Ask a Senior Student

What can I expect from Neurosci 700?

Neurosci 700 is an introductory Neuroscience course that all MiNDS students must take during their first year. Classes are held once per week and the content and format vary slightly from year to year. There are two instructors, one for each term, and two senior level TAs that will stay with you for the entire course. The course generally adheres to the following format:

Fall term: A review of neurophysiology, fundamental principles, and neuroscience techniques. This is done through a mixture of lectures and assigned journal articles that are discussed in a journal club or seminar style. There are assigned readings from the course textbook (which may differ year to year) and a test at the beginning and end of the term to see how much you’ve learned.

Winter term: Discussion and presentation-based format, focusing on group work. Topics include current issues in neuroscience, translational disease applications, and other interesting cutting edge research. This is done mostly through weekly journal articles, which are presented in a hybrid lecture/seminar format. There are generally a few writing assignments done throughout the term with the main one being a formal CIHR/NSERC grant proposal.