis and treatment of nervous system disorders.

Neuroscience education can be a powerful tool for many future endeavours. Given the interdisciplinary nature of neuroscience, students interested in pursuing research-focused graduate programs may have a variety of viable options (e.g., Ph.D. in Neuroscience, Psychology, or Biology). A neuroscience background is also valuable for a range of applied professional programs (e.g., Master’s Degree in Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy, Public Health), including medical school. Undergraduate education in neuroscience can also lead to a variety of direct-entry careers (e.g., research technician, data analyst, pharmaceutical sales).

Subdisciplines in neuroscience examine nervous system functioning at different levels of organization and analysis.

  • Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience explores the nervous system at its most fundamental level, investigating the influence of genes, signalling molecules, and cellular morphology on the development and maintenance of brain function, predominantly through the use of in vitro techniques (e.g., immunohistochemistry, patch clamp).
  • Systems and Behavioral Neuroscience examines the neural mechanisms underlying behaviour and how brain circuits work together to analyze external stimuli, internal biological states and past experiences in order to coordinate appropriate responses, predominantly through the use of in vivo approaches in behaving subjects (e.g., optogenetics, chemogenetics).
  • Cognitive Neuroscience focuses on understanding the neural basis of human cognition (e.g., language, memory, attention, decision-making) predominantly through the use of patient neuropsychology and neuroimaging techniques (e.g., magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), electroencephalography (EEG)). Taken together, these complementary approaches work to foster a comprehensive understanding of nervous system dynamics.

The Specialist Program in Neuroscience is research-intensive and allows students to choose one of three streams to concentrate their studies: Cellular/Molecular, Systems/Behavioural, or Cognitive. Our Major program, which focuses on both Cellular/Molecular and Systems/Behavioural Neuroscience, requires less coursework and allows students to pursue a second major in a different area of interest. The Specialist (Co-op) and Major (Co-op) Programs in Neuroscience also require successful completion of twelve months of work-term experience. 

A program in Neuroscience pairs well with many other courses and programs here at UTSC. A few of the most common double major pairings with Neuroscience include Psychology, Mental Health Studies, and Human Biology. While these are the most common pairings, there are many other options that are highly complementary to training in neuroscience (e.g., Computer Science, Population Health, and Molecular Biology, Immunology and Disease), and we encourage students to explore and identify the combinations that are most consistent with their interests.

Planning Your Program in Neuroscience

Creating an academic plan - a road map of the courses you wish to take on the timeline you wish to take them - is crucial for the efficient and successful completion of your program. We strongly encourage our students to either develop an academic plan independently and then to consult the Department of Psychology Advisors for feedback, or to work with the Advisors to develop an academic plan. These advisors can provide valuable guidance to help you structure your program to improve your competitiveness for further studies after your undergraduate degree. For more information, please see the Department of Psychology website.

First-year Course Selection

Students interested in pursuing a program in Neuroscience must take BIOA01H3, BIOA02H3, CHMA10H3, CHMA11H3, PSYA01H3, and PSYA02H3 (or their equivalents) to be considered for admission. 

Second-year Course Selection

Upon admission to any of the Neuroscience programs, students should prioritize taking BIOB10H3, NROB60H3, NROB61H3, PSYB07H3, PSYB55H3, and PSYB70H3. These courses collectively serve as prerequisites to a number of more advanced courses at the NRO C-level (e.g., NROC61H3). 

BIOB11H3 is a program requirement for students in the Major program, and the Systems/Behavioural and Cellular/Molecular streams of the Specialist program. Students in the Major or in pursuit of the Systems/Behavioural or Cellular/Molecular streams should plan to take BIOB11H3 in the second year. 

Students in the Specialist/Specialist (Co-op) programs have additional course requirements in the second year, including [MATA29H3 or MATA30H3]. It is essential that you carefully review these requirements and plan your course selection appropriately to ensure that you can declare your stream of choice in a timely manner. 

Courses in Psychology and Neuroscience

Enrolment controls exist for all PSY/NRO C- and D-level courses, and some B-level courses. Eligibility is based on current program enrolment. Refer to the timetable for this information.

Prerequisites: Students are responsible for ensuring that they have successfully completed the prerequisites for all PSY/NRO courses they register for. Students who register for courses for which they have not completed the prerequisites will be removed. Please consult with the Undergraduate Program Administrator immediately if you have petitioned for an exam deferral or have a Standing Deferred (SDF) status in a prerequisite course.

D-level enrolment: Students in a Specialist program in Psychology, Mental Health Studies, or Neuroscience, or in a Double Major in Psychology/Mental Health Studies and Neuroscience, may complete a maximum of 1.0 PSY/NRO D-level credits.  Students in a single Major program in Psychology, Mental Health Studies, or Neuroscience may complete a maximum of 0.5 PSY/NRO D-level credits. Students in the Minor Program in Psychology are not eligible for enrolment in PSY/NRO D-level courses. Students will be refused from any PSY/NRO D-levels beyond this limit. PSYD98Y3 and NROD98Y3 are exempt from the above requirements and do not count toward the D-level limit. Full information about PSY/NRO D-level courses can be found here.

Course Equivalents at Other Campuses

Students are strongly encouraged to complete all Neuroscience program requirements at UTSC. In only a very few instances, courses from the other campuses may be used to satisfy program requirements. Please direct any questions about taking program requirements at the other UofT campuses to the Undergraduate Program Administrator in the Department of Psychology prior to enrolment.

Research Experience

The Department offers a wide array of opportunities for students to become actively involved in scholarly research, including some opportunities that also result in course credit (e.g., PSYB90H3, NROC90H3, and NROD98Y3). Supervised study and thesis courses are highly competitive and are essential for students interested in pursuing research-focused graduate studies. Interested students should review the prerequisites for these courses and plan their course of study accordingly. Our Specialist programs prepare students particularly well for pursuing a thesis NROD98Y3, as the requirements of the program provide students with the necessary background to succeed in completing a thesis project. Interested Majors may also discuss the option of writing a thesis with the Department of Psychology Advisors, provided that they meet other prerequisites for that course. Students are encouraged to visit the Department of Psychology website and/or faculty member websites to search for opportunities. Students may also seek supervision off campus (e.g., at Baycrest, Sunnybrook, CAMH), after confirming the appropriateness of the proposed supervisor with a Psychology Advisor and after securing the agreement of a UTSC faculty member to serve as secondary supervisor.

Co-curricular and Extra-curricular Experiences

While your coursework is an integral piece of your education, it can and should be supplemented by relevant co-curricular and extra-curricular experiences, more information is available on the Career & Co-Curricular Learning Network website. There are valuable professional development resources in our departments and on our campus (e.g., Academic Advising and Career Centre), as well as opportunities to volunteer or work on- or off-campus to broaden your skillset (e.g., clinical work exposure, leadership skills). For more information on some of these opportunities, please see the Department of Psychology website.

Program Combination Restrictions 

The Specialist/Specialist Co-op programs in Neuroscience cannot be combined with the Major/Major Co-op programs in Neuroscience.

The Specialist/Specialist Co-op programs in Neuroscience cannot be combined with any Major or Minor program offered by the Department of Biological Sciences.

The Major/Major Co-op programs in Neuroscience cannot be combined with the Minor Program in Biology. 

Experiential Learning and Outreach

For a community-based experiential learning opportunity in your academic field of interest, consider the course CTLB03H3, which can be found in the Teaching and Learning section of the Calendar.

Neuroscience Programs

SPECIALIST PROGRAM IN NEUROSCIENCE - Cellular/Molecular Stream (SCIENCE) - SCSPE1272

The Specialist program in Neuroscience is a research-intensive program designed to provide students with strong breadth in the major domains of neuroscience. The Cellular/Molecular stream explores the nervous system at its most fundamental level, investigating the influence of genes, signaling molecules, and cellular morphology on the development and maintenance of brain function, predominantly through the use of in vitro techniques (e.g., immunohistochemistry, patch clamp).

Students may not combine a Neuroscience Specialist program with a Minor or Major program from the Department of Biological Sciences.

Enrolment in the Program is limited. The admission requirements may change each year depending on available spaces and the pool of eligible applicants, and students are cautioned that there is no guarantee of admission; as such, students are strongly advised to plan to enrol in backup programs.

Enrolment takes place in two stages:

Stage 1:
The minimum requirements to be considered for admission are:

1. Completion of 4.0 credits, including BIOA01H3, BIOA02H3, CHMA10H3, [CHMA11H3 or CHMA12H3], PSYA01H3, and PSYA02H3

2. A CGPA of 2.75 or higher.

Students will typically apply to Stage 1 at the end of their first year of study. When applying, note that the Subject POSt code for Stage 1 is SCSPE1072. Application for admission will be made to the Office of the Registrar through ACORN, during the Limited Program application periods. For more information on applying to limited enrolment programs, please visit the Office of the Registrar website.

Stage 2:
To complete the program, students must choose one of the three available "Stage 2" streams: the Cognitive Stream, the Cellular/Molecular Stream, or the Systems/Behavioural Stream. Students will typically apply to Stage 2 at the end of their second year of study.

The minimum requirements to be considered for stream admission are:

1. Completion of 10.0 credits including: all Stage 1 course requirements, [MATA29H3 or MATA30H3], and all Neuroscience Foundations courses: BIOB10H3, NROB60H3, NROB61H3, [PSYB07H3 or STAB22H3], PSYB55H3, PSYB70H3

2. Completion of 1.0 credit in Stream Foundations courses from the following list*:
BIOB11H3 Molecular Aspects of Cellular and Genetic Processes
CSCA20H3 Introduction to Programming
CHMB41H3 Organic Chemistry I
CHMB42H3 Organic Chemistry II
MATA23H3 Linear Algebra
[PHYA10H3 Physics I for the Physical Sciences or PHYA11H3 Physics I for the Life Sciences]
PSYB51H3 Introduction to Perception
PSYC08H3 Advanced Data Analysis in Psychology
PSYC09H3 Applied Multiple Regression in Psychology

*Note: Students are advised to exercise caution when selecting these courses since some can be applied to all three streams (BIOB11H3, CHMB41H3, PSYB51H3, PSYC08H3), but others can be applied to only one or two streams.

3. A CGPA of 2.5 or higher.

Students who are not enrolled in the Stage 1 Neuroscience Specialist can still apply to the program at Stage 2. The minimum requirements to be considered for admission via this pathway are: completion of 10.0 credits, including all Stage 1 course requirements, [MATA29H3 or MATA30H3], all Neuroscience Foundations courses, and 1.0 credits from Stream Foundations. Students must also have achieved a CGPA of 2.5 or higher across all courses, and a CGPA of 2.75 or higher across the Neuroscience Foundations and Stream Foundations courses.

Application for admission to a Stage 2 stream will be made to the Office of the Registrar through ACORN, during the Limited Program application periods.

Program Requirements
This program requires students to complete 6.5 credits in core courses that are common to all streams. Students will complete a further 6.5 credits, specific to the Cellular/Molecular stream, for a total of 13.0 credits.

