The request to revise the Biology PhD and MS programs and create five BIOL courses

Date: March 6, 2014
To: College of Liberal Arts & Sciences
From: Office of Academic Affairs
Approved On: February 10, 2014
Approved by: Graduate Council
Implementation Date: Summer 2014

Note: Deletions are strikethroughs. Insertions are underlined.

Catalog Copy

[Please note: We include only those sections of the catalog copy that will be affected by the proposed changes. Existing sections in the catalog which are not included below remain unchanged. Catalog copy edits for the individual courses are also presented in sections of the proposal that describe each proposed course.]

PhD in Biology

Degree Requirements

The Ph.D. acknowledges the value of coursework as background and preparatory preparation for research, but the primary emphasis of the program is on the development of research skills and the completion of a research project on a significant problem in the biological sciences or related biotechnology.

Total Hours Required

The program requires 72 post-baccalaureate credit hours. All students are required to take a general curriculum that includes a sequence of required courses as shown below.

Required Courses (suggested year 1): 8 semester hours.

  • BIOL 8102 Cell and Molecular Biology (4)
  • CHEM 8101 Biochemical Principles (4)

Note: These two courses provide the fundamental background for the applied focus of the program.

Required Courses (suggested year 2): 6 semester hours.

  • PHIL 8240 Research Ethics in Biological and Behavioral Sciences (3)
  • BIOL 8000 Hypothesis Testing (3)

Years 1 and 2:

  • BIOL 8200 Interdisciplinary Colloquium

Note: 2 semester hours (1 hour per year). This course brings together faculty and students from the participating programs in an informal discussion of interdisciplinary research. (Fall semester only.)

Years 1 and 2:

  • BIOL 8201 Seminar

Note: 2 semester hours (1 hour per year). Formal student presentations of current literature topics in their area of study. (Spring semester only.)

Year 1:

  • BIOL 8000 Laboratory Research Rotations

Note: A minimum of 2 and a maximum of 6 semester hours total (1-3 rotations of 2 hours each). These hours will be completed in Year 1.

Years 2 and 3:

Electives; 18 semester hours minimum; at least half of the credits must be from 8000-level courses. Advanced topics courses to be selected by students in consultation with their dissertation committee. These will be specialty topics in the areas of expertise of program faculty.

Laboratory Research Rotations

Laboratory research rotations allow the student to sample areas of research and become familiar with program faculty. A student will engage in a minimum of 1 rotation with a maximum of 3 rotations. Each rotation will consist of a minimum of 4 weeks and there is no expectation that the work done during the rotation will result in a publication. By the end of the student’s second semester he/she must have determined their major advisor. A rotation must have been completed in the advisor’s laboratory.

The purpose of a laboratory rotation is to learn and perform techniques associated with the lab, and to potentially identify a Dissertation Advisor. A typical rotation will involve 5-10 hours per week in the laboratory for 4-10 weeks. Students are encouraged to identify a sponsoring faculty member well in advance of the scheduled rotation. Students must meet with the sponsoring faculty member to determine what will be done during the rotation, i.e. techniques to be learned and identification of the project to be completed. At the end of the rotation the student must write a one- to two-page synopsis of the rotation to be signed by the sponsoring faculty member and turned in to the Ph.D. coordinator.

Required Courses:

  • BIOL 8101 Hypothesis Testing (3) (suggested year 1)
  • BIOL 8102 Cellular and Molecular Biology (3) (suggested year 1)
  • BIOL 8140 Evolutionary Biology (3) (suggested year 1)
  • Concentration Requirement (suggested year 2):
    • BIOL 8241 Environmental Biology (3) (required for students pursuing the Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Biology (E3B) concentration)
    • BIOL 8270 Biological Pathways and Metabolism (3) (required for students pursuing the Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology (MCD) concentration)
  • BIOL 8201 Seminar (2 hours total; 1 hour per year in years 1 and 2)
  • BIOL 8260 Careers in Bioscience: Professional Development and Responsible Conduct (2), or GRAD 8002 Responsible Conduct of Research (2), or PHIL 8240 Research Ethics in the Biological and Behavioral Sciences (3) (suggested year 2)

Elective courses: 9 hours minimum; to be determined in consultation with the student’s Dissertation Committee, but typically will consist of at least three 3-hour courses from either the MCD or E3B tracks. At least half the total elective/concentration hours, including the concentration requirement must be at the 8000 level.

