Note: This is the 2022–2023 eCalendar. Update the year in your browser's URL bar for the most recent version of this page, or .
Program Requirements
The Interfaculty Program Cognitive Science, which is restricted to students in the B.A. & Sc., is designed to allow students to explore the multidisciplinary study of cognition in humans and machines. The goal is to understand the principles of intelligence and thought with the hope that this will lead to a better understanding of the mind and of learning, and to the development of intelligent devices.
Note: B.A. & Sc. students who take interfaculty programs must take at least 21 credits in Arts and 21 credits in Science across their interfaculty program and their minor or minor concentration.
Required Course (3 credits)
-
NSCI 201 Introduction to Neuroscience 2 (3 credits)
Overview
Neuroscience : An introduction to how the nervous system acquires and integrates information and uses it to produce behaviour.
Terms: Winter 2023
Instructors: Darainy, Mohammad; Pérez Gay Juárez, Fernanda (Winter)
Core Complementary Courses (21 credits)
3 credits from the following logic courses:
-
COMP 230 Logic and Computability (3 credits)
Overview
Computer Science (Sci) : Propositional Logic, predicate calculus, proof systems, computability Turing machines, Church-Turing thesis, unsolvable problems, completeness, incompleteness, Tarski semantics, uses and misuses of Gödel's theorem.
Terms: Fall 2022
Instructors: Schlimm, Dirk (Fall)
3 hours
Prerequisite: CEGEP level mathematics.
-
MATH 318 Mathematical Logic (3 credits)
Overview
Mathematics & Statistics (Sci) : Propositional logic: truth-tables, formal proof systems, completeness and compactness theorems, Boolean algebras; first-order logic: formal proofs, Gödel's completeness theorem; axiomatic theories; set theory; Cantor's theorem, axiom of choice and Zorn's lemma, Peano arithmetic; Gödel's incompleteness theorem.
Terms: Fall 2022
Instructors: Sabok, Marcin (Fall)
-
PHIL 210 Introduction to Deductive Logic 1 (3 credits)
Overview
Philosophy : An introduction to propositional and predicate logic; formalization of arguments, truth tables, systems of deduction, elementary metaresults, and related topics.
Terms: Fall 2022, Summer 2023
Instructors: Therrien, Valérie Lynn (Fall) Xu, Ruigang (Summer)
Restriction: Not open to students who are taking or have taken MATH 318
3 credits from the following statistics courses:
-
MATH 203 Principles of Statistics 1 (3 credits)
Overview
Mathematics & Statistics (Sci) : Examples of statistical data and the use of graphical means to summarize the data. Basic distributions arising in the natural and behavioural sciences. The logical meaning of a test of significance and a confidence interval. Tests of significance and confidence intervals in the one and two sample setting (means, variances and proportions).
Terms: Fall 2022, Winter 2023, Summer 2023
Instructors: Sajjad, Alia; Kreitewolf, Jens (Fall) Nadarajah, Tharshanna (Winter) Sajjad, Alia (Summer)
No calculus prerequisites
Restriction: This course is intended for students in all disciplines. For extensive course restrictions covering statistics courses see Section 3.6.1 of the Arts and of the Science sections of the calendar regarding course overlaps.
You may not be able to receive credit for this course and other statistic courses. Be sure to check the Course Overlap section under Faculty Degree Requirements in the Arts or Science section of the Calendar. Students should consult for information regarding transfer credits for this course.
-
MATH 323 Probability (3 credits)
Overview
Mathematics & Statistics (Sci) : Sample space, events, conditional probability, independence of events, Bayes' Theorem. Basic combinatorial probability, random variables, discrete and continuous univariate and multivariate distributions. Independence of random variables. Inequalities, weak law of large numbers, central limit theorem.
Terms: Fall 2022, Winter 2023, Summer 2023
Instructors: Nadarajah, Tharshanna; Sajjad, Alia (Fall) Asgharian, Masoud; Sajjad, Alia (Winter) Kelome, Djivede (Summer)
-
PSYC 204 Introduction to Psychological Statistics (3 credits)
Overview
Psychology : The statistical analysis of research data; frequency distributions; graphic representation; measures of central tendency and variability; elementary sampling theory and tests of significance.
Terms: Fall 2022, Winter 2023, Summer 2023
Instructors: Flake, Jessica (Fall) Kreitewolf, Jens (Winter) Kreitewolf, Jens (Summer)
Fall and Winter
Restriction: Not open to students who have passed a CEGEP statistics course(s) with a minimum grade of 75%: Mathematics 201-307 or 201-337 or equivalent or the combination of Quantitative Methods 300 with Mathematics 300
This course is a prerequisite for PSYC 305, PSYC 406, PSYC 310, PSYC 336
You may not be able to receive credit for this course and other statistic courses. Be sure to check the Course Overlap section under Faculty Degree Requirements in the Arts or Science section of the Calendar.
3 credits from the following computer science courses:
-
COMP 202 Foundations of Programming (3 credits)
Overview
Computer Science (Sci) : Introduction to computer programming in a high level language: variables, expressions, primitive types, methods, conditionals, loops. Introduction to algorithms, data structures (arrays, strings), modular software design, libraries, file input/output, debugging, exception handling. Selected topics.
Terms: Fall 2022, Winter 2023, Summer 2023
Instructors: Campbell, Jonathan (Fall) M'hiri, Faten (Winter) M'hiri, Faten (Summer)
3 hours
Prerequisite: a CEGEP level mathematics course
Restrictions: Not open to students who have taken or are taking COMP 204, COMP 208, or GEOG 333; not open to students who have taken or are taking COMP 206 or COMP 250.
COMP 202 is intended as a general introductory course, while COMP 204 is intended for students in life sciences, and COMP 208 is intended for students in physical sciences and engineering.
-
COMP 204 Computer Programming for Life Sciences (3 credits)
Overview
Computer Science (Sci) : Computer Science (Sci): Computer programming in a high level language: variables, expressions, types, functions, conditionals, loops, objects and classes. Introduction to algorithms, modular software design, libraries, file input/output, debugging. Emphasis on applications in the life sciences.
Terms: Fall 2022, Winter 2023
Instructors: Becerra, David (Fall) Becerra, David (Winter)
-
COMP 250 Introduction to Computer Science (3 credits)
Overview
Computer Science (Sci) : Mathematical tools (binary numbers, induction, recurrence relations, asymptotic complexity, establishing correctness of programs), Data structures (arrays, stacks, queues, linked lists, trees, binary trees, binary search trees, heaps, hash tables), Recursive and non-recursive algorithms (searching and sorting, tree and graph traversal). Abstract data types, inheritance. Selected topics.
Terms: Fall 2022, Winter 2023
Instructors: Alberini, Giulia (Fall) Alberini, Giulia (Winter)
3 credits from the following linguistics courses:
-
LING 201 Introduction to Linguistics (3 credits)
Overview
Linguistics : General introduction to linguistics, the scientific study of human language. Covers the core theoretical subfields of linguistics: phonetics, phonology, morphology, syntax, and semantics. Also provides background on other subfields including sociolinguistics, pragmatics, historical linguistics, linguistic variation, and language acquisition.
Terms: Fall 2022, Winter 2023
Instructors: Sonderegger, Morgan (Fall) Shimoyama, Junko; Gatchalian, Terrance (Winter)
Fall and Winter
-
LING 210 Introduction to Speech Science (3 credits)
Overview
Linguistics : The course covers key concepts of speech science, including phonetics (acoustics, speech perception and production), fundamentals in the study of speech processing, speech development, and speech disorders, and introduces some basic methodologies of the field.
Terms: Winter 2023, Summer 2023
Instructors: Honda, Claire (Winter) Zhai, Weiyi (Summer)
-
LING 260 Meaning in Language (3 credits)
Overview
Linguistics : A hands-on introduction to the strategies that natural languages use to convey meaning. Requiring no previous background in linguistics, the course surveys fundamental properties of word and sentence meaning and their interdependence with context. It provides an overview of the grammatical mechanisms that languages employ to construct the literal meanings of sentences from word meanings, explores how meanings are anchored to real life situations, and analyzes how meanings are routinely enriched in context by language users to convey more than what is literally expressed.
Terms: Fall 2022, Winter 2023
Instructors: Schwarz, Bernhard (Fall) Ji, Jing (Winter)
3 credits from the following philosophy courses:
-
PHIL 200 Introduction to Philosophy 1 (3 credits)
Overview
Philosophy : A course treating some of the central problems of philosophy: the mind-body problem, freedom, scepticism and certainty, fate, time, and the existence of God.
Terms: Fall 2022
Instructors: Magal, Oran (Fall)
-
PHIL 201 Introduction to Philosophy 2 (3 credits)
Overview
Philosophy : An introduction to some of the major problems of philosophy. This course does not duplicate PHIL 200.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2022-2023 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2022-2023 academic year.
