Doctoral Program in Biology
The Ph.D. program in Biology at the University of Missouri–St. Louis emphasizes both empirical and theoretical approaches to biological research. Students develop strong foundational skills in biology while pursuing advanced training in a specific emphasis area. The program is designed to prepare graduates for advanced careers in academic research and teaching, as well as positions in government agencies, nonprofit organizations, and industry.
Students pursue the Ph.D. within one of three emphasis areas:
Formal degree requirements are described in the University Bulletin. The information below provides a general overview of the program structure.
Ph.D. Degree Requirements
University-wide degree requirements are established by the Graduate Faculty of UMSL. Detailed descriptions of these requirements can be found in the Bulletin.
The Ph.D. requires 60 graduate credit hours. At least 30 of these hours must be taken at the 5000 or 6000 level. With the explicit consent of the advisory committee, students may apply up to 3 credit hours of 3000-level coursework from allied departments toward the degree. Biology courses at the 3000 level or below cannot be counted for graduate credit. In addition, at least 31 of the 60 credit hours must be completed at UMSL.
All Ph.D. students must complete:
- Research
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- 30 credit hours of graduate research (BIOL 6905)
- Coursework (30 credit hours), including:
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- Introduction to Graduate Research in Biology (BIOL 5178, 1 credit hour; taken in the first year)
- Ethical Issues in Biology (BIOL 5179, 1 credit hour; taken in the first year)
- Advanced Applied Bioinformatics (BIOL 5436, 3 credit hours)
- Biostatistics (BIOL 4122, 3 credit hours)
- Advanced Genetics (BIOL 5012, 3 credit hours)
- Advanced Evolution (BIOL 5302, 3 credit hours)
- At least 6 credit hours of Graduate Seminar (BIOL 6889, 2 credit hours each)
In addition, all students must meet annually with their advisory committee to review progress and plan the next stages of their training.
Transfer Credit
Students may transfer up to 20 credit hours of graduate coursework completed at another institution. Transfer credit must follow the Biology Department’s Course Transfer Policy and is coordinated with the student’s graduate advisor. All transfers require approval from both the Biology Graduate Committee and the Graduate School.
Qualifying Examination
Students must pass a qualifying examination, which typically takes place in the fall of the third year. Students entering the program with a completed M.S. degree may take the qualifying examination earlier, as specified in the Qualifying Exam Policy.
The qualifying examination includes both written and oral components and is administered by a faculty committee that does not include the student’s primary research advisor.
Students who fail to complete the qualifying exam on schedule will be placed on academic probation and may be dismissed from the program. Students who fail the exam are placed on probation but are allowed one additional attempt.
Dissertation Proposal
All students must prepare a written dissertation proposal and defend it orally before their dissertation committee before the start of the 4th year in the program.
The proposal is intended to provide detailed feedback on the design, feasibility, and scope of the proposed dissertation research. Although the proposal is not a binding contract, it serves as an important milestone for refining the research plan before substantial time and resources have been invested.
Students who fail to complete the proposal defense on schedule will be placed on academic probation for one term and risk dismissal from the graduate program.
Admission to Candidacy
To be admitted to doctoral candidacy, students must meet the requirements of the Graduate School, including:
- Passing all qualifying examinations
- Completing required coursework
- Successfully defending the dissertation proposal
After admission to candidacy, students need to register for only one credit hour per semester to maintain full-time status, as long as they are on track to meet the credit hour requirements prior to their planned graduation date.
Dissertation
The Ph.D. dissertation must present the results of original research and must be approved by both the Department of Biology and the Graduate School. Graduate School regulations governing dissertation preparation must be followed, including a public oral defense of the written dissertation. Dissertations should be prepared in a format suitable for one or more peer-reviewed scientific publications.
Teaching Requirement
All doctoral students are required to complete at least one semester of supervised teaching as part of their professional training.
