The Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) Program in Biology
The primary objective of the Ph.D. program in Biology is to train scientists and scholars to perceive fundamental biological problems and to investigate them successfully. Predoctoral students undertake a diversified program of study that includes course work, seminars and laboratory research. Formal courses and seminars are offered in areas of biochemistry, cell biology, genetics, developmental biology, evolutionary biology, ecology, molecular biology, neurobiology, biostatistics, and computational biology. Equivalent graduate courses taken prior to entering the graduate program may substitute for one or more of these courses. With the guidance of a faculty advisory committee, all entering students plan a first-year academic program that includes lecture courses, seminars, and laboratory rotations aimed at broadening and strengthening their knowledge in the biological sciences.
Toward the end of the first year, each student selects an advisor with whom to pursue individual and specialized research in a selected area of biology (see Research areas). During the second year, students complete their qualifying examinations in which they present and defend their research proposals, which will constitute the basis for their Ph.D. dissertation. After passing the qualifying exam, students are admitted to Ph.D. candidacy.
The Ph.D. degree is awarded following the successful completion of all degree requirements, which culminate in a written Ph.D. dissertation and an oral dissertation defense. All requirements for the Ph.D. degree must be completed by the end of the seventh year of study.
The Ph.D. program has no general language requirement but, depending on the student's research area, their committee may require proficiency in one or more foreign languages or in auxiliary disciplines such as computer science or statistics.
Master's Program in Biology
The Biology Department offers graduate training leading to a Master of Arts or Master of Science degree. The scientific training provided by the master's degree introduces students to areas of basic research in which they might subsequently pursue Ph.D. training; or, as a terminal degree, the M.S./M.A. provides an essential academic credential to enter research careers in industry or non-research careers in secondary education, law, science policy, or conservation. A carefully planned and conscientiously executed Master's degree program can be completed successfully in approximately 2.5 years. All requirements for a master’s degree in Biology must be completed by the end of the fifth year of study.
Biology students working toward a master's degree must complete 30 credits of graduate-level course work, including a minimum of 24 credits of graded coursework comprised of 4 graded lecture or laboratory courses and one colloquia or journal club. Successful defense of a written thesis is required, with the M.S. thesis based primarily on independent laboratory research and the M.A. thesis based primarily on independent research.
Before applying to the masters program, prospective M.S. students must identify a Biology faculty member who is willing to serve as their mentor and establish a mutually agreeable arrangement between the prospective student and mentor. Thus, applicants should consult the Research section to learn about the different research programs offered in the Department of Biology and correspond with faculty whose interests match their own.
A Mountain Lake Master’s degree program geared toward educators and other scholars can be earned with study during summers at the Mountain Lake Biological Station. For additional information, please email mlbs@virginia.edu.