ASU SoLS - Integrative Graduate Education in the Life Sciences

The program of study is planned by the student and the supervisory committee, consisting of a major professor and four additional faculty members (at least 3 committee members should be School of Life Sciences faculty). The program is tailored to the needs of the individual student, but must reflect breadth in coursework in 3 areas -- one major and 2 minor subdisciplines (behavior, biology education, cellular and molecular biology, developmental biology, ecology, genetics, evolution, and physiology) . In general, Ph.D. degree students should expect to devote to the program of study the equivalent of at least three academic years (84 semester hours) beyond the bachelor's degree. A minimum of 84 semester hours is required; exactly 12 hours of BIO 799 Dissertation should be listed on the formal program of study. Of the 84 semester hours, at least 54 hours (which may include research credit) of the approved Ph.D. program must be completed after admission to a Ph.D. program at ASU. Students may not apply credit hours earned for a doctoral degree previously awarded at ASU or another institution toward their current ASU doctoral degree. However, at the individual academic units discretion, the student may apply up to 30 semester hours from a previously awarded master's degree toward their doctoral program of study.

To advance to candidacy for the Ph.D., the student must successfully complete an oral comprehensive examination, an oral defense of a written dissertation prospectus (doctoral research proposal), and two graduate seminars in areas different from the major area of emphasis. The student should complete all requirements for candidacy by the end of the fourth semester. Students without a previous M.S. degree in Biology who have completed 30 approved credit hours of graduate coursework (including any required core coursework) with a cumulative GPA of B (3.0) or higher plus all requirements for candidacy may apply for the Master in Science (M.S.) in Passing in Biology.

A dissertation based on original research is required along with a final oral defense of the dissertation.

Concentrations in "Ecology" and "Biology and Society" are available.

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Microbiology

The program of study is planned by the student and the supervisory committee, consisting of a major professor and three or four additional faculty members (at least 3 committee members should be School of Life Sciences faculty). The program is tailored to the needs of the individual student. In general, Ph.D. degree students should expect to devote to the program of study the equivalent of at least three academic years (84 semester hours) beyond the bachelor's degree. A minimum of 84 semester hours is required with a minimum of 18 semester hours of this total in formal course work. Exactly 12 hours of MIC 799 Dissertation should be listed on the formal program of study. Of the 84 semester hours, at least 54 hours (which may include research credit) of the approved Ph.D. program must be completed after admission to a Ph.D. program at ASU. Students may not apply credit hours earned for a doctoral degree previously awarded at ASU or another institution toward their current ASU doctoral degree. However, at the individual academic units discretion, the student may apply up to 30 semester hours from a previously awarded master's degree toward their doctoral program of study.

To advance to candidacy for the Ph.D., the student must successfully complete the written and oral components of the comprehensive examination and successfully defend their dissertation prospectus (doctoral research proposal). The student should complete all requirements for candidacy by the end of the second semester if they entered the program with a previous M.S. degree and by the end of the fourth semester if they entered the program with a previous B.S. degree. Students without a previous M.S. degree in Microbiology who have completed 30 approved credit hours of graduate coursework (including any required core coursework) with a cumulative GPA of B (3.0) or higher plus all requirements for candidacy may apply for the Master in Science (M.S.) in Passing in Microbiology.

A dissertation based on original work of high quality, demonstrating proficiency in the student's area of interest is required along with a final oral defense of the dissertation.

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Molecular and Cellular Biology

The PhD degree program in Molecular and Cellular Biology program of study is planned by the student and the supervisory committee, consisting of at least four faculty members, including the student's advisor. A minimum of 2 members of the supervisory committee must be core MCB faculty members. The program is tailored to the needs of the individual student. In general, Ph.D. degree students should expect to devote to the program of study the equivalent of at least three academic years (84 semester hours) beyond the bachelor's degree. A minimum of 84 semester hours is required. A minimum of 12 designated semester hours of MCB courses and six semester hours of elective course work are required. Exactly 12 hours of MCB 799 Dissertation should be listed on the formal program of study. The remaining courses are selected by the student in consultation with the supervisory committee. Of the 84 semester hours, at least 54 hours (which may include research credit) of the approved Ph.D. program must be completed after admission to a Ph.D. program at ASU. Students may not apply credit hours earned for a doctoral degree previously awarded at ASU or another institution toward their current ASU doctoral degree. However, at the individual academic units discretion, the student may apply up to 30 semester hours from a previously awarded master's degree toward their doctoral program of study.

To advance to candidacy for the Ph.D., the student must successfully complete the written and oral components of the comprehensive examination and successfully defend their dissertation prospectus (doctoral research proposal). The student should complete all requirements for candidacy by the end of the sixth semester. Students without a previous M.S. degree in Molecular and Cellular Biology who have completed 30 approved credit hours of graduate coursework (including any required core coursework) with a cumulative GPA of B (3.0) or higher plus all requirements for candidacy may apply for the Master in Science (M.S.) in Passing in Molecular and Cellular Biology.

A written dissertation based on original research of high quality that demonstrates proficiency in the area of specialization is required along with a final oral defense of the dissertation. Evidence must be presented that the research contribution is publishable in the primary literature.

A concentration in "Computational Biosciences" is available.

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Plant Biology

The program of study is planned by the student and the supervisory committee, consisting of a major professor and three or four additional faculty members (at least 3 committee members should be School of Life Sciences faculty). A minimum of 84 semester hours of graduate credit is required. The program must include excatly 12 hours of PLB 799 Dissertation credit and at least 30 hours of formal graduate course work. Two hours of participatory seminar (PLB 591) are included in the required course work. Courses numbered 590 or 790 (Reading and Conference) are not considered formal courses. Of the 84 semester hours, at least 54 hours (which may include research credit) of the approved Ph.D. program must be completed after admission to a Ph.D. program at ASU. Students may not apply credit hours earned for a doctoral degree previously awarded at ASU or another institution toward their current ASU doctoral degree. However, at the individual academic units discretion, the student may apply up to 30 semester hours from a previously awarded master's degree toward their doctoral program of study. The program is planned by the student in consultation with a program committee that also administers and evaluates the comprehensive examinations.

To advance to candidacy for the Ph.D., the student must successfully complete the written and oral components of the comprehensive examination and successfully defend their dissertation prospectus (doctoral research proposal). The student should complete all requirements for candidacy by the end of the fifth semester. Students without a previous M.S. degree in Plant Biology who have completed 30 approved credit hours of graduate coursework (including any required core coursework) with a cumulative GPA of B (3.0) or higher plus all requirements for candidacy may apply for the Master in Science (M.S.) in Passing in Plant Biology.

A dissertation based on original work of high quality, demonstrating proficiency in the student's area of interest, is required, along with a final oral examination in defense of the dissertation. The research results are expected to be published in quality scientific journals.