Program Overview

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Cancer Biology, PhD

The Cancer Biology, PhD program is a member of the Interdisciplinary Biological and Health Sciences Consortium (IBHSC). The consortium fosters a collaborative environment for research and study in the biological and health sciences.

Program Overview

The graduate program in cancer biology offers a course of study and research leading to the PhD degree. Although a masters degree is offered under special circumstances, students are not admitted for a masters degree. The Cancer Biology Graduate Program was established at the McArdle Laboratory for Cancer Research in 1940 as the first graduate program in the United States to offer a degree in basic cancer research.

Curriculum Requirements

Curriculum requirements are designed to be flexible, providing a maximal opportunity for specialization within this multidisciplinary field. Students learn through core and elective courses; by participation in seminars, conferences, and journal clubs related to their specific areas of expertise; and most important, from their research advisors. Students who join the program select research advisors after conducting a minimum of three month-long rotations in different laboratories during the first semester.

Admissions

• Fall Deadline: November 15
• Spring Deadline: The program does not admit in the spring.
• Summer Deadline: November 15
• GRE (Graduate Record Examinations): Not required.
• English Proficiency Test: Refer to the Graduate School's policy.
• Other Test(s) (e.g., GMAT, MCAT): Not applicable.
• Letters of Recommendation Required: 3

Students seeking admission to the program must complete a bachelor's degree in biology, biochemistry, chemistry, molecular biology, or a related area from an accredited college or university and should have a grade point average of at least 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale).

Funding

The program is committed to ensuring continuing financial support for all cancer biology PhD students in good standing. Financial support includes a competitive stipend and tuition remission. All graduate students are also eligible for comprehensive health insurance. PhD students are supported from a variety of different sources including research assistantships from faculty research grants, fellowships, and NIH training grants.

Requirements

Mode of Instruction

• Face to Face: Yes
• Evening/Weekend: No
• Online: No
• Hybrid: No
• Accelerated: No

Curricular Requirements

• Minimum Credit Requirement: 51 credits
• Minimum Residence Credit Requirement: 32 credits
• Minimum Graduate Coursework Requirement: 26 credits must be graduate-level coursework.
• Overall Graduate GPA Requirement: 3.00 GPA required.
• Other Grade Requirements: Students must earn a B or above in all required Core Courses, otherwise the course must be repeated.
• Assessments and Examinations: All doctoral students must pass an oral preliminary examination.

Required Courses

• Core Courses:
  • ONCOLOGY/M M & I/PL PATH 640: General Virology-Multiplication of Viruses
  • ONCOLOGY 703: Carcinogenesis and Tumor Cell Biology
  • ONCOLOGY 715: Ethics in Science
  • ONCOLOGY 725: Readings in Cancer Biology
  • ONCOLOGY 735: Grant Writing in Cancer Biology
  • ONCOLOGY 901: Seminar (presentation) 1
• Research Credits: minimum 28
• Quantitative Requirement:
  • B M I/STAT 541: Introduction to Biostatistics
  • or ONCOLOGY 778: Bioinformatics for Biologists
• Electives (two courses): 3-6 credits

Policies

Prior Coursework

• Graduate Credits Earned at Other Institutions: With program approval, students may transfer no more than 9 credits of graduate coursework from other institutions.
• Undergraduate Credits Earned at other Institutions or UW-Madison: With program approval, students may transfer no more than 7 credits numbered 300 or above from a UWMadison undergraduate degree, or the equivalent from other institutions.

Probation

A semester GPA below 3.0 or an incomplete grade (I) will result in the student being placed on academic probation.

Advisor / Committee

All students are required to have an advisor. Students must create a certification committee (advisor plus four additional faculty members) by the end of their first year.

Credits Per Term Allowed

15 credit maximum.

Time Limits

All doctoral students must pass their preliminary examination by the end of their second year (August 31).

Professional Development

The Graduate School's professional development resources are available to build skills, thrive academically, and launch your career.

Learning Outcomes

1. Articulates research problems, potentials, and limits with respect to their research and how it relates to the field of cancer biology.
2. Formulates novel ideas, concepts/hypotheses, designs experiments to test the hypotheses, and shows proficiency in the necessary techniques to carry out their dissertation research.
3. Creates and carries out scholarly research that asks a novel and important biological question and makes a substantive contribution to the field of cancer research.
4. Demonstrates the breadth of their knowledge through thoughtful and creative design of their research and their ability to answer questions from varied audiences.
5. Advances contributions in cancer biology to society through publication, presentations at national and international meetings, and various outreach activities.
6. Communicates complex ideas in a clear and understandable manner both in their oral and written presentations.
7. Fosters ethical and professional conduct in all aspects related to their development as a scientist.