Zoology, PhD

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Many applicants to the PhD program will have completed a master’s degree, but well-qualified applicants without a master’s degree may be admitted directly into the PhD program. Students currently enrolled in the master’s program also may apply for admission into the PhD program without completing the master’s degree.

Course Requirements

For Students Matriculating With a Master’s Degree

For students matriculating with a master’s degree in zoology (or equivalent), there are no course requirements for the PhD degree other than the general requirements (ZOOL 691C in the first year, and at least one graduate course in biology each year), and any courses required by the student’s dissertation committee.

For Students Matriculating With a Bachelor’s Degree

For students matriculating with a bachelor’s degree, general course requirements are very similar to the requirements for students receiving a Plan A master’s degree. A minimum of 24 credits are required in courses numbered 400-800. Additionally, 6 credits are required of ZOOL 800 Dissertation Research , for a total of 30 credit hours. Students are required to enroll in ZOOL 800 during the term in which their degree will be conferred. At least 12 of the 24 credits of required course work should be in 600-700 level courses, not counting ZOOL 699 . The graduate program requires that 1 of the 24 course work credits include ZOOL 691C . Of the 24 required credit hours, student may include a maximum of 2 credit hours from ZOOL 699 . All courses cross-listed with zoology, and all biology courses which can be counted towards a zoology BA or BS, are considered zoology courses, not courses in a related department.

Other Requirements

In addition to a dissertation proposal, an oral comprehensive examination must be passed. Upon passing the comprehensive exam, the student is advanced to candidacy for the PhD program.

The research project culminating in the dissertation is the most important part of the PhD degree program. The dissertation is to be an original contribution based on independent research, carried out under the guidance of the advisor and dissertation committee. The completed dissertation is defended at a public final examination, conducted by the dissertation committee and including a public research seminar by the candidate.