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Department of Biological Sciences
Degree Programs:
Full-Time: M.A., M.Phil., Ph.D.
Chair:
Martin
Chalfie, Ph.D.
1018 Fairchild
Tel:
212.854.8870
Fax:
212.865.8246
Co-Director of Graduate Studies:
Liang
Tong,
Ph.D.
701 Fairchild
Tel:
212.854.5203
Co-Director of Graduate Studies:
Jian
Yang,
Ph.D.
917A Fairchild
Tel:
212.854.6161
For the M.A. DegreeStudents in the doctoral program receive three degrees in the course of fulfilling the Ph.D. requirements in the Department of Biological Sciences: the M.A., M.Phil., and Ph.D. degrees.
Residence Units: Two.
Languages: Non-native speakers must demonstrate proficiency in English or complete International Teaching Fellows Training by the American Language Program.
Examinations: Satisfactory completion of parts I and II of the qualifying examination. Part I: successful completion of the Biol G6001, 6002, 6003 Core course sequence. Adequate academic performance in a student's first year entails passing all sections of the Core course; failure of a single section (grade below B-) will be result in academic probation for the following semester, while failure of two or more core sections, or additional failure during the time a student is on academic probation may be grounds for dismissal from the Ph.D. program.
Part II: presentation of a written thesis proposal and the oral defense of the proposal before a Ph.D. advisory committee, to be completed before July of the second year. In the student's second year, a Ph.D. advisory committee is assigned to each student. Each committee is appointed by the graduate student adviser in consultation with the Graduate Student Committee and consists of the student's sponsor and two other faculty members of the program.
For the M.Phil. DegreeResidence Units: Six.
Mathematics: One year of college-level calculus is required. Students are required to take a course in statistics if they have not previously taken such a course.
Graduate biology courses: Required courses include Biology G6001-G6002-G6003 (the Core course sequence); G9301 (pre-research seminar); BEPS W4090 (Ethics & Experimentation); and two graduate-level courses approved by the department. These graduate elective courses generally must be at the G4000-level or above, taken for letter grades, and one may be in physics, chemistry or mathematics. No more than one of these three elective courses may have a grade of "C" and the average must be "B" or higher.
Teaching requirement: Participation in the instructional and/or research activities of the department for a minimum of one year. All students gain teaching experience as part of their graduate training. Two semesters of teaching are usually required, which typically includes assisting in undergraduate laboratory or lecture courses. Teaching activities require about 5-10 hours per week.
Advisory committee meetings: Each Ph.D. advisory committee meets with the student at least once each year to discuss the progress of the student's research and continues in this capacity until the Ph.D. degree is granted.
For the Ph.D. Degree
Dissertation Defense: All students are required to present and defend a dissertation. Each student meets with his or her Ph.D. advisory committee at least once each year to discuss the progress of the student's research and continues to do so until the thesis defense. The thesis defense consists of a public presentation of the work in a forty-five minute seminar. This seminar is followed by an examination related to the thesis work of the candidate by the thesis committee, which consists of the three members of the Ph.D. advisory committee and two outside faculty members, including one from another institution. It is expected that the thesis defense will occur before the end of the sixth year of graduate study at Columbia.
Financial AidA comprehensive program of financial aid, including fellowships and appointments in teaching and research, is available. All Ph.D. students receive the annual prevailing stipend and appropriate tuition and health fees, provided that they remain in good academic standing. If students receive a year of advanced standing, they are entitled to four years of fellowship funding.
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