CORE (6.5 credits)

1. Scientific Foundations (3.5 credits):
BIOA01H3 Life on Earth: Unifying Principles
BIOA02H3 Life on Earth: Form, Function and Interactions
CHMA10H3 Introductory Chemistry I: Structure and Bonding
[CHMA11H3 Introductory Chemistry II: Reactions and Mechanisms or CHMA12H3 Advanced General Chemistry]
[MATA29H3 Calculus I for the Life Sciences or MATA30H3 Calculus I for Physical Sciences]
PSYA01H3 Introduction to Biological and Cognitive Psychology
PSYA02H3 Introduction to Clinical, Developmental, Personality and Social Psychology

2. Neuroscience Foundations (3.0 credits):
BIOB10H3 Cell Biology
NROB60H3 Neuroanatomy Laboratory
NROB61H3 Neurophysiology
PSYB55H3 Introduction to Cognitive Neuroscience
[PSYB07H3 Data Analysis in Psychology or STAB22H3 Statistics I]
PSYB70H3 Methods in Psychological Science


CELLULAR/MOLECULAR STREAM (6.5 credits)

3. Quantitative Logic and Reasoning (1.0 credit):
PSYC08H3 Advanced Data Analysis in Psychology
and one of the following:
CSCA20H3 Introduction to Programming
[PHYA10H3 Physics I for the Physical Sciences or PHYA11H3 Physics I for the Life Sciences]

4. Advanced Foundations (2.0 credits)
BIOB11H3 Molecular Aspects of Cellular and Genetic Processes
CHMB41H3 Organic Chemistry I
NROC36H3 Molecular Neuroscience
NROC69H3 Synaptic Organization & Physiology of the Brain

5. Stream-specific electives (1.0 credit)
two of the following:
BIOC12H3 Biochemistry I: Proteins & Enzymes
BIOC13H3 Biochemistry II: Bioenergetics & Metabolism
BIOC14H3 Genes, Environment and Behaviour
BIOC44H3/​(NROC34H3) Neuroethology
CHMB42H3 Organic Chemistry II
NROC61H3 Learning and Motivation
NROC64H3 Sensorimotor Systems
PSYC62H3 Drugs and the Brain

6. Breadth in Neuroscience (1.0 credit):
two of the following:
BIOC44H3/​(NROC34H3)* Neuroethology
NROC61H3* Learning and Motivation
NROC64H3* Sensorimotor Systems
PSYB51H3 Introduction to Perception
PSYC51H3 Cognitive Neuroscience of Vision
PSYC52H3 Cognitive Neuroscience of Attention
PSYC53H3 Cognitive Neuroscience of Memory
PSYC54H3 Auditory Cognitive Neuroscience
PSYC57H3 Cognitive Neuroscience of Decision Making
PSYC59H3 Cognitive Neuroscience of Language
*only if not used to complete component 5 of the requirements

7. Laboratory Course (0.5 credit):
one of the following:
BIOB12H3 Cell and Molecular Biology Laboratory
NROC60H3 Cellular Neuroscience Laboratory (recommended)
NROC63H3 Behavioural Neuroscience Laboratory
NROC90H3 Supervised Study in Neuroscience
NROC93H3 Supervised Study in Neuroscience

8. Capstone Courses (1.0 credit):
two of the following:
BIOD06H3 Advanced Topics in Neural Basis of Motor Control
BIOD07H3 Advanced Topics and Methods in Neural Circuit Analysis
BIOD08H3/​(NROD08H3) Theoretical Neuroscience
BIOD65H3 Pathologies of the Nervous System
NROD60H3 Current Topics in Neuroscience
NROD61H3 Emotional Learning Circuits
NROD66H3 Drug Addiction
NROD67H3 Neuroscience of Aging
NROD98Y3 Thesis in Neuroscience*
PSYD66H3 Current Topics in Human Brain & Behaviour
*Note: only 0.5 credit of NROD98Y3 can be counted towards the Capstone course requirement

SPECIALIST (CO-OPERATIVE) PROGRAM IN NEUROSCIENCE - Cellular/Molecular Stream (SCIENCE) - SCSPE1272C

Academic Program Advisor: psychundergrad.utsc@utoronto.ca
Co-op Program Coordinator: coopsuccess.utsc@utoronto.ca

The Specialist program in Neuroscience is a research-intensive program designed to provide students with strong breadth in the major domains of neuroscience, as well as an opportunity to intensively focus on one of three streams. The Cellular/Molecular stream explores the nervous system at its most fundamental level, investigating the influence of genes, signaling molecules, and cellular morphology on the development and maintenance of brain function, predominantly through the use of in vitro techniques (e.g., immunohistochemistry, patch clamp).

This is a Work Integrated Learning (WIL) program that combines academic studies with paid work terms in the public, private, and/or non-profit sectors. The program provides students with the opportunity to develop the academic and professional skills required to pursue employment in these areas, or to continue on to graduate training in an academic field related to Neuroscience upon graduation.

In addition to their academic course requirements, students must successfully complete the additive Arts & Science Co-op Work Term Preparation courses and a minimum of three Co-op work terms.

Students may not combine a Neuroscience Specialist program with a Minor or Major program from the Department of Biological Sciences.

Enrollment Requirements
Enrolment in the Program is limited. The admission requirements may change each year depending on available spaces and the pool of eligible applicants, and students are cautioned that there is no guarantee of admission; as such, students are strongly advised to plan to enrol in backup programs.
Note: Co-op students who started in Co-op prior to Fall 2025 are allowed to follow the calendar requirements in effect at that time.

Enrolment takes place in two stages:

Stage 1:
The minimum requirements to be considered for admission are:

1. Completion of 4.0 credits, including BIOA01H3, BIOA02H3, CHMA10H3, [CHMA11H3 or CHMA12H3], PSYA01H3, and PSYA02H3

2. A CGPA of 2.75 or higher.

Students will typically apply to Stage 1 at the end of their first year of study. When applying, note that the Subject POSt code for Stage 1 Co-op is SCSPE1072C. Application for admission will be made to the Office of the Registrar through ACORN, during the Limited Program application periods. For more information on applying to limited enrolment programs, please visit the Office of the Registrar website.

Stage 2:
To complete the program, students must choose one of the three available "Stage 2" streams: the Cognitive Stream, the Cellular/Molecular Stream, or the Systems/Behavioural Stream. Students will typically apply to Stage 2 at the end of their second year of study.

The minimum requirements to be considered for stream admission are:

1. Completion of 10.0 credits including: all Stage 1 course requirements, [MATA29H3 or MATA30H3], and all Neuroscience Foundations courses: BIOB10H3, NROB60H3, NROB61H3, [PSYB07H3 or STAB22H3], PSYB55H3, PSYB70H3

2. Completion of 1.0 credit in Stream Foundations courses from the following list*:
BIOB11H3 Molecular Aspects of Cellular and Genetic Processes
CSCA20H3 Introduction to Programming
CHMB41H3 Organic Chemistry I
CHMB42H3 Organic Chemistry II
MATA23H3 Linear Algebra
[PHYA10H3 Physics I for the Physical Sciences or PHYA11H3 Physics I for the Life Sciences]
PSYB51H3 Introduction to Perception
PSYC08H3 Advanced Data Analysis in Psychology
PSYC09H3 Applied Multiple Regression in Psychology

*Note: Students are advised to exercise caution when selecting these courses since some can be applied to all three streams (BIOB11H3, CHMB41H3, PSYB51H3, PSYC08H3), but others can be applied to only one or two streams.

3. A CGPA of 2.5 or higher.

Prospective Co-op Students
Students who have not yet been admitted into a Co-op Degree POSt must submit a co-op program request through ACORN and ensure they meet the minimum enrollment requirements as noted above. These qualifications may include a higher CGPA specific to the co-op program.
Deadlines follow the Limited Enrolment Program Application Deadlines set by the Office of the Registrar each year. Failure to submit the program request on ACORN will result in the student's application/request not being considered.
Please note that meeting the minimum qualifications does not guarantee enrolment in the Co-op Program of Study or Degree POSt. The required CGPA may be higher than the minimum threshold and depends on the applicant pool and number of spaces available.

Minimum Qualifications for Prospective Co-op Students:
Credits: Minimum of 4.0 credits to a maximum of 10.0 credits.
Required Courses: Program-specific courses described in the Enrolment Requirements above.
Cumulative GPA: 2.50


Current Co-op Students
Students admitted to a Co-op Degree POSt must also request a Co-op Program of Study through ACORN upon completion of 4.0 credits and meet the minimum qualifications for entry as noted below.

Minimum Qualifications for Current Co-op Students:
Credits: 4.0 credits
Required Courses: Program-specific courses described in the Enrolment Requirements above
Cumulative GPA: 2.50 or higher across all attempted courses.


Note: Co-op students who started in Co-op prior to Fall 2025 are allowed to follow the calendar requirements in effect at that time.


Academic Program Requirements
This program requires students to complete 6.5 credits in core courses that are common to all streams. Students will complete a further 7.0 credits, specific to the Cellular/Molecular stream, for a total of 13.5 credits.

CORE (6.5 credits)

1. Scientific Foundations (3.5 credits):
BIOA01H3 Life on Earth: Unifying Principles
BIOA02H3 Life on Earth: Form, Function and Interactions
CHMA10H3 Introductory Chemistry I: Structure and Bonding
[CHMA11H3 Introductory Chemistry II: Reactions and Mechanisms or CHMA12H3 Advanced General Chemistry]
[MATA29H3 Calculus I for the Life Sciences or MATA30H3 Calculus I for Physical Sciences]
PSYA01H3 Introduction to Biological and Cognitive Psychology
PSYA02H3 Introduction to Clinical, Developmental, Personality and Social Psychology

2. Neuroscience Foundations (3.0 credits):
BIOB10H3 Cell Biology
NROB60H3 Neuroanatomy Laboratory
NROB61H3 Neurophysiology
PSYB55H3 Introduction to Cognitive Neuroscience
[PSYB07H3 Data Analysis in Psychology or STAB22H3 Statistics I]
PSYB70H3 Methods in Psychological Science

CELLULAR/MOLECULAR STREAM (7.0 credits)

3. Quantitative Logic and Reasoning (1.0 credit):
PSYC08H3 Advanced Data Analysis in Psychology
and one of the following:
CSCA20H3 Introduction to Programming
[PHYA10H3 Physics I for the Physical Sciences or PHYA11H3 Physics I for the Life Sciences]

4. Advanced Foundations (2.5 credits):
BIOB11H3 Molecular Aspects of Cellular and Genetic Processes
BIOB12H3 Cell and Molecular Biology Laboratory
CHMB41H3 Organic Chemistry I
NROC36H3 Molecular Neuroscience
NROC69H3 Synaptic Organization & Physiology of the Brain

