The Graduate School of Arts and Sciences requires the completion of 54 credit hours of graduate level courses for the doctoral degree. Full-time graduate students are required to carry twelve credit hours each semester. The Department expects that the required 54 credit hours will be completed during the first five semesters of study. After this, students usually register for 12 credit hours of non-topical (i.e. dissertation) research.

I. Formal Course Work
Of the 54 credit hours of course work required by the Graduate School, a minimum of 20 credit hours must be taken in graduate level lecture and laboratory courses. Credit for up to 8 hours of graduate level course work taken after completion of the undergraduate degree at this or other institutions may be granted upon petition to the Graduate Committee. Regardless of the area of research interest and specialization, each graduate student is urged to seek a broad background in the biological sciences by a selection of diverse courses.

II. First Year Introduction to Research & Research Ethics
Each first year student is required to register for and participate in the weekly "Scientific Papers and Presentations" during the fall and spring semesters. "Scientific Papers and Presentations" is offered under the supervision of faculty advisors as the graded course sequence BIOLOGY 825 and 826. The purpose is to introduce the new students to the general research areas of the department, the scientific literature, and to provide the students with exposure to the faculty.

Each first year student is required to complete a one-credit course in Research Ethics (GSAS 710). This course is generally given during the fall semester.

III. Advanced Colloquia and Seminars
Each student is required to complete a total of 8 credit hours in advanced colloquia or seminar-type courses. At least 4 hours must be completed in one or more of the following Biology colloquia (2 credits each): BIOL 80l (Development), BIOL 802 (Physiology), BIOL 803 (Genetics), BIOL 804 (Biology), BIOL 806 (Neurobiology), BIOL 807 (Population Biology), and BIOL 810 (Molecular Biology).

A student may petition the Graduate Committee to accept up to 4 credit hours in other advanced graduate seminars or seminar-like courses in fulfillment of this requirement. The petition must outline the nature of the alternative seminar or course, must be countersigned by the instructor, and must be presented to and approved by the Graduate Committee during the semester in which the course is taken for credit.

IV. Other Courses or Training
Besides the formal course work listed above, additional courses or training may be recommended or required by the student's major professor or Dissertation Committee. In particular, proficiency in computer science, in statistics, or in other specialized areas, may be set as additional requirements by the Dissertation Committee. The major professor or Dissertation Committee may also recommend or require that a student participate in course work or independent study at a field station or at another institution.

V. Graduate Student Research Talks
During each academic year, each Ph.D. student in year 03 and above is required to give a research seminar to the Department on her/his dissertation research. These research progress reports are meant to stimulate the exchange of scientific discourse within the department and to give students valuable speaking experience.