PhD in Biological Sciences
Degree Requirements
The doctoral degree requires a minimum of 72 credit hours. Fifteen hours are composed of formal coursework at the 8000 or 9000 level including the courses listed below.
| Required Courses | ||
| BIO_SC 8050 | Professional Survival Skills | 2 |
| BIO_SC 8060 | Ethical Conduct of Research | 1 |
| BIO_SC 8087 | Seminar | 1 |
| BIO_SC 8187 | Seminar in Areas of Specialization | 1 |
The remainder of the 72 hours is made up of seminars and thesis research. Otherwise, students design their program of study based on their research interest and in consultation with their faculty advisor.
Admission Eligibility & Criteria
The Graduate program is centered on 3 pillars: innovative research, excellence in mentoring/teaching, and promoting a culture of inclusion and equity. Our goal is to foster a community in which research, teaching, and community engagement are recognized as synergistic activities of equal importance. Therefore, we have moved away from a metric-based approach and instead use a holistic evaluation of candidates. At the forefront of this process is the recognition that inclusion and equity are the foundations of a community in which diverse ideas and perspectives are likely to flourish. As such, the Division of Biological Sciences prioritizes evidence of attributes such as drive, diligence, passion for sharing scientific knowledge, and a willingness to take scientific risks over measures such as GPA, standardized test scores, and other similar qualifications.
Most of our incoming students have a broad background in biology and mathematics and have completed organic chemistry and a year of physics. Outstanding students with undergraduate degrees in areas other than biology are encouraged to apply with the understanding that subject matter in biology will be addressed in the first year of graduate study.
- Fall deadline: December 1
- Minimum TOEFL scores:
| Internet-based test (iBT) | Paper-based test (PBT) |
|---|---|
| 250 | 608 |
Required Application Materials
To the Graduate School:
- All required Graduate Admissions documents
To the Biological Sciences Program:
- Official Transcripts
- Please see Division of Biological Sciences Graduate Studies Application page for required materials.
- 3 Reference letters
- Résumé
Admission Contact Information
Division of Biological Sciences
218 Tucker Hall
Columbia, MO 65211
(573) 884-4144