MSc Program Requirements

Students are required to complete a minimum of 6 units of graded graduate coursework and a thesis. The only exception to course requirements for the MSc degree would be for clinical trainees such as medical residents, who, (in consultation with and approval of the Director of Graduate Studies), may be exempt. Students are expected to have completed undergraduate courses in both Cellular Neurobiology and Systems Neuroscience (such as PMCOL 371 and PHYSL 372 or their equivalent). Students deficient in these areas will be required to take these courses as ‘extra to degree’ as a condition of their admission.

MSc students have the option, in consultation with their program supervisor, to complete a lab rotation course, typically during the first year. Students can choose either NEURO 500 (two terms; 6 credits) or NEURO 501 (one term; 3 credits). NEURO 500 involves rotations through three laboratories during the first year. Each rotation involves two months of research experience (six months in total). Although this course is 6 credits, an additional didactic, graduate-level course will be required to meet the course requirements if students register in NEURO 500. NEURO 501 involves rotation through one laboratory taken outside of the laboratory of the primary supervisor. Students, in consultation with their supervisory committees, may also select courses in other areas important to their research programs. The list of Neuroscience approved courses can be found as Appendix 1 and in the University calendar.

NMHI graduate students may take a graduate level reading course for 3 credits to fulfill their course requirements. However, the following limitations apply:

• The course must be taken with a Faculty member other than the student’s supervisor(s).
• The course can be from any department, but it must be approved by the NMHI Director of Graduate Studies. 
• Students cannot meet their graduate student quota of 6 (MSc) credits merely based on a combination of lab rotation and reading courses (i.e., didactic coursework is required.

Students are required to maintain a minimum cumulative program grade point average of 3.0 (B) throughout their program.

Students must meet the GPS Ethics and Academic Citizenship Requirement through the completion of the six hour, online, non-credit course INT D 710: Ethics and Academic Citizenship by the end of the first term of registration in their degree program.

The course provides foundational knowledge of ethical principles and relevant university policies, including: academic integrity, plagiarism, research ethics, conflict of interest, workplace ethics, and health.

If a student does not complete the above noted course by the end of their first term of registration in their degree program, their registration in subsequent terms will be restricted until such time as the course(s) is completed and/or a plan for completion is submitted by the student to the Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies. Note: GPS will send students reminders to complete the requirement prior to the end of their first term (if not completed already).

Students are required to fulfill the Professional Development requirement which has two components and must be completed as specified by GPS. 

1. Students must submit a completed Individual Development Plan (IDP) within 12 months of start of the Master’s program.
2. Students must complete eight hours of professional development activities inspired by the career plan. This must be approved by NMHI and completed at the time of completion for Master’s students”. 

Progress and fulfilment of the PD hours (eight) is the students’ responsibility but will be monitored in the GPS Annual Progress Report.

All graduate students are required to attend 20 seminars per year anywhere on campus and at least 10 of the seminars must be selected from the list of formal Neuroscience seminars hosted by the NMHI. The majority of seminar attendance should be 'in person' rather than online. A minimum of 4:1 in person to online ratio is expected. The NMHI also hosts a number of seminars where students will be required to attend in addition to the mandatory minimum of 10 weekly seminars per year.

Students must track their individual seminar attendance and include this report in their yearly report which is sent to GPS.

Every year students must participate in the Neuroscience and Mental Health Institute Research Day (NRD). Students are expected to present their work in the form of a poster or oral presentation. It is mandatory each student attends NRD as participation is a requisite for continuation on the NMHI graduate program.

Student progress will be reported at least once annually to GPS using the standardized Progress Report form. Progress reports are due in GPS at minimum once every 12 months of the student’s original program start date. 

Completion of the progress report is required. In instances where the progress report is not submitted at least once within a 12 month period, the student’s registration in subsequent terms will be restricted as a last resort and temporarily so as to determine a plan for completion. In these unlikely instances, GPS will assist the student and supervisor(s) in the completion of the progress report and remove registration restrictions immediately. Note: both the student and supervisor(s) will receive reminders to complete the progress report in advance of any deadlines, allowing for inquiries to assist or to set out an alternate completion deadline.

In instances where more detailed monitoring of a student’s academic standing may be required, a progress report form may be filled more than once annually; however, only one (1) progress report may be submitted every four (4) months.

A student who receives two (2) consecutive evaluations of “in need of improvement” or one (1) “unsatisfactory” rating will normally be required to withdraw from their program and FGSR on the recommendation of the Director of Graduate Studies within their academic department and/or the Department Chair to the Dean of GPS.