Program of Study
First year. The first year of graduate study is spent in course
work, independent reading, and exploratory research. The number of courses
constituting a full schedule for the first year will vary, but typically
each quarter will include three lecture courses, two lecture courses and
a seminar, or two lecture courses and a research rotation.
Students are required to undertake laboratory rotations in at least two
different laboratories before beginning their dissertation research. These
rotations can be performed during the first academic year or during the
summer quarter (either before the first year or between the first and
second years).
Seminars given by invited speakers are regularly offered and students
are strongly urged to attend. A separate series of meetings is presented
in the fall and winter quarters by faculty to introduce students to their
research. Before beginning their second year, students complete Part I
of their qualifying examination. This examination covers the material
of the core courses taken during the first year.
Second year. During the second year students usually complete their
coursework and choose a research advisor and laboratory for Ph.D. research.
After selecting an advisor, students will spend most of their time developing
a research project. By the end of the second year, each student’s
thesis committee will be named. Its members are appointed by the curriculum
committee in consultation with the student and the student’s advisor.
The student then prepares a written proposal for dissertation research
and defends this proposal before the thesis committee; this constitutes
Part II of the qualifying exam.
Advanced years. After the qualifying exam, the student spends full
time on thesis research, although the faculty urges students to continue
to take advantage of the advanced courses and seminars that are offered.
Finally, each graduating student writes a dissertation describing his
or her research, presents the work in a public seminar, and defends it
before a faculty examining committee.
Evaluation. Throughout their term as graduate students, students are
expected to have frequent informal conversations with the chair of the
committee, professors in their courses, their research advisor, and members
of their thesis committee. In this way, students can obtain frequent appraisals
of their progress and constructive advice.
Formal evaluation of each student’s progress continues every academic
year. In the first and second years, the evaluation is based on the student’s
performance in courses, laboratory rotations and the qualifying examination.
In later years, the research advisor and thesis committee evaluate and
report on the student’s progress annually.
If the committee is apprised of any deficiencies in performance, the student
will receive a letter describing those deficiencies and making suggestions
about how to remedy them.
Requirements for the Ph.D. Degree
A Ph.D. candidate must fulfill certain formal course work requirements,
pass the qualifying examination, and present a satisfactory dissertation
describing the results of original research.
The committee expects a knowledge of and proficiency in contemporary developmental
biology as well as auxiliary fields of molecular biology, cell biology,
and genetics. This requirement will normally be met by fulfilling the
formal course work listed below. However, courses taken at other institutions,
in other departments, or as part of the medical school curriculum may
substitute for required committee courses with the approval of the curriculum
committee.
Formal Course Work
The Division of the Biological Sciences’ requirement of nine graded
course units may be met by registering for a combination of formal courses
and research credits. During the first year of graduate work students
ordinarily complete one course in molecular biology, one in cell biology,
one in genetics, and three courses in developmental biology.
This
text last revised on 9/2/2003.
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