HONOURS PROGRAM
(73 credits)
Students enter the Honours program in U2, which is the second year of a three-year degree (students from CEGEP)听听or the third year of a four-year degree (students entering directly from high school).听 Enrolment in Honours in Anatomy & Cell Biology requires a minimum CGPA of 3.2 after all U1 courses have been听completed and听is restricted to a limited number of students, who are chosen based on academic performance and assessment of their level of motivation in their studies.听The program provides selected students with a thorough knowledge of anatomy and cell biology, as well as related biomedical sciences.听听
The full program description can be found in the eCalendar:
Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) - Honours Anatomy and Cell Biology
Be sure to review this information carefully!听 It is your responsibility to ensure that you're meeting the requirements for your program.
The program plan below is recommended听and will allow you to complete the Honours听program in three years.听It may be possible to change the order in which you complete some of your requirements, in consultation with the ACB program advisor.
You can use the ACB Honours Program听form to keep track of your progress during your degree.听Bring or email a copy of your updated form when you go for program advising.
*Current ACB Liberal or Major student interested in changing to the Honours program? Make an appointment with the Undergraduate Program Advisor to discuss this program option!
Students who have decided to complete the ACB honours program: complete the听
ACB Honours Program Application and submit it to: undergradadvisor.acb [at] mcgill.ca.
U1 Required Courses
ANAT 212
Molec Mechanisms of Cell Funct
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Anatomy & Cell Biology: An introductory course describing the biochemistry and molecular biology of selected key functions of animal cells, including: gene expression; mitochondrial production of metabolic energy; cellular communication with the extra-cellular environment; and regulation of cell division.
Offered by: Anatomy and Cell Biology
- Terms
- Instructors
- Maria Vera Ugalde, Dieter Reinhardt, Marc R Fabian, Robert S Kiss, William Pastor
ANAT 261
Intro to Dynamic Histology
4 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Anatomy & Cell Biology: An introduction to light and electron microscopic anatomy in which cell and tissue dynamics will be explored in the principal tissues and organs of the body.
Offered by: Anatomy and Cell Biology
- Fall
- 3 hours lectures, 2 hours laboratory
- Must be taken in U1 by students in Anatomy and Cell Biology programs
- Prerequisite: BIOL 112 or CEGEP equivalent
- Restriction: Open to students in biological sciences and others by special permission
- Terms
- Instructors
- Craig A. Mandato, Carlos R Morales
ANAT 262
Intro Molecular &Cell Biol
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Anatomy & Cell Biology: The architectural, functional and temporal continuity of organelles and the cytoskeleton of mammalian cells is introduced as well as their functional integration in the phenomena of exocytosis, endocytosis, protein trafficking and cell motility and adhesion.
Offered by: Anatomy and Cell Biology
- Winter
- 3 hours lecture
- Corequisites: ANAT 212 or BIOC 212 or BIOL 201
- Restriction: Open to students in biological sciences and others by special permission
- Terms
- Instructors
- John Presley, Ursula Stochaj, Susanne Bechstedt, Khanh Huy Bui
BIOL 200
Molecular Biology
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
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.
Offered by: Biology
- Fall
- 3 hours lecture, 1 hour optional tutorial
- Prerequisite: BIOL 112 or equivalent
- Corequisite: CHEM 212 or equivalent, or CHEM 204
- Terms
- Instructors
- Kenneth E M Hastings, Paul Lasko, Shaun Turney, Rodrigo Reyes Lamothe, Serge Champetier
BIOL 202
Basic Genetics
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Biology (Sci): Introduction to basic principles, and to modern advances, problems and applications in the genetics of higher and lower organisms with examples representative of the biological sciences.
Offered by: Biology
- Winter
- 3 hours lecture, 1 hour optional tutorial per week
- Prerequisite: BIOL 200 or BIOL 219
- Restriction: Not open to students who have taken or are taking LSCI 204 or BIOL 302.
- Terms
- Instructors
- Nam Sung Moon, Laura Nilson, Daniel J Schoen, David Hipfner, Serge Champetier
CHEM 212
Intro Organic Chemistry 1
4 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Chemistry: A fundamental study of aliphatic compounds and saturated functional groups including modern concepts of bonding, reaction mechanisms, conformational analysis, spectroscopy, and stereochemistry.
Offered by: Chemistry
- Fall, Summer
- Prerequisite: CHEM 110 and CHEM 120 or equivalent.
- Restriction: Not open to students registered in Chemistry or Biochemistry. Not open to students who have taken or are taking CHEM 211, CHEM 242, 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 ().
