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Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy degrees are offered in the fields of ecology, genetics and molecular biology, microbiology, neurobiology, and physiology-anatomy. Admission to the graduate program in biological sciences requires demonstrated academic excellence and the following (or the equivalent): three years of biological sciences (two years for students with undergraduate majors in other than the life sciences); one year of mathematics, preferably to include calculus and/or statistics; one year of college physics; one year of inorganic chemistry; and one course in organic chemistry. Any deficiency in undergraduate training must be made up (without graduate credit) during the first year of graduate study.
The Department of Biological Sciences has modern well-equipped laboratories
for research and teaching in physiology, microbiology, the neurosciences,
ecology, genetics, and developmental, organismic, cellular, and molecular
biology. Facilities include electronic instrumentation, ultra-centrifuges,
liquid scintillation and gamma spectrometers, fluorescent microscopes and
spectrophotometers, constant temperature rooms and growth chambers, extensive
animal research facilities, and scanning and transmission electron microscopes
with attendant equipment. Computer facilities with access to mainframe
sequence analysis and image analysis (IRIS and SUN workstations) are also
available. In addition to Wolf Hall, the Department occupies much of the
McKinly Laboratory Building.
REQUIREMENTS FOR ADMISSION
Admission to the Biological Sciences graduate program is competitive and based upon assessment of an applicant's overall strengths and aptitude to perform well in the chosen area of research interest. Applicants must meet the graduate admission requirements of the department, including a scholastic index of 2.8 overall and 3.0 in the sciences. Graduate Record Examination Aptitude and Advanced Biology Test scores are required. Competitive scores are approximately 550 (Verbal), 650 (Quantitative), 650 (Advanced Biology). Application is made to the University's Office of Graduate Studies. In addition, three letters of recommendation from persons able to judge the applicant's ability to pursue graduate study should be sent to the Chair, Department of Biological Sciences. See also the chapter "Admission Information" in this catalog.
FINANCIAL AID
Financial aid is available to graduate students in the form of assistantships
and fellowships; pertinent information is available from the chair of the
Graduate Admissions Committee. Please also refer to the chapter "Financial
Aid" in this catalog.
REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREES
The Master of Science program requires 24 hours of courses, 6 hours of thesis and successful completion of the preliminary examination, administered after the first year. Primary emphasis is on research that culminates in the thesis. A written research-based thesis and the oral defense of it are required.
For the Ph.D. degree, successful completion of the preliminary and qualifying examinations as well as the presentation and defense of a written research proposal and dissertation are required. The Ph.D. requires 30 credit hours including 9 hours of dissertation. The preliminary examination is administered after two semesters of study and is designed to identify the student's strengths and weaknesses and suitability for further graduate study. The qualifying examination is an in-depth examination of the student's research specialty and is administered after six semesters. Formal courses should be completed as soon as possible to allow time for independent study and research. Experience in the teaching of undergraduates is required of all candidates. It is expected that a significant portion of the dissertation will be suitable for publication.
