PhD in Genetics Area Program
Degree Requirements
Prerequisites include the following courses or their equivalents: BIO_SC 2200 General Genetics, BIOCHM 4270 Biochemistry, STAT 1400 Elementary Statistics for Life Sciences.
In general, the minimum requirements for the PhD degree, beyond the requirements of the Graduate School, are outlined below. Others are determined in consultation between the student and faculty advisor.
- advanced courses in genetics, biochemistry and molecular biology
- regular participation in the genetics area seminar program
- successful completion of a comprehensive examination
- at least one semester of teaching in a genetics course
- 3 seminar presentations
- research, dissertation and oral defense
| BIO_SC 8060 | Ethical Conduct of Research | 1 |
| BIO_SC 8050 | Professional Survival Skills | 2 |
| Core Courses - select one from each of 2 areas | ||
| At least one must be graduate level, and you must receive a grade of B or better. | ||
| Molecular Genetics | ||
| Molecular Biology | ||
| Topics in Chemistry (Bioorganic Chemistry of Nucleic Acids) | ||
| Molecular Biology II | ||
or BIOCHM 9432 | Molecular Biology II | |
| Molecular Methods in Nucleic Acids | ||
| Developmental Genetics | ||
| Developmental Genetics | ||
| Molecular Biology of Plant Growth and Development | ||
| Population and Quantitative Genetics | ||
| Advanced Plant Breeding | ||
| Applied Quantitative and Statistical Genetics | ||
| Applied Livestock Genetics | ||
| Genetics of Populations | ||
| Ecological Genetics | ||
| Specialty Courses - pick any two | ||
| At least one must be graduate level, and you must receive a grade of B or better. | ||
| Genetics of Particular Organisms | ||
| Evolution | ||
| Human Inherited Diseases | ||
| Advanced Plant Genetics | ||
| Speciation | ||
| Topics in Computer Science (Bioinformatics) | ||
| Foundations in Bacterial Pathogenesis | ||
| Genetics of Plant-Microorganism Interaction | ||
| Immunogenetics | ||
| Immunology | ||
| Advanced Immunology | ||
| Electives | ||
| One elective approved by student's committee in life science, including genetics or ancillary subjects such as statistics, computer science, etc. Must be 3000 level or above with at least 3 credit hours. | ||
| GAP Seminar | ||
| All students must be enrolled every semester. | ||
| Student Seminars | ||
| Students are required to present 3 research seminars during their tenure. At least 1 must be given in the GAP seminar after the student's second year in the program. Other acceptable presentations, with approval of the student's committee, include a 15 minute talk or an in-person poster presentation at a national or international meeting, or in a public, advertised forum. | ||
Financial Aid from the Program
Some programs require an extra form or statement from those who wish to be considered for internal assistantships, fellowships or other funding packages. Check the program website or ask the program contact for details.
Application Deadline
Fall deadline: January 15
Admission Criteria
- Minimum TOEFL scores:
| Internet-based test (iBT) | Paper-based test (PBT) |
|---|---|
| 93 | 580 |
- Minimum GRE scores:
| When did you take the GRE? | Verbal + Quantitative | Analytical |
|---|---|---|
| Prior to August 1, 2011 | 1100 | 4.5 |
| On or after August 1, 2011 | 302 | 4.5 |
- Minimum GPA: 3.0 in last 60 hours
- Bachelor’s degree
- One or more courses in each of the following: organic chemistry, biochemistry, mathematics (calculus and statistics), physics, introductory genetics
- Research experience highly desirable
- Broad background in biology
Note: Deficiencies in the subjects listed can be remedied after admission.
Required Application Materials
To the Graduate School:
- All required Graduate School documents
To the Genetics Area Program:
Genetics Area Program application (download form from website)
- GRE scores
- TOEFL scores (international applicants)
- 3 letters of recommendation (use provided form)
- Personal statement