5. Stream-specific electives (1.0 credit):
two of the following:
BIOC12H3 Biochemistry I: Proteins & Enzymes
BIOC13H3 Biochemistry II: Bioenergetics & Metabolism
BIOC14H3 Genes, Environment and Behaviour
BIOC44H3/​(NROC34H3) Neuroethology
CHMB42H3 Organic Chemistry II
NROC61H3 Learning and Motivation
NROC64H3 Sensorimotor Systems
PSYC62H3 Drugs and the Brain

6. Breadth in Neuroscience (1.0 credit):
two of the following:
BIOC44H3/​(NROC34H3) Neuroethology*
NROC61H3 Learning and Motivation*
NROC64H3 Sensorimotor Systems*
PSYB51H3 Introduction to Perception
PSYC51H3 Cognitive Neuroscience of Vision
PSYC52H3 Cognitive Neuroscience of Attention
PSYC53H3 Cognitive Neuroscience of Memory
PSYC54H3 Auditory Cognitive Neuroscience
PSYC57H3 Cognitive Neuroscience of Decision Making
PSYC59H3 Cognitive Neuroscience of Language
*only if not used to complete component 5 of the requirements

7. Laboratory Course (0.5 credit):
one of the following:
NROC60H3 Cellular Neuroscience Laboratory (recommended)
NROC63H3 Behavioural Neuroscience Laboratory
NROC90H3 Supervised Study in Neuroscience
NROC93H3 Supervised Study in Neuroscience

8. Capstone Courses (1.0 credit):
two of the following:
BIOD06H3 Advanced Topics in Neural Basis of Motor Control
BIOD07H3 Advanced Topics and Methods in Neural Circuit Analysis
BIOD08H3/​(NROD08H3) Theoretical Neuroscience
BIOD65H3 Pathologies of the Nervous System
NROD60H3 Current Topics in Neuroscience
NROD61H3 Emotional Learning Circuits
NROD66H3 Drug Addiction
NROD67H3 Neuroscience of Aging
NROD98Y3 Thesis in Neuroscience*
PSYD66H3 Current Topics in Human Brain & Behaviour
*Note: only 0.5 credit of NROD98Y3 can be counted towards the Capstone course requirement

Planning Your Co-op Work Terms & Academics
Enrollment in a Co-op program requires careful planning of both academics and work terms. Students should consult their Co-op Program Coordinator and Academic Program Advisors, as well as review the standard co-op sequences and course maps available on the Arts & Science Co-op website and Arts and Science Co-op Compass for guidance.

Co-op Work Term Requirements
Students must successfully complete three Co-op work terms, totaling 12 months in duration, which can be fulfilled through the following options:

  • Three 4-month work terms, or
  • One 4-month work term and one 8-month work term, or
  • One 12-month work term.

Students must be available for work terms during the Fall, Winter, and Summer semesters and are required to complete at least one of their work terms in either the Fall or Winter semester. As a result, students must also take courses during the Summer semesters.

To be eligible for their first work term, students must be enrolled in the program, have completed at least 7.0 credits, and maintain a CGPA of 2.50 or higher. It is recommended that PSYB07H3, PSYB70H3, NROB60H3, at least one of [BIOB10H3, BIOB11H3], and at least one of [NROB61H3, PSYB55H3] be completed before the first work term. Any of these courses that are not completed prior to the first work term are recommended to be completed before the second work term. The following additional courses are recommended to be completed before the second work term for the Cellular/Molecular stream: BIOB12H3, CHMB41H3, and CHMB42H3. In addition to their academic courses, students must also complete the required Co-op preparation courses.

Co-op Course Requirements
Co-op students complete the following Co-op-specific courses as part of their degree:

Co-op Preparation Courses (Completed in First Year):

Work Term Search Courses:

  • COPB55H3/​(COPB52H3) (Completed in the semester prior to the first work term)
  • COPC98H3 (Taken in the semester prior to the second work term)
  • COPC99H3 (Taken in the semester prior to the third work term)

Required Work Term Courses:

Additional Work Terms & Courses:
After successful completion of the three required work terms, students interested in additional work terms will require approval from the Arts & Science Co-op Office. Additional coursework will also be required:


Note: Co-op courses are taken alongside a full course load and are recorded on transcripts as Credit/No Credit (CR/NCR). These courses have no credit weight and are considered additional credits beyond the 20.0 required degree credits. No additional course fee is charged, as registration is included in the Co-op Program fee.

For information on course codes, fees, status in Co-op programs, and certification of completion of Co-op programs, see the Co-operative Programs section and the Arts and Science Co-op section in the UTSC Calendar.

SPECIALIST PROGRAM IN NEUROSCIENCE - Cognitive Stream (SCIENCE) - SCSPE1172

The Specialist program in Neuroscience is a research-intensive program designed to provide students with strong breadth in the major domains of neuroscience. The Cognitive stream focuses on understanding the neural basis of human cognition (e.g., language, memory, attention, decision-making) predominantly through the use of patient neuropsychology and neuroimaging techniques (e.g., magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), electroencephalography (EEG)).

Students may not combine a Neuroscience Specialist program with a Minor or Major program from the Department of Biological Sciences.

Enrolment in the Program is limited. The admission requirements may change each year depending on available spaces and the pool of eligible applicants, and students are cautioned that there is no guarantee of admission; as such, students are strongly advised to plan to enrol in backup programs.

Enrolment takes place in two stages:

Stage 1:
The minimum requirements to be considered for admission are:

1. Completion of 4.0 credits, including BIOA01H3, BIOA02H3, CHMA10H3, [CHMA11H3 or CHMA12H3], PSYA01H3, and PSYA02H3

2. A CGPA of 2.75 or higher.

Students will typically apply to Stage 1 at the end of their first year of study. When applying, note that the Subject POSt code for Stage 1 is SCSPE1072. Application for admission will be made to the Office of the Registrar through ACORN, during the Limited Program application periods. For more information on applying to limited enrolment programs, please visit the Office of the Registrar website.

Stage 2:
To complete the program, students must choose one of the three available "Stage 2" streams: the Cognitive Stream, the Cellular/Molecular Stream, or the Systems/Behavioural Stream. Students will typically apply to Stage 2 at the end of their second year of study.

The minimum requirements to be considered for stream admission are:

1. Completion of 10.0 credits including: all Stage 1 course requirements, [MATA29H3 or MATA30H3], and all Neuroscience Foundations courses: BIOB10H3, NROB60H3, NROB61H3, [PSYB07H3 or STAB22H3], PSYB55H3, PSYB70H3

2. Completion of 1.0 credit in Stream Foundations courses from the following list*:
BIOB11H3 Molecular Aspects of Cellular and Genetic Processes
CSCA20H3 Introduction to Programming
CHMB41H3 Organic Chemistry I
CHMB42H3 Organic Chemistry II
MATA23H3 Linear Algebra
[PHYA10H3 Physics I for the Physical Sciences or PHYA11H3 Physics I for the Life Sciences]
PSYB51H3 Introduction to Perception
PSYC08H3 Advanced Data Analysis in Psychology
PSYC09H3 Applied Multiple Regression in Psychology

*Note: Students are advised to exercise caution when selecting these courses since some can be applied to all three streams (BIOB11H3, CHMB41H3, PSYB51H3, PSYC08H3), but others can be applied to only one or two streams.

3. A CGPA of 2.5 or higher.

Students who are not enrolled in the Stage 1 Neuroscience Specialist can still apply to the program at Stage 2. The minimum requirements to be considered for admission via this pathway are: completion of 10.0 credits, including all Stage 1 course requirements, [MATA29H3 or MATA30H3], all Neuroscience Foundations courses, and 1.0 credits from Stream Foundations. Students must also have achieved a CGPA of 2.5 or higher across all courses, and a CGPA of 2.75 or higher across the Neuroscience Foundations and Stream Foundations courses.

Application for admission to a Stage 2 stream will be made to the Office of the Registrar through ACORN, during the Limited Program application periods.

Program Requirements
This program requires students to complete 6.5 credits in core courses that are common to all streams. Students will complete a further 7.0 credits, specific to the Cognitive stream, for a total of 13.5 credits.

CORE (6.5 credits)

1. Scientific Foundations (3.5 credits):
BIOA01H3 Life on Earth: Unifying Principles
BIOA02H3 Life on Earth: Form, Function and Interactions
CHMA10H3 Introductory Chemistry I: Structure and Bonding
[CHMA11H3 Introductory Chemistry II: Reactions and Mechanisms or CHMA12H3 Advanced General Chemistry]
[MATA29H3 Calculus I for the Life Sciences or MATA30H3 Calculus I for Physical Sciences]
PSYA01H3 Introduction to Biological and Cognitive Psychology
PSYA02H3 Introduction to Clinical, Developmental, Personality and Social Psychology

2. Neuroscience Foundations (3.0 credits):
BIOB10H3 Cell Biology
NROB60H3 Neuroanatomy Laboratory
NROB61H3 Neurophysiology
PSYB55H3 Introduction to Cognitive Neuroscience
[PSYB07H3 Data Analysis in Psychology or STAB22H3 Statistics I]
PSYB70H3 Methods in Psychological Science

COGNITIVE STREAM (7.0 credits)

3. Quantitative and Methodological Skills (1.5 credits):
PSYC02H3 Scientific Communication in Psychology
PSYC70H3 Advanced Research Methods Laboratory
[PSYC08H3 Advanced Data Analysis in Psychology or PSYC09H3 Applied Multiple Regression in Psychology]

4. Advanced Programming (1.5 credits)
MATA23H3 Linear Algebra
[[CSCA08H3 Introduction to Computer Science I and CSCA48H3 Introduction to Computer Science II]* or [PSYB03H3 Introduction to Computers in Psychological Research and PSYC03H3 Introduction to Computers in Psychological Research: Advanced Topics]]
*Note: students are strongly advised to choose the [PSYB03H3 and PSYC03H3] pairing.

5. Advanced Foundations (1.5 credits)
PSYB51H3 Introduction to Perception
and two of the following:
PSYC51H3 Cognitive Neuroscience of Vision
PSYC52H3 Cognitive Neuroscience of Attention
PSYC53H3 Cognitive Neuroscience of Memory
PSYC54H3 Auditory Cognitive Neuroscience
PSYC57H3 Cognitive Neuroscience of Decision Making
PSYC59H3 Cognitive Neuroscience of Language

6. Breadth in Neuroscience (1.0 credit):
two of the following (at least 0.5 credit must be at the C-level):
BIOB11H3 Molecular Aspects of Cellular and Genetic Processes
BIOC44H3/​(NROC34H3) Neuroethology
CHMB41H3 Organic Chemistry I
NROC36H3 Molecular Neuroscience
NROC61H3 Learning and Motivation
NROC64H3 Sensorimotor Systems
NROC69H3 Synaptic Organization & Physiology of the Brain

7. Laboratory Course (0.5 credit):
one of the following:
NROC90H3 Supervised Study in Neuroscience
NROC93H3 Supervised Study in Neuroscience
PSYC75H3 Cognitive Psychology Laboratory
PSYC76H3 Brain Imaging Laboratory

8. Capstone Courses (1.0 credit):
two of the following:
PSYD17H3 Social Neuroscience
PSYD50H3 Current Topics in Memory and Cognition
PSYD51H3 Current Topics in Perception
PSYD54H3 Current Topics in Visual Recognition
PSYD55H3 Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Laboratory
PSYD62H3 Neuroscience of Pleasure and Reward
PSYD66H3 Current Topics in Human Brain & Behaviour
NROD98Y3 Thesis in Neuroscience*
*Note: only 0.5 credit of NROD98Y3 can be counted towards the Capstone course requirement

SPECIALIST (CO-OPERATIVE) PROGRAM IN NEUROSCIENCE - Cognitive Stream (SCIENCE) - SCSPE1172C

Academic Program Advisor: psychundergrad.utsc@utoronto.ca
Co-op Program Coordinator: coopsuccess.utsc@utoronto.ca

The Specialist program in Neuroscience is a research-intensive program designed to provide students with strong breadth in the major domains of neuroscience, as well as an opportunity to intensively focus on one of three streams. The Cognitive stream focuses on understanding the neural basis of human cognition (e.g., language, memory, attention, decision-making) predominantly through the use of patient neuropsychology and neuroimaging techniques (e.g., magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), electroencephalography (EEG)).

