The Behavioural & Cognitive Neuroscience (BCN) program in the Department of Psychology provides students with a breadth of knowledge in the general study of the relations between the structure and activity of the brain and its function in generating integrated, adaptive behavioural responses.
The program is offered in collaboration with the Department of Health Studies and Gerontology and the Department of Kinesiology. Faculty members at Brock University and the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health - Clarke site who are adjunct members of the Department of Psychology also contribute to the program and supervise students.
Research interests of faculty members who participate in the program can be found at the Behavioural & Cognitive Neuroscience website.
Admission
The minimal requirement for admission is a four-year honours bachelor's degree or equivalent in a field that is relevant to the area of behavioural neuroscience (normally psychology, kinesiology, or health studies and gerontology, but other degrees in life sciences could be suitable as well).
Psychology Department Course Requirements
PhD students in Behavioural Neuroscience are required to complete a total of 12 half (0.5 unit) courses. These consist of two research and design courses, six Behavioural Neuroscience-related courses, and four courses outside the area of interest/specialization.
Collaborative Program Course Requirements
Students must fulfill the general requirements of their home department as well as obtain credit for each of the three courses listed below. The PhD dissertation, a requirement for the PhD degree in each of the three departments, will be on a topic in some area of behavioural neuroscience, or have direct relevance to behavioural neuroscience.
- Fundamentals of Behavioural Neuroscience (PSYCH 677A /KIN 687/HSG 677)
- Human Neuroanatomy and Neuropathology (PSYCH 784 or equivalent)
- Behavioural Neuroscience Research Seminar (PSYCH 707, 714, 727, 747*/HSG 670) or Seminar in Motor Learning and Psychomotor Behaviour (KIN 670)
* This seminar course does not count toward Psychology Department course requirements. Students are assigned a different number for each of the four years they are registered in the course.
Typical programs of study will vary among the three departments. For psychology students, the typical first year of study would include taking the two statistics/design courses and two Behavioural Neuroscience-related courses.
Thesis
It is expected that the MA thesis will be completed within the first two years in the program. The Masters degree will normally be required before studies for the doctorate are begun. Requirements for the M.A. degree (Psychology) or the M.Sc. degree (Kinesiology, Health Studies and Gerontology) will be those of the student's department of registration. Completion of the PhD dissertation typically requires another two or three years.