PhD in Biological Sciences
The PhD degree is aimed at students headed for professional careers that include research
and those intending to teach at the university level. Many students who enter the
PhD program already have a Master's degree, though this is not required. PhD graduates
from our department have gone on to careers as faculty members at universities in
the US and beyond, as scientists at state and federal organizations (e.g., 草榴社区
Department of Fish and Game, the US Fish and Wildlife Service, the US Forest Service,
the National Parks Service), environmental consulting firms, and non-profit organizations
(e.g., ABR, The Nature Conservancy, Smithsonian Institution).
PhD students work with a graduate advisory committee to develop a dissertation that
represents a significant and original intellectual contribution to their field of
interest. Although there is no formal course requirement, most PhD students do complete
coursework tailored to their educational goals. Dissertations typically include three
or four manuscripts suitable for publication in scientific journals, and there is
a strong expectation that one or more of these will be published prior to degree completion.
Degree completion typically takes five to seven years.
