Programme Specification
The Bachelor of Science in Biology program, commonly known as B.S. in Biology, was first offered by the Institute of Biology, UP Diliman in 1986 when the Department of Botany and the Department of Zoology merged. The program is a 4-year undergraduate course that requires a number of 152-156 course units.
Expected Learning Outcomes and Attributes
The graduates of the B.S. in Biology program should be able to:
1. generate an integrative understanding of biological principles learned from various courses;
2. develop laboratory and field techniques important in biological research;
3. perform analytical techniques in examining biological and other related data/information;
4. construct scientifically valid ideas that can help resolve critical biological issues of national and international importance;
5. produce relevant biological research outputs;
6. communicate biological research outputs effectively through written and oral methods; and
7. demonstrate scientific values and positive work ethics.
The attributes of B.S. in Biology graduates:
1. competent
2. innovative
3. nationalistic
4. internationally Competitive
5. service-oriented
6. ethical
Admission Requirement
The Institute of Biology follows the University of the Philippines admission policy for incoming freshmen at the Bachelor’s level. The B.S. in Biology program is a quota-course meaning it only accepts a limited number of freshmen students; around 120 freshmen every Academic Year. The University through the Office of Admissions conducts the University of the Philippines College Admission Test (UPCAT), which is administered once every year prior to the start of the coming Academic Year.
Applicants of the UPCAT must be a senior high school student expected to graduate before the start of the next academic year from an accredited high school of the Department of Education or from a secondary school abroad. They may also be Philippine Educational Placement Test (PEPT) taker, provided that they have the certification of eligibility to enter college. In addition, the applicant must have final grades for three years in high school preceding the year of its graduation and must not have taken the UPCAT previously and must not have taken any college subject/s prior to taking the UPCAT.
An application for the UPCAT is processed in five steps. First, applicants may choose to fill out the UPCAT Form 1, also called the UPCAT Application for Freshman Admission, in two ways: through the online application or through the manual application. The forms for the manual application can be obtained from the System Office of Admissions or from the authorized school representative. Second, the UPCAT Form 2, also known as the Secondary School Record, contains the high school records of the applicant and is given to authorized school officials, who then fill out the form. Third, the applicant will need to pay a non-refundable application fee to the authorized bank account. However, some applicants may be exempt from paying the fee provided that they belong to the top ten of their graduating batch or if their annual gross family income is equal to or less than Php 130,000.00. Fourth, the applicant will need to submit the fully accomplished UPCAT Form 1 and Form 2 and other required documents to the UP Office of the Admissions, Diliman campus, or to any selected regional UPCAT application filing center. Lastly, once the forms and documents are submitted, an officer at the UP Office of the Admissions will give a test permit to the applicant.
In the UPCAT Application forms, applicants are asked to choose 2 UP campuses among all UP campuses nationwide, as well as their choice of degree programs, up to 4 for each campus in order of their preference. The UPCAT is usually held over the course of two days to accommodate a large number of applicants. The exam lasts for about five hours and consists of four subtests, namely, Language Proficiency (English and Filipino), Science, Math, and Reading Comprehension (English and Filipino). The standardized UPCAT scores of the applicants take into consideration the weighted average of the applicant’s high school final grades for three years, as well as their UPCAT performance, and will serve as their UP admission grade. The applicant is then ranked based on their UP admission grade and will be screened based on their choice of campus because each UP campus has a certain cut-off grade. Moreover, the socioeconomic and geographic factors are also taken into consideration along with the UP admission grade. Applicants that fail to qualify for their first choice of UP Campus are automatically screened for their second choice of UP campus.
The results are usually released a year after the examination before the new academic year starts. The list of the qualified applicants will be released through online media, posted at the Office of the Admissions of the University, sent to the school principal and individual notices will also be sent to all examinees. The qualified applicants will need to register according to the instruction provided by the college or unit to which he/she have been accepted.
Curriculum (before AY 2018-2019) | Curriculum (effective AY 2018-2019)
Admission Requirements:
At least 15 units of college biological sciences
At least 10 units of college chemistry including general, organic, and biochemistry
| Curriculum | |
| Subject Title | # of Units |
| Bio 120 (General Microbiology) | 4 |
| Bio 121 (Plant Physiology)* | 4* |
| Bio 122 (Animal Physiology)* | 4* |
| Bio 123 (Fundamentals of Microbial Physiology)* | 3* |
| Bio 133 (Developmental Biology) | 5 |
| Bio 140 (Fundamentals of Genetics) | 5 |
| Bio 150 (Fundamentals of Cell & Molecular Biology) | 5 |
| Bio 160 (Fundamentals of Ecology) | 5 |
| Bio 191 (Systematics & Evolution) | 3 |
| *any two of three physiology courses | |
| Total Required Credits: | 34-35 |
Admission Requirements
1. Bachelor’s degree in Biology or related fields
1.1. A general weighted average (GWA) of at least 2.0
1.2. An applicant with a GWA between 2.01 and 2.75 may be admitted to the program on probation until and provided that the student will obtain an average grade of at least 2.0 in the first 9 units of graduate courses he/she enrolls in.