This is a Work Integrated Learning (WIL) program that combines academic studies with paid work terms in the public, private, and/or non-profit sectors. The program provides students with the opportunity to develop the academic and professional skills required to pursue employment in these areas, or to continue on to graduate training in an academic field related to Neuroscience upon graduation.

In addition to their academic course requirements, students must successfully complete the additive Arts & Science Co-op Work Term Preparation courses and a minimum of three Co-op work terms.

Students may not combine a Neuroscience Specialist program with a Minor or Major program from the Department of Biological Sciences.

Enrolment Requirements
Enrolment in the Program is limited. The admission requirements may change each year depending on available spaces and the pool of eligible applicants, and students are cautioned that there is no guarantee of admission; as such, students are strongly advised to plan to enrol in backup programs.
Note: Co-op students who started in Co-op prior to Fall 2025 are allowed to follow the calendar requirements in effect at that time.

Enrolment takes place in two stages:

Stage 1:
The minimum requirements to be considered for admission are:

1. Completion of 4.0 credits, including BIOA01H3, BIOA02H3, CHMA10H3, [CHMA11H3 or CHMA12H3], PSYA01H3, and PSYA02H3

2. A CGPA of 2.75 or higher.

Students will typically apply to Stage 1 at the end of their first year of study. When applying, note that the Subject POSt code for Stage 1 Co-op is SCSPE1072C. Application for admission will be made to the Office of the Registrar through ACORN, during the Limited Program application periods. For more information on applying to limited enrolment programs, please visit the Office of the Registrar website.

Stage 2:
To complete the program, students must choose one of the three available "Stage 2" streams: the Cognitive Stream, the Cellular/Molecular Stream, or the Systems/Behavioural Stream. Students will typically apply to Stage 2 at the end of their second year of study.

The minimum requirements to be considered for stream admission are:

1. Completion of 10.0 credits including: all Stage 1 course requirements, [MATA29H3 or MATA30H3], and all Neuroscience Foundations courses: BIOB10H3, NROB60H3, NROB61H3, [PSYB07H3 or STAB22H3], PSYB55H3, PSYB70H3

2. Completion of 1.0 credit in Stream Foundations courses from the following list*:
BIOB11H3 Molecular Aspects of Cellular and Genetic Processes
CSCA20H3 Introduction to Programming
CHMB41H3 Organic Chemistry I
CHMB42H3 Organic Chemistry II
MATA23H3 Linear Algebra
[PHYA10H3 Physics I for the Physical Sciences or PHYA11H3 Physics I for the Life Sciences]
PSYB51H3 Introduction to Perception
PSYC08H3 Advanced Data Analysis in Psychology
PSYC09H3 Applied Multiple Regression in Psychology

*Note: Students are advised to exercise caution when selecting these courses since some can be applied to all three streams (BIOB11H3, CHMB41H3, PSYB51H3, PSYC08H3), but others can be applied to only one or two streams.

3. A CGPA of 2.5 or higher.

Prospective Co-op Students
Students who have not yet been admitted into a Co-op Degree POSt must submit a co-op program request through ACORN and ensure they meet the minimum enrollment requirements as noted above. These qualifications may include a higher CGPA specific to the co-op program.
Deadlines follow the Limited Enrolment Program Application Deadlines set by the Office of the Registrar each year. Failure to submit the program request on ACORN will result in the student's application/request not being considered.
Please note that meeting the minimum qualifications does not guarantee enrolment in the Co-op Program of Study or Degree POSt. The required CGPA may be higher than the minimum threshold and depends on the applicant pool and number of spaces available.

Minimum Qualifications for Prospective Co-op Students:
Credits: Minimum of 4.0 credits to a maximum of 10.0 credits.
Required Courses: Program-specific courses described in the Enrolment Requirements above.
Cumulative GPA: 2.50


Current Co-op Students
Students admitted to a Co-op Degree POSt must also request a Co-op Program of Study through ACORN upon completion of 4.0 credits and meet the minimum qualifications for entry as noted below.

Minimum Qualifications for Current Co-op Students:
Credits: 4.0 credits
Required Courses: Program-specific courses described in the Enrolment Requirements above
Cumulative GPA: 2.50 or higher across all attempted courses.

Academic Program Requirements
This program requires students to complete 6.5 credits in core courses that are common to all streams. Students will complete a further 7.0 credits, specific to the Cognitive stream, for a total of 13.5 credits.

CORE (6.5 credits)

1. Scientific Foundations (3.5 credits):
BIOA01H3 Life on Earth: Unifying Principles
BIOA02H3 Life on Earth: Form, Function and Interactions
CHMA10H3 Introductory Chemistry I: Structure and Bonding
[CHMA11H3 Introductory Chemistry II: Reactions and Mechanisms or CHMA12H3 Advanced General Chemistry]
[MATA29H3 Calculus I for the Life Sciences or MATA30H3 Calculus I for Physical Sciences]
PSYA01H3 Introduction to Biological and Cognitive Psychology
PSYA02H3 Introduction to Clinical, Developmental, Personality and Social Psychology

2. Neuroscience Foundations (3.0 credits):
BIOB10H3 Cell Biology
NROB60H3 Neuroanatomy Laboratory
NROB61H3 Neurophysiology
PSYB55H3 Introduction to Cognitive Neuroscience
[PSYB07H3 Data Analysis in Psychology or STAB22H3 Statistics I]
PSYB70H3 Methods in Psychological Science

COGNITIVE STREAM (7.0 credits)

3. Quantitative and Methodological Skills (1.5 credits):
PSYC02H3 Scientific Communication in Psychology
PSYC70H3 Advanced Research Methods Laboratory
[PSYC08H3 Advanced Data Analysis in Psychology or PSYC09H3 Applied Multiple Regression in Psychology]

4. Advanced Programming (1.5 credits):
MATA23H3 Linear Algebra
[[CSCA08H3 Introduction to Computer Science I and CSCA48H3 Introduction to Computer Science II]* or [PSYB03H3 Introduction to Computers in Psychological Research and PSYC03H3 Introduction to Computers in Psychological Research: Advanced Topics]]
*Note: students are strongly advised to choose the [PSYB03H3 and PSYC03H3] pairing.

5. Advanced Foundations (1.5 credits):
PSYB51H3 Introduction to Perception
and two of the following:
PSYC51H3 Cognitive Neuroscience of Vision
PSYC52H3 Cognitive Neuroscience of Attention
PSYC53H3 Cognitive Neuroscience of Memory
PSYC54H3 Auditory Cognitive Neuroscience
PSYC57H3 Cognitive Neuroscience of Decision Making
PSYC59H3 Cognitive Neuroscience of Language

6. Breadth in Neuroscience (1.0 credit):
two of the following (at least 0.5 credit must be at the C-level):
BIOB11H3 Molecular Aspects of Cellular and Genetic Processes
BIOC44H3/​(NROC34H3) Neuroethology
CHMB41H3 Organic Chemistry I
NROC36H3 Molecular Neuroscience
NROC61H3 Learning and Motivation
NROC64H3 Sensorimotor Systems
NROC69H3 Synaptic Organization & Physiology of the Brain

7. Laboratory Course (0.5 credit):
one of the following:
NROC90H3 Supervised Study in Neuroscience
NROC93H3 Supervised Study in Neuroscience
PSYC75H3 Cognitive Psychology Laboratory
PSYC76H3 Brain Imaging Laboratory

8. Capstone Courses (1.0 credit):
two of the following:
PSYD17H3 Social Neuroscience
PSYD50H3 Current Topics in Memory and Cognition
PSYD51H3 Current Topics in Perception
PSYD54H3 Current Topics in Visual Recognition
PSYD55H3 Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Laboratory
PSYD62H3 Neuroscience of Pleasure and Reward
PSYD66H3 Current Topics in Human Brain & Behaviour
NROD98Y3 Thesis in Neuroscience*
*Note: only 0.5 credit of NROD98Y3 can be counted towards the Capstone course requirement

Planning Your Co-op Work Terms & Academics
Enrollment in a Co-op program requires careful planning of both academics and work terms. Students should consult their Co-op Program Coordinator and Academic Program Advisors, as well as review the standard co-op sequences and course maps available on the Arts & Science Co-op website and Arts and Science Co-op Compass for guidance.

Co-op Work Term Requirements
Students must successfully complete three Co-op work terms, totaling 12 months in duration, which can be fulfilled through the following options:

  • Three 4-month work terms, or
  • One 4-month work term and one 8-month work term, or
  • One 12-month work term.

Students must be available for work terms during the Fall, Winter, and Summer semesters and are required to complete at least one of their work terms in either the Fall or Winter semester. As a result, students must also take courses during the Summer semesters.

To be eligible for their first work term, students must be enrolled in the program, have completed at least 7.0 credits, and maintain a CGPA of 2.50 or higher. It is recommended that PSYB07H3, PSYB70H3, NROB60H3, at least one of [BIOB10H3, BIOB11H3], and at least one of [NROB61H3, PSYB55H3] be completed before the first work term. Any of these courses that are not completed prior to the first work term are recommended to be completed before the second work term. The following additional courses are recommended to be completed before the second work term for the Cognitive stream: PSYC02H3, [PSYC08H3 or PSYC09H3], and PSYC70H3. In addition to their academic courses, students must also complete the required Co-op preparation courses.

Co-op Course Requirements
Co-op students complete the following Co-op-specific courses as part of their degree:

Co-op Preparation Courses (Completed in First Year):

Work Term Search Courses:

  • COPB55H3/​(COPB52H3) (Completed in the semester prior to the first work term)
  • COPC98H3 (Taken in the semester prior to the second work term)
  • COPC99H3 (Taken in the semester prior to the third work term)

Required Work Term Courses:

Additional Work Terms & Courses:
After successful completion of the three required work terms, students interested in additional work terms will require approval from the Arts & Science Co-op Office. Additional coursework will also be required:


Note: Co-op courses are taken alongside a full course load and are recorded on transcripts as Credit/No Credit (CR/NCR). These courses have no credit weight and are considered additional credits beyond the 20.0 required degree credits. No additional course fee is charged, as registration is included in the Co-op Program fee.

