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Degree Requirements

The requirements listed below are special to this department and must be read in conjunction with the general requirements of the Graduate School.

Students are expected to exhibit competence in three major disciplines, as evidenced by passage of a comprehensive qualifying examination, by the beginning of their third year of full-time study. These three major disciplines are physiology, biochemistry, and a third (elective) area of concentration such as genetics, immunology, cell biology, neuroscience, mathematics, etc. The physiology and biochemistry requirements can be fulfilled by successful completion of G6001. Principles of Physiology and G6300-G6301. Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of Eukaryotes, I and II, or satisfactory performance on an advanced placement examination; and one of the following courses: Cell Biology G4150. Prokaryotic Molecular Biology; or Cell Biology G4250. Molecular Biophysics. The course work needed to fulfill the requirements in the third (elective) area of concentration is determined by each student in consultation with his or her advisory committee. Every effort is made to shape this third area of concentration to conform to each student’s professional goals. Upon successful completion of the qualifying examination, students devote full time to their thesis research.

A student may select a faculty sponsor and a topic for thesis research at any time during his or her first two years of study. When in the opinion of the sponsor the student has developed a body of original research sufficient for a doctoral thesis (generally in the fourth or fifth year of study), the student prepares a written thesis describing this work. Award of the Ph.D. degree is dependent upon acceptance of this thesis research and related areas of science.

The department accepts only candidates for the Ph.D. degree. Students who fulfill the Ph.D. requirements receive three degrees in the course of their study: the M.A., M.Phil., and Ph.D., degrees.

For the M.A. Degree

The M.A. degree is awarded upon satisfactory completion of required courses corresponding to two Residence Units.

For the M.Phil. Degree

The M.Phil. degree is awarded upon successful completion of all the requirements for the Ph.D. degree, including the comprehensive qualifying examination, except the preparation and defense of a dissertation.

Residence Units: Six, including the two earned for the M.A. degree.

Participation in instructional activities: All students are required to participate in the instructional activities of the department during a portion of their time in residence.

For the Ph.D. Degree

After completion of all requirements for the M.Phil. degree, students must prepare, with the approval of their sponsor, a dissertation embodying original research. The dissertation must be successfully defended in an oral examination.

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