This program strives to educate students in the rapidly growing interdisciplinary field of neuroscience. Our goal is to understand brain function at the molecular, cellular, behavioural and cognitive levels. The University of Windsor BCN (Behaviour, Cognition and Neuroscience) program began 20 years ago and now includes approximately 30 faculty members from diverse University departments, including Psychology, Integrative Biology, Biomedical Sciences, Chemistry and Biochemistry and the Faculty of Human Kinetics. Each BCN faculty member contributes to the study of Neuroscience through approaches that include biochemistry, physiology, genetics, cellular and molecular biology, quantitative animal behaviour and quantitative cognitive psychology. Students are encouraged to join a research lab during their first or second year of study, and to contribute to research throughout their years as undergrad BCN students. The program is a blend of psychology, integrative biology and biomedical biology, chemistry courses, as well as several courses specifically dedicated to the study of behaviour, cognition and neuroscience. During their third and fourth year of study, courses related to BCN topics within the Human Kinetics faculty are open to BCN students as well. Students who graduate from the BCN program often continue their education in graduate programs in various fields such as neuroscience, psychology, health related disciplines; environment, evolution, ecology or animal or in various professional programs.
The BCN labs also participate in the Neuroscience and Behaviour stream of the M.Sc. and Ph.D. graduate program in Biological Sciences. Courses for these graduate students include The Biological Bases of Behaviour, Behavioural Neurobiology, Sensory Ecology, Behaviour and Physiology of Fishes, Neurophysiology , and Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience.
Dr. Barbara Zielinski
Director, BCN Program
zielin1@uwindsor.ca