Doctoral (PhD) in Biology

Program Overview:

The PhD degree in Biology involves a combination of course work and original research. Students have research opportunities using state-of-the-art techniques and facilities. Students also have extensive opportunity for teaching in a variety of undergraduate teaching labs. All students are expected to publish their work in peer reviewed scientific journals.

The PhD typically requires 4 to 5 years of research and course work. Students begin their research with a faculty advisor upon entrance into the program. In consultation with the advisor and Thesis Committee, the student develops a plan for an independent research project that culminates with a written thesis, public seminar and oral thesis defense.

Financial Support:

Students typically are provided full tuition waiver and 9-month stipend via graduate teaching assistant (GTA) or graduate research assistant (GRA) positions. Most students work extensively on their thesis research in the summer and on academic breaks, and they are supported by their faculty advisor's research grants during the summer.

Requirements for completion of the PhD degree:

The major requirements for completion of the PhD degree are 90 qtr hrs of graduate course work and research credit and successful defense of the PhD thesis.

Course work:

For the PhD a total of 90 qtr hrs are required. Up to 10 qtr hrs of graduate credit (or a blanket transfer of 45 qtr hrs if a Master's degree had been earned prior to enrolling in our PhD program) may be accepted as transfer credit with approval of the Departmental Graduate Committee and the Office of Graduate Studies. The 90 qtr hrs include a combination of course work and research credit. Learn more by downloading the PhD Biology Advising Sheet.

Thesis Advisory Committee:

The student's Thesis Advisory Committee should be selected by the student in consultation with the major professor. The Committee should be formed before the end of the second quarter of enrollment.

The PhD Committee must consist of the major professor and three other regular faculty members of the Department. A member may be from another academic unit or institution provided that they have a doctoral (or equivalent) degree. Assignment of an outside committee member requires approval from the Departmental Graduate Committee and Graduate Studies.
Regular Committee meetings are required. The responsibilities of the Committee include: a) approval of the student's course program; b) guidance of the student's research project; and c) administration of candidacy exams and thesis defense exam.

Advancement to Candidacy:

PhD students are required to pass both the Qualifying Exam and Research Proposal Exam to advance to candidacy. Failure to complete exams by the required deadlines may result in loss of GTA support and/or dismissal from the program. Learn more about the PhD Candidacy Exams.

Research & Thesis:

A research project is designed in consultation with the major advisor and Thesis Committee. The degree requires a written thesis, public seminar and oral defense. The expectation is that the research be novel and appropriate for publication in a peer reviewed scientific journal.

General Expectations:

Graduate students must maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0 and make adequate progress on research as assessed by the advisor and Thesis Committee. All graduate students are required to attend all departmental seminars. Attendance at seminars is only excused for teaching conflicts. In addition, students who are supported by a GTA position are expected to fulfill all obligations required of the GTA appointment.

September 15, 2009

University of Denver