Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Graduate Program
Graduate training provides students with unparalleled opportunities for scientific research and career development. Historically, most students have enrolled in the Ph.D. program, but a thesis-based M.S. program is also available. Graduate students conduct research under the supervision of a faculty advisory committee. The Ph.D. curriculum includes graduate courses, an advancement examination with written and oral components, and an original dissertation with an oral defense typically completed within five years of enrollment. The M.S. program requires 28 units of coursework along with a research proposal, original thesis, and oral defense typically completed within two or three years.
Applicants for this program should have a solid undergraduate program in biology and ecology, emphasizing both research and fieldwork. In addition, course work in statistics, mathematics, and physical and chemical sciences is expected. The deadline for application is December 1.
The graduate program offers both the Plan I M.S. and the Ph.D. in Biological Sciences.
Requirements
| Students are required to complete a minimum of four core courses during their first six academic quarters. Two of those courses are required graduate-level courses that all students must take: | |
| ECO EVO 204 | Writing Grant Proposals |
| ECO EVO 207 | Quantitative Methods in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology |
| In addition, students must take two additional courses (3-4 units each) at the graduate level. The courses can be taken from any department on campus, but must be approved by the student's committee as relevant to their area of research. Both courses should be taken at the graduate level. A list of some acceptable courses in EEB includes but is not limited to: | |
| ECO EVO 208 | Ecological and Evolutionary Physiology |
| ECO EVO 227L | Physiological Plant Ecology Lab |
| ECO EVO 205 | Special Topics in Ecology |
| ECO EVO 206 | Special Topics in Evolution |
| ECO EVO 282 | Fundamentals of Informatics for Biologists |
| ECO EVO 247 | Behavioral Endocrinology |
| ECO EVO 253 | Functional and Structural Evolutionary Genomics |
If a student wishes to request an exception (an exemption or a substitution), the student must submit a written request justifying the reason to the Graduate Advisor. The Graduate Advisor and the student’s Advisory Committee (or prior to the formation of the Advisory Committee, the Prescription Committee) will decide whether to grant the request with final approval by Graduate Division.
Students who enter the program through the Gateway Program are required to take ECO EVO 204 and one additional course at the graduate level in the dissertation topic area.
Students are required to maintain a grade point average of B or greater in the five core courses required for that student. The grade of B- is not considered a passing grade for a graduate student. Students must pass the four core courses by the end of their second academic year. Any extensions of this deadline require approval by the Graduate Advisor. In the event a student receives an Incomplete in any of the core courses, the deficiency must be cleared by the deadline specified by the Graduate Advisor.
Teaching Requirement
To ensure that all students gain teaching experience, all students are required to serve as Teaching Assistants for a minimum of one quarter for M.S. students and two quarters for Ph.D. students. These are minima, and students may teach additional quarters during their program.
Research
Students should register for research units (ECO EVO 200A, ECO EVO 200B, or ECO EVO 200C) under their faculty advisor's section each academic quarter. Graduate students are advised on their research by a faculty advisor and a three-person advisory committee with whom the student meets at least twice each year. The progress of each student is reviewed by the student’s advisory committee, together with the Graduate Advisor, twice each academic year.
Advancement to Candidacy and Normative Time for Completion
Doctoral students who Advance to Candidacy meet the M.S. degree requirements can receive the M.S. degree by submitting the M.S. degree advancement to candidacy paperwork, and then submitting the M.S. degree completion paperwork in a subsequent quarter.
The normative time for completion of the Ph.D. is five years, and the maximum time permitted is seven years. All requirements for the M.S. degree should be completed within two years, with a maximum of three years allowed for completion of the program. Advancement to doctoral candidacy by an oral examination is expected during the third year.