Degrees and Requirements
The Division of the Biological Sciences offers the degrees of Master
of Science, Doctor of Philosophy, Doctor of Medicine, or Doctor of Medicine
with Honors. Combined degrees (A.B./S.M. or M.D./Ph.D.) are available
within certain special programs.
Recommendation for any of these degrees is conditional on the satisfactory
completion of the academic requirements for the degree and the maintenance
of proper conduct by the student while in the University.
Master of Science
At this time, only the Department of Health Studies offers a program
leading specifically to the Master of Science degree. Otherwise, this
degree is generally awarded in only two circumstances.
- Those individuals not continuing in their Ph.D. program of study may
be awarded a terminal masters degree.
- Some students who are continuing their Ph.D. programs specify a desire
to receive a transitional Master of Science degree.
Doctor of Philosophy
A general statement of the conditions under which this degree is awarded
is presented here. The more specific departmental requirements are described
in the sections outlining the offerings of each department.
- Bachelors degree from an accredited undergraduate institution or equivalent
training.
- A minimum of three years of graduate work beyond the level of the
bachelors degree. Credit for graduate work done in other institutions
may be given if recommended by the department concerned and approved
by the Dean for Graduate Affairs.
- Completion of nine, letter-graded courses at the University of Chicago,
with a B average in course grades. This is a minimum; individual units
may have more stringent requirements.
- Preliminary examinations testing the candidates qualifications for
candidacy.
- Fulfillment of the divisional teaching requirement. Before the Ph.D.
can be awarded, students are required to teach twice (two quarters)
for credit in pre-approved teaching assistant positions in the biological
sciences.
- Fulfillment of the divisional ethics requirement. All students are
required to successfully complete a course in scientific integrity and
the ethical conduct of research, usually in the first year of study.
- Formal admission to candidacy for the degree, recommended by a department
or committee, and approved by the Dean for Graduate Affairs at least
eight months before the degree is granted. Students are not admitted
to candidacy until they have passed their departmental preliminary examination.
- A program of work for the degree, definitively formulated, approved
by the department or committee concerned, and filed in the Office of
Graduate Affairs along with the candidacy application at least eight
months before the degree is granted. It must include the equivalent
of at least three full quarters (9 course credits) devoted to research.
(It may not include more than 9 course credits which are also submitted
by the student toward the degree of Doctor of Medicine.)
- Acceptance of a dissertation submitted by the student to the department
or committee having jurisdiction over the student's program.
- A successful final examination given by the department or committee
concerned.
A.B./S.M. Degree
Students who have completed at least three years of undergraduate study
in the College of the University of Chicago but have not completed their
bachelors degree may sometimes qualify for admission to a special A.B./S.M.
program leading directly to the masters degree. Acceptance into such a
program depends on a students qualifications and on departmental policy.
Currently only a few departments offer such a combined program. Inquiries
should be made to the appropriate departments or the College office.
Doctor of Medicine
This degree is normally awarded after fourteen quarters of satisfactory
full-time work at the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine.
To qualify for the M.D. degree, students must have completed at least
the last eight academic quarters of medical studies in the School. See
section on the Pritzker School of Medicine for details.
Doctor of Medicine with Honors
Each year at the close of the winter quarter, the committee on promotions
entertains nominations from individual departments of senior medical students
to be awarded graduation with honors. It is the purpose of this committee
to select those students who have demonstrated leadership qualities, outstanding
scholastic performance, and significant research abilities and accomplishments.
Membership in Alpha Omega Alpha and Sigma Xi is taken into consideration,
but is not a prerequisite for the award. The names of students so honored
appear in the Convocation Program followed by the notation "with
Honors." This notation also appears both on the official academic
records and on the diplomas of such students.
M.D./Ph.D. Degrees
In addition to the regular degree programs in Medicine (M.D.) and the
Basic Sciences (Ph.D.), the Division of the Biological Sciences administers
a few special joint degree programs, such as the Medical Scientist Training
Program and the Growth and Development M.D./Ph.D. program.
This text was last revised on 8/29/2003.
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