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Biological Science - Ecology - Ph.D. Program Requirements PDFDownload to print

MAJOR REQUIREMENTS (60-90 credits)
Course Title Credits
BSCI 70194 College Teaching In Biology (Required for Teaching Assistants) 0-1
  70370 Ecological Genetics 2
  70371 Evolutionary Ecology 2
  70372 Populations, Communities and Ecosystems 4
  Additional Program Requirements 22-52
Dissertation  
BSCI 80199 Dissertation I* 30
TOTAL WITH A MASTER'S DEGREE 60
TOTAL WITH A BACHELOR'S DEGREE 90

*Each doctoral candidate, upon admission to candidacy, must register for BSCI 80199 Dissertation I for a total of 30 hours. It is expected that a doctoral candidate will continuously register for Dissertation I, and thereafter BSCI 80299 Dissertation II, each semester, including summer, until all requirements for the degree have been met.


After completing their coursework, a student completes the doctoral program by being admitted to candidacy, by proposing a research project to the faculty, and by completing and defending that research with a written dissertation before a faculty committee.

Candidacy Exams: The student is admitted to doctoral candidacy following successful completion of both written and oral candidacy examinations. These exams are based on prior coursework and coursework taken in this graduate program as determined by the student's academic Guidance Committee, which must consist of at least three eligible faculty members. The advisor(s) and a majority of members of the Guidance Committee must be members of the appropriate graduate program. This committee is responsible for determining the student's academic curriculum and for administering the candidacy exams. Following successful completion of candidacy exams, students register for Dissertation I for two semesters and thereafter for Dissertation II continually.

Prospectus: Following completion of the candidacy exam, the doctoral student must successfully prepare, present, and a defend a formal prospectus of the research project before the dissertation committee.

Dissertation and Final Defense: The doctoral candidate must complete a dissertation. It is expected that the candidate will present the results of her or his research in a defense open to students and faculty, at which the dissertation will be presented an defended before the Dissertation Committee, with not more than one negative vote, in order to be recommended to the Department and College of Arts and Sciences for degree conferral.