ADMINISTRATIVE COMMITTEE
Dr. Rita Anderson (Psychology)
Dr. Joseph Brown (OSC/Biology) - Co-Chair
Dr. Pingquo He (Fisheries and Marine Institute)
Dr. Roy Knoechel (Biology)
Dr. Edward Miller (Biology)
Dr. Anne Storey (Psychology) - Co-Chair
Dr. Ian Warkentin (SWGC)
A) PROGRAM
1. The Biopsychology Program focuses on interdisciplinary behavioural research. Research orientations integrate mechanistic, developmental, evolutionary and ecological perspectives through molecular, individual and population levels of analysis. The Biopsychology Group consists of faculty from the Departments of Biology, Biochemistry, Psychology and the Ocean Sciences Centre, a graduate student and the Heads of Biology and Psychology in ex- officio capacities. The Departments of Biology and Psychology jointly offer the Master of Science and the Doctor of Philosophy programmes in Biopsychology.
2. The Biopsychology Committee is responsible for the program. Committee members are appointed by the Dean of
Graduate Studies, on the recommendation of the Chair of the Committee and of the Heads of Biology and Psychology. The
Committee Chair is elected by the committee members and appointed by the Dean of Graduate Studies. The Committee
makes recommendations to the Dean of Graduate Studies concerning admissions and academic requirements. In
consultation with supervisors, recommendations are made concerning course programmes, financial support, thesis
committees, comprehensive and thesis topics and examiners, students' annual progress. Upon program completion, the
Committee certifies that all requirements for the appropriate degree have been met. The department of the supervisor
ensures that adequate facilities are provided for each candidate and includes Biopsychology students in consideration for
teaching assistantships.
B) REGULATIONS - DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY
1. There are no required courses for the doctoral program. However, the Doctoral Seminar (Biopsychology 6992) and/or other courses tailored for individual students may be included in the student's program by the Dean of Graduate Studies on the recommendation of the Chair of the Committee.
2. The comprehensive examination should be taken during the first year of the program. An Examination Committee will
be struck in accordance with General Regulations. At least one member of the Department of Biology and of the
Department of Psychology (other than the Supervisor) must be on the Examination Committee. The candidate's Supervisor
will be on the Examination Committee and will be the only examiner from the candidate's Thesis Supervisory Committee.
The Head of the Department of the Supervisor or his/her delegate is invited to serve on the Comprehensive Examination
Committee. The Examination Committee is chaired by the Chair of the Biopsychology Committee. The examination will
include a comprehensive, integrative review paper on a research topic in Animal Behaviour. The review topic is assigned
by the Examination Committee, which also determines the submission date for the paper, and the date of the examination.
Normally, the student will write the paper in four months, and the oral examination will occur within six weeks of the
paper's submission. This paper will form the basis of a public seminar of approximately 50 minutes. The Examination
Committee will question the candidate about the paper, the topic and its broader relationship with Behavioural Biology and
Ecology.
C) COURSES
Biopsychology 6992. Doctoral Seminar in Biopsychology
Biopsychology 6240-49. Special Topics
Biopsychology 7000. Field and Lab Methods in Animal Behaviour and Behavioural Ecology
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