Program Overview

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Biology PhD, Ecology, Evolution and Behavior Emphasis

Overview

The doctoral program emphasizes empirical and theoretical approaches to biological research. Students are required to integrate basic skills in biology with focal studies in an emphasis area. The program is designed to provide research experience and training appropriate for advanced positions in academic research and teaching, government and public agencies, and industry.

Admission Requirements

Applicants must meet the general graduate admission requirements of the Graduate School. In addition to Graduate School admission requirements, applicants to the Ph.D. in Biology program must submit:

• Three letters of recommendation from individuals able to comment on academic potential
• Transcripts of all postsecondary academic work
• GRE scores (Verbal, Quantitative, and Analytical) are encouraged but not required
• A minimum grade point average overall and in biology courses of 3.0 (where A=4.0)
• Applicants from countries where English is not a primary language must meet the language requirements set by UMSL Global

Degree Requirements

The basic requirements for the Ph.D. degree in Biology include:

• 60 graduate credit hours
• At least 30 of the 60 hours must be taken at the 5000 or 6000 level
• With the explicit consent of the graduate committee, students may take for graduate credit up to 3 credit hours of 3000 level courses in allied departments
• Courses in biology at the 3000 level and below are not available for graduate credit
• At least 31 of the 60 hours must be taken while in residence at the University of Missouri-St. Louis
• Graduate credit for course work transferred from another program is subject to approval by the graduate committee and by the Graduate School

Coursework

• At least 30 credits of course work, including the following required courses (20 credits total):
  • BIOL 6889: Graduate Seminar (6 credits)
  • BIOL 5178 & BIOL 5179: Introduction to Graduate Research in Biology and Ethical Issues in Biology (2 credits)
  • BIOL 5436: Advanced Applied Bioinformatics (3 credits)
  • BIOL 4122: Biostatistics (3 credits)
  • BIOL 5012: Advanced Genetics (3 credits)
  • BIOL 5302: Advanced Evolution (3 credits)
• Up to 30 credits of graduate research (BIOL 6905)
• The maximum number of credit hours that may be applied toward the 60-hour requirement is limited:
  • BIOL 6889, Graduate Seminar: 10 hours
  • BIOL 6905, Graduate Research: 30 hours
• The department also offers five 1-credit journal-club-style classes, focusing on different topics. A maximum of six credits from this group of courses can be applied towards the degree:
  • BIOL 5059: Topics in Ecology, Evolution, and Systematics (1 credit)
  • BIOL 5069: Topics in Cellular and Molecular Biology (1 credit)
  • BIOL 5079: Topics in Floristic Taxonomy (1 credit)
  • BIOL 5089: Topics in Animal Behavior (1 credit)
  • BIOL 5099: Biology Colloquium (1 credit)

Emphasis Areas

Each Ph.D. student should select one of three emphasis areas, and choose at least six credit hours of appropriate elective courses to fit this area in consultation with their advisor. The emphases include:

• Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior (EEB)
• Cellular and Molecular Biology (CMB)
• Integrative Biology (IB), which would involve a combination of coursework from both of the previous emphases

Ecology, Evolution and Behavior Electives

• BIOL 5192: Community Ecology (3 credits)
• BIOL 5312: Theory of Systematics (3 credits)
• BIOL 6102: Advanced Topics in Behavioral Ecology (3 credits)
• BIOL 6182: Advanced Population Biology (3 credits)
• BIOL 6502: Advanced Evolution of Cognition (3 credits)

Cellular and Molecular Biology Electives

• BIOL 6442: Advanced Developmental Biology (3 credits)
• BIOL 6550: Advanced Bacterial Pathogenesis (3 credits)
• BIOL 6602: Advanced Molecular Biology (3 credits)
• BIOL 6608: (3 credits)
• BIOL 6615: Advanced Biotechnology Laboratory II (4 credits)
• BIOL 6622: Advanced Cellular Basis of Disease (3 credits)
• BIOL 6632: Advanced Nucleic Acid Structure and Function (3 credits)
• BIOL 6642: Advanced Plant Biology and Biotechnology (3 credits)
• BIOL 6652: Advanced Virology (3 credits)

Integrative Biology Electives

• BIOL 5192: Community Ecology (3 credits)
• BIOL 5312: Theory of Systematics (3 credits)
• BIOL 6102: Advanced Topics in Behavioral Ecology (3 credits)
• BIOL 6182: Advanced Population Biology (3 credits)
• BIOL 6502: Advanced Evolution of Cognition (3 credits)
• BIOL 6608: (3 credits)
• BIOL 6615: Advanced Biotechnology Laboratory II (4 credits)
• BIOL 6622: Advanced Cellular Basis of Disease (3 credits)
• BIOL 6632: Advanced Nucleic Acid Structure and Function (3 credits)
• BIOL 6642: Advanced Plant Biology and Biotechnology (3 credits)
• BIOL 6652: Advanced Virology (3 credits)

Maintenance of Status

All students are expected to maintain a GPA of 3.0 or better. To maintain their status in the program, normally students will meet formally each year with their thesis committee, or if that has not been formed yet, with their dissertation advisor.

Identifying a Dissertation Advisor

All PhD students must identify a dissertation advisor, via mutual consent between the student and the advisor. Students entering the program with an agreement in hand may join the lab in their first semester. Alternatively, students entering the program may rotate through three labs to identify a permanent lab and advisor.

Qualifying Examination

All students must pass a qualifying examination, consisting of a written and oral component, which will normally be taken in the fall semester of the third year of graduate school.

Admission to Candidacy

To be admitted to candidacy, students must satisfy the requirements of the Graduate School, which includes passing all qualifying examinations and completing all required course work.

Dissertation Proposal

All students must defend orally a written dissertation proposal to their dissertation committee. After successful defense, the proposal must be submitted to the director of graduate studies in biology and approved by the Graduate School.

Dissertation

A dissertation embodying the results of original research shall be submitted to and approved by the Department of Biology and the Graduate School. The general regulations of the Graduate School concerning the preparation of the dissertation must be met. These rules include a public oral defense of the written dissertation.

Teaching

At least one semester of supervised teaching is required of all doctoral students.