Biological Sciences PhD
Degree Awarded: Doctor of Philosophy (PHD)
Minimum Required Credits: 88
Co-op Option: None
Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) code: 26.0101
Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code: 19-1029
About the Program
The Department of Biology offers a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) program in Biological Sciences. Through rigorous coursework and immersive research experiences, the program prepares students to contribute new knowledge to the biological sciences and develop the skills necessary to pursue positions of leadership in their respective fields of research. The intellectual life of the department relies heavily on the participation, creativity, and the energy of graduate students; therefore, the department expects students to be vigorously involved in courses, seminars, journal clubs, research, informal discussions, and departmental functions.
Key advantages of the program include a flexible core curriculum with opportunities to pursue a wide range of electives, support for career preparation and professional development, significant faculty expertise in effective pedagogical strategies that support student learning, and a strong and supportive department with diverse faculty research expertise.
The Doctor of Philosophy in Biological Sciences is conferred in recognition of breadth of scholarship and scientific attainment plus demonstrated ability to complete original research.
Additional Information
For additional information, please contact the College of Arts and Sciences
Degree Requirements
The Doctor of Philosophy in Biological Sciences is conferred in recognition of breadth of scholarship and scientific attainment plus demonstrated ability to complete original research.
The following general requirements must be satisfied, in addition to the courses listed below, in order to complete the PhD program in Biological Sciences:
- Establishing a plan of study
- Candidacy exam/approval of dissertation proposal
- Dissertation/thesis
- Defense of dissertation/thesis
- A graduate research seminar presentation once a year for students in their third year and beyond
For students admitted without an identified thesis advisor, the thesis advisor must be selected by the end of spring term in the first year. All students are asked to submit a plan of study by the end of the first year. It is anticipated that the graduate coursework will be completed during the first two years or less.
| Core Elective Courses | ||
| Required Courses | ||
| BIO 5001 | Introduction to Research in Biology | 3.0 |
| BIO 6001 | Communication in Biology | 3.0 |
| Required Seminar | ||
| This course is taken ten times: | 10.0 | |
| Biological Sciences Seminar | ||
| Core Elective Courses | ||
| Select two (2) of the following courses or an approved substitute course: | 6.0 | |
| Advanced Cell Biology | ||
| Advanced Genetics and Molecular Biology | ||
| Molecular Ecology | ||
| Population Genetics | ||
| Elective Courses | ||
| Select two (2) of the following courses or an approved substitute: | 6.0 | |
| Microbial Pathogenesis | ||
| Bioinformatics | ||
| Stem Cell Research | ||
| Neuroscience: From Cells to Circuits | ||
| Behavioral Neuroscience | ||
| Developmental Biology | ||
| Advanced Biochemistry | ||
| Genomics | ||
| Virology | ||
| Immunology | ||
| Cell Biology of Disease | ||
| Human Genetics | ||
| Neurobiology of Autism Disorders | ||
| Biology of Neuron Function | ||
| Molecular Mechanisms of Neurodegeneration | ||
| Neurobiology of Disease | ||
| Research and Dissertation | ||
| Students must take this course every term until the qualifying exam: | 18.0 | |
| Research in Biological Sciences | ||
| After qualifying exam, students must take this dissertation to fulfill degree requirements: | 42.0-48.0 | |
| PhD Dissertation in Biological Sciences | ||
| Total Credits | 88.0-94.0 | |