For information on course codes, fees, status in Co-op programs, and certification of completion of Co-op programs, see the Co-operative Programs section and the Arts and Science Co-op section in the UTSC Calendar.

SPECIALIST PROGRAM IN NEUROSCIENCE - Systems/Behavioural Stream (SCIENCE) - SCSPE1372

The Specialist program in Neuroscience is a research-intensive program designed to provide students with strong breadth in the major domains of neuroscience. The Systems/Behavioural stream examines the neural mechanisms underlying behaviour and how brain circuits work together to analyze external stimuli, internal biological states, and past experiences in order to coordinate appropriate responses, predominantly through the use of in vivo approaches in behaving subjects (e.g., optogenetics, chemogenetics).

Students may not combine a Neuroscience Specialist program with a Minor or Major program from the Department of Biological Sciences.

Enrolment in the Program is limited. The admission requirements may change each year depending on available spaces and the pool of eligible applicants, and students are cautioned that there is no guarantee of admission; as such, students are strongly advised to plan to enrol in backup programs.

Enrolment takes place in two stages:

Stage 1:
The minimum requirements to be considered for admission are:

1. Completion of 4.0 credits, including BIOA01H3, BIOA02H3, CHMA10H3, [CHMA11H3 or CHMA12H3], PSYA01H3, and PSYA02H3

2. A CGPA of 2.75 or higher.

Students will typically apply to Stage 1 at the end of their first year of study. When applying, note that the Subject POSt code for Stage 1 is SCSPE1072. Application for admission will be made to the Office of the Registrar through ACORN, during the Limited Program application periods. For more information on applying to limited enrolment programs, please visit the Office of the Registrar website.

Stage 2:
To complete the program, students must choose one of the three available "Stage 2" streams: the Cognitive Stream, the Cellular/Molecular Stream, or the Systems/Behavioural Stream. Students will typically apply to Stage 2 at the end of their second year of study.

The minimum requirements to be considered for stream admission are:

1. Completion of 10.0 credits including: all Stage 1 course requirements, [MATA29H3 or MATA30H3], and all Neuroscience Foundations courses: BIOB10H3, NROB60H3, NROB61H3, [PSYB07H3 or STAB22H3], PSYB55H3, PSYB70H3

2. Completion of 1.0 credit in Stream Foundations courses from the following list*:
BIOB11H3 Molecular Aspects of Cellular and Genetic Processes
CSCA20H3 Introduction to Programming
CHMB41H3 Organic Chemistry I
CHMB42H3 Organic Chemistry II
MATA23H3 Linear Algebra
[PHYA10H3 Physics I for the Physical Sciences or PHYA11H3 Physics I for the Life Sciences]
PSYB51H3 Introduction to Perception
PSYC08H3 Advanced Data Analysis in Psychology
PSYC09H3 Applied Multiple Regression in Psychology

*Note: Students are advised to exercise caution when selecting these courses since some can be applied to all three streams (BIOB11H3, CHMB41H3, PSYB51H3, PSYC08H3), but others can be applied to only one or two streams.

3. A CGPA of 2.5 or higher.

Students who are not enrolled in the Stage 1 Neuroscience Specialist can still apply to the program at Stage 2. The minimum requirements to be considered for admission via this pathway are: completion of 10.0 credits, including all Stage 1 course requirements, [MATA29H3 or MATA30H3], all Neuroscience Foundations courses, and 1.0 credits from Stream Foundations. Students must also have achieved a CGPA of 2.5 or higher across all courses, and a CGPA of 2.75 or higher across the Neuroscience Foundations and Stream Foundations courses.

Application for admission to a Stage 2 stream will be made to the Office of the Registrar through ACORN, during the Limited Program application periods.

Program Requirements
This program requires students to complete 6.5 credits in core courses that are common to all streams. Students will complete a further 6.5 credits, specific to the Systems/Behavioural stream, for a total of 13.0 credits.

CORE (6.5 credits)

1. Scientific Foundations (3.5 credits):
BIOA01H3 Life on Earth: Unifying Principles
BIOA02H3 Life on Earth: Form, Function and Interactions
CHMA10H3 Introductory Chemistry I: Structure and Bonding
[CHMA11H3 Introductory Chemistry II: Reactions and Mechanisms or CHMA12H3 Advanced General Chemistry]
[MATA29H3 Calculus I for the Life Sciences or MATA30H3 Calculus I for Physical Sciences]
PSYA01H3 Introduction to Biological and Cognitive Psychology
PSYA02H3 Introduction to Clinical, Developmental, Personality and Social Psychology

2. Neuroscience Foundations (3.0 credits):
BIOB10H3 Cell Biology
NROB60H3 Neuroanatomy Laboratory
NROB61H3 Neurophysiology
PSYB55H3 Introduction to Cognitive Neuroscience
[PSYB07H3 Data Analysis in Psychology or STAB22H3 Statistics I]
PSYB70H3 Methods in Psychological Science

SYSTEMS/BEHAVIOURAL STREAM (6.5 credits)

3. Quantitative Logic and Reasoning (1.0 credit):
PSYC08H3 Advanced Data Analysis in Psychology
and one of the following:
CSCA20H3 Introduction to Programming
[PHYA10H3 Physics I for the Physical Sciences or PHYA11H3 Physics I for the Life Sciences]

4. Advanced Foundations (2.0 credits)
BIOB11H3 Molecular Aspects of Cellular and Genetic Processes
NROC61H3 Learning and Motivation
and two of the following:
BIOC44H3/​(NROC34H3) Neuroethology
NROC64H3 Sensorimotor Systems
NROC69H3 Synaptic Organization & Physiology of the Brain

5. Stream-specific electives (1.0 credit)
two of the following:
BIOC14H3 Genes, Environment and Behaviour
CHMB41H3 Organic Chemistry I
CHMB42H3 Organic Chemistry II
NROC36H3 Molecular Neuroscience
PSYC62H3 Drugs and the Brain

6. Breadth in Neuroscience (1.0 credit):
two of the following:
CHMB41H3* Organic Chemistry I
NROC36H3* Molecular Neuroscience
NROC69H3* Synaptic Organization & Physiology of the Brain
PSYB51H3 Introduction to Perception
PSYC51H3 Cognitive Neuroscience of Vision
PSYC52H3 Cognitive Neuroscience of Attention
PSYC53H3 Cognitive Neuroscience of Memory
PSYC54H3 Auditory Cognitive Neuroscience
PSYC57H3 Cognitive Neuroscience of Decision Making
PSYC59H3 Cognitive Neuroscience of Language
*only if not used to complete components 4 or 5 of the requirements

7. Laboratory Course (0.5 credit):
one of the following:
NROC60H3 Cellular Neuroscience Laboratory
NROC63H3 Behavioural Neuroscience Laboratory (recommended)
NROC90H3 Supervised Study in Neuroscience
NROC93H3 Supervised Study in Neuroscience
PSYC74H3 Human Movement Laboratory

8. Capstone Courses (1.0 credit):
two of the following:
BIOD06H3 Advanced Topics in Neural Basis of Motor Control
BIOD07H3 Advanced Topics and Methods in Neural Circuit Analysis
BIOD08H3/​(NROD08H3) Theoretical Neuroscience
BIOD45H3 Animal Communication
BIOD65H3 Pathologies of the Nervous System
NROD60H3 Current Topics in Neuroscience
NROD61H3 Emotional Learning Circuits
NROD66H3 Drug Addiction
NROD67H3 Neuroscience of Aging
NROD98Y3 Thesis in Neuroscience*
PSYD66H3 Current Topics in Human Brain & Behaviour
*Note: only 0.5 credit of NROD98Y3 can be counted towards the Capstone course requirement

SPECIALIST (CO-OPERATIVE) PROGRAM IN NEUROSCIENCE - Systems/Behavioural Stream (SCIENCE) - SCSPE1372C

Academic Program Advisor: psychundergrad.utsc@utoronto.ca
Co-op Program Coordinator: coopsuccess.utsc@utoronto.ca

The Specialist Program in Neuroscience is a research-intensive program designed to provide students with strong breadth in the major domains of neuroscience, as well as an opportunity to intensively focus on one of three streams. The Systems/Behavioural stream examines the neural mechanisms underlying behaviour and how brain circuits work together to analyze external stimuli, internal biological states, and past experiences in order to coordinate appropriate responses, predominantly through the use of in vivo approaches in behaving subjects (e.g., optogenetics, chemogenetics).

This is a Work Integrated Learning (WIL) program that combines academic studies with paid work terms in the public, private, and/or non-profit sectors. The program provides students with the opportunity to develop the academic and professional skills required to pursue employment in these areas, or to continue on to graduate training in an academic field related to Neuroscience upon graduation.

In addition to their academic course requirements, students must successfully complete the additive Arts & Science Co-op Work Term Preparation courses and a minimum of three Co-op work terms.

Students may not combine a Neuroscience Specialist program with a Minor or Major program from the Department of Biological Sciences.

Enrolment Requirements
Enrolment in the Program is limited. The admission requirements may change each year depending on available spaces and the pool of eligible applicants, and students are cautioned that there is no guarantee of admission; as such, students are strongly advised to plan to enrol in backup programs.
Notes: Co-op students who started in Co-op prior to Fall 2025 are allowed to follow the calendar requirements in effect at that time.

Enrolment takes place in two stages:

Stage 1:
The minimum requirements to be considered for admission are:

1. Completion of 4.0 credits, including BIOA01H3, BIOA02H3, CHMA10H3, [CHMA11H3 or CHMA12H3], PSYA01H3, and PSYA02H3

2. A CGPA of 2.75 or higher.

Students will typically apply to Stage 1 at the end of their first year of study. When applying, note that the Subject POSt code for Stage 1 Co-op is SCSPE1072C. Application for admission will be made to the Office of the Registrar through ACORN, during the Limited Program application periods. For more information on applying to limited enrolment programs, please visit the Office of the Registrar website.

Stage 2:
To complete the program, students must choose one of the three available "Stage 2" streams: the Cognitive Stream, the Cellular/Molecular Stream, or the Systems/Behavioural Stream. Students will typically apply to Stage 2 at the end of their second year of study.

The minimum requirements to be considered for stream admission are:

1. Completion of 10.0 credits including: all Stage 1 course requirements, [MATA29H3 or MATA30H3], and all Neuroscience Foundations courses: BIOB10H3, NROB60H3, NROB61H3, [PSYB07H3 or STAB22H3], PSYB55H3, PSYB70H3

2. Completion of 1.0 credit in Stream Foundations courses from the following list*:
BIOB11H3 Molecular Aspects of Cellular and Genetic Processes
CSCA20H3 Introduction to Programming
CHMB41H3 Organic Chemistry I
CHMB42H3 Organic Chemistry II
MATA23H3 Linear Algebra
[PHYA10H3 Physics I for the Physical Sciences or PHYA11H3 Physics I for the Life Sciences]
PSYB51H3 Introduction to Perception
PSYC08H3 Advanced Data Analysis in Psychology
PSYC09H3 Applied Multiple Regression in Psychology

*Note: Students are advised to exercise caution when selecting these courses since some can be applied to all three streams (BIOB11H3, CHMB41H3, PSYB51H3, PSYC08H3), but others can be applied to only one or two streams.