-
PHIL 221 Introduction to History and Philosophy of Science 2 (3 credits)
Overview
Philosophy : A survey of the development of modern science since the Eighteenth Century.
Terms: Fall 2022
Instructors: Martin, Andre (Fall)
3 credits from the following neuroscience courses:
-
NSCI 200 Introduction to Neuroscience 1 (3 credits) *
Overview
Neuroscience : An introduction to how nerve cells generate action potentials, communicate with one another at synapses, develop synaptic connections, early brain development, and the construction of specific neural circuits.
Terms: Fall 2022
Instructors: Ruthazer, Edward; Stellwagen, David; Suvrathan, Aparna (Fall)
-
PSYC 211 Introductory Behavioural Neuroscience (3 credits)
Overview
Psychology : An introduction to contemporary research on the relationship between brain and behaviour. Topics include learning, memory and cognition, brain damage and neuroplasticity, emotion and motivation, and drug addiction and brain reward circuits. Much of the evidence will be drawn from the experimental literature on research with animals.
Terms: Fall 2022, Summer 2023
Instructors: Britt, Jon (Fall) Graham, M. Dean (Summer)
3 credits from the following psychology courses:
-
PSYC 212 Perception (3 credits)
Overview
Psychology : Perception is the organization of sensory input into a representation of the environment. Topics include: survey of sensory coding mechanisms (visual, auditory, tactile, olfactory, gustatory), object recognition, spatial localization, perceptual constancies and higher level influences.
Terms: Winter 2023
Instructors: Gaskin, Stephane (Winter)
Fall
2 lectures; 1 conference
-
PSYC 213 Cognition (3 credits)
Overview
Psychology : Where do thoughts come from? What is the nature of thought, and how does it arise in the mind and the brain? Cognition is the study of human information processing, and we will explore topics such as memory, attention, categorization, decision making, intelligence, philosophy of mind, and the mind-as computer metaphor.
Terms: Winter 2023, Summer 2023
Instructors: Sheldon, Signy (Winter) Gaskin, Stephane (Summer)
Winter
2 lectures, 1 conference
Prerequisite: One previous course in Psychology.
Complementary Courses
30 credits are selected as follows
18 credits from one of the following lists: Computer Science, Linguistics, Neuroscience, Philosophy, or Psychology.
12 credits from any of the five lists.
Of the 30 Complementary Course credits, 15 credits taken must be at the 400 level or higher.
Computer Science
-
COMP 206 Introduction to Software Systems (3 credits)
Overview
Computer Science (Sci) : Comprehensive overview of programming in C, use of system calls and libraries, debugging and testing of code; use of developmental tools like make, version control systems.
Terms: Fall 2022, Winter 2023
Instructors: D'silva, Joseph (Fall) Errington, Jacob; Vybihal, Joseph P (Winter)
-
COMP 250 Introduction to Computer Science (3 credits)
Overview
Computer Science (Sci) : Mathematical tools (binary numbers, induction, recurrence relations, asymptotic complexity, establishing correctness of programs), Data structures (arrays, stacks, queues, linked lists, trees, binary trees, binary search trees, heaps, hash tables), Recursive and non-recursive algorithms (searching and sorting, tree and graph traversal). Abstract data types, inheritance. Selected topics.
Terms: Fall 2022, Winter 2023
Instructors: Alberini, Giulia (Fall) Alberini, Giulia (Winter)
-
COMP 251 Algorithms and Data Structures (3 credits)
Overview
Computer Science (Sci) : Introduction to algorithm design and analysis. Graph algorithms, greedy algorithms, data structures, dynamic programming, maximum flows.
Terms: Fall 2022, Winter 2023
Instructors: Waldispuhl, JĂ©rĂ´me; Alberini, Giulia (Fall) Becerra, David (Winter)
3 hours
COMP 251 uses mathematical proof techniques that are taught in the corequisite course(s). If possible, students should take the corequisite course prior to COMP 251.
COMP 251 uses basic counting techniques (permutations and combinations) that are covered in MATH 240 but not in MATH 235. These techniques will be reviewed for the benefit of MATH 235 students.
Restrictions: Not open to students who have taken or are taking COMP 252.
-
COMP 280 History and Philosophy of Computing (3 credits)
Overview
Computer Science (Sci) : A history of early mathematical computation. Symbolic logic and computation. Modern computer systems and networks. The rise of the internet.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2022-2023 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2022-2023 academic year.
3 hours
-
COMP 302 Programming Languages and Paradigms (3 credits)
Overview
Computer Science (Sci) : Programming language design issues and programming paradigms. Binding and scoping, parameter passing, lambda abstraction, data abstraction, type checking. Functional and logic programming.
Terms: Fall 2022, Winter 2023
Instructors: Errington, Jacob (Fall) Errington, Jacob (Winter)
-
COMP 330 Theory of Computation (3 credits)
Overview
Computer Science (Sci) : Finite automata, regular languages, context-free languages, push-down automata, models of computation, computability theory, undecidability, reduction techniques.
Terms: Fall 2022, Winter 2023
Instructors: Panangaden, Prakash (Fall) Crépeau, Claude (Winter)
3 hours
Prerequisite: COMP 251.
-
COMP 345 From Natural Language to Data Science (3 credits)
Overview
Computer Science (Sci) : ntroduction to language data science, including theoretical approaches and practical skills. Processing, searching, and querying text data; making sense of large corpora; modelling and interpreting psycholinguistic and historical language data; building models of sequences of words; computing similarity between languages; information retrieval and extraction; question answering; and ethics.
Terms: Winter 2023
Instructors: O'Donnell, Tim; Reddy, Siva (Winter)
-
COMP 360 Algorithm Design (3 credits)
Overview
Computer Science (Sci) : Advanced algorithm design and analysis. Linear programming, complexity and NP-completeness, advanced algorithmic techniques.
Terms: Fall 2022, Winter 2023
Instructors: Robere, Robert (Fall) Hatami, Hamed (Winter)
-
COMP 400 Project in Computer Science (4 credits)
Overview
Computer Science (Sci) : A research project in any area of computer science, involving a programming effort and/or a theoretical investigation, and supervised by a faculty member in the School of Computer Science. Final written report required.
Terms: Fall 2022, Winter 2023, Summer 2023
Instructors: M'hiri, Faten (Fall) Errington, Jacob (Winter) Errington, Jacob (Summer)
3 hours
Prerequisites: 15 Computer Science credits.
Restriction: For Honours students, or non-Honours students with permission of the department.
-
COMP 409 Concurrent Programming (3 credits)
Overview
Computer Science (Sci) : Characteristics and utility of concurrent programs; formal methods for specification, verification and development of concurrent programs; communications, synchronization, resource allocation and management, coherency and integrity.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2022-2023 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2022-2023 academic year.
-
COMP 417 Introduction Robotics and Intelligent Systems (3 credits)
Overview
Computer Science (Sci) : This course considers issues relevant to the design of robotic and of intelligent systems. How can robots move and interact. Robotic hardware systems. Kinematics and inverse kinematics. Sensors, sensor data interpretation and sensor fusion. Path planning. Configuration spaces. Position estimation. Intelligent systems. Spatial mapping. Multi-agent systems. Applications.
Terms: Fall 2022
Instructors: Dudek, Gregory L; Lotfi, Faraz (Fall)
-
COMP 421 Database Systems (3 credits)
Overview
Computer Science (Sci) : Database Design: conceptual design of databases (e.g., entity-relationship model), relational data model, functional dependencies. Database Manipulation: relational algebra, SQL, database application programming, triggers, access control. Database Implementation: transactions, concurrency control, recovery, query execution and query optimization.
Terms: Winter 2023
Instructors: Kemme, Bettina; Elsaadawy, Mona (Winter)
-
COMP 424 Artificial Intelligence (3 credits)
Overview
Computer Science (Sci) : Introduction to search methods. Knowledge representation using logic and probability. Planning and decision making under uncertainty. Introduction to machine learning.
Terms: Fall 2022
Instructors: Meger, David (Fall)
-
COMP 445 Computational Linguistics (3 credits)
Overview
Computer Science (Sci) : Introduction to foundational ideas in computational linguistics and natural language processing. Topics include formal language theory, probability theory, estimation and inference, and recursively defined models of language structure. Emphasis on both the mathematical foundations of the field as well as how to use these tools to understand human language.
Terms: Winter 2023
Instructors: Hoover, Jacob (Winter)
Prerequisite(s): COMP 250 and MATH 240, or permission of instructor.
Restriction: Not open to students who have taken or are taking LING 445.
Students who are taking or have taken both COMP 330 and COMP 424 are advised to take COMP 550 in place of COMP 445/LING 445.
This is a double-prefix course and is identical in content with LING 445.