Dissertation Research: minimum of 18 hours of BIOL 8999

BIOL 8101. Hypothesis Testing. (3) Prerequisite: Admission to the PhD in Biology program or permission of Department. Design and analysis of biological experiments and critical analysis of experimental design in pertinent biological literature. (Fall)

BIOL 8140. Evolutionary Biology. (3) Prerequisite: Admission to the PhD in Biology program or permission of Department. Fundamental evolutionary forces of mutation, genetic drift, natural selection, and gene flow; mechanisms generating biological diversity in molecules, genomes, and populations; relationship of micro-evolutionary change and macro-evolutionary patterns. (Spring)

BIOL 8241. Environmental Biology. (3) Prerequisite: Admission to the PhD in Biology program or permission of Department. An overview of ecological principles as they apply to relationships and interactions between organisms and their environment, with investigation of current research topics and issues related to impacts of human activities on environmental processes. (Fall)

BIOL 8260. Careers in Bioscience: Professional Development and Responsible Conduct (2) Hybrid course composed of class meetings and MOODLE tasks. Prerequisites: Admission to the PhD in Biology program or permission of Department. Professional development for Ph.D. students and postdoctoral fellows. The focus will be on teaching toward the Broadening Experiences in Scientific Training (BEST) initiative and the Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) directive. (Fall or Spring)

BIOL 8270. Biological Pathways & Metabolism. Prerequisite: Admission to PhD in Biology program or permission of Department. An overview of biological pathways and metabolism principles as they apply to cell biology, relationships and interactions between cell and/or organisms and their environment, with investigation of current research topics. (Spring)

Masters of Science in Biology

Degree Requirements

All M.S. students must complete 30 semester hours of course work approved by the Supervisory Committee, including the following required courses:

  • BIOL 6101 Hypothesis Testing (3)
  • BIOL 6102 Cellular and Molecular Biology (3)
  • BIOL 6140 Evolutionary Biology (3)

approved by a Supervisory Committee. Students may choose the Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology (MCD) concentration or the Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Biology (E3B) concentration when selecting elective courses, although selection of a concentration is not required. In addition to coursework, each degree candidate must pass an oral candidacy examination administered by the Supervisory Committee.

BIOL 6101. Hypothesis Testing. (3) Prerequisite: Admission to the MS in Biology program or permission of department. Design and analysis of biological experiments and critical analysis of experimental design in pertinent biological literature. (Fall)

BIOL 6140. Evolutionary Biology. (3) Prerequisite: Admission to the MS in Biology program or permission of department. Fundamental evolutionary forces of mutation, genetic drift, natural selection, and gene flow; mechanisms generating biological diversity in molecules, genomes, and populations; relationship of micro-evolutionary change and macro-evolutionary patterns. (Spring)

BIOL 6241. Environmental Biology. (3) Prerequisite: Admission to the MS in Biology program or permission of Department. An overview of ecological principles as they apply to relationships and interactions between organisms and their environment, with investigation of current research topics and issues related to impacts of human activities on environmental processes. (Fall)

BIOL 6260. Careers in Bioscience: Professional Development and Responsible Conduct (2) Hybrid course composed of class meetings and MOODLE tasks. Prerequisites: Admission to MS in Biology program or permission of Department. Professional development for Master’s students. The focus will be on teaching toward the Broadening Experiences in Scientific Training (BEST) initiative and the Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) directive. (Fall or Spring)

BIOL 6270. Biological Pathways and Metabolism. (3) Prerequisite: Admission to the MS in Biology program or permission of Department. An overview of biological pathways and metabolism principles as they apply to cell biology, relationships and interactions between cell and/or organisms and their environment, with investigation of current research topics. (Spring)

Proposed new catalog copy

PhD in Biology

Degree Requirements

The Ph.D. acknowledges the value of coursework as background and preparation for research, but the primary emphasis of the program is on the development of research skills and the completion of a research project on a significant problem in the biological sciences or related biotechnology.

Total Hours Required

The program requires 72 post-baccalaureate credit hours. All students are required to take a general curriculum that includes a sequence of required courses as shown below.

