BIOCHM:PHD - Doctor of Philosophy in Biochemistry
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The PhD in Biochemistry requires a minimum 75 semester hours beyond the baccalaureate degree. The Dissertation Advisor and Committee will assist the student to choose a curriculum suitable to the student’s interests, goals and background. This will include selection of electives as well as suggestions for other courses that may be needed to develop skills critical for the student’s research and career goals, especially quantitative skills. A grade of C or higher must be earned in all courses.
Students must complete a minimum of 15 credits of PhD Dissertation.
As the PhD degree requires 75 credits post bachelor degree, electives are chosen based on an academic plan designed to fulfill all degree requirements.
Rotation and Choosing an Advisor
Students will spend 4-5 weeks in the laboratories of three Biochemistry faculty. Some flexibility in length of rotation is acceptable. In most cases, the rotations will be completed during the first semester of study, but an extension into the second semester is possible. At the end of each rotation, the student and the faculty member will complete an evaluation form. After completing a minimum of three rotations, students will submit an ordered list of three advisors they would like to work with. The Biochemistry Graduate Committee will make the research advisor assignments.
Two semesters of supervised teaching or documentation of the equivalent amount of teaching experience is required.
Each student must present a public seminar on their proposed research.
(1) Hold a BS degree in Biology or Chemistry or the equivalent from an accredited college or university. Previous completion of at least 28 credits, including labs, of chemistry or biology courses at the upper division level is required. The following courses are recommended as background regardless of undergraduate major: biochemistry or molecular biology, two semesters of organic chemistry, and two semesters of general biology. Students are expected to have taken either physical chemistry or genetics as an undergraduate. Students not having taken at least one of these courses will be required to make up this deficiency either before or during their first year of graduate study by taking appropriate coursework.
(2) A GPA of at least 3.0 (on a four-point scale) during the last 60 credits of the undergraduate program.
(3) Three letters of recommendation evaluating the applicant’s potential for graduate and research work.
(4) A statement of purpose/research interests.
(5) Receive approval from the Biochemistry Graduate Committee.
(6) Foreign students whose native language is not English must obtain a score of 80 or higher on the TOEFL iBT or 550 on the paper TOEFL or a 6.5 on the IELTS.
There are no majors associated with this program.
There are no tracks, specializations, concentrations, areas of emphasis, or other curricular offerings associated with this program.