Biological Sciences, Ph.D.

Program Overview

The Department of Biological Sciences offers graduate programs leading to the Master of Science (M.S.) degree in Biology and the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree in Biological Science. Both curricula are designed to prepare scholars for the pursuit of research careers in academia, government, and industry, and to improve the level of competency of high school, college, and university teachers. The Department offers a graduate minor in Biology as a subject field for graduate students seeking advanced degrees in teaching (M.S., M.Ed., or Ed.D.). A minor consists of twelve semester hours of graduate courses approved by the advisor in the major program.

Program Outcomes

The outcomes of this program is to train scientists in biological research who will be highly competent to teach in higher education and who can work in industry and with other biologists, biochemists, engineers, agricultural scientists, and others to develop solutions to problems that have an impact on our quality of life. The graduate program in Biological Sciences aims to cultivate the next generation of scientists, educators, and leaders by providing rigorous academic training, hands-on research experience, and robust professional development. Our graduates are expected to leave the program not only with advanced biological expertise but also with the skills and confidence to apply their knowledge to address real-world challenges.

Upon completion of the graduate program, students are expected to:

1. Demonstrate mastery of core biological concepts and specialized knowledge in their chosen area of research emphasis.
2. Formulate clear, testable scientific hypotheses.
3. Design and execute experiments or studies using appropriate techniques, technologies, and analytical methods.
4. Effectively communicate scientific ideas, research findings, and interpretations in both written (thesis, dissertation, publications) and oral (seminars, conferences, teaching) formats.
5. Critically analyze scientific literature and data.
6. Demonstrate a commitment to ethical research practices, including data integrity, responsible authorship, and adherence to regulatory standards for research involving human or animal subjects.
7. Exhibit preparedness for employment or further training in academic, research, or professional settings.
8. Demonstrate competencies in grant preparation, and, where applicable, pedagogical techniques for classroom or laboratory instruction.

Admission Requirements

Applicants are required to have accumulated a minimum of 24 acceptable semester hours in biology plus a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited four-year college or university with a GPA of 3.0 or higher and have taken the following courses: Cell Biology, General Biology, Genetics, Biochemistry, Pre-Calculus or higher, Physics, and Statistics. Applicants to the Ph.D. program must submit a completed application form, a personal statement describing interest in the program and professional goals, and three letters of recommendation from people familiar with the applicant’s academic work, especially in Biology. The Departmental admissions committee will base admission on these materials and interviews with selected applicants.

Important Dates

There is no priority deadline. Admission is done by a rolling deadline, and all documents must be submitted by July 1st for the FALL semester, and December 1st for the SPRING and SUMMER semesters.

Transfer of Credits

• Students entering the Ph.D. program may have a maximum of 30 applicable credit hours transferred as determined by the Advisory Committee.

Degree Requirements

Degree candidates must complete 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. Students may have a “C” grade in no more than two courses (6 credit hours), neither of which can be a core course. “D” or “F” grades are NOT acceptable. A student who receives a grade of “C” in excess of six credit hours must repeat this course and achieve at least a “B”. 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 7010, 7020), complete a dissertation (24 hours), and successfully defend the dissertation prior to gaining the Ph.D. degree.  (Please refer to Biological Sciences Graduate Student Handbook for specific dissertation requirements.) A student entering with a master’s degree may have a maximum of 30 applicable credit hours transferred toward the Ph.D. program, as determined by the Advisory Committee. A minimum of 76 credit hours are required.

​Accreditation Information

Career Opportunities

Completing a Minor in Biology or Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree in Biological Sciences opens the door to a wide range of fulfilling career opportunities. Our graduates are well-prepared for advanced research positions in academia, government, and industry, as well as teaching roles at colleges and universities. Many go on to impactful careers in biomedical research, biotechnology, pharmaceutical development, environmental conservation, agriculture, public health, and science policy.

Beyond specific job titles, earning an advanced degree provides critical benefits, including enhanced expertise in experimental design, data analysis, and scientific communication, as well as opportunities for leadership, grant writing, and interdisciplinary collaboration. Graduate training also strengthens critical thinking and problem-solving skills, making our alumni competitive in both research-focused and alternative science careers such as science communication, patent law, regulatory affairs, and consulting.

Overall, a graduate degree from our department not only deepens scientific knowledge but also amplifies professional versatility, positioning our students to make meaningful contributions to science and society.

Faculty Credentials

• GRADUATE FACULTY
  • Dr. Kimberly Cooney , Assistant Professor, B.S., 2011, University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff; Ph.D., 2018, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
  • Dr. Dafeng Hui , Professor, B.S., 1989, Yangzhou University; M.S., 1994, Yangzhou University-China; Ph.D., 2002, University of Oklahoma
  • Dr.  Michael Ivy , Professor, B.A., 1978, Southern Illinois University; Ph.D., 1986, University of Illinois at Chicago
  • Dr. Ho-Jin Koh , Associate Professor, B.S., 1995, Kyungpook National University; M.S., 1997, Kyungpook National University; Ph.D., 2002, Kyungpook National University
  • Dr. Elaine Martin , Professor, B.S. 1981, University of Montevallo; M.Ed., 1985, University of Montevallo; Ph.D., 1990, University of Alabama
  • Dr. Monique McCallister , Assistant Professor, B.S., 2003, Tennessee State University; M.S., 2005, Tennessee State University; Ph.D., 2012, Meharry Medical College
  • Dr. Joshua O’Hair, Assistant Professor, B.S., 2011, University of Central Florida; M.S., 2014, Tennessee State University; Ph.D., 2018, Tennessee State University
  • Dr. Quincy Quick , Associate Professor, B.S., 1994, Ferrum College; M.S., Virginia State University; Ph.D., 2002, New Mexico State University
  • Dr. John T. Robinson, Jr. , Professor, B.S., 1985, North Carolina Central University; Ph.D., 1993, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill
  • Dr. Sarika Saraswati , Assistant Professor, B.S., 1993, University of Allahabad; M.S., 1995, University of Allahabad; Ph.D., 2008, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
  • Dr. Venkataswarup Tiriveedhi , Associate Professor, M.B.B.S./M.D., 2002, Osmania Medical College; M.B.A., 2018, Tennessee State University; Ph.D., 2007, The University of Southern Mississippi  
  • Dr.  Xiaofei Wang , Professor, B.S., 1983, Sichuan University; M.S.,1987, Sichuan University; Ph.D., 1999, The University of Hong Kong
  • Dr. Artenzia  Young-Seigler , Professor, B.S., 1990, Paul Quinn College; M.S., 2020, Tennessee State University; PhD., 1998, Meharry Medical College

Program Website​

• https://www.tnstate.edu/biology/biologygraduateprograms.aspx  

Program Coordinator/Contact Information

• Dr. Joshua Ohair, Graduate Program Director, johair@tnstate.edu; (615)963-5748
• Dr. Michael Ivy, Graduate Program Advisor, mivy@tnstate.edu; (615)963-7796

Program of Study and Credit Hours Required

Program of Study

• Degree candidates must file a program of study after completing at least nine semester hours of graduate credit, but before completing fifteen hours of graduate credit. The program lists the courses which will be used to satisfy degree requirements, and details 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.
• The student’s primary advisor (M.S. Non-Thesis Option) or advisory committee (M.S. Thesis Option and Ph.D.)  will recommend and approve a program of study which must be filed in the School of Graduate Studies upon admission to candidacy.

Admission to Candidacy: Ph.D. Program

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