Ph.D. in Biosciences

The educational objective of the doctoral program in Bioscience is to prepare students for research in the field of Biological Sciences. Students in the PhD in Bioscience program work under the mentorship of faculty conducting research in the following areas:
- mechanisms and interventions of infectious diseases
- mechanisms and interventions of cancer
- mechanisms and interventions of neurological disorders
- mechanisms and interventions of metabolic disorders
- toxicology of environmental and synthetic pollutants
- carcinogenic effects of pollutants and manufactured chemicals
- brain development and function
- genetics and developmental biology
- immunology
- microbiology and biochemistry
Admission Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution in the United States or proof of equivalent education in a foreign institution with:
a. Two semesters of Organic Chemistry with lab.
b. One semester of Calculus.
c. Coursework in Physiology, Microbiology, Cell Biology, Biochemistry, and Genetics. - Competitive scores in the Verbal, Quantitative, and Analytical Writing components of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE).
- Personal statement of research and professional interests.
- Three letters of recommendation indicating endorsement of the applicant for doctoral study.
- Competitive TOEFL score for international applicants whose first language is not English or who have not completed a university degree in the U.S. or at an English-speaking institution. Successful candidates typically have scores above 550.
Degree Requirements
With departmental approval, students entering the program with a master’s degree can count up to 24 semester hours of graduate coursework towards advanced standing in the PhD degree. Students with deficiencies in Biochemistry, Cell Biology, Microbiology, Physiology, Genetics, Ecology, or Evolutionary Theory will be required to take additional course work to remove the deficiencies.
Admission to Candidacy
The student must pass a qualifying oral examination to advance to candidacy for the doctorate. This exam is designed to assess the candidate's knowledge and understanding of the material covered in the core courses as well as the candidate's ability to rationally discuss the design, implementation, and analysis of a research problem of the student's and the committee's choosing. The Preliminary Examination Committee will determine whether the student displays sufficient breadth of knowledge and understanding of basic principles to undertake original research.
Dissertation
A dissertation demonstrating both the ability to do original independent research and competence in scholarly exposition will be required of all students. The dissertation must present original research and should provide the basis for one or more publishable contributions to the research literature. The dissertation will be supervised by the Dissertation Advisor, in consultation with a Dissertation Committee consisting of at least three additional members, at least one of whom must be a graduate faculty member from outside the Department of Biological Sciences. The candidate will present a dissertation proposal for approval by the Dissertation Committee.
Final Oral Examination
Upon completion of the dissertation, the student must defend, in public, his or her work. The Dissertation Committee will be responsible for administering the final public oral defense and will have the responsibility of determining whether the written dissertation and its oral presentation and defense are acceptable.
Degree Plan
Required Credits: 63
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
PhD in Biosciences (All courses require a grade of C or better) | ||
Required Courses: | ||
BIOL 5130 | Seminar (Complete three semesters) | 3 |
BIOL 5131 | Ethical, Soc/Pol Dimensions | 1 |
BIOL 6309 | Advanced Scientific Writing | 3 |
BIOL 5328 | Biostatistics | 3 |
BIOL 6310 | Adv Research Techniques | 3 |
Menu Electives: | ||
Select two courses from the following: | 6 | |
Select Adv Topics Biol Science | ||
Advances Immunological Concept | ||
Structure/Funct Macromolecules | ||
Basic Principles of Toxicology | ||
Gene Regulation | ||
Physiological Regulatory Mech | ||
Free Electives: | ||
Select nine hours from the following: | 9 | |
Select Adv Topics Biol Science | ||
Rsrch Funding & Prof Developmt | ||
Neurobiology of Brain Diseases | ||
Advances Immunological Concept | ||
Physiology of Bacterial Cell | ||
Cancer Biology | ||
Structure/Funct Macromolecules | ||
Molecular Pathogenesis | ||
Intro Bio I:Basic Seq. Comp. | ||
Intro Bio II: Gene Find/Compar | ||
Basic Principles of Toxicology | ||
Developmental Neurobiology | ||
Gene Regulation | ||
Physiological Regulatory Mech | ||
Cell Physiology | ||
Rsrch Funding & Prof Developmt | ||
Neurobiology of Brain Diseases | ||
Molecular Parasitology | ||
Other courses per the Dissertation Committee approval | ||
(e.g. EEB courses and courses offered by other departments or colleges) | ||
Doctoral Research: | ||
Dissertation Research | 29 | |
Independent Research | ||
Independent Research | ||
Independent Research | ||
Independent Research | ||
Independent Research | ||
Independent Research | ||
Dissertation: | ||
BIOL 6398 & BIOL 6399 | Dissertation and Dissertation | 6 |
Total Hours | 63 |