Some background in linguistics at the level of LING 201 is desirable, though not critical.
-
COMP 451 Fundamentals of Machine Learning (3 credits)
Overview
Computer Science (Sci) : Introduction to the computational, statistical and mathematical foundations of machine learning. Algorithms for both supervised learning and unsupervised learning. Maximum likelihood estimation, neural networks, and regularization.
Terms: Fall 2022
Instructors: Ravanbakhsh, Siamak (Fall)
-
COMP 523 Language-based Security (3 credits)
Overview
Computer Science (Sci) : State-of-the-art language-based techniques for enforcing security policies in distributed computing environments. Static techniques (such as type- and proof-checking technology), verification of security policies and applications such as proof-carrying code, certifying compilers, and proof-carrying authentication.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2022-2023 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2022-2023 academic year.
-
COMP 527 Logic and Computation (3 credits)
Overview
Computer Science (Sci) : Introduction to modern constructive logic, its mathematical properties, and its numerous applications in computer science.
Terms: Winter 2023
Instructors: Pientka, Brigitte (Winter)
-
COMP 531 Advanced Theory of Computation (3 credits)
Overview
Computer Science (Sci) : Models for sequential and parallel computations: Turing machines, boolean circuits. The equivalence of various models and the Church-Turing thesis. Unsolvable problems. Model dependent measures of computational complexity. Abstract complexity theory. Exponentially and super-exponentially difficult problems. Complete problems.
Terms: Fall 2022
Instructors: Hatami, Hamed (Fall)
3 hours
Prerequisite: COMP 330
-
COMP 546 Computational Perception (4 credits)
Overview
Computer Science (Sci) : Computational models of visual perception and audition. Vision problems include stereopsis, motion, focus, perspective, color. Audition problems include source localization and recognition. Emphasis on physics of image formation, sensory signal processing, neural pathways and computation, psychophysical methods.
Terms: Fall 2022
Instructors: Langer, Michael (Fall)
3 hours
Restrictions: Not open to students who have taken COMP 646.
-
COMP 549 Brain-Inspired Artificial Intelligence (3 credits)
Overview
Computer Science (Sci) : Overview of the influence of neuroscience and psychology on Artificial Intelligence (AI). Historical topics: perceptrons, the PDP framework, Hopfield nets, Boltzmann and Helmholtz machines, and the behaviourist origins of reinforcement learning. Modern topics: deep learning, attention, memory and consciousness. Emphasis on understanding the interdisciplinary foundations of modern AI.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2022-2023 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2022-2023 academic year.
-
COMP 550 Natural Language Processing (3 credits)
Overview
Computer Science (Sci) : An introduction to the computational modelling of natural language, including algorithms, formalisms, and applications. Computational morphology, language modelling, syntactic parsing, lexical and compositional semantics, and discourse analysis. Selected applications such as automatic summarization, machine translation, and speech processing. Machine learning techniques for natural language processing.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2022-2023 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2022-2023 academic year.
-
COMP 551 Applied Machine Learning (4 credits)
Overview
Computer Science (Sci) : Selected topics in machine learning and data mining, including clustering, neural networks, support vector machines, decision trees. Methods include feature selection and dimensionality reduction, error estimation and empirical validation, algorithm design and parallelization, and handling of large data sets. Emphasis on good methods and practices for deployment of real systems.
Terms: Fall 2022, Winter 2023
Instructors: Li, Yue (Fall) Rabbany, Reihaneh (Winter)
Prerequisite(s): MATH 323 or ECSE 205 or ECSE 305 or equivalent
Restriction(s): Not open to students who have taken or are taking COMP 451. Not open to students who have taken or are taking ECSE 551.
Some background in Artificial Intelligence is recommended, e.g. COMP-424 or ECSE-526, but not required.
-
COMP 558 Fundamentals of Computer Vision (4 credits)
Overview
Computer Science (Sci) : Image filtering, edge detection, image features and histograms, image segmentation, image motion and tracking, projective geometry, camera calibration, homographies, epipolar geometry and stereo, point clouds and 3D registration. Applications in computer graphics and robotics.
Terms: Fall 2022
Instructors: Siddiqi, Kaleem (Fall)
-
COMP 562 Theory of Machine Learning (4 credits)
Overview
Computer Science (Sci) : Concentration inequalities, PAC model, VC dimension, Rademacher complexity, convex optimization, gradient descent, boosting, kernels, support vector machines, regression and learning bounds. Further topics selected from: Gaussian processes, online learning, regret bounds, basic neural network theory.
Terms: Winter 2023
Instructors: Oberman, Adam (Winter)
Prerequisites: MATH 462 or COMP 451 or (COMP 551, MATH 222, MATH 223 and MATH 324) or ECSE 551.
Restrictions: Not open to students who have taken or are taking MATH 562. Not open to students who have taken COMP 599 when the topic was "Statistical Learning Theory" or "Mathematical Topics for Machine Learning". Not open to students who have taken COMP 598 when the topic was "Mathematical Foundations of Machine Learning".
-
COMP 579 Reinforcement Learning (4 credits)
Overview
Computer Science (Sci) : Bandit algorithms, finite Markov decision processes, dynamic programming, Monte-Carlo Methods, temporal-difference learning, bootstrapping, planning, approximation methods, on versus off policy learning, policy gradient methods temporal abstraction and inverse reinforcement learning.
Terms: Winter 2023
Instructors: Precup, Doina (Winter)
-
MATH 222 Calculus 3 (3 credits)
Overview
Mathematics & Statistics (Sci) : Taylor series, Taylor's theorem in one and several variables. Review of vector geometry. Partial differentiation, directional derivative. Extreme of functions of 2 or 3 variables. Parametric curves and arc length. Polar and spherical coordinates. Multiple integrals.
Terms: Fall 2022, Winter 2023, Summer 2023
Instructors: Paquette, Elliot; Wrobel, Konrad (Fall) Trudeau, Sidney (Winter) Barill, Gavin (Summer)
-
MATH 223 Linear Algebra (3 credits)
Overview
Mathematics & Statistics (Sci) : Review of matrix algebra, determinants and systems of linear equations. Vector spaces, linear operators and their matrix representations, orthogonality. Eigenvalues and eigenvectors, diagonalization of Hermitian matrices. Applications.
Terms: Fall 2022, Winter 2023
Instructors: Macdonald, Jeremy; Pichot, Mikael (Fall) Macdonald, Jeremy (Winter)
-
MATH 240 Discrete Structures (3 credits)
Overview
Mathematics & Statistics (Sci) : Introduction to discrete mathematics and applications. Logical reasoning and methods of proof. Elementary number theory and cryptography: prime numbers, modular equations, RSA encryption. Combinatorics: basic enumeration, combinatorial methods, recurrence equations. Graph theory: trees, cycles, planar graphs.
Terms: Fall 2022, Winter 2023
Instructors: Vetta, Adrian Roshan; Fortier, JĂ©rĂ´me (Fall) Fortier, JĂ©rĂ´me; Macdonald, Jeremy (Winter)
Linguistics
Any course at the 300, 400 or 500 level from the department of Linguistics, or from the following list:
-
LING 201 Introduction to Linguistics (3 credits)
Overview
Linguistics : General introduction to linguistics, the scientific study of human language. Covers the core theoretical subfields of linguistics: phonetics, phonology, morphology, syntax, and semantics. Also provides background on other subfields including sociolinguistics, pragmatics, historical linguistics, linguistic variation, and language acquisition.
Terms: Fall 2022, Winter 2023
Instructors: Sonderegger, Morgan (Fall) Shimoyama, Junko; Gatchalian, Terrance (Winter)
Fall and Winter
-
LING 210 Introduction to Speech Science (3 credits)
Overview
Linguistics : The course covers key concepts of speech science, including phonetics (acoustics, speech perception and production), fundamentals in the study of speech processing, speech development, and speech disorders, and introduces some basic methodologies of the field.
Terms: Winter 2023, Summer 2023
Instructors: Honda, Claire (Winter) Zhai, Weiyi (Summer)
-
LING 260 Meaning in Language (3 credits)
Overview
Linguistics : A hands-on introduction to the strategies that natural languages use to convey meaning. Requiring no previous background in linguistics, the course surveys fundamental properties of word and sentence meaning and their interdependence with context. It provides an overview of the grammatical mechanisms that languages employ to construct the literal meanings of sentences from word meanings, explores how meanings are anchored to real life situations, and analyzes how meanings are routinely enriched in context by language users to convey more than what is literally expressed.
Terms: Fall 2022, Winter 2023
Instructors: Schwarz, Bernhard (Fall) Ji, Jing (Winter)
Philosophy
-
NSCI 300 Neuroethics (3 credits)
Overview
Neuroscience : An introduction to ethical issues arising from basic and clinical neuroscience. Overview of therapeutic, diagnostic, and research interventions in mental and neurological disorders, and their implications on society.