- Terms
- Instructors
- Danielle K Vlaho, Mitchell J Huot, Pallavi Sirjoosingh, Youla S Tsantrizos, Laura Pavelka, Nathan Luedtke
- Danielle K Vlaho, Pallavi Sirjoosingh
PHGY 209
Mammalian Physiology 1
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Physiology: Physiology of body fluids, blood, body defense mechanisms, muscle, peripheral, central, and autonomic nervous systems.
Offered by: Physiology
- Terms
- Instructors
- Melissa A Vollrath, David S Ragsdale, Alvin Shrier, Erik P Cook, C茅line Aguer
PHGY 210
Mammalian Physiology 2
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Physiology: Physiology of cardiovascular, respiratory, digestive, endocrine and renal systems.
Offered by: Physiology
- Terms
- Instructors
- Melissa A Vollrath, Tomoko Takano, Anne-Marie Lauzon, John H White, C茅line Aguer
* Students who have an exemption from CHEM 212 from CEGEP will replace these credits with electives
U2 Required Courses
ANAT 214
Systemic Human Anatomy
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Anatomy & Cell Biology: Introduction to the gross anatomy of the various organ systems of head, neck and trunk regions of the human body. Emphasis on functional anatomy. Laboratory component includes exploration of the human body through cadaveric prosections, imaging and other materials.
Offered by: Anatomy and Cell Biology
- Fall
- 2 hours lectures, 2 hours laboratory
- Prerequisites: BIOL 112 (or CEGEP equivalent), PHGY 209 and PHGY 210
- This course is limited in size, with guaranteed admission for all students enrolled in the Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology. Students in other programs will be permitted to enroll as space allows.
- Terms
- Instructors
- Campbell Rolian, Gabriel Venne
BIOL 301
Cell and Molecular Laboratory
4 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Biology (Sci): An introduction to biology research and communication with a focus on cell and
molecular biology. Through conducting a series of project-based experiments and writing a final report, molecular and synthetic biology techniques such as gene cloning, manipulation, protein isolation and characterization and how
research is conducted, analyzed and communicated will be addressed. In addition, an
introduction to bioinformatics methods and their role in analysis will be provided.
Offered by: Biology
- Fall or Winter
- 1 hour lecture and one 6-hour laboratory
- Prerequisites: BIOL 200, BIOL 201 (or ANAT 212/BIOC 212); or BIOL 219
- Restrictions: Not open to students who have taken or are taking BIOC 300, or BIOC 220 and BIOC 320. Requires departmental approval.
- For approval email maxime.leroux [at] mcgill.ca. Specify your ID number as well as the term and two lab day preferences.
- Terms
- Instructors
- Arnold L Hayer, Maxime Leroux, Paul M Harrison, Huanquan Zheng
- Huanquan Zheng, Maxime Leroux, Paul M Harrison, Arnold L Hayer
CHEM 222
Intro Organic Chemistry 2
4 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Chemistry: Modern spectroscopic techniques for structure determination. The chemistry of alcohols, ethers, carbonyl compounds, and amines, with special attention to mechanistic aspects. Special topics.
Offered by: Chemistry
- Winter, Summer
- Prerequisite: CHEM 212 or CHEM 242 or equivalent.
- Restriction: Not open to Chemistry or Biochemistry students. Not open to students who have taken or are taking CHEM 234 or CHEM252.
- Terms
- Instructors
- Danielle K Vlaho, Mitchell J Huot, Pallavi Sirjoosingh, Nicolas Moitessier, Nathan Luedtke
- Danielle K Vlaho
MIMM 214
Intro Immun: Elem of Immunity
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Microbiology and Immun (Sci): Basic immunology, organs and cells, elements of innate immunity, phagocytes, complement, elements of adaptive immunity, B-cells, T-cells, antigen presenting cells, MHC genes and molecules, antigen processing and presentation, cytokines and chemokines. Emphasis on anatomy and the molecular and cellular players working together as a physiological system to maintain human health.
Offered by: Microbiology & Immunology
One introductory statistics class:
MATH 203
Principles of Statistics 1
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
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).
Offered by: Mathematics and Statistics
- 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.
- Terms
- Fall 2024
- Winter 2025
- Summer 2025
- Instructors
- Jose Andres Correa, David A Stephens
- Alia Sajjad
OR
PSYC 204
Intro to Psychological Stats
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Psychology: The statistical analysis of research data; frequency distributions; graphic representation; measures of central tendency and variability; elementary sampling theory and tests of significance.
Offered by: Psychology
- 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.
