Biological Sciences
Major: Biological Sciences
Degree Awarded: Master of Science (MS) or Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Calendar Type: Quarter
Total Credit Hours: 45.0 (MS) or 90.0 (post-bachelor's) or 45.0 (post-master's)
Co-op Option: Available for full-time, on-campus master's-level students
Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) code: 26.0101
Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code: 19-1029
About the Program
The Department of Biology offers graduate programs in biological sciences leading to the Doctor of Philosophy degree and to the thesis or non-thesis Master of Science degree. The curricula and research programs are designed to help students achieve success in their degree programs and 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.
Additional Information
For more information, contact the Department of Biology at 215-895-2624.
Degree Requirements (MS)
Soon after matriculation, the student completes a plan of study with the advisor outlining their specific program. Both thesis and non-thesis options are available. Conducting formal research necessary for the thesis is dependent upon the student finding a faculty member whom will serve as their faculty advisor and supervise a mutually agreed upon research project.
Students registering for an MS with graduate co-op will gain 6 months of work experience in the summer/fall term (year 1/year 2). The Steinbright Career Development Center will provide students with an overview of professionalism, resume writing, and the job search process. Students will not earn academic credit for the co-op but will earn 9.0 non-academic co-op units per term.
Students wishing to pursue PhD candidacy are encouraged to elect the MS with thesis. After all other requirements are completed, the research MS student defends the thesis at a final oral examination.
Program Requirements
Requirements for the MS Curriculum with Thesis | ||
BIO 500 | Biochemistry I | 3.0 |
BIO 632 | Advanced Cell Biology | 3.0 |
BIO 635 | Advanced Genetics and Molecular Biology | 3.0 |
BIO 997 | Research in Bioscience | 12.0 |
ENVS 506 | Biostatistics | 3.0 |
Bioscience electives | 21.0 | |
RCRG 600 | An Introduction to the Responsible Conduct of Research | 0.0 |
Total Credits | 45.0 |
Requirements for the Non-Thesis MS with Graduate Co-op | ||
BIO 500 | Biochemistry I | 3.0 |
BIO 632 | Advanced Cell Biology | 3.0 |
BIO 635 | Advanced Genetics and Molecular Biology | 3.0 |
COOP 500 | Career Management and Professional Development for Master's Degree Students | 1.0 |
ENVS 506 | Biostatistics | 3.0 |
Bioscience electives* | 32.0 | |
Total Credits | 45.0 |
Requirements for the Non-thesis MS Curriculum | ||
BIO 500 | Biochemistry I | 3.0 |
BIO 632 | Advanced Cell Biology | 3.0 |
BIO 635 | Advanced Genetics and Molecular Biology | 3.0 |
ENVS 506 | Biostatistics | 3.0 |
Bioscience electives * | 33.0 | |
Total Credits | 45.0 |
* | Non-thesis students may elect to take up to 4.0 credits of BIO 997 Research in Bioscience. |
Bioscience Electives Include: | ||
BIO 534 | Bioinformatics I | 3.0 |
BIO 535 | Bioinformatics II | 3.0 |
BIO 610 | Biochemistry of Metabolism | 3.0 |
BIO 613 | Genomics | 3.0 |
BIO 614 | Behavioral Genetics | 3.0 |
BIO 615 | Proteins | 3.0 |
BIO 616 | Biochemistry of Major Diseases | 3.0 |
BIO 620 | Biomembranes | 3.0 |
BIO 630 | Cell Biology of Disease | 3.0 |
BIO 644 | Human Genetics | 3.0 |
BIO 646 | Stem Cell Research | 3.0 |
BIO 650 | Virology | 3.0 |
BIO 661 | Neurobiology of Autism Disorders | 3.0 |
BIO 662 | Biology of Neuron Function | 3.0 |
BIO 663 | Molecular Mechanisms of Neurodegeneration | 3.0 |
BIO 664 | Neurobiology of Disease | 3.0 |
BIO 701 | Bioscience Grant Writing | 3.0 |
BIO 740 | Readings and Critical Thinking in Biology | 3.0 |
Degree Requirements (PhD)
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 order to complete the PhD program in Biological Sciences:
- 90.0 (post-bac) or 45.0 (post-MS) credit hours total
- Establishing a plan of study
- 7 core courses
- Additional courses dependent on advisor or committee recommendations
- 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.