Terms: Winter 2023
Instructors: Yazdani, Armin (Winter)
-
PHIL 306 Philosophy of Mind (3 credits)
Overview
Philosophy : A survey of major positions of the mind-body problem, focusing on such questions as: Do we have minds and bodies? Can minds affect bodies? Is mind identical to body? If so, in what sense "identical"? Can physical bodies be conscious.
Terms: Fall 2022
Instructors: Ochoa, Anaid (Fall)
-
PHIL 310 Intermediate Logic (3 credits)
Overview
Philosophy : A second course in Logic. NB. The course will be technical in nature, and some mathematical aptitude is essential. The emphasis is on the expressive properties of standard logical systems, including implications for the philosophy of mathematics. We will study the Completeness of First-Order Logic, then the 'limitative' theorems of Tarski and Gödel.
Terms: Winter 2023
Instructors: Hallett, Michael Frank (Winter)
Prerequisite: PHIL 210 or equivalent
-
PHIL 311 Philosophy of Mathematics (3 credits)
Overview
Philosophy : This course provides an historically informed introduction to philosophy of mathematics. It gives the student an overview of prominent issues and arguments, to enable her to follow and discuss contemporary research in philosophy of mathematics.
Terms: Fall 2022
Instructors: Schlimm, Dirk (Fall)
Prerequisite: PHIL 210
-
PHIL 341 Philosophy of Science 1 (3 credits)
Overview
Philosophy : A discussion of philosophical problems as they arise in the context of scientific practice and enquiry. Such issues as the philosophical presuppositions of the physical and social sciences, the nature of scientific method and its epistemological implications will be addressed.
Terms: Winter 2023
Instructors: Derome, LĂ©a (Winter)
-
PHIL 354 Plato (3 credits)
Overview
Philosophy : An examination of some of the philosophical problems (those in logic, epistemology, metaphysics, and ethics, e.g.) found in a selection of Plato's dialogues.
Terms: Fall 2022
Instructors: Menn, Stephen (Fall)
-
PHIL 355 Aristotle (3 credits)
Overview
Philosophy : An examination of selected works by Aristotle. The course considers issues in moral philosophy as well as those found in the logical treatises, the Physics and Metaphysics, and in the philosophy of mind.
Terms: Winter 2023
Instructors: Deslauriers, Marguerite (Winter)
-
PHIL 360 17th Century Philosophy (3 credits)
Overview
Philosophy : An examination of the work of such seventeenth-century philosophers as Descartes, Hobbes, Gassendi, Malebranche, Leibniz, and the Cambridge Platonists.
Terms: Fall 2022
Instructors: Carson, Emily J (Fall)
-
PHIL 361 18th Century Philosophy (3 credits)
Overview
Philosophy : A survey of eighteenth century philosophy, especially British philosophy. Attention is given to fundamental metaphysical, epistemological, and moral issues as reflected in the work of such philosophers as Locke, Shaftesbury, Berkeley, Hutcheson, Butler, Hume and Reid.
Terms: Fall 2022
Instructors: Laywine, Alison (Fall)
-
PHIL 367 19th Century Philosophy (3 credits)
Overview
Philosophy : An examination of the works of such 19th century philosophers as Mach, Helmholtz, Dedekind, Frege, Marx, Kierkegaard, Schopenhauer, Nietzsche, Mill and Bradley.
Terms: Winter 2023
Instructors: Laywine, Alison (Winter)
Prerequisite: A previous course in philosophy is recommended
-
PHIL 411 Topics in Philosophy of Logic and Mathematics (3 credits)
Overview
Philosophy : A course focusing on some philosophical issue (e.g., the nature of numbers or the relation of truth to provability) as it arises in the study of mathematics and logic.
Terms: Winter 2023
Instructors: Hallett, Michael Frank (Winter)
Prerequisites: PHIL 210 or the equivalent, and one intermediate course in philosophy
-
PHIL 415 Philosophy of Language (3 credits)
Overview
Philosophy : An examination of central notions in the philosophy of language (reference, meaning, and truth, e.g.), the puzzles these notions give rise to, and the relevance of these notions to such questions as: What is language? How is communication possible? What is understanding? Is language rule-governed.
Terms: Winter 2023
Instructors: Blome-Tillmann, Michael (Winter)
Prerequisites: PHIL 210 or equivalent and one intermediate course in philosophy
-
PHIL 419 Epistemology (3 credits)
Overview
Philosophy : A discussion of central topics in the theory of knowledge. The questions addressed in the course may include: What is knowledge? Do we have any knowledge? What is the relation between knowledge and belief? When is belief justified? Is all knowledge conscious knowledge.
Terms: Winter 2023
Instructors: Blome-Tillmann, Michael (Winter)
Prerequisite: PHIL 210 or equivalent and one intermediate course in philosophy
-
PHIL 421 Metaphysics (3 credits)
Overview
Philosophy : An examination of central questions in metaphysics in their historical and contemporary forms. Topics may be chosen from such issues as: personal identity, the nature of space and time, the nature of events and properties, possible worlds, and the problem of realism.
Terms: Winter 2023
Instructors: Leary, Stephanie (Winter)
Prerequisites: PHIL 210 or equivalent and one intermediate course in philosophy
-
PHIL 441 Philosophy of Science 2 (3 credits)
Overview
Philosophy : An analysis of some key philosophical ideas in science and technology, e.g. problem, explanation, forecast, testability and truth.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2022-2023 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2022-2023 academic year.
Prerequisite: PHIL 341 or written permission of the instructor
-
PHIL 470 Topics in Contemporary Analytic Philosophy (3 credits)
Overview
Philosophy : An advanced discussion of major themes in the analytic tradition.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2022-2023 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2022-2023 academic year.
-
PHIL 474 Phenomenology (3 credits)
Overview
Philosophy : A study of phenomenology from a historical and thematic perspective. The course will typically involve the study of central thinkers such as Husserl, Heidegger, or Merleau-Ponty, with an examination of the nature and development of the phenomenological movement.
Terms: Winter 2023
Instructors: Buckley, R Philip (Winter)
Prerequisite: one intermediate course in philosophy
Psychology
-
ANTH 440 Cognitive Anthropology (3 credits)
Overview
Anthropology : The problem of knowledge; the nature of perception; the concept of mind; the relation between thought and language. The concept of meaning: communication, interpretation and symbolism. Social aspects of cognition; ideology.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2022-2023 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2022-2023 academic year.
-
MUMT 250 Music Perception and Cognition (3 credits)
Overview
Music Technology : Basic processes by which the brain transforms sound waves into musical events, dimensions, systems and structures and the processes by which musicians imagine new musical sounds and structures and plan movements that produce music on instruments.
Terms: Winter 2023
Instructors: McAdams, Stephen (Winter)
-
PSYC 204 Introduction to Psychological Statistics (3 credits)
Overview
Psychology : The statistical analysis of research data; frequency distributions; graphic representation; measures of central tendency and variability; elementary sampling theory and tests of significance.
Terms: Fall 2022, Winter 2023, Summer 2023
Instructors: Flake, Jessica (Fall) Kreitewolf, Jens (Winter) Kreitewolf, Jens (Summer)
Fall and Winter
Restriction: Not open to students who have passed a CEGEP statistics course(s) with a minimum grade of 75%: Mathematics 201-307 or 201-337 or equivalent or the combination of Quantitative Methods 300 with Mathematics 300
This course is a prerequisite for PSYC 305, PSYC 406, PSYC 310, PSYC 336
You may not be able to receive credit for this course and other statistic courses. Be sure to check the Course Overlap section under Faculty Degree Requirements in the Arts or Science section of the Calendar.
-
PSYC 211 Introductory Behavioural Neuroscience (3 credits)
Overview
Psychology : An introduction to contemporary research on the relationship between brain and behaviour. Topics include learning, memory and cognition, brain damage and neuroplasticity, emotion and motivation, and drug addiction and brain reward circuits. Much of the evidence will be drawn from the experimental literature on research with animals.
Terms: Fall 2022, Summer 2023
Instructors: Britt, Jon (Fall) Graham, M. Dean (Summer)
-
PSYC 212 Perception (3 credits)
Overview
Psychology : Perception is the organization of sensory input into a representation of the environment. Topics include: survey of sensory coding mechanisms (visual, auditory, tactile, olfactory, gustatory), object recognition, spatial localization, perceptual constancies and higher level influences.
Terms: Winter 2023
Instructors: Gaskin, Stephane (Winter)
Fall
2 lectures; 1 conference
-
PSYC 213 Cognition (3 credits)
Overview
Psychology : Where do thoughts come from? What is the nature of thought, and how does it arise in the mind and the brain? Cognition is the study of human information processing, and we will explore topics such as memory, attention, categorization, decision making, intelligence, philosophy of mind, and the mind-as computer metaphor.
