Admission

Students are admitted to the Ph.D. program, although some may be accepted for the M.S. degree. Entering graduate students begin conducting research soon after enrollment, working closely with the faculty. Advanced course work in the area of specialization and related areas supplements the research training. Doctoral students develop the communication skills necessary for effective teaching by serving as teaching assistants for at least two semesters.

The Department encourages applications from students whose career goals are to be biology researchers and/or teachers. Applications are evaluated under a single set of criteria, regardless of degree objective. Ordinarily, applicants should score 1100 on the verbal and quantitative portions of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) general test and have a minimum 3.00 grade-point average as undergraduates, but special circumstances will be considered. Many applicants also take the GRE subject test in biology.

Students admitted to the graduate program in past years have brought with them an average GRE score of 1304 (V+Q) and a 3.53 undergraduate GPA.

New students usually are admitted for the fall semester, although students may be accepted for the spring semester in some cases. Applicants should apply for admission before February 1st for Fall enrollment.

Admissions - Visits

Visits to the department are offered from late February to late March. Applicants may be notified about acceptance and financial support award(s) at any time, but no later than April 1. Offers must be accepted or declined by April 15.

Research Rotation

New Ph.D. graduate students, during the first year of their residency, rotate through three laboratories. New MS graduate students, during the first semester of their first year, rotate through two laboratories. The choice of which laboratories to rotate through is chiefly up to the student, however, available space in the lab, and faculty preference also are factored into the final selection. After the first year (or after the first semester for MS students) the student then decide on the problem they wish to research. The Department expects new students to rotate in order to become familiar with the types of research going on in the department, as well as to meet the people doing the research. If a student has a very good reason not to participate in the research rotation plan, s/he may apply for an exemption from the research rotation by petitioning the Graduate Affairs Committee.

Program

First-year students participate in a rotation program that allows them to work in three research laboratories. After completing the research rotation, the Ph.D. student selects a faculty sponsor who then establishes a dissertation committee in consultation with the student. Students entering the program with advanced training, with a master's degree for example, may request to join a specific lab immediately. The faculty sponsor and the dissertation committee direct the student's academic program. The dissertation committee also administers written and oral comprehensive examinations, reviews the dissertation, and conducts the final examination.

The fundamental requirements of the Ph.D. in Biology are to independently conduct a significant piece of original research and to communicate it effectively through the dissertation.

Financial Support

All graduate students in the department receive financial support, provided they make satisfactory progress toward the degree. Students are expected to complete a Ph.D. program in four to six years and a master's program in two or three years. Support for all graduate students is guaranteed contingent on satisfactory performance in academics, teaching assistantships, research assistantships, and making normal progress toward their degree. Department fellowships support first-year students during their rotations. Teaching and research assistantships, which give students resident status, and full tuition scholarships are combined to provide financial support commensurate with peer institutions. University fellowships and traineeships also are available.

Minimum Requirements

• A bachelors degree or the equivalent.
• A grade point average of 3.0 or greater on a 4.0 scale.
• Score results on the General Record Examination (GRE) of 1200 (verbal plus quantitative) or greater.
• For international applicants, a TOEFL score of 570 (or 230 on the computerized exam) or greater.