Program Overview

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Program Overview

The Department of Biological Sciences offers a Doctor of Philosophy with Specialization in Molecular Biology and Genetics. This program strives to develop scholars familiar with literature in their field, capable of identifying new problems and new directions of endeavour in their field, and competent with the methods of data collection and analysis essential to do research.

Why Study this Program?

Students will fulfil the program's objectives through several forums: a supervised research program, coursework, participation in seminar programs, and defending their dissertation. The Department has research laboratories and instructional facilities for 250-300 graduate students, including facilities for digital image processing, electron and confocal microscopy, analytical chemistry, molecular biology, fermentation, biotechnology, DNA synthesis and sequencing, cultivation of microbial cells and cells of yeasts, plants, insects, and mammals.

Areas of Specialization

There are six areas of specialization within the Department:

• Ecology
• Microbiology and Biotechnology
• Molecular Biology and Genetics
• Plant Biology
• Physiology, Development and Cell Biology
• Systematics and Evolution Students either register in one of these areas of specialization for their program or, with permission of the supervisor and approval of the Associate Chair (Graduate Studies), register toward a degree of MSc or PhD with specialization in Biological Sciences.

Entrance Requirements

The Department's minimum admission requirements are a 4-year undergraduate degree with an admission GPA of at least 3.3 on the 4-point scale from the University of Alberta, or an equivalent qualification and standing from a recognized institution. Applicants must also provide proof of English Language Proficiency, with a minimum Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) of 100 overall with a score of at least 22 on each of the individual skill areas (internet-based), or an equivalent score on an English Language Proficiency test approved by the Faculty of Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies.

Application Requirements

Applicants must:

• Identify a potential supervisor willing to provide supervision
• Have the minimum guaranteed funding, attained through one or a combination of scholarships, teaching assistantships, or external funding
• Submit a complete Departmental Package, including a Curriculum Vitae, Financial Support Information, and Research Interest Form
• Submit three letters of reference, with academic letters of reference preferred

Program Requirements

Students are required to complete:

• Research leading to a thesis
• A minimum of 6 units in graded coursework
• A seminar component
• A candidacy exam
• One term of graduate teaching
• 8 hours of ethics activities
• 8 hours of professional development activities

Thesis

Students must present their thesis research to the Department in the form of a public seminar, either on the same day or the day before the thesis defence. Students are also strongly encouraged to present annual progress reports to their supervisory committee.

Coursework and Seminar Component

Individual programs will be developed by agreement between the student and the supervisor/supervisory committee. Students typically register in GENET 500 and GENET 510, and must register in at least 3 units in graded courses in their first year.

Candidacy Exam

Students are required to complete a written and oral candidacy exam by the end of their third year.

Teaching

Students must hold a 0.5 (6 hour per week) graduate teaching assistantship for one semester.

Ethics

Students must complete 8 hours of approved ethics activities, with ethics hours approved by the Associate Chair (Graduate Studies).

Professional Development

Students must complete 8 hours of approved professional development activities, with PD hours approved by the Associate Chair (Graduate Studies).

Residence Requirement

Candidates for the PhD degree must complete a minimum of two academic years (equivalent to four terms) in full-time residence at the University of Alberta.

Length of Program

The time required to complete the PhD degree will vary according to the previous training of the applicant and the nature of the research undertaken; however, a minimum of three years is normally required. The maximum time to complete the PhD program as set by the Faculty of Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies is six years.

Courses

Graduate courses can be found in Course Listings under the subject headings Bioinformatics, Biology, Botany, Entomology, Genetics, Immunology and Infection, Marine Science, Microbiology, Paleontology, and Zoology.

Tuition and Fees

All students entering the graduate program receive financial support for at least the first two years and four months of a full-time MSc program, and the first five years of a full-time PhD program, at a minimum guaranteed rate.

Scholarships and Financial Support

The Faculty of Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies administers over $29 million each year in scholarships, awards, and financial support for graduate students, as well as financial and loan advising. Additional scholarships are also available for specific faculties and programs.