Terms: Winter 2023, Summer 2023
Instructors: Sheldon, Signy (Winter) Gaskin, Stephane (Summer)
Winter
2 lectures, 1 conference
Prerequisite: One previous course in Psychology.
-
PSYC 301 Animal Learning and Theory (3 credits)
Overview
Psychology : Contemporary and historical research and theory on animal learning approached from a behavioural, cognitive and biological perspective. Classical and instrumental conditioning, cognitive learning, and biological constraints. The status and history of North American behaviourism will be discussed and compared with cognitive and other approaches.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2022-2023 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2022-2023 academic year.
-
PSYC 302 The Psychology of Pain (3 credits)
Overview
Psychology : An introduction to pain research and theory, with emphasis on the interactions of psychological, cultural and physiological factors in pain perception. The role of these factors in clinical pain and its management by pharmacological and non-pharmacological means will be discussed.
Terms: Winter 2023
Instructors: Mogil, Jeffrey (Winter)
-
PSYC 304 Child Development (3 credits)
Overview
Psychology : Psychology of children, covering critical issues, theories, biological underpinnings, experimental methods, and findings in perceptual, cognitive, language, emotional, and social development.
Terms: Fall 2022, Summer 2023
Instructors: Krol, Sonia (Fall) Krol, Sonia (Summer)
-
PSYC 305 Statistics for Experimental Design (3 credits)
Overview
Psychology : An introduction to the design and analysis of experiments, including analysis of variance, planned and post hoc tests and a comparison of anova to correlational analysis.
Terms: Fall 2022, Winter 2023, Summer 2023
Instructors: Sajjad, Alia (Fall) Miocevic, Milica (Winter) Darainy, Mohammad (Summer)
Fall and Winter
Prerequisite: PSYC 204 or equivalent
This course is required of all students who propose to enter an Honours or Major program in Psychology
You may not be able to receive credit for this course and other statistic courses. Be sure to check the Course Overlap section under Faculty Degree Requirements in the Arts or Science section of the Calendar.
-
PSYC 310 Intelligence (3 credits)
Overview
Psychology : Introduction to the evolution and assessment of intelligence. Emphasizes measurement and correlates of the human intellect and the role of environment and heredity in social and race differences in intellectual and adaptive functioning. Evolution of intelligence in vertebrates and other intelligences including practical and emotional intelligence will be covered.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2022-2023 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2022-2023 academic year.
-
PSYC 311 Human Cognition and the Brain (3 credits)
Overview
Psychology : The course is an introduction to the field studying how human cognitive processes, such as perception, attention, language, learning and memory, planning and organization, are related to brain processes. The material covered is primarily based on studies of the effects of different brain lesions on cognition and studies of brain activity in relation to cognitive processes with modern functional neuroimaging methods.
Terms: Fall 2022
Instructors: Brochu Barbeau, Elise; Hadid, Vanessa (Fall)
Fall
2 lectures; 1 conference
-
PSYC 315 Computational Psychology (3 credits)
Overview
Psychology : Application of computational methods to the simulation of psychological phenomena. Comparison of natural and artificial intelligence. Symbolic and neural network techniques. Methods for evaluating simulations.
Terms: Winter 2023
Instructors: Johns, Brendan (Winter)
Fall
Prerequisite: 15 credits in any of Psychology, Cognitive Science, Biology, Mathematics and Statistics, Computer Science, or Neuroscience.
Restriction: Not open to U0 or U1 students.
-
PSYC 317 Genes and Behaviour (3 credits)
Overview
Psychology : Focuses on current techniques employed to study which genes influence behaviour, and how they do so.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2022-2023 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2022-2023 academic year.
-
PSYC 318 Behavioural Neuroscience 2 (3 credits)
Overview
Psychology : The physiological bases of motivational states, with respect to feeding, drinking, sexual behaviour, drug use, and aggression. Physiological bases of learning and memory.
Terms: Winter 2023
Instructors: Britt, Jon (Winter)
-
PSYC 319 Computational Models - Cognition (3 credits)
Overview
Psychology : Introduction to the purpose, design, and role of computational modeling in the cognitive sciences. Domains examined will include memory, categorization, and language. Focus will be on computational models to attain a better theoretical understanding of human behaviour. New trends, including the use of big data and machine learning.
Terms: Fall 2022
Instructors: Johns, Brendan (Fall)
Restrictions: U2 or above. Restricted to students in Psychology, Linguistics and Cognitive Science.
-
PSYC 340 Psychology of Language (3 credits)
Overview
Psychology : A survey of issues in psycholinguistics, focusing on the nature and processing of language (e.g., how we understand speech sounds, words, sentences, and discourse). Also surveyed: language and thought, the biological foundations of language, and first language acquisition.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2022-2023 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2022-2023 academic year.
-
PSYC 341 The Psychology of Bilingualism (3 credits)
Overview
Psychology : This course will examine issues in bilingualism, including second language acquisition in children and adults, critical period hypothesis, cognitive consequences and correlates of bilingualism, social psychological aspects of bilingualism, and bilingual education.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2022-2023 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2022-2023 academic year.
Winter
2 lectures
Prerequisites: Introductory Psychology, and PSYC 340 or introduction to linguistics; or permission of instructor
-
PSYC 342 Hormones and Behaviour (3 credits)
Overview
Psychology : The role of hormones in organization of CNS function, as effectors of behaviour, in expression of behaviours and in mental illness.
Terms: Winter 2023
Instructors: de Mendonça Filho, Euclides José; Barth, Barbara (Winter)
-
PSYC 352 Cognitive Psychology Laboratory (3 credits)
Overview
Psychology : Introduction to research methods and experimental techniques in cognitive psychology for exploring topics such as attention, memory, categorization, reasoning, and language processing.
Terms: Fall 2022
Instructors: Farivar-Mohseni, Reza (Fall)
-
PSYC 406 Psychological Tests (3 credits)
Overview
Psychology : An introduction to the theory and practice of psychological measurement in health, educational, clinical and industrial/organizational settings. Attention to procedures for developing and validating tests and questionnaires. Techniques include: intelligence tests, projective tests, questionnaires, structured interviews, rating scales, and behavioural/performance tests.
Terms: Fall 2022
Instructors: Sadikaj, Gentiana (Fall)
Winter
2 lectures
Prerequisite: PSYC 204 or equivalent
-
PSYC 410 Special Topics in Neuropsychology (3 credits)
Overview
Psychology : Developments in cognitive neuroscience and cognitive neuropsychiatry via readings from primary sources. Topics include the neural bases of memory, emotion, social cognition and neuropsychiatric diseases. Integrating knowledge from studies in clinical populations and functional neuroimaging studies.
Terms: Winter 2023
Instructors: Ristic, Jelena (Winter)
-
PSYC 413 Cognitive Development (3 credits)
Overview
Psychology : In-depth exploration of cognitive development in infants and children including knowledge representation and processing, conceptual development, language development, and theories and principles of cognitive development.
Terms: Winter 2023
Instructors: Onishi, K (Winter)
-
PSYC 427 Sensorimotor Neuroscience (3 credits)
Overview
Psychology : A systematic examination of the sensorimotor system, drawing on models and data from both behavioural and physiological studies. Topics include: cortical motor areas, cerebellum, basal ganglia, spinal mechanisms, motor unit properties and force production, prioception, muscle properties.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2022-2023 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2022-2023 academic year.
-
PSYC 433 Cognitive Science (3 credits)
Overview
Psychology : The multi-disciplinary study of cognitive science, exploring the computer metaphor of the mind as an information-processing system. Focus on levels of analysis, symbolic modeling, Turing machines, neural networks, as applied to topics such as reasoning, vision, decision-making, and consciousness.
Terms: Fall 2022
Instructors: Otto, Ross (Fall)
-
PSYC 439 Correlational Techniques (3 credits)
Overview
Psychology : The statistical analysis of relations among a number of variables in situations common in psychology. Methods include regression analysis, principal components analysis, and other techniques for modelling the structure of correlation matrices.
Terms: Fall 2022
Instructors: Miocevic, Milica (Fall)
-
PSYC 443 Affective Neuroscience (3 credits)
Overview
Psychology : Focus on the neurobiology of emotion, the links between emotion and cognition, and the role of experience and individual differences in emotional states associated with psychopathology.
Terms: Winter 2023
Instructors: Bagot, Rosemary (Winter)
-
PSYC 470 Memory and Brain (3 credits)
Overview
Psychology : Memory systems are studied with an emphasis on the neural computations that occur at various stages of the processing stream, focusing on the hippocampus, amygdala, basal ganglia, cerebellum and cortex. The data reviewed is obtained from human, non-human primates and rodents, with single unit recording, neuroimaging and brain damaged subjects.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2022-2023 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2022-2023 academic year.