3. A CGPA of 2.50 or higher.

Prospective Co-op Students
Students who have not yet been admitted into a Co-op Degree POSt must submit a co-op program request through ACORN and ensure they meet the minimum enrollment requirements as noted above. These qualifications may include a higher CGPA specific to the co-op program.
Deadlines follow the Limited Enrolment Program Application Deadlines set by the Office of the Registrar each year. Failure to submit the program request on ACORN will result in the student's application/request not being considered.
Please note that meeting the minimum qualifications does not guarantee enrolment in the Co-op Program of Study or Degree POSt. The required CGPA may be higher than the minimum threshold and depends on the applicant pool and number of spaces available.

Minimum Qualifications for Prospective Co-op Students:
Credits: Minimum of 4.0 credits to a maximum of 10.0 credits.
Required Courses: Program-specific courses described in the Enrolment Requirements above.
Cumulative GPA: 2.50


Current Co-op Students
Students admitted to a Co-op Degree POSt must also request a Co-op Program of Study through ACORN upon completion of 4.0 credits and meet the minimum qualifications for entry as noted below.

Minimum Qualifications for Current Co-op Students:
Credits: 4.0 credits
Required Courses: Program-specific courses described in the Enrolment Requirements above
Cumulative GPA: 2.50 or higher across all attempted courses.

Academic Program Requirements
This program requires students to complete 6.5 credits in core courses that are common to all streams. Students will complete a further 7.0 credits, specific to the Systems/Behavioural stream, for a total of 13.5 credits.

CORE (6.5 credits)

1. Scientific Foundations (3.5 credits):
BIOA01H3 Life on Earth: Unifying Principles
BIOA02H3 Life on Earth: Form, Function and Interactions
CHMA10H3 Introductory Chemistry I: Structure and Bonding
[CHMA11H3 Introductory Chemistry II: Reactions and Mechanisms or CHMA12H3 Advanced General Chemistry]
[MATA29H3 Calculus I for the Life Sciences or MATA30H3 Calculus I for Physical Sciences]
PSYA01H3 Introduction to Biological and Cognitive Psychology
PSYA02H3 Introduction to Clinical, Developmental, Personality and Social Psychology

2. Neuroscience Foundations (3.0 credits):
BIOB10H3 Cell Biology
NROB60H3 Neuroanatomy Laboratory
NROB61H3 Neurophysiology
PSYB55H3 Introduction to Cognitive Neuroscience
[PSYB07H3 Data Analysis in Psychology or STAB22H3 Statistics I]
PSYB70H3 Methods in Psychological Science

SYSTEMS/BEHAVIOURAL STREAM (7.0 credits)

3. Quantitative Logic and Reasoning (1.0 credit):
PSYC08H3 Advanced Data Analysis in Psychology
and one of the following:
CSCA20H3 Introduction to Programming
[PHYA10H3 Physics I for the Physical Sciences or PHYA11H3 Physics I for the Life Sciences]

4. Advanced Foundations (2.5 credits):
BIOB11H3 Molecular Aspects of Cellular and Genetic Processes
BIOB12H3 Cell and Molecular Biology Laboratory
NROC61H3 Learning and Motivation
and two of the following:
BIOC44H3/​(NROC34H3) Neuroethology
NROC64H3 Sensorimotor Systems
NROC69H3 Synaptic Organization & Physiology of the Brain

5. Stream-specific electives (1.0 credit):
CHMB41H3 Organic Chemistry I
and one of the following:
BIOC14H3 Genes, Environment and Behaviour
CHMB42H3 Organic Chemistry II
NROC36H3 Molecular Neuroscience
PSYC62H3 Drugs and the Brain

6. Breadth in Neuroscience (1.0 credit):
two of the following:
NROC36H3 Molecular Neuroscience*
NROC69H3 Synaptic Organization & Physiology of the Brain*
PSYB51H3 Introduction to Perception
PSYC51H3 Cognitive Neuroscience of Vision
PSYC52H3 Cognitive Neuroscience of Attention
PSYC53H3 Cognitive Neuroscience of Memory
PSYC54H3 Auditory Cognitive Neuroscience
PSYC57H3 Cognitive Neuroscience of Decision Making
PSYC59H3 Cognitive Neuroscience of Language
*only if not used to complete components 4 or 5 of the requirements

7. Laboratory Course (0.5 credit):
one of the following:
NROC60H3 Cellular Neuroscience Laboratory
NROC63H3 Behavioural Neuroscience Laboratory (recommended)
NROC90H3 Supervised Study in Neuroscience
NROC93H3 Supervised Study in Neuroscience
PSYC74H3 Human Movement Laboratory

8. Capstone Courses (1.0 credit):
two of the following:
BIOD06H3 Advanced Topics in Neural Basis of Motor Control
BIOD07H3 Advanced Topics and Methods in Neural Circuit Analysis
BIOD08H3/​(NROD08H3) Theoretical Neuroscience
BIOD45H3 Animal Communication
BIOD65H3 Pathologies of the Nervous System
NROD60H3 Current Topics in Neuroscience
NROD61H3 Emotional Learning Circuits
NROD66H3 Drug Addiction
NROD67H3 Neuroscience of Aging
NROD98Y3 Thesis in Neuroscience*
PSYD66H3 Current Topics in Human Brain & Behaviour
*Note: only 0.5 credit of NROD98Y3 can be counted towards the Capstone course requirement

Planning Your Co-op Work Terms & Academics
Enrollment in a Co-op program requires careful planning of both academics and work terms. Students should consult their Co-op Program Coordinator and Academic Program Advisors, as well as review the standard co-op sequences and course maps available on the Arts & Science Co-op website and Arts and Science Co-op Compass for guidance.

Co-op Work Term Requirements
Students must successfully complete three Co-op work terms, totaling 12 months in duration, which can be fulfilled through the following options:

  • Three 4-month work terms, or
  • One 4-month work term and one 8-month work term, or
  • One 12-month work term.

Students must be available for work terms during the Fall, Winter, and Summer semesters and are required to complete at least one of their work terms in either the Fall or Winter semester. As a result, students must also take courses during the Summer semesters.

To be eligible for their first work term, students must be enrolled in the program, have completed at least 7.0 credits, and maintain a CGPA of 2.50 or higher. It is recommended that PSYB07H3, PSYB70H3, NROB60H3, at least one of [BIOB10H3, BIOB11H3], and at least one of [NROB61H3, PSYB55H3] be completed before the first work term. Any of these courses that are not completed prior to the first work term are recommended to be completed before the second work term. The following additional courses are recommended to be completed before the second work term for the Systems/Behavioural stream: BIOB12H3, CHMB41H3, and CHMB42H3. In addition to their academic courses, students must also complete the required Co-op preparation courses.

Co-op Course Requirements
Co-op students complete the following Co-op-specific courses as part of their degree:

Co-op Preparation Courses (Completed in First Year):

Work Term Search Courses:

  • COPB55H3/​(COPB52H3) (Completed in the semester prior to the first work term)
  • COPC98H3 (Taken in the semester prior to the second work term)
  • COPC99H3 (Taken in the semester prior to the third work term)

Required Work Term Courses:

Additional Work Terms & Courses:
After successful completion of the three required work terms, students interested in additional work terms will require approval from the Arts & Science Co-op Office. Additional coursework will also be required:


Note: Co-op courses are taken alongside a full course load and are recorded on transcripts as Credit/No Credit (CR/NCR). These courses have no credit weight and are considered additional credits beyond the 20.0 required degree credits. No additional course fee is charged, as registration is included in the Co-op Program fee.

For information on course codes, fees, status in Co-op programs, and certification of completion of Co-op programs, see the Co-operative Programs section and the Arts and Science Co-op section in the UTSC Calendar.


MAJOR PROGRAM IN NEUROSCIENCE (SCIENCE) - SCMAJ1472

The Major program in Neuroscience focuses on both Cellular/Molecular and Systems/Behavioural Neuroscience and requires less research-intensive coursework than the Specialist programs. The Major focuses more on how to be a skilled consumer of neuroscience research, providing a valuable foundation for a variety of career paths.

Students may not combine a Neuroscience Major program with a Minor program from the Department of Biological Sciences. Students who wish to combine the Major in Neuroscience with another Major from the Department of Psychology or Department of Biological Sciences are advised to pay careful attention to the 12.0 distinct credits requirement to receive a certification of the completion of both programs. Consultation with the respective Program Supervisors in the selection of credits is recommended. For more information, see the Degree Requirements section in the UTSC Calendar.

Enrolment in the Program is limited. The admission requirements may change each year depending on available spaces and the pool of eligible applicants, and students are cautioned that there is no guarantee of admission; as such, students are strongly advised to plan to enrol in backup programs.

The minimum requirements to be considered for admission are: Completion of 4.0 credits including BIOA01H3, BIOA02H3, CHMA10H3, [CHMA11H3 or CHMA12H3], PSYA01H3, and PSYA02H3, and a CGPA of 2.0 or higher.

Application for admission will be made to the Office of the Registrar through ACORN, during the Limited Program application periods. For more information on applying to limited enrolment programs, please visit the Office of the Registrar website.

Program Requirements
Students must complete a total of 8.5 credits.

1. Scientific Foundations (3.0 credits)
BIOA01H3 Life on Earth: Unifying Principles
BIOA02H3 Life on Earth: Form, Function and Interactions
CHMA10H3 Introductory Chemistry I: Structure and Bonding
[CHMA11H3 Introductory Chemistry II: Reactions and Mechanisms or CHMA12H3 Advanced General Chemistry]
PSYA01H3 Introduction to Biological and Cognitive Psychology
PSYA02H3 Introduction to Clinical, Developmental, Personality and Social Psychology

2. Neuroscience Foundations (3.5 credits)
BIOB10H3 Cell Biology
BIOB11H3 Molecular Aspects of Cellular and Genetic Processes
NROB60H3 Neuroanatomy Laboratory
NROB61H3 Neurophysiology
PSYB55H3 Introduction to Cognitive Neuroscience
PSYB70H3 Methods in Psychological Science
[PSYB07H3 Data Analysis in Psychology or STAB22H3 Statistics I]

3. Advanced Foundations (1.5 credits)
at least 1.0 credit must be taken from:
BIOC44H3/​(NROC34H3) Neuroethology
NROC36H3 Molecular Neuroscience
NROC61H3 Learning and Motivation
NROC64H3 Sensorimotor Systems
NROC69H3 Synaptic Organization and Physiology of the Brain

the remaining 0.5 credit should be taken from the following:
BIOC14H3 Genes, Environment and Behaviour
NROC60H3 Cellular Neuroscience Laboratory
NROC63H3 Behavioural Neuroscience Laboratory
NROC90H3 Supervised Study in Neuroscience
NROC93H3 Supervised Study in Neuroscience
PSYC62H3 Drugs and the Brain

4. Capstone Course (0.5 credit)
one of the following:
BIOD06H3 Advanced Topics in Neural Basis of Motor Control
BIOD07H3 Advanced Topics and Methods in Neural Circuit Analysis
BIOD08H3/​(NROD08H3) Theoretical Neuroscience*
BIOD45H3 Animal Communication
BIOD65H3 Pathologies of the Nervous System
NROD60H3 Current Topics in Neuroscience
NROD61H3 Emotional Learning Circuits
NROD66H3 Drug Addiction
NROD67H3 Neuroscience of Aging
NROD98Y3 Thesis in Neuroscience
PSYD62H3 Neuroscience of Pleasure and Reward
PSYD66H3 Current Topics in Human Brain and Behaviour

*Note: BIOD08H3/​(NROD08H3) has a calculus prerequisite that is not part of this program. Students interested in this course should plan accordingly.

