Biological Sciences, Ph.D.

Admission Requirements: Ph.D. Program

See admission requirements under Ph.D. Program - Department of Biological Sciences  

Program of Study

The degree candidate must file a program of study after completing nine semester hours of graduate work, but before completing fifteen hours of graduate work. The program lists the courses which will be used to satisfy degree requirements, as well as detailing how other requirements will be met. The student may later change the program of study with the written approval of the Department and the Graduate School.

Admission to Candidacy

The student must apply for admission to candidacy after completing the 24-hour core of required courses (See Degree Requirements: Ph.D. Program, below.) With an average of B (3.0) or better, passing the comprehensive examination, and gaining approval of the dissertation proposal.

Degree Requirements

Degree candidates must complete a preliminary qualifying exam, the core of required graduate courses (24 hours) with a grade of B or better in each course, pass the comprehensive examination, and gain approval of their dissertation proposal prior to obtaining admission to candidacy for the doctoral degree.

After gaining admission to candidacy the student must complete an approved curriculum (24 hours minimum of electives set by the student’s research advisory committee), enroll in Graduate Seminar (BIOL 5010 , BIOL 5020 ) or the Seminar in Biology every semester (BIOL 7010 , BIOL 7020 ), complete a dissertation (24 hours), and successfully defend the dissertation prior to gaining the Ph.D. degree.