Thesis Advisor/Plan of Study
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 winter quarter. It is anticipated that the graduate coursework will be completed during the first two years or less. Students should check with the department for a list of available electives.
Program Requirements
Cell Molecular Genetics Track | ||
Core Requirement Courses | ||
BIO 701 | Bioscience Grant Writing | 3.0 |
BIO 740 | Readings and Critical Thinking in Biology | 3.0 |
RCRG 600 | An Introduction to the Responsible Conduct of Research | 0.0 |
Distribution Required Courses: Must take all 3 | ||
BIO 500 | Biochemistry I | 3.0 |
BIO 632 | Advanced Cell Biology | 3.0 |
BIO 635 | Advanced Genetics and Molecular Biology | 3.0 |
Statistics Requirement Course | ||
ENVS 506 | Biostatistics * | 3.0 |
Required Elective Courses: Must take 1 ** | 3.0 | |
Research and Research Seminars *** | 69.0 | |
Graduate Research Seminar | ||
Research in Bioscience | ||
Total Credits | 90.0 |
* | Or approved substitute course. |
** | Any BIO 500+ course or approved graduate level course not otherwise taken as part of degree requirements |
*** | BIO 864 and BIO 997 are taken multiple times to reach 90.0 credits. |
Ecology Evolution Track | ||
Core Requirement Courses | ||
BIO 701 | Bioscience Grant Writing | 3.0 |
BIO 740 | Readings and Critical Thinking in Biology | 3.0 |
RCRG 600 | An Introduction to the Responsible Conduct of Research | 0.0 |
Distribution Required Courses: Must take 2 | 6.0-7.0 | |
Population Genetics * | ||
Molecular Ecology * | ||
Conservation Biology | ||
Statistics Requirement Course | ||
ENVS 506 | Biostatistics ** | 3.0 |
Required Elective Courses: Must take 2 *** | 6.0 | |
Research and Research Seminars † | 69.0 | |
Graduate Research Seminar | ||
Research in Bioscience | ||
Total Credits | 90.0-91.0 |
* | Offered every other year. |
** | Or approved substitute course. |
*** | Any BIO 500+ course or approved graduate level course not otherwise taken as part of degree requirements |
† | BIO 864 and BIO 997 are taken multiple times to reach 90.0 credits. |
Sample Plan of Study (MS)
Thesis - MS Sample Plan of Study
First Year | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Fall | Credits | Winter | Credits | Spring | Credits | Summer | Credits |
BIO 500 | 3.0 | BIO 635 | 3.0 | BIO 632 | 3.0 | VACATION | |
Bioscience electives | 6.0 | BIO 997 (OR Bioscience Electives) | 6.0 | ENVS 506 | 3.0 | ||
RCRG 600 | 0.0 | Bioscience elective or Research | 3.0 | ||||
9 | 9 | 9 | 0 | ||||
Second Year | |||||||
Fall | Credits | Winter | Credits | ||||
BIO 997 | 3.0 | BIO 997 | 3.0 | ||||
Bioscience electives | 6.0 | Bioscience electives | 6.0 | ||||
9 | 9 | ||||||
Total Credits 45 |
Non-Thesis with Graduate Co-op - MS Sample Plan of Study
First Year | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Fall | Credits | Winter | Credits | Spring | Credits | Summer | Credits |
BIO 500 | 3.0 | BIO 635 | 3.0 | BIO 632 | 3.0 | COOP EXPERIENCE | |
COOP 500 | 1.0 | Bioscience electives | 6.0 | ENVS 506 | 3.0 | ||