2. Proof of English proficiency for students whose native language is not English
3. Completed application form and other required documents submitted to the College of Science Graduate Office. Deadline of application may also be found at the site.
4. Passing of the IB graduate placement exam (GPE) and interview – Applicants must pass at least three of five areas (Cell and Molecular Biology, Developmental Biology, Ecology and Taxonomy, Genetics, and Physiology) of the GPE
*Students are highly encouraged to identify a potential thesis adviser prior to admission.
Curriculum Map of the M.S. Biology Program
| First Year | Second Year | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First Sem | Second Sem | First Sem | Second Sem | ||||
| Subject Title | # of Units | Subject Title | # of Units | Subject Title | # of Units | Subject Title | # of Units |
| Bio 220 (Chemical Physiology) | 3 | Bio 260 (Advanced Ecology) | 3 | Special Elective | 3 | Bio 300 (M.S. Thesis) | 6 |
| Bio 240 (Advanced Genetics) | 3 | Bio 250 (Advanced Cell & Molecular Biology) | 3 | Special Elective | 3 | ||
| Bio 230 (Differentiation in Embryonic Systems) | 3 | Special Elective | 3 | Bio 296 (Seminar) | 1 | ||
| Bio 299 (Research in Biology) | 2 | ||||||
| Total Credits | 9 | Total Credits | 9 | Total Credits | 9 | Total Credits | 6 |
| Cell & Molecular Biology Electives | Developmental Biology Electives | ||
| Subject Title | # of Units | Subject Title | # of Units |
| Bio 241 (Advanced Molecular Genetics) | 3 | Bio 241 (Advanced Molecular Genetics) | 3 |
| Bio 251 (Advanced Immunobiology)* | 3 | Bio 281 (Experimental Design & Statistical Analysis) | 3 |
| Microbio 212 (Ultrastructure of Microorganisms) | 3 | Bio 397 (Current Topics in Biology) | 3 |
| Microbio 271 (Protozoology)* | 3 | Plant Developmental Biology: | |
| MBB 221 (Advances in Cell & Tissue Culture)* | 3 | Bio 232 (Advances in Plant Developmental Biology)* | 3 |
| Chem 240 (Advanced Biochemistry) | 3 | Bio 234 (Developmental Morphology of Vascular Plants) | 3 |
| Chem 241 (Lipids & Related Systems) | 3 | Bio 221 (Advanced Plant Physiology)* | 3 |
| Chem 242 (Carbohydrates & Related Systems) | 3 | ||
| Chem 243 (Nucleic Acids) | 3 | Animal Developmental Biology: | |
| Chem 244 (Proteins) | 3 | Bio 233 (Advances in Animal Developmental Biology)* | 3 |
| Chem 245 (Enzymes) | 3 | Bio 251 (Advanced Immunobiology)* | 3 |
| Chem 247 (Molecular Biochemistry) | 3 | Bio 222 (Advanced Animal Physiology)* | 3 |
| Bio 397 (Current Topics in Biology) | 3 | ||
| Ecology & Taxonomy Electives | Genetics Electives | Physiology Electives | |||
| Subject Title | # of Units | Subject Title | # of Units | Subject Title | # of Units |
| Bio 210 (Advanced Systematics) | 3 | Bio 241 (Advanced Molecular Genetics) | 3 | Bio 241 (Advanced Molecular Genetics) | 3 |
| Bio 262 (Freshwater Ecology) | 3 | Bio 242 (Cytogenetics) | 3 | Bio 224 (Stress Physiology)* | 3 |
| Bio 263 (Terrestrial Ecology) | 3 | Bio 243 (Population Genetics) | 3 | Bio 281 (Experimental Design & Statistical Analysis) | 3 |
| Bio 265 (Advanced Biogeography) | 3 | Bio 281 (Experimental Design & Statistical Analysis) | 3 | Chem 240 (Advanced Biochemistry) | 3 |
| Bio 397 (Current Topics in Biology) | 3 | Bio 397 (Current Topics in Biology) | 3 | Bio 397 (Current Topics in Biology) | 3 |
| Bio 271 (Advanced Parasitology)* | 3 | Bio 244 (Evolutionary Genetics) | 3 | Plant Physiology: | |
| Bio 244 (Evolutionary Genetics) | 3 | Microbio 241 (Advanced Microbial Genetics) | 3 | Bio 221 (Advanced Plant Physiology)* | 3 |
| Microbio 271 (Protozoology) | 3 | MBB 241 (Advances in Genetic Engineering) | 3 | Bio 232 (Advances in Plant Developmental Biology)* | 3 |
| MS 250 (Marine Ecology) | 3 | Chem 243 (Nucleic Acids) | 3 | ||
| Chem 245 (Enzymes) | 3 | Animal Physiology: | |||
| Chem 247 (Molecular Biochemistry) | 3 | Bio 222 (Advanced Animal Physiology)* | 3 | ||
| Bio 233 (Advances in Animal Developmental Biology)* | 3 | ||||
| Bio 251 (Advanced Immunobiology)* | 3 | ||||
* Students must have taken the following prerequisite courses or equivalent prior to enrolling in the corresponding graduate core courses:
- Bio 121 (Plant Physiology with lab) OR Bio 122 (Animal Physiology with lab), which are prerequisites for Bio 220, Bio 221/222, and Bio 224
- Bio 133 (Developmental Biology with lab), which is a prerequisite for Bio 230, Bio 232, Bio 233
- Bio 140 (Fundamentals of Genetics with lab), which is a prerequisite for Bio 240
- Bio 150 (Fundamentals of Cell & Molecular Biology with lab), which is a prerequisite for Bio 250, Bio 251, MBB 221
- Bio 160 (Fundamentals of Ecology with lab), which is a prerequisite for Bio 260
The student must have taken the following prerequisite courses if planning to take the respective elective courses:
- Bio 151 (Fundamentals of Immunobiology), which is a prerequisite for Bio 251
- Bio 171 (General Parasitology with lab), which is a prerequisite for Bio 271 and Microbio 271
Students who are interested in applying for stipends and research assistant positions, please refer to the Student Resource Page.