MAJOR (CO-OPERATIVE) PROGRAM IN NEUROSCIENCE (SCIENCE) - SCMAJ1472C

Academic Program Advisor: psychundergrad.utsc@utoronto.ca
Co-op Program Coordinator: coopsuccess.utsc@utoronto.ca

The Major in Neuroscience focuses on both Cellular/Molecular and Systems/Behavioural Neuroscience and requires less research-intensive coursework than the Specialist programs. The Major focuses more on how to be a skilled consumer of neuroscience research, providing a valuable foundation for a variety of career paths.

Students may not combine a Neuroscience Major program with a Minor program from the Department of Biological Sciences. Students who wish to combine the Major in Neuroscience with another Major from the Department of Psychology or Department of Biological Sciences are advised to pay careful attention to the 12.0 distinct credits requirement to receive a certification of the completion of both programs. Consultation with the respective Program Supervisors in the selection of credits is recommended. For more information, see the Degree Requirements section in the UTSC Calendar.

Enrolment Requirements
Enrolment in the Program is limited. The admission requirements may change each year depending on available spaces and the pool of eligible applicants, and students are cautioned that there is no guarantee of admission; as such, students are strongly advised to plan to enrol in backup programs.
Note: Co-op students who started in Co-op prior to Fall 2025 are allowed to follow the calendar requirements in effect at that time.

Prospective Co-op Students
Students who have not yet been admitted into a Co-op Degree POSt must submit a co-op program request through ACORN and ensure they meet the minimum enrollment requirements as noted above. These qualifications may include a higher CGPA specific to the co-op program.
Deadlines follow the Limited Enrolment Program Application Deadlines set by the Office of the Registrar each year. Failure to submit the program request on ACORN will result in the student's application/request not being considered.
Please note that meeting the minimum qualifications does not guarantee enrolment in the Co-op Program of Study or Degree POSt. The required CGPA may be higher than the minimum threshold and depends on the applicant pool and number of spaces available.

Minimum Qualifications for Prospective Co-op Students:
Credits: Minimum of 4.0 credits to a maximum of 10.0 credits.
Required Courses: Program-specific courses described in the Enrolment Requirements above.
Cumulative GPA: 2.50

Current Co-op Students
Students admitted to a Co-op Degree POSt must also request a Co-op Program of Study through ACORN upon completion of 4.0 credits and meet the minimum qualifications for entry as noted below.

Minimum Qualifications for Current Co-op Students:
Credits: 4.0 credits
Required Courses: Program-specific courses described in the Enrolment Requirements above
Cumulative GPA: 2.50 or higher across all attempted courses.

Academic Program Requirements
Students must complete the program requirements as described in the Major in Neuroscience.

Planning Your Co-op Work Terms & Academics
Enrollment in a Co-op program requires careful planning of both academics and work terms. Students should consult their Co-op Program Coordinator and Academic Program Advisors, as well as review the standard co-op sequences and course maps available on the Arts & Science Co-op website and Arts and Science Co-op Compass for guidance.

Co-op Work Term Requirements
Students must successfully complete three Co-op work terms, totaling 12 months in duration, which can be fulfilled through the following options:

  • Three 4-month work terms, or
  • One 4-month work term and one 8-month work term, or
  • One 12-month work term.

Students must be available for work terms during the Fall, Winter, and Summer semesters and are required to complete at least one of their work terms in either the Fall or Winter semester. As a result, students must also take courses during the Summer semesters.

To be eligible for their first work term, students must be enroled in the program, have completed at least 7.0 credits, and maintain a CGPA of 2.50 or higher. It is recommended that PSYB07H3, PSYB70H3, NROB60H3, at least one of [BIOB10H3, BIOB11H3] and at least one of [NROB61H3, PSYB55H3] be completed before the first work term. Any of these courses that are not completed prior to the first work term are recommended to be completed before the second work term. In addition to their academic courses, students must also complete the required Co-op preparation courses.

Co-op Course Requirements
Co-op students complete the following Co-op-specific courses as part of their degree:

Co-op Preparation Courses (Completed in First Year):

Work Term Search Courses:

  • COPB55H3/​(COPB52H3) (Completed in the semester prior to the first work term)
  • COPC98H3 (Taken in the semester prior to the second work term)
  • COPC99H3 (Taken in the semester prior to the third work term)

Required Work Term Courses:

Additional Work Terms & Courses:
After successful completion of the three required work terms, students interested in additional work terms will require approval from the Arts & Science Co-op Office. Additional coursework will also be required:


Note: Co-op courses are taken alongside a full course load and are recorded on transcripts as Credit/No Credit (CR/NCR). These courses have no credit weight and are considered additional credits beyond the 20.0 required degree credits. No additional course fee is charged, as registration is included in the Co-op Program fee.

For information on course codes, fees, status in Co-op programs, and certification of completion of Co-op programs, see the Co-operative Programs section and the Arts and Science Co-op section in the UTSC Calendar.

 

Neuroscience Courses

NROB60H3 - Neuroanatomy Laboratory

This course focuses on functional neuroanatomy of the brain at both the human and animal level. Topics include gross anatomy of the brain, structure and function of neurons and glia, neurotransmitters and their receptors, and examples of major functional systems. Content is delivered through lecture and laboratories.

Prerequisite: BIOA01H3 and BIOA02H3 and CHMA10H3 and [CHMA11H3 or CHMA12H3] and PSYA01H3 and PSYA02H3
Exclusion: CSB332H, HMB320H, PSY290H, PSY391H, (ZOO332H)
Breadth Requirements: Natural Sciences
Course Experience: University-Based Experience
Note: Priority will be given to students enrolled in the Specialist/Specialist Co-op and Major/Major Co-op programs in Neuroscience. Students in other programs will be admitted as space permits.

NROB61H3 - Neurophysiology

This course focuses on the electrical properties of neurons and the ways in which electrical signals are generated, received, and integrated to underlie neuronal communication. Topics include principles of bioelectricity, the ionic basis of the resting potential and action potential, neurotransmission, synaptic integration, and neural coding schemes. Content will be delivered through lectures, labs, and tutorials.

Prerequisite: BIOA01H3 and BIOA02H3 and CHMA10H3 and [CHMA11H3 or CHMA12H3] and PSYA01H3 and PSYA02H3
Corequisite: NROB60H3
Breadth Requirements: Natural Sciences
Course Experience: University-Based Experience
Note: Priority will be given to students enrolled in the Specialist/Specialist Co-op and Major/Major Co-op programs in Neuroscience. Students in other programs will be admitted as space permits.

NROC36H3 - Molecular Neuroscience

This course will focus on the molecular mechanisms underlying neuronal communication in the central nervous system. The first module will look into synaptic transmission at the molecular level, spanning pre and postsynaptic mechanisms. The second module will focus on molecular mechanisms of synaptic plasticity and learning and memory. Additional topics will include an introduction to the molecular mechanisms of neurodegenerative diseases and channelopathies.

Prerequisite: BIOB11H3 and NROB60H3 and NROB61H3 and PSYB55H3 and [PSYB07H3 or STAB22H3] and PSYB70H3
Recommended Preparation: BIOC13H3
Breadth Requirements: Natural Sciences
Note: Priority will be given to students enrolled in the Specialist/Specialist Co-op programs in Neuroscience (all Stage 2 streams) and students enrolled in the Major/Major Co-op programs in Neuroscience. Students in the Specialist/Specialist Co-op programs in Neuroscience - Stage 1 will be admitted as space permits.

NROC60H3 - Cellular Neuroscience Laboratory

This course involves a theoretical and a hands-on cellular neuroscience laboratory component. Advanced systems, cellular and molecular neuroscience techniques will be covered within the context of understanding how the brain processes complex behaviour. Practical experience on brain slicing, immunohistochemistry and cell counting will feature in the completion of a lab project examining the cellular mechanisms underlying schizophrenia-like behavioural deficits. These experiments do not involve contact with animals.

Prerequisite: BIOB10H3 and NROB60H3 and NROB61H3 and PSYB55H3 and [PSYB07H3 or STAB22H3] and PSYB70H3
Corequisite: NROC69H3 and PSYC08H3
Breadth Requirements: Natural Sciences
Course Experience: University-Based Experience
Note: 1. Priority will be given to students enrolled in the Specialist/Specialist Co-op programs in Neuroscience - Cellular/Molecular Stream. Students enrolled in the Specialist/Specialist Co-op programs in Neuroscience - Systems/Behavioural Stream and the Major/Major Co-op programs in Neuroscience will be admitted as space permits. 2. Students may complete a maximum of 0.5 credits from [NROC60H3 or NROC63H3].

NROC61H3 - Learning and Motivation

This course will explore the neural and neurochemical bases of learning and motivation. Topics covered under the category of learning include: Pavlovian learning, instrumental learning, multiple memory systems, and topics covered under motivation include: regulation of eating, drinking, reward, stress and sleep.

Prerequisite: BIOB10H3 and NROB60H3 and NROB61H3 and PSYB55H3 and [PSYB07H3 or STAB22H3] and PSYB70H3
Breadth Requirements: Natural Sciences
Note: Priority will be given to students enrolled in the Specialist/Specialist Co-op programs in Neuroscience (all Stage 2 streams) and students enrolled in the Major/Major Co-op programs in Neuroscience. Students in the Specialist/Specialist Co-op programs in Neuroscience - Stage 1 will be admitted as space permits.

NROC63H3 - Behavioural Neuroscience Laboratory

This is a lecture and hands-on laboratory course that provides instruction on various experimental approaches, design, data analysis and scientific communication of research outcomes in the field of systems/behavioural neuroscience, with a focus on the neural basis of normal and abnormal learning and cognition. Topics covered include advanced pharmacological and neurological manipulation techniques, behavioural techniques and animal models of psychological disease (e.g., anxiety, schizophrenia). The class involves the use of experimental animals.