- Terms
- Instructors
- Jens Kreitewolf
- Jens Kreitewolf
OR
BIOL 373
Biometry
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Biology (Sci): Elementary statistical methods in biology. Introduction to the analysis of biological data with emphasis on the assumptions behind statistical tests and models. Use of statistical techniques typically available on computer packages.
Offered by: Biology
- Fall
- 2 hours lecture and 2 hours laboratory
- Prerequisite: MATH 112 or equivalent
- 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.
- Terms
- This course is not scheduled for the 2024 academic year
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024 academic year
听
*MIMM 214, CHEM 222 and statistics听can also be completed in U3
**Statistics and CHEM 222 can also be completed during the听Summer semester
*** Students who have an exemption from statistics/CHEM 222听from CEGEP or other advanced standing will replace these credits with electives
U3 Required Course
ANAT 432
Honours Research Project
9 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Anatomy & Cell Biology: Supervised honours research project in biological sciences.
Offered by: Anatomy and Cell Biology
- Prerequisite: BIOL 301
- Restriction: For students in the Honours program.
- Course opened to all Anatomy & Cell Biology students and other BSc students by special permission only.
- Terms
- This course is not scheduled for the 2024 academic year
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024 academic year
* Can also be completed in the Summer semester prior to U3
Complementary Courses
At least 6 credits of Complementary Courses (from either the AAC or BOC lists) must be at the 400-level or above.听
18听credits of Advanced Anatomy Courses (AACs)
Selected听from:
ANAT 314
Human Musculoskeletal Anatomy
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Anatomy & Cell Biology: Introduction to the gross anatomy of the musculoskeletal system (bone, joints, muscles and neurovascular structures) of the head, neck, trunk, upper and lower limb regions of the human body, emphasizing functional anatomy and including surface anatomy and imaging. Exploration of the human body through cadaveric
prosections, imaging and other materials.
Offered by: Anatomy and Cell Biology
- Winter
- Prerequisite: ANAT 214
- Restrictions: Not open to students who have taken or are taking ANAT 315.
- 2 hours lectures, 2 hours laboratory
ANAT 321
Circuitry of the Human Brain
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
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.
Offered by: Anatomy and Cell Biology
ANAT 322
Neuroendocrinology
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Anatomy & Cell Biology: A lecture course describing brain-endocrine relationships. Emphasis on modern experimental evidence and conceptual developments within the field.
Offered by: Anatomy and Cell Biology
- Winter
- 3 hours lecture
- Prerequisite: PHGY 210.
- Terms
- Instructors
- Claire D Walker, Thomas Stroh, Michael Tamilia, Nicolas Cermakian, Daniel Bernard, Maia V Kokoeva, Kai-Florian Storch
ANAT 323
Clinical Neuroanatomy
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Anatomy & Cell Biology: This course will focus on the structural and functional relationships of the central nervous system. The human neuroanatomy will be introduced via pathological cases and will be illustrated by use of new medical imaging techniques.
Offered by: Anatomy and Cell Biology
- Prerequisites for Physical & Occupational Therapy students: ANAT 315 and ANAT 316
- Prerequisites for Honours Anatomy & Cell Biology students: ANAT 214 and ANAT 314.
- Restrictions: Restricted to Honours Anatomy & Cell Biology students and Physical & Occupational Therapy students.
- Not open to students who have taken or are taking ANAT 321.
ANAT 365
Cellular Trafficking
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Anatomy & Cell Biology: This course explores the fundamental mechanisms that govern the organizations of intracellular membranes, how vesicle generation is signaled, how the membranes curve and bud, and how vesicles know where to go and fuse. In addition to intracellular vesicles, the principles of mitochondrial dynamics and process of cellular autophagy are examined. Also, there is a focus on "Applied Cell Biology", with respect to how the exquisite regulation of cellular transport plays a central role in complex biological systems. A series of modules will take students through the mechanisms of cellular polarity, neurotransmission, metabolic cell biology, pathogen invasion, and more. The emphasis is on the morphological aspects of the processes, and on the major techniques that led to discovery.
Offered by: Anatomy and Cell Biology
- Terms
- Instructors
- Natalie Zeytuni, Heidi M McBride, Timothy E Kennedy, Thomas Stroh, John Presley, Wayne Steven Sossin, Jennifer L Estall
ANAT 381
Experimental Embryology
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Anatomy & Cell Biology: The basic processes of reproduction and embryonic development, such as molecular signaling; cell-cell interaction; differentiation; cell fate determination; genetic and epigenetic control of embryonic development.
