Calendar 2005/2006

Location

Health Sciences Centre, Room G321

Faculty number

(403) 220-2558

Fax

(403) 210-8109

E-mail address

neurosci@ucalgary.ca

Web page URL

www.hbi.ucalgary.ca

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Master of Science (MSc)

Combined MD/Master's and MD/PhD programs are offered under the title "Leaders in Medicine."

In addition to Faculty requirements, the Department requires:

(a)A minimum admission grade point average of 3.20 on a four point scale or equivalent

(b)For applicants required to provide proof of proficiency in English, a minimum TOEFL score of 580 (written test) or 237 (computer-based test)

Deadlines for submission of complete applications for students with Canadian and U.S. transcripts:

15 May for September admission

15 September for January admission

15 February for May admission

Students with international transcripts should contact department for application deadlines.

Students applying to the MD/Master's or MD/PhD program must apply individually to each program and complete a supplementary preliminary application for the Leaders in Medicine Program.

Not given

In addition to the Faculty requirements, the Department requires:

Master of Science

(a)Satisfactory completion of at least one of Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience (MDSC 619.01)[MDSC619.01], Systems Neuroscience (MDSC 619.02)[MDSC619.02] or Developmental Neuroscience (MDSC 619.03)[MDSC619.03]

(b)Participation in a seminar program and presentation of research seminars and journal clubs

Doctor of Philosophy

(a)Satisfactory completion of at least two of Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience (MDSC 619.01)[MDSC619.01], Systems Neuroscience (MDSC 619.02)[MDSC619.02] or Developmental Neuroscience (MDSC 619.03)[MDSC619.03]

(b)Participation in a seminar program and presentation of research seminars and journal clubs.

Permission to substitute equivalent courses can be granted only by the Graduate Coordinator

As determined by agreement with Supervisor and Supervisory Committee

Not given

Expected completion time for students in a Master's program is two years, four years for a doctoral program. Maximum completion time is four years in a Master's program and six years for a doctoral program.

Leaders in Medicine- Expected completion time is four to five years for the MD/Master's program, and six to seven years for the MD/PhD. Maximum completion time is six years for the MD/Master's and eight years for the MD/PhD.

Supervisors must be identified and committed to support the student for the first two years, before admission is recommended. The decision should be by mutual agreement between the prospective student and the faculty member, and approved by the Graduate Coordinator. For relevant criteria and responsibilities of supervisors, see the Policies and Procedures of the Department of Neuroscience. A Supervisory Committee must be struck within three months of initial registration. The method of striking, composition and functions of the Supervisory Committee are detailed in the Policies and Procedures.

Master of Science students in the Leaders in Medicine program must have a supervisory committee constituted according to the regulations of the graduate program. Both Master of Science and doctoral students will also be evaluated and advised by a Joint Liaison Committee composed of the Associate Dean (Graduate Science Education), Associate Dean (Undergraduate Medical Education), and Associate Dean (Research) of the Faculty of Medicine.

Doctoral candidacy examinations have a written and an oral component. The written component will consist of three questions to be answered over three weeks. The oral examination, normally two hours long, occurs one week after the submission of the written material. The oral examination will use the material written by the candidate as a basis for exploring the candidate's knowledge of neuroscience. The supervisor is a non-voting observer at the doctoral oral candidacy examination.

Thesis oral examinations are closed.

For further information see the Policies and Procedures of the Department of Neuroscience at http://www.hbi.ucalgary.ca/manual.htm

Preparation and approval of a research proposal within twelve months of first registration.

None

Financial assistance may be available to qualified students through supervisor operating grants or competitive awards. For information on awards, see the Awards and Financial Assistance section of this calendar, the Department of Neuroscience, or the Faculty of Medicine Research Office (http://www.hbi.ucalgary.ca/competitions.htm).

Rather than study in "classical" disciplines such as anatomy or physiology, students are placed with a supervisor who is a member of a multidisciplinary research group. These groups are located in the Health Sciences Centre and Heritage Medical Research Building. This multidisciplinary scheme greatly facilitates the development of individual research programs, especially with respect to collaborations involving different techniques and model systems. Students are encouraged to take advantage of such collaborations to enhance the scope and quality of their thesis research.

The purpose of the graduate program is to educate independent, reliable, and competent research neuroscientists. Although many holders of Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy degrees find employment that does not directly involve research, having such degrees implies that an individual is able to pursue a research problem to a meaningful conclusion. The main role of the program is to provide a favourable environment both for creative research and for the acquisition of a basic body of knowledge in the neurosciences. The Master of Science and doctoral degrees are distinguished both in the degree of originality expected in the candidate's research, and in the normal course load undertaken. Members of the Department of Neuroscience, other than the supervisor, have an important role to play in each student's training.

Further information on applications and admission, and brochures describing the research interests of individual Department members may be obtained from the Graduate Program Administrator, Neuroscience Graduate Program, Graduate Science Education, Faculty of Medicine, University of Calgary, Room G321, Health Sciences Centre, 3330 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, Alberta T2N 4N1. Faculty research interests can also be accessed on the Department website.

Courses in Neuroscience are offered under the auspices of the Department of Medical Science and are listed in this Calendar following the Medical Science heading.

The research interests of the department can be found at http://www.hbi.ucalgary.ca/