-
PSYC 506 Cognitive Neuroscience of Attention (3 credits)
Overview
Psychology : An introduction to cognitive properties and neural mechanisms of human attention. The material will include an overview of the history of attention research, contemporary theories of attention, the varieties of attention, behavioral and neuroimaging experimental methods, the nature of attentional dysfunctions, and the links between attention and other cognitive functions including memory and consciousness.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2022-2023 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2022-2023 academic year.
-
PSYC 513 Human Decision-Making (3 credits)
Overview
Psychology : Interdisciplinary study of decision-making, covering contemporary approaches to understanding how humans compute values and make choices. Measurement of and techniques for assessing variables such as risk and uncertainty, utilities and preferences, reinforcement learning, heuristics and biases, and self-control. Emphasis on quantitative models of decision-making.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2022-2023 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2022-2023 academic year.
-
PSYC 514 Neurobiology of Memory (3 credits)
Overview
Psychology : Advances in the understanding of the neurobiological bases of fundamental memory processes, such as memory consolidation maintenance, retrieval, and forgetting. The contribution of their dysregulation to neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative diseases. Consideration of findings from a variety of species, spanning insects to humans.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2022-2023 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2022-2023 academic year.
-
PSYC 522 Neurochemistry and Behaviour (3 credits)
Overview
Psychology : Anatomical, biochemical and physiological aspects of neurotransmitter systems in the brain, current theories of the function of these systems in normal and abnormal behaviour, and the actions of psychotropic drugs.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2022-2023 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2022-2023 academic year.
-
PSYC 526 Advances in Visual Perception (3 credits)
Overview
Psychology : We examine in detail the structure of the visual system, and its function as reflected in the perceptual abilities and behaviour of the organism. Parallels are also drawn with other sensory systems to demonstrate general principles of sensory coding.
Terms: Fall 2022
Instructors: Mullen, Kathy T; Reynaud, Alexandre; Baldwin, Alexander (Fall)
Winter
2 lectures
-
PSYC 529 Music Cognition (3 credits)
Overview
Psychology : Interdisciplinary study of music cognition, with an emphasis on psychological, computational, and neuroscientific approaches. Focuses on listeners' response to sound, including perception, attention, memory, motor control, skilled performance, and emotional response.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2022-2023 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2022-2023 academic year.
-
PSYC 531 Structural Equation Models (3 credits)
Overview
Psychology : The course introduces basic concepts underlying structural equation models (SEM). SEM, which combine regression analysis and factor analysis, are quite useful and are currently very popular in analyzing data that arise in social, developmental and clinical psychology. The students are expected to get first-hand experiences in fitting SEM, and learn how to interpret and report the results from SEM.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2022-2023 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2022-2023 academic year.
-
PSYC 537 Advanced Seminar in Psychology of Language (3 credits)
Overview
Psychology : Topics may include: the neural basis of language, evolutionary approaches to language, pragmatics and figurative language processing, disordered language processing, models of spoken word recognition.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2022-2023 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2022-2023 academic year.
-
PSYC 538 Categorization, Communication and Consciousness (3 credits)
Overview
Psychology : The main challenges that cognitive science faces today, focusing on the capacity to learn sensorimotor categories, to name and describe them verbally, and to transmit them to others, concluding with cognition distributed on the Web.
Terms: Fall 2022
Instructors: Harnad, Stevan (Fall)
Prerequisite(s): Student must have completed a 300 level course in one of the following: Linguistics, Philosophy, Psychology, Computer Science, or Neuroscience.
Restriction(s): Restricted to U2 students or above.
- PSYC 541 Multilevel Modelling (3 credits)
-
PSYC 545 Topics in Language Acquisition (3 credits)
Overview
Psychology : Psychological mechanisms and theories of first language acquisition in infancy and early childhood. Topics such as: infant speech perception, acquisition of grammar, word learning, pidgin and Creole languages, critical and sensitive periods, genetic and evolutionary bases of language.
Terms: Fall 2022
Instructors: Onishi, K (Fall)
Fall
Neuroscience
* Students select either NSCI 200 or PHGY 209, but not both.
-
ANAT 321 Circuitry of the Human Brain (3 credits)
Overview
Anatomy & Cell Biology : This course explores the functional organization of the human brain and spinal cord. The course focuses on how neuronal systems are designed to subserve specific motor, sensory, and cognitive operations.
Terms: Fall 2022
Instructors: Ragsdale, David S (Fall)
-
BIOL 200 Molecular Biology (3 credits)
Overview
Biology (Sci) : The physical and chemical properties of the cell and its components in relation to their structure and function. Topics include: protein structure, enzymes and enzyme kinetics; nucleic acid replication, transcription and translation; the genetic code, mutation, recombination, and regulation of gene expression.
Terms: Fall 2022
Instructors: Champetier, Serge; Roy, Richard D W; Hastings, Kenneth E M; Lasko, Paul; Reyes Lamothe, Rodrigo (Fall)
-
BIOL 201 Cell Biology and Metabolism (3 credits)
Overview
Biology (Sci) : This course introduces the student to our modern understanding of cells and how they work. Major topics to be covered include: photosynthesis, energy metabolism and metabolic integration; plasma membrane including secretion, endocytosis and contact mediated interactions between cells; cytoskeleton including cell and organelle movement; the nervous system; hormone signaling; the cell cycle.
Terms: Winter 2023
Instructors: Brouhard, Gary; Champetier, Serge (Winter)
-
BIOL 306 Neural Basis of Behaviour (3 credits)
Overview
Biology (Sci) : Neural mechanisms of animal behaviour; neuroethology; cellular neurophysiology, integrative networks within nervous systems; neural control of movement; processing of sensory information.
Terms: Fall 2022
Instructors: Sakata, Jon; Dent, Joseph Alan (Fall)
-
BIOL 307 Behavioural Ecology (3 credits)
Overview
Biology (Sci) : How an organism’s behaviour relates to its physical, biological, and social environment, using evolutionary and ecological perspectives. Emphasis is on general principles, covering topics such feeding, predator avoidance, aggression, reproduction, social behaviour, communication and cognition.
Terms: Winter 2023
Instructors: Reader, Simon; Sakata, Jon; Guigueno, MĂ©lanie (Winter)
-
BIOL 320 Evolution of Brain and Behaviour (3 credits)
Overview
Biology (Sci) : Functional and comparative approach to neuroanatomy, examining how species changes in brain organization contribute to evolutionary changes in behaviour.
Terms: Winter 2023
Instructors: Sakata, Jon; Woolley, Sarah (Winter)
-
BIOL 414 Invertebrate Brain Circuits and Behaviours
(3 credits)
Overview
Biology (Sci) : Exploration of the neural and molecular mechanisms that drive animal behaviour, with a focus on invertebrates, including the principles of neural circuits and behaviour.
Terms: Fall 2022
Instructors: Oyama, Tomoko (Fall)
-
BIOL 506 Neurobiology of Learning (3 credits)
Overview
Biology (Sci) : Exploration of the neurobiological basis of learning, from molecules to circuits, focusing on the synaptic, cellular and circuit-level processes that support learning, in the context of different brain regions and forms of learning.
Terms: Fall 2022
Instructors: Suvrathan, Aparna; Sjostrom, Per Jesper; Sossin, Wayne Steven; Ruthazer, Edward; Hendricks, Michael (Fall)
-
BIOL 507 Animal Communication (3 credits)
Overview
Biology (Sci) : Introduction to communication between animals, including humans. Physical and phylogenetic constraints on the evolution of communication systems will be discussed. The approach to communication will draw from behavioural ecology, psychology, physiology and physics.
Terms: Fall 2022
Instructors: Sakata, Jon (Fall)
Fall
3 hours lecture
Corequisites: BIOL 307 or equivalent and one of BIOL 306 or NEUR 310 or NSCI 200 or NSCI 201 or PHGY 311; or permission of instructor. Since all corequisites may not be offered in the same term, students are advised that they may have to plan their schedules so that they may register in these courses in the term prior to BIOL 507.
-
BIOL 517 Cognitive Ecology (3 credits)
Overview
Biology (Sci) : Cognition refers to the processes of acquiring, retaining, and using information. In the wild, an organism relies on a wide variety of information to interact with its environment and these interactions affect its survival and reproduction. Focus on the ecology and evolution of cognition and its underlying neural mechanisms. Examines links between cognition, behaviour in the wild, and the brain. Builds upon the principles of behavioural ecology and behavioural neuroscience.
Terms: Winter 2023
Instructors: Guigueno, MĂ©lanie; Reader, Simon (Winter)
Prerequisite(s): BIOL 307 or equivalent or permission of the instructor
- BIOL 530 Advances in Neuroethology (3 credits)
-
BIOL 532 Developmental Neurobiology Seminar (3 credits)
Overview
Biology (Sci) : Discussions of all aspects of nervous system development including pattern formation, cell lineage, pathfinding and targeting by growing axons, and neural regeneration. The basis for these discussions will be recent research papers and other assigned readings.
