A B.Sc. in the field of neuroscience typically serves as a stepping stone to further education for a variety of career paths. Prospective students can check out this website for more information. Current undergraduate students are encouraged to explore exclusive career planning resources in the Brightspace Neuro Hub.

Neuroscience & Biology is a 20-credit Combined Honours program equally split between NEUR and BIOL courses, with a focus on upper-year BIOL lab courses. You can complete your 4th-year honours project in BIOL instead of NEUR and gain greater access to Biology faculty and research. The program allows few electives, making it difficult to explore other disciplines or add a minor. Co-Op is available in this program.

Neuroscience & Biology is the only program that guarantees access to Cell Biochemistry with lab, Organic Chemistry with lab, and upper-year anatomy and physiology courses which are required for some medical, dental, and veterinary school admissions. While Neuroscience & Mental Health students may sometimes get access to these courses, registration is not guaranteed.

Neuroscience & Mental Health offers three options: a 15-credit and 20-credit Major, and a 20-credit Honours. Co-Op is available in the 20-credit Honours. These programs include many NEUR courses and offer more electives, making it easier to explore other disciplines and add up to two minors. Refer to the next question or our programs page for details.

• 20-credit Honours: For students interested in pursuing graduate studies, including research-based graduate studies. Includes a 4th-year honours project, which can be research or non-research based. Students planning to pursue research-based graduate studies need to be aware of admission requirements for their desired program(s) and ensure they align their honours project accordingly. This program has a higher threshold of CGPA (cumulative grade point average). Co-Op is available in this program.

• 20-credit Major: For students who wish to maximize their neuroscience education but are not planning on pursuing graduate studies in research. Is identical to the honours stream, but replaces the 4th-year honours project with 1.0 credit in upper year NEUR courses. Co-Op is not available in this program.

• 15-credit Major: For students who want to develop an understanding of neuroscience and mental health in a shorter time-frame. Ideal for those already in a job that requires a BSc in order to advance. Can be completed in three years with full course load. Does not include Data Analysis courses, 4000-level courses, or a 4th-year honours project. Co-Op is not available in this program.

Current students can access exclusive resources in the Brightspace Neuro Hub. Prospective students can refer to the following course layouts:

• Neuroscience & Mental Health
• Neuroscience & Biology

These course layouts usually represent a 2.5-credit course load for students that do not have any transfer credits. If you wish to take a reduced course load or have transfer credits, be sure to contact the Undergraduate Administrator for advising.

If you are in a degree program other than a B.Sc. (i.e., B.A., B.P.A., B. Eng., B.S.W., B. Cog Sci), you will have to submit an Internal Admissions Application.

If you are currently in a B.Sc. program and wish to change your major (i.e., Biology, Chemistry, Earth Science, Food Science and Nutrition, etc.), you will need to request a Change of Program Elements in Carleton Central. This ‘change of program elements’ is also used to add a minor.

The Academic Advising Centre can assist in providing a general overview of some program majors or minors. More info available here. Once you have a specific program or minor in mind, consult with the major or minor’s Undergraduate Administrator/Advisor to ensure you’re aware of remaining course requirements and pathways to graduation.

The department cannot provide in depth advising for medical school as things vary greatly from program to program. Therefore, it is best to review admission requirements and speak directly to program advisors for programs of interest.

It’s worth noting that our Neuroscience & Biology Combined Honours is the only program that will grant you direct access to Cell Biochemistry with a lab, Organic Chemistry with a lab, and the upper-year anatomy and physiology courses. There are some medical schools that require these as prerequisites for admission, so keep that in mind. Depending on the year, it may be possible to take these courses as part of the Neuroscience & Mental Health program, but there’s no guarantee you’ll be able to register in them.

Carleton’s Science Student Success Centre offers support for students wishing to pursue medical school:

• Online resources
• Team of health care mentors
• Related events

Career Services also provides an overview of further education. See Professional Programs in Ontario and Canada here.

Application Basics:

• A/A+ GPA (11/12). Some programs look at all your grades, some look at specific ones.
• Some require MCAT, others do not.
• Some require full course load and no gaps in study, others do not.
• Research experience not necessary, but depends on institution/program.
• Letters of reference – typically three academic (professor) and something that speaks to clinical experience.
• Referee must be able to comment on multiple aspects of your character/abilities; you need a good story to tell.

Who gets in to medical school?

• High achieving, high energy students.
• Typically nothing below an A on academic record, but again it depends on the program.
• Repeating courses does not seem to bode well in general.
• Often requires balancing full course load plus many volunteer positions; often also varsity athletes or have demonstrated proficiency in another realm (e.g., music, dance, activism).
• Resiliency is necessary. They want students who can handle a great deal of stress and still maintain their activity and academic performance level.

Research-based graduate programs tend to be quite competitive. A successful applicant typically has around a 10.0 GPA or above on their last two years of study, factoring in core content in 3000-level and 4000-level courses. GPA requirements for admission purposes varies from program to program, so it’s best to get this information directly by reviewing admission requirements and speaking to program advisors for programs of interest.

Aside from whether or not one qualifies on paper, admission decisions are also based on letters of reference and laboratory/work experience. The main component of getting into graduate school is securing a potential supervisor.

There are also course-based graduate programs and professional degrees for people who do not want to pursue research. Carleton Neuro students are encouraged to browse the detailed information and resources in the Neuro Hub on Brightspace and then reach out for advising.