Prerequisite: BIOB10H3 and NROB60H3 and NROB61H3 and PSYB55H3 and [PSYB07H3 or STAB22H3] and PSYB70H3
Corequisite: NROC61H3 and PSYC08H3
Breadth Requirements: Natural Sciences
Course Experience: University-Based Experience
Note: 1. Priority will be given to students enrolled in the Specialist/Specialist Co-op programs in Neuroscience - Systems/Behavioural stream. Students enrolled in the Specialist/Specialist Co-op programs in Neuroscience -Cellular/Molecular stream and the Major/Major Co-op programs in Neuroscience will be admitted as space permits. 2. Students may complete a maximum of 0.5 credits from [NROC60H3 or NROC63H3].

NROC64H3 - Sensorimotor Systems

A focus on the mechanisms by which the nervous system processes sensory information and controls movement. The topics include sensory transduction and the physiology for sensory systems (visual, somatosensory, auditory, vestibular). Both spinal and central mechanisms of motor control are also covered.

Prerequisite: BIOB10H3 and NROB60H3 and NROB61H3 and PSYB55H3 and [PSYB07H3 or STAB22H3] and PSYB70H3
Breadth Requirements: Natural Sciences
Note: Priority will be given to students enrolled in the Specialist/Specialist Co-op programs in Neuroscience (all Stage 2 streams) and students enrolled in the Major/Major Co-op programs in Neuroscience. Students in the Specialist/Specialist Co-op programs in Neuroscience - Stage 1 will be admitted as space permits.

NROC69H3 - Synaptic Organization and Physiology of the Brain

The course will provide an in-depth examination of neural circuits, synaptic connectivity and cellular mechanisms of synaptic function. Similarities and differences in circuit organization and intrinsic physiology of structures such as the thalamus, hippocampus, basal ganglia and neocortex will also be covered. The goal is to engender a deep and current understanding of cellular mechanisms of information processing in the CNS.

Prerequisite: BIOB10H3 and NROB60H3 and NROB61H3 and PSYB55H3 and [PSYB07H3 or STAB22H3] and PSYB70H3
Breadth Requirements: Natural Sciences
Note: Priority will be given to students enrolled in the Specialist/Specialist Co-op programs in Neuroscience (all Stage 2 streams) and students enrolled in the Major/Major Co-op programs in Neuroscience. Students in the Specialist/Specialist Co-op programs in Neuroscience - Stage 1 will be admitted as space permits.

NROC90H3 - Supervised Study in Neuroscience

An intensive research project intended to provide laboratory/field experience in data collection and analysis. The project must be completed over 2 consecutive terms. NROC90H and NROC93H3 provide an opportunity to engage in research in an area after completing basic coverage in regularly scheduled courses. The student must demonstrate a background adequate for the project proposed and should present a clear rationale to prospective supervisors. Regular consultation with the supervisor is necessary, and extensive data collection and analysis will be required. Such a project will culminate in a written research report. Students must first find a supervisor before the start of the academic term in which the project will be initiated. They must then obtain a permission form from the Department of Psychology's website that is to be completed and signed by the intended supervisor, and returned to the Psychology Office. Students seeking supervision off campus are further advised to check the appropriateness of the proposed advisor with the Program Supervisor. If the proposed supervisor is not appointed to the Neuroscience faculty at UTSC then a secondary supervisor who is a member of the Neuroscience group at UTSC will be required.

Prerequisite: BIOB10H3 and NROB60H3 and NROB61H3 and [(PSYB01H3) or (PSYB04H3) or PSYB70H3] and [PSYB07H3 or STAB22H3] and [PSYB55H3 or (PSYB65H3)] and permission of the proposed supervisor.
Exclusion: PSYC90H3
Course Experience: University-Based Experience

NROC93H3 - Supervised Study in Neuroscience

An intensive research project intended to provide laboratory/field experience in data collection and analysis. The project must be completed over 2 consecutive terms. NROC90H3 and NROC93H3 provide an opportunity to engage in research in an area after completing basic coverage in regularly scheduled courses. The student must demonstrate a background adequate for the project proposed and should present a clear rationale to prospective supervisors. Regular consultation with the supervisor is necessary, and extensive data collection and analysis will be required. Such a project will culminate in a written research report. Students must first find a supervisor before the start of the academic term in which the project will be initiated. They must then obtain a permission form from the Department of Psychology's website that is to be completed and signed by the intended supervisor, and returned to the Psychology Office. Students seeking supervision off campus are further advised to check the appropriateness of the proposed advisor with the Program Supervisor. If the proposed supervisor is not appointed to the Neuroscience faculty at UTSC then a secondary supervisor who is a member of the Neuroscience group at UTSC will be required.

Prerequisite: BIOB10H3 and NROB60H3 and NROB61H3 and [(PSYB01H3) or (PSYB04H3) or PSYB70H3] and [PSYB07H3 or STAB22H3] and [PSYB55H3 or (PSYB65H3)] and permission of the proposed supervisor.
Exclusion: PSYC93H3
Course Experience: University-Based Experience

NROD60H3 - Current Topics in Neuroscience

An intensive examination of selected issues and research problems in the Neurosciences.

Prerequisite: 0.5 credit from the following: [BIOC44H3/(NROC34H3) or NROC36H3 or NROC61H3 or NROC64H3 or NROC69H3]
Corequisite: An additional 0.5 credit from the following: [BIOC44H3/(NROC34H3) or NROC36H3 or NROC61H3 or NROC64H3 or NROC69H3]
Breadth Requirements: Natural Sciences
Note: Priority will be given to fourth-year students in the Specialist/Specialist Co-op programs and Major/Major Co-op programs in Neuroscience. Third-year students in these programs will be admitted as space permits. Students in a Specialist/Specialist Co-op Program in Psychology, Mental Health Studies or Neuroscience may take a maximum of 1.0 PSY/NRO D-level credits. Students in a Major/Major Co-op Program in Psychology, Mental Health Studies or Neuroscience may take a maximum of 0.5 PSY/NRO D-level credits per major. Students in the Minor Program in Psychology are not typically eligible for enrolment in PSY/NRO D-level courses. PSYD98Y3/NROD98Y3 are excluded from these limits. Please see this website for full information.

NROD61H3 - Emotional Learning Circuits

A seminar based course covering topics on emotional learning based on animal models of fear and anxiety disorders in humans. Through readings, presentations and writing students will explore the synaptic, cellular, circuit and behavioural basis of fear memory processing, learning how the brain encodes fearful and traumatic memories, how these change with time and developmental stage, as well as how brain circuits involved in fear processing might play a role in depression and anxiety.

Prerequisite: NROC61H3 and NROC64H3 and NROC69H3
Exclusion: [NROD60H3 if taken in Fall 2018]
Recommended Preparation: NROC60H3
Breadth Requirements: Natural Sciences
Note: Priority will be given to fourth-year students in the Specialist/Specialist Co-op programs and Major/Major Co-op programs in Neuroscience. Third-year students in these programs will be admitted as space permits. Students in a Specialist/Specialist Co-op Program in Psychology, Mental Health Studies or Neuroscience may take a maximum of 1.0 PSY/NRO D-level credits. Students in a Major/Major Co-op Program in Psychology, Mental Health Studies or Neuroscience may take a maximum of 0.5 PSY/NRO D-level credits per major. Students in the Minor Program in Psychology are not typically eligible for enrolment in PSY/NRO D-level courses. PSYD98Y3/NROD98Y3 are excluded from these limits. Please see this website for full information.

NROD66H3 - Drug Addiction

An examination of the major phases of the addiction cycle, including drug consumption, withdrawal, and relapse. Consideration will be given to what basic motivational and corresponding neurobiological processes influence behaviour during each phase of the cycle. Recent empirical findings will be examined within the context of major theoretical models guiding the field.

Prerequisite: [NROC61H3 or NROC64H3] and PSYC62H3
Recommended Preparation: PSYC08H3
Breadth Requirements: Natural Sciences
Note: Priority will be given to fourth-year students in the Specialist/Specialist Co-op programs and Major/Major Co-op programs in Neuroscience. Third-year students in these programs will be admitted as space permits. Students in a Specialist/Specialist Co-op Program in Psychology, Mental Health Studies or Neuroscience may take a maximum of 1.0 PSY/NRO D-level credits. Students in a Major/Major Co-op Program in Psychology, Mental Health Studies or Neuroscience may take a maximum of 0.5 PSY/NRO D-level credits per major. Students in the Minor Program in Psychology are not typically eligible for enrolment in PSY/NRO D-level courses. PSYD98Y3/NROD98Y3 are excluded from these limits. Please see this website for full information.

NROD67H3 - Neuroscience of Aging

This course will characterize various anatomical, biochemical, physiological, and psychological changes that occur in the nervous system with age. We will examine normal aging and age-related cognitive deterioration (including disease states) with a focus on evaluating the validity of current theories and experimental models of aging.

Prerequisite: NROC61H3 and NROC64H3
Breadth Requirements: Natural Sciences
Note: Priority will be given to fourth-year students in the Specialist/Specialist Co-op programs and Major/Major Co-op programs in Neuroscience. Third-year students in these programs will be admitted as space permits. Students in a Specialist/Specialist Co-op Program in Psychology, Mental Health Studies or Neuroscience may take a maximum of 1.0 PSY/NRO D-level credits. Students in a Major/Major Co-op Program in Psychology, Mental Health Studies or Neuroscience may take a maximum of 0.5 PSY/NRO D-level credits per major. Students in the Minor Program in Psychology are not typically eligible for enrolment in PSY/NRO D-level courses. PSYD98Y3/NROD98Y3 are excluded from these limits. Please see this website for full information.

NROD98Y3 - Thesis in Neuroscience

This course offers the opportunity to engage in a year long research project under the supervision of an interested member of the faculty in Neuroscience. The project will culminate in a written report in the form of a thesis and a poster presentation. During the course of the year, at appropriate times, students will meet to present their own research proposals, to appraise the proposals of others, and to discuss the results of their investigation. Students must first find a supervisor, which is usually confirmed before the start of the academic term in which the project will be initiated. Students will meet as a group with the coordinator as well as individually with their supervisor. Students planning to pursue graduate studies are especially encouraged to enrol in the course. Students must obtain a permission form from the Department of Psychology's website that is to be completed and signed by the intended supervisor, and submitted to the Psychology Office. Students seeking supervision off campus will need to arrange co supervision with a faculty member in Neuroscience at UTSC.

Prerequisite: BIOB10H3 and NROB60H3 and NROB61H3 and [PSYB07H3 or STAB22H3] and PSYB55H3 and PSYB70H3 and [0.5 credits from the NRO C-level courses or PSY 50-series C-level courses or BIOC44H3] and [enrolment in the Specialist Co-op, Specialist, or Major Program in Neuroscience] and [GPA of 3.3 or higher over the last 5.0 credit equivalents completed] and permission of the proposed neuroscience faculty supervisor.
Corequisite: [PSYC08H3 or PSYC09H3]
Exclusion: BIOD98Y3, BIOD99Y3, PSYD98Y3
Course Experience: University-Based Experience

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