Terms: Winter 2023
Instructors: Van Meyel, Donald; Kania, Artur; Fournier, Alyson Elise; Cloutier, Jean-Francois; Ruthazer, Edward (Winter)
-
BIOL 580 Genetic Approaches to Neural Systems (3 credits)
Overview
Biology (Sci) : This course will focus on recent research employing genetic-based methods to examine the functional and structural properties of the nervous system. The focus will be on approaches for studying neural circuits and behavior in a range of model organisms. Topics will include recent technological advances, such as optogenetics for modifying and controlling neuronal activity, and animal models of neurological diseases. Students will critically analyze the application of these methods to current research through in-class discussion of primary literature, student presentations, and written assignments.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2022-2023 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2022-2023 academic year.
Prerequisite(s): BIOL 306 or permission of the instructors.
-
BIOL 588 Advances in Molecular/Cellular Neurobiology (3 credits)
Overview
Biology (Sci) : Discussion of fundamental molecular mechanisms underlying the general features of cellular neurobiology. An advanced course based on lectures and on a critical review of primary research papers.
Terms: Fall 2022
Instructors: Hastings, Kenneth E M; Krishnaswamy, Arjun; McPherson, Peter Scott; Poulin, Jean-Francois; Zhou, Yang (Fall)
-
CHEM 212 Introductory Organic Chemistry 1 (4 credits)
Overview
Chemistry : A survey of reactions of aliphatic and aromatic compounds including modern concepts of bonding, mechanisms, conformational analysis, and stereochemistry.
Terms: Fall 2022, Winter 2023, Summer 2023
Instructors: Pavelka, Laura; Sirjoosingh, Pallavi; Vlaho, Danielle; Gauthier, Jean-Marc (Fall) Vlaho, Danielle; Gauthier, Jean-Marc; Pavelka, Laura; Luedtke, Nathan (Winter) Pavelka, Laura; Vlaho, Danielle; Huot, Mitchell (Summer)
Fall, Winter, Summer
Prerequisite: CHEM 110 or equivalent.
Corequisite: CHEM 120 or equivalent.
Restriction: Not open to students who are taking or have taken CHEM 211 or equivalent
Each lab section is limited enrolment
Note: Some CEGEP programs provide equivalency for this course. For more information, please see the Department of Chemistry's Web page ().
**Due to the intensive nature of this course, the standard add/drop and withdrawal deadlines do not apply. Add/drop is the second lecture day and withdrawal is the fourth lecture day.
-
NEUR 310 Cellular Neurobiology (3 credits)
Overview
Neurology and Neurosurgery : A survey of the functional organization of nerve cells, signalling in the nervous system, and principles of neural development. Topics include cell polarity, neurotransmitters, neurotrophins, receptors and second messengers, cell lineage, guidance of axon outgrowth, and nerve regeneration. Emphasis will be placed on analysis of neurons at the molecular level.
Terms: Winter 2023
Instructors: Cloutier, Jean-Francois; Ragsdale, David S; Kennedy, Timothy E; Fournier, Alyson Elise; Sossin, Wayne Steven; Ruthazer, Edward; Huang, Wei-Hsiang (Winter)
-
NEUR 503 Computational Neuroscience (3 credits)
Overview
Neurology and Neurosurgery : A survey of computational methods commonly used to model brain function, including mathematical modeling to describe the relationship between neuronal activity and perception, action, and cognition. Mathematical basis for vision, motor control and attention. Data relevant to brain processes and models explaining these data, using engineering, statistics and artificial intelligence.
Terms: Winter 2023
Instructors: Pack, Christopher; Baker, Curtis L; Misic, Bratislav; Cook, Erik; Chacron, Maurice; Peyrache, Adrien (Winter)
Winter
Basic neuroanatomy/neurophysiology, some mathematics (linear algebra calculus, probability/statistics) or consent of instructor.
Restriction: Not open to students who have taken NEUR 603.
-
NEUR 507 Topics in Radionuclide Imaging (3 credits)
Overview
Neurology and Neurosurgery : The course deals with neuroreceptor and oncologic imaging and imaging of cerebral bloodflow and metabolism. The role of radiochemistry and physics will be demonstrated in the context of clinical and research applications. Understanding how radiochemistry and physics intermingle with the medical aspects of radiotracer development will result in a deeper insight into the complex pathways of tracer design and the methods necessary to properly interpret the data obtained.
Terms: Fall 2022
Instructors: Kostikov, Alexey; Rosa, Pedro; Soucy, Jean-Paul; Thiel, Alexander (Fall)
Fall
-
NSCI 200 Introduction to Neuroscience 1 (3 credits) *
Overview
Neuroscience : An introduction to how nerve cells generate action potentials, communicate with one another at synapses, develop synaptic connections, early brain development, and the construction of specific neural circuits.
Terms: Fall 2022
Instructors: Ruthazer, Edward; Stellwagen, David; Suvrathan, Aparna (Fall)
-
NSCI 300 Neuroethics (3 credits)
Overview
Neuroscience : An introduction to ethical issues arising from basic and clinical neuroscience. Overview of therapeutic, diagnostic, and research interventions in mental and neurological disorders, and their implications on society.
Terms: Winter 2023
Instructors: Yazdani, Armin (Winter)
-
PHGY 209 Mammalian Physiology 1 (3 credits) *
Overview
Physiology : Physiology of body fluids, blood, body defense mechanisms, muscle, peripheral, central, and autonomic nervous systems.
Terms: Fall 2022
Instructors: Vollrath, Melissa; Grisaru Wechsler, Ann; Ragsdale, David S; Shrier, Alvin; Cook, Erik; Aguer, CĂ©line (Fall)
Fall
3 hours lectures weekly
Prerequisites: BIOL 112, CHEM 110, CHEM 120, PHYS 101 or PHYS 131, and PHYS 102 or PHYS 142. Pre-/co-requisites: BIOL 200, CHEM 212 or equivalent.
Restriction: Not open to students who have taken PHGY 211 or students who are taking and who have taken NSCI 200.
Restriction: For students in the Faculty of Science, and other students by permission of the instructor
-
PHGY 311 Channels, Synapses and Hormones (3 credits)
Overview
Physiology : In-depth presentation of experimental results and hypotheses on cellular communication in the nervous system and the endocrine system.
Terms: Fall 2022
Instructors: Cooper, Ellis; Sjostrom, Per Jesper; Krishnaswamy, Arjun; Sharif Naeini, Reza (Fall)
Fall
3 hours of lectures per week; 1-3 hours optional lab/demonstration/tutorial arranged for a maximum of 3 afternoons per term
Prerequisite: PHGY 209 or permission of the instructor.
-
PHGY 314 Integrative Neuroscience (3 credits)
Overview
Physiology : In depth presentation of experimental results and hypotheses underlying our current understanding of how single neurons and ensembles of neurons encode sensory information, generate movement, and control cognitive functions such as emotion, learning, and memory, during voluntary behaviours.
Terms: Fall 2022
Instructors: Chacron, Maurice; Pack, Christopher; Shmuel, Amir; Vollrath, Melissa; Lomber, Stephen; Brandon, Mark; Krishna, Suresh (Fall)
Fall
3 hours of lectures per week
Prerequisites: PHGY 209
-
PHGY 556 Topics in Systems Neuroscience (3 credits)
Overview
Physiology : Topics of current interest in systems neurophysiology and behavioural neuroscience including: the neural representation of sensory information and motor behaviours, models of sensory motor integration, and the computational analysis of problems in motor control and perception. Students will be expected to present and critically discuss journal articles in class.
Terms: Winter 2023
Instructors: Guitton, Daniel E; Baker, Curtis L; Cook, Erik; Pack, Christopher; Lomber, Stephen; Peyrache, Adrien; Krishna, Suresh; Bashivan, Pouya (Winter)
Winter
Restriction: Permission of the instructor required.
Restriction: Not open to students who have taken PHGY 456
-
PSYC 211 Introductory Behavioural Neuroscience (3 credits)
Overview
Psychology : An introduction to contemporary research on the relationship between brain and behaviour. Topics include learning, memory and cognition, brain damage and neuroplasticity, emotion and motivation, and drug addiction and brain reward circuits. Much of the evidence will be drawn from the experimental literature on research with animals.
Terms: Fall 2022, Summer 2023
Instructors: Britt, Jon (Fall) Graham, M. Dean (Summer)
-
PSYC 302 The Psychology of Pain (3 credits)
Overview
Psychology : An introduction to pain research and theory, with emphasis on the interactions of psychological, cultural and physiological factors in pain perception. The role of these factors in clinical pain and its management by pharmacological and non-pharmacological means will be discussed.