Offered by: Anatomy and Cell Biology
- Fall
- 3 hour lectures
- Prerequisites: ANAT 261, BIOL 202 or permission of instructor
- Restriction(s): Not open to students who have taken BIOL 303.
- Terms
- Instructors
- Makoto Nagano, Asangla Ao, Aimee Ryan, Hugh Clarke, Jason Tanny
ANAT 416
Dev., Disease and Regeneration
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Anatomy & Cell Biology: Importance of developmental biology for disease and regeneration. Topics: advanced developmental biology principles; molecular basis for stem cells and their potential applications; organogenesis and its applications to various diseases.
Offered by: Anatomy and Cell Biology
- Winter
- 3 hours lecture
- Prerequisite(s): ANAT 381 or BIOL 303 or special permission of instructor
- Terms
- Instructors
- Khanh Huy Bui, Natasha Chang, Frederic Charron, Andrew Bateman, Jun-Li Liu, Peter M Siegel, Michel Cayouette, Christian Rocheleau, Gregor Andelfinger, Luke McCaffrey
ANAT 458
Membranes & Cellular Signaling
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Anatomy & Cell Biology: An integrated treatment of the properties of biological membranes and of intracellular signaling, including the major role that membranes play in transducing and integrating cellular regulatory signals. Biological membrane organization and dynamics; membrane transport; membrane receptors and their associated effectors; mechanisms of regulation of cell growth, morphology, differentiation and death.
Offered by: Anatomy and Cell Biology
- Terms
- Instructors
- Maxime Denis, Chantal Autexier, Nathalie Lamarche, Dieter Reinhardt
ANAT 514
Adv Human Anatomy Laboratory
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Anatomy & Cell Biology: A laboratory course exploring human anatomy education through regionally focused dissection-based projects and applications of technology in anatomy teaching and
learning.
Offered by: Anatomy and Cell Biology
- Prerequisites: ANAT 214 and ANAT 314
- Restrictions: Open to U3 Anatomy & Cell Biology students
- 1 hour lecture, 4 hours laboratory
ANAT 541
Cell & Mol Biology of Aging
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Anatomy & Cell Biology: Complex aging process, including theories and mechanisms of aging, animal model systems used to study aging, age-dependent diseases, for example, Alzheimer's, osteoporosis, and cancer, and age-related diseases, for example, Werner's syndrome and dyskeratosis congenita.
Offered by: Anatomy and Cell Biology
- Terms
- Instructors
- Chantal Autexier, Francois Mercier, Peter M Siegel, Stephanie Lehoux, Lisbet Haglund, Colin Crist, Abigail Gerhold, Maria Vera Ugalde
ANAT 542
TEM of Biological Samples
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Anatomy & Cell Biology: Overview of theory, principles and practical applications of conventional and cryo-transmission electron microscopy relevant to biological samples. Major topics to be covered include: sample preparation and imaging, image analysis, three-dimensional reconstruction (including single-particle analysis an tomography).
Offered by: Anatomy and Cell Biology
- Prerequisite(s): Permission of instructor
- 2 hours lectures, 3 hours laboratory
- Terms
- Instructors
- Natalie Zeytuni, Khanh Huy Bui, Joaquin Ortega, Natalie Reznikov
ANAT 565
Diseases-Membrane Trafficking
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Anatomy & Cell Biology: This course will examine how research into diseases has played a key role in unraveling the intricate molecular mechanisms controlling membrane trafficking in mammalian cells. Membrane trafficking disorders fall into two groups those arising from a) membrane-associated or b) cytoskeletal defect. Topics include a) mechanisms of endosomal maturation, lysosomal storage disorders and rab protein-mediated vesicular trafficking and b) rho GTPase and cytoskeletal binding protein mediated trafficking associated with neurological diseases and cancer.
Offered by: Anatomy and Cell Biology
- Terms
- Instructors
- John Presley, Stephane Lefrancois, Nathalie Lamarche, Tommy Nilsson, Alexei Pshezhetsky
NEUR 310
Cellular Neurobiology
3 Credits
Offered in the:
- Fall
- Winter
- Summer
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.
Offered by: Neurology and Neurosurgery
- Terms
- Instructors
- Jean-Francois Cloutier, David S Ragsdale, Timothy E Kennedy, Alyson Elise Fournier, Wayne Steven Sossin, Edward S Ruthazer, Jerome Fortin
* Only one of ANAT 321 and ANAT 323 may be taken
3 credits of Biologically Oriented Courses (BOCs)
Selected from the approved BOC list in the program description:
Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) - Honours Anatomy and Cell Biology
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