Required Courses:

  • BIOL 8101 Hypothesis Testing (3) (suggested year 1)
  • BIOL 8102 Cellular and Molecular Biology (3) (suggested year 1)
  • BIOL 8140 Evolutionary Biology (3) (suggested year 1)
  • Concentration Requirement (suggested year 2):
    • BIOL 8241 Environmental Biology (3) (required for students pursuing the Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Biology (E3B) concentration)
    • BIOL 8270 Biological Pathways and Metabolism (3) (required for students pursuing the Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology (MCD) concentration)
  • BIOL 8201 Seminar (2 hours total; 1 hour per year in years 1 and 2)
  • BIOL 8260 Careers in Bioscience: Professional Development and Responsible Conduct (2), or GRAD 8002 Responsible Conduct of Research (2), or PHIL 8240 Research Ethics in the Biological and Behavioral Sciences (3) (suggested year 2)

Elective courses: 9 hours minimum; to be determined in consultation with the student’s Dissertation Committee, but typically will consist of at least three 3-hour courses from either the MCD or E3B tracks. At least half the total elective/concentration hours, including the concentration requirement must be at the 8000 level.

Dissertation Research: minimum of 18 hours of BIOL 8999

BIOL 8101. Hypothesis Testing. (3) Prerequisite: Admission to the PhD in Biology program or permission of Department. Design and analysis of biological experiments and critical analysis of experimental design in pertinent biological literature. (Fall)

BIOL 8140. Evolutionary Biology. (3) Prerequisite: Admission to the PhD in Biology program or permission of Department. Fundamental evolutionary forces of mutation, genetic drift, natural selection, and gene flow; mechanisms generating biological diversity in molecules, genomes, and populations; relationship of micro-evolutionary change and macro-evolutionary patterns. (Spring)

BIOL 8241. Environmental Biology. (3) Prerequisite: Admission to the PhD in Biology program or permission of Department. An overview of ecological principles as they apply to relationships and interactions between organisms and their environment, with investigation of current research topics and issues related to impacts of human activities on environmental processes. (Fall)

BIOL 8260. Careers in Bioscience: Professional Development and Responsible Conduct (2) Hybrid course composed of class meetings and MOODLE tasks. Prerequisites: Admission to the PhD in Biology program or permission of Department. Professional development for Ph.D. students and postdoctoral fellows. The focus will be on teaching toward the Broadening Experiences in Scientific Training (BEST) initiative and the Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) directive. (Fall or Spring)

BIOL 8270. Biological Pathways & Metabolism. Prerequisite: Admission to PhD in Biology program or permission of Department. An overview of biological pathways and metabolism principles as they apply to cell biology, relationships and interactions between cell and/or organisms and their environment, with investigation of current research topics. (Spring)

Masters of Science in Biology

Degree Requirements

All M.S. students must complete 30 semester hours of course work approved by the Supervisory Committee, including the following required courses:

  • BIOL 6101 Hypothesis Testing (3)
  • BIOL 6102 Cellular and Molecular Biology (3)
  • BIOL 6140 Evolutionary Biology (3)

Students may choose the Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology (MCD) concentration or the Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Biology (E3B) concentration when selecting elective courses, although selection of a concentration is not required. In addition to coursework, each degree candidate must pass an oral candidacy examination administered by the Supervisory Committee.

BIOL 6101. Hypothesis Testing. (3) Prerequisite: Admission to the MS in Biology program or permission of Department. Design and analysis of biological experiments and critical analysis of experimental design in pertinent biological literature. (Fall)

BIOL 6140. Evolutionary Biology. (3) Prerequisite: Admission to the MS in Biology program or permission of Department. Fundamental evolutionary forces of mutation, genetic drift, natural selection, and gene flow; mechanisms generating biological diversity in molecules, genomes, and populations; relationship of micro-evolutionary change and macro-evolutionary patterns. (Spring)

BIOL 6241. Environmental Biology. (3) Prerequisite: Admission to the MS in Biology program or permission of Department. An overview of ecological principles as they apply to relationships and interactions between organisms and their environment, with investigation of current research topics and issues related to impacts of human activities on environmental processes. (Fall)

BIOL 6260. Careers in Bioscience: Professional Development and Responsible Conduct (2) Hybrid course composed of class meetings and MOODLE tasks. Prerequisites: Admission to the MS in Biology program or permission of Department. Professional development for Master’s students. The focus will be on teaching toward the Broadening Experiences in Scientific Training (BEST) initiative and the Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) directive. (Fall or Spring)

BIOL 6270. Biological Pathways & Metabolism. Prerequisite: Admission to MS in Biology program or permission of Department. An overview of biological pathways and metabolism principles as they apply to cell biology, relationships and interactions between cell and/or organisms and their environment, with investigation of current research topics. (Spring)