Terms: Winter 2023
Instructors: Mogil, Jeffrey (Winter)
-
PSYC 311 Human Cognition and the Brain (3 credits)
Overview
Psychology : The course is an introduction to the field studying how human cognitive processes, such as perception, attention, language, learning and memory, planning and organization, are related to brain processes. The material covered is primarily based on studies of the effects of different brain lesions on cognition and studies of brain activity in relation to cognitive processes with modern functional neuroimaging methods.
Terms: Fall 2022
Instructors: Brochu Barbeau, Elise; Hadid, Vanessa (Fall)
Fall
2 lectures; 1 conference
-
PSYC 317 Genes and Behaviour (3 credits)
Overview
Psychology : Focuses on current techniques employed to study which genes influence behaviour, and how they do so.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2022-2023 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2022-2023 academic year.
-
PSYC 318 Behavioural Neuroscience 2 (3 credits)
Overview
Psychology : The physiological bases of motivational states, with respect to feeding, drinking, sexual behaviour, drug use, and aggression. Physiological bases of learning and memory.
Terms: Winter 2023
Instructors: Britt, Jon (Winter)
-
PSYC 342 Hormones and Behaviour (3 credits)
Overview
Psychology : The role of hormones in organization of CNS function, as effectors of behaviour, in expression of behaviours and in mental illness.
Terms: Winter 2023
Instructors: de Mendonça Filho, Euclides José; Barth, Barbara (Winter)
-
PSYC 410 Special Topics in Neuropsychology (3 credits)
Overview
Psychology : Developments in cognitive neuroscience and cognitive neuropsychiatry via readings from primary sources. Topics include the neural bases of memory, emotion, social cognition and neuropsychiatric diseases. Integrating knowledge from studies in clinical populations and functional neuroimaging studies.
Terms: Winter 2023
Instructors: Ristic, Jelena (Winter)
-
PSYC 427 Sensorimotor Neuroscience (3 credits)
Overview
Psychology : A systematic examination of the sensorimotor system, drawing on models and data from both behavioural and physiological studies. Topics include: cortical motor areas, cerebellum, basal ganglia, spinal mechanisms, motor unit properties and force production, prioception, muscle properties.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2022-2023 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2022-2023 academic year.
-
PSYC 433 Cognitive Science (3 credits)
Overview
Psychology : The multi-disciplinary study of cognitive science, exploring the computer metaphor of the mind as an information-processing system. Focus on levels of analysis, symbolic modeling, Turing machines, neural networks, as applied to topics such as reasoning, vision, decision-making, and consciousness.
Terms: Fall 2022
Instructors: Otto, Ross (Fall)
-
PSYC 443 Affective Neuroscience (3 credits)
Overview
Psychology : Focus on the neurobiology of emotion, the links between emotion and cognition, and the role of experience and individual differences in emotional states associated with psychopathology.
Terms: Winter 2023
Instructors: Bagot, Rosemary (Winter)
-
PSYC 444 Sleep Mechanisms and Behaviour (3 credits)
Overview
Psychology : This course covers basic biological mechanisms, possible functions and behavioural aspects of sleep. Additional topics include: disorders of sleep, their effects on behaviour and cognition, and treatment approaches; as well as medical, neurological and psychiatric disorders, and drugs, that affect sleep.
Terms: Fall 2022
Instructors: Solomonova, Elizaveta (Fall)
-
PSYC 502 Psychoneuroendocrinology (3 credits)
Overview
Psychology : This advanced seminar course offers an in-depth introduction to current topics in psychoneuroendocrinology. Students will read and discuss original scientific literature from human and animal research interrogating the mechanisms by which hormones act in the brain to influence behaviour in health and disease. Students will gain a refined understanding of key concepts in psychoneuroendocrinology, such as negative feedback control and the key neuroendocrine axes and their role in behavioural control. They will apply this knowledge to critically evaluate original scientific literature and generate hypothesis-driven research questions from the scientific literature.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2022-2023 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2022-2023 academic year.
-
PSYC 506 Cognitive Neuroscience of Attention (3 credits)
Overview
Psychology : An introduction to cognitive properties and neural mechanisms of human attention. The material will include an overview of the history of attention research, contemporary theories of attention, the varieties of attention, behavioral and neuroimaging experimental methods, the nature of attentional dysfunctions, and the links between attention and other cognitive functions including memory and consciousness.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2022-2023 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2022-2023 academic year.
-
PSYC 514 Neurobiology of Memory (3 credits)
Overview
Psychology : Advances in the understanding of the neurobiological bases of fundamental memory processes, such as memory consolidation maintenance, retrieval, and forgetting. The contribution of their dysregulation to neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative diseases. Consideration of findings from a variety of species, spanning insects to humans.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2022-2023 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2022-2023 academic year.
-
PSYC 522 Neurochemistry and Behaviour (3 credits)
Overview
Psychology : Anatomical, biochemical and physiological aspects of neurotransmitter systems in the brain, current theories of the function of these systems in normal and abnormal behaviour, and the actions of psychotropic drugs.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2022-2023 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2022-2023 academic year.
-
PSYC 526 Advances in Visual Perception (3 credits)
Overview
Psychology : We examine in detail the structure of the visual system, and its function as reflected in the perceptual abilities and behaviour of the organism. Parallels are also drawn with other sensory systems to demonstrate general principles of sensory coding.
Terms: Fall 2022
Instructors: Mullen, Kathy T; Reynaud, Alexandre; Baldwin, Alexander (Fall)
Winter
2 lectures
-
PSYC 529 Music Cognition (3 credits)
Overview
Psychology : Interdisciplinary study of music cognition, with an emphasis on psychological, computational, and neuroscientific approaches. Focuses on listeners' response to sound, including perception, attention, memory, motor control, skilled performance, and emotional response.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2022-2023 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2022-2023 academic year.
-
PSYT 301 Issues in Drug Dependence (3 credits)
Overview
Psychiatry : The phenomenology and epidemiology of the use and abuse of alcohol, nicotine, opiates, stimulants, sedatives and psychotomimetic agents are discussed in relation to current theoretical and experimental issues. The perspective is multidisciplinary and the intention is to develop an understanding of the nature of the issues surrounding drug dependence.
Terms: Fall 2022
Instructors: Gratton, Alain; Rabin, Rachel (Fall)
-
PSYT 500 Advances: Neurobiology of Mental Disorders (3 credits)
Overview
Psychiatry : Current theories on the neurobiological basis of most well known mental disorders (e.g. schizophrenia, depression, anxiety, dementia). Methods and strategies in research on genetic, physiological and biochemical factors in mental illness will be discussed. Discussion will also focus on the rationale for present treatment approaches and on promising new approaches.
Terms: Winter 2023
Instructors: Wong, Tak Pan; Nagy, Corina; Beaulieu, Serge; Gobbi, Gabriella; Poirier, Judes; Brunet, Alain; Srivastava, Lalit K; Leyton, Marco; Paudel, Hemant K; Silveira, Patricia (Winter)
Winter
3 hours
Prerequisite (Undergraduate): BIOC 212 and BIOC 311, or BIOC 312, or BIOL 200 and BIOL 201, or PHGY 311, or PSYC 308 and an upper-level biological science course with permission of the instructors, or equivalent. Basic knowledge of cellular and molecular biology is required.
Restriction: Open to U3 and graduate students only.
Restriction: Graduate Studies: strongly recommended for M.Sc. students in Psychiatry.
-
PSYT 515 Advanced Studies in Addiction (3 credits)
Overview
Psychiatry : Critical assessment of research tools, reported data, and theoretical perspectives on drug addiction, with an emphasis on multi-factorial and inter-disciplinary approaches.
Terms: Winter 2023
Instructors: Leyton, Marco (Winter)
Winter
Prerequisite: PSYT 301 or permission from one of the instructors.
Restrictions: Priority will be given to graduate students registered in Psychiatry, Psychology or Neuroscience graduate programs. Open to undergraduates who have completed PSYT 301 or an equivalent course. Undergraduates must obtain permission of the instructors before registration. Not open to students who have taken PSYT 615.
Research Course
-
COGS 401 Research Cognitive Science 1 (6 credits)
Overview
Cognitive Science : Research project supervised by a McGill Faculty member.
Terms: Fall 2022, Winter 2023, Summer 2023
Instructors: O'Donnell, Tim (Fall) O'Donnell, Tim (Winter) O'Donnell, Tim (Summer)
Prerequisites: 30 credits of Cognitive Science program. Approval of Program Director. CGPA >3.00
Note: To receive approval to register for this course, a student must present a research proposal to the Director of the Cognitive Science Program. See /cogsci/research/ for instructions.
Bachelor of Arts & Science—2022-2023 (last updated Aug. 24, 2022) (disclaimer)