Bioscience electives | 6.0 | Bioscience elective | 3.0 | ||||
10 | 9 | 9 | 0 | ||||
Second Year | |||||||
Fall | Credits | Winter | Credits | Spring | Credits | ||
COOP EXPERIENCE | Bioscience electives | 9.0 | Bioscience electives | 8.0 | |||
0 | 9 | 8 | |||||
Total Credits 45 |
Non-Thesis - MS Sample Plan of Study
First Year | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Fall | Credits | Winter | Credits | Spring | Credits | Summer | Credits |
BIO 500 | 3.0 | BIO 635 | 3.0 | BIO 632 | 3.0 | VACATION | |
Bioscience electives | 6.0 | Bioscience electives | 6.0 | ENVS 506 | 3.0 | ||
Bioscience elective | 3.0 | ||||||
9 | 9 | 9 | 0 | ||||
Second Year | |||||||
Fall | Credits | Winter | Credits | ||||
Bioscience electives | 9.0 | Bioscience electives | 9.0 | ||||
9 | 9 | ||||||
Total Credits 45 |
Sample Plan of Study (PhD)
Cell Molecular Genetics Track
First Year | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Fall | Credits | Winter | Credits | Spring | Credits | Summer | Credits |
BIO 500 | 3.0 | BIO 635 | 3.0 | BIO 632 | 3.0 | VACATION | |
BIO 740 | 3.0 | BIO 864 | 1.5 | BIO 864 | 1.5 | ||
BIO 864 | 1.5 | BIO 997 | 4.5 | BIO 997 | 1.5 | ||
BIO 997 | 1.5 | RCRG 600 | 0.0 | ENVS 506* | 3.0 | ||
9 | 9 | 9 | 0 | ||||
Second Year | |||||||
Fall | Credits | Winter | Credits | Spring | Credits | Summer | Credits |
BIO 701 | 3.0 | BIO 864 | 1.5 | BIO 864 | 1.5 | VACATION | |
BIO 864 | 1.5 | BIO 997 | 4.5 | BIO 997 | 7.5 | ||
BIO 997 | 4.5 | Required Biology Elective | 3.0 | ||||
9 | 9 | 9 | 0 | ||||
Third Year | |||||||
Fall | Credits | Winter | Credits | Spring | Credits | Summer | Credits |
BIO 864 | 1.5 | BIO 864 | 1.5 | BIO 864 | 1.5 | VACATION | |
BIO 997 | 7.5 | BIO 997 | 7.5 | BIO 997 | 7.5 | ||
9 | 9 | 9 | 0 | ||||
Fourth Year | |||||||
Fall | Credits | ||||||
BIO 864 | 1.5 | ||||||
BIO 997 | 7.5 | ||||||
9 | |||||||
Total Credits 90 |
* | or approved substitution |
Ecology Evolution Track
First Year | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Fall | Credits | Winter | Credits | Spring | Credits | Summer | Credits |
BIO 740 | 3.0 | BIO 864 | 1.5 | BIO 864 | 1.5 | VACATION | |
BIO 864 | 1.5 | BIO 997 | 4.5 | BIO 997 | 1.5 | ||
BIO 997 | 1.5 | RCRG 600 | 0.0 | ENVS 506* | 3.0 | ||
Distribution Required Course | 3.0 | Distribution Required Course | 3.0 | Required Biology Elective | 3.0 | ||
9 | 9 | 9 | 0 | ||||
Second Year | |||||||
Fall | Credits | Winter | Credits | Spring | Credits | Summer | Credits |
BIO 701 | 3.0 | BIO 864 | 1.5 | BIO 864 | 1.5 | VACATION | |
BIO 864 | 1.5 | BIO 997 | 4.5 | BIO 997 | 7.5 | ||
BIO 997 | 4.5 | Required Biology Elective | 3.0 | ||||
9 | 9 | 9 | 0 | ||||
Third Year | |||||||
Fall | Credits | Winter | Credits | Spring | Credits | Summer | Credits |
BIO 864 | 1.5 | BIO 864 | 1.5 | BIO 864 | 1.5 | VACATION | |
BIO 997 | 7.5 | BIO 997 | 7.5 | BIO 997 | 7.5 | ||
9 | 9 | 9 | 0 | ||||
Fourth Year | |||||||
Fall | Credits | ||||||
BIO 864 | 1.5 | ||||||
BIO 997 | 7.5 | ||||||
9 | |||||||
Total Credits 90 |
* | or approved substitution |