Admission Requirements
1. Bachelor’s degree in Biology or related fields
1.1. A general weighted average (GWA) of at least 2.0
1.2. An applicant with a GWA between 2.01 and 2.75 may be admitted to the program on probation until and provided that the student will obtain an average grade of at least 2.0 in the first 9 units of graduate courses he/she enrolls in.
2. Proof of English proficiency for students whose native language is not English
3. Completed application form and other required documents submitted to the College of Science Graduate Office. Deadline of application may also be found at the site.
4. Passing of the IB graduate placement exam (GPE) and interview – Applicants must pass at least two of three areas (Cell and Molecular Biology, Genetics, and Microbiology) of the GPE
*Students are highly encouraged to identify a potential thesis adviser prior to admission.
Curriculum Map of the M.S. Microbiology Program
| Curriculum | Elective | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Subject Title | # of Units | Subject Title | # of Units |
|
Bio 250 (Advanced Cell and Molecular Biology)
|
3 | Bio 241 (Advanced Molecular Genetics) | 3 |
| Microbio 211 (Microbial Systematics) | 3 | Physics 72 (Elementary Physics II) | 3 |
| Microbio 221 (Advanced Microbial Physiology) | 3 | Bio 251 (Advanced Immunobiology) | 3 |
| Microbio 241 (Advanced Microbial Genetics) | 3 | Microbio 212 (Ultrastructure of Microorganisms) | 3 |
| Microbio 261 (Advanced Microbial Ecology) | 3 | Microbio 251 (Microbial Pathogenesis) | 3 |
| Microbio 296 (Seminar) | 1 | Microbio 262 (Soil Microbiology) | 3 |
| Microbio 299 (Research in Microbiology) | 2 | Microbio 271 (Protozoology) | 3 |
| Microbio 300 (Thesis) | 6 | Microbio 281 (Industrial Microbiology) | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | MBB 215 (Biology of Viruses) | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | MBB 280 (Advances in Microbial Biotechnology) | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | MS 242 (Marine Microbiology) | 3 |
| MS 261 (Physiology of Marine Algae) | 3 | ||
| Total Required Credits: | 33 | FS 216 (Advanced Food Microbiology) | 3 |
| FS 236 (Industrial Food Fermentation) | 3 | ||
| FS 326 (Low Temperature Microbiology) | 3 | ||
Admission Requirements
1. B.S. or M.S. degree in Biology or related fields [a general weighted average (GWA) of at least 2.0 for B.S. applicants]
2. Proof of English proficiency for students whose native language is not English
3. Completed application form and other required documents submitted to the College of Science Graduate Office. Deadline of application may also be found at the site.
4. Passing of the IB graduate placement exam (GPE) and interview. [Applicants must pass at least three of six areas (Cell and Molecular Biology, Developmental Biology, Ecology and Taxonomy, Genetics, Microbiology, and Physiology) of the GPE]
5. Students who are already in the M.S. Program will be allowed to shift to the Ph.D. Program only after obtaining a GWA of at least 1.75 in 12 units of the prescribed graduate courses in one’s approved program of study.
*Students are highly encouraged to identify a potential thesis adviser prior to admission.
Curriculum Map of the Ph.D. Biology
| Curriculum for students with only a B.S. degree specializing in Cell Biology, Developmental Biology, Ecology & Taxonomy, Genetics, or Physiology |
Curriculum for students with only a B.S. degree specializing in Microbiology |
Curriculum for students with an M.S. degree specializing in Cell Biology, Developmental Biology, Ecology & Taxonomy, Genetics, or Physiology |
Curriculum for students with an M.S. degree specializing in Microbiology |
||||
| Subject Title | # of Units | Subject Title | # of Units | Subject Title | # of Units | Subject Title | # of Units |
| Bio 220 (Chemical Physiology) | 3 | Microbio 211 (Microbial Systematics) | 3 | Bio 220 (Chemical Physiology) | 3 | Microbio 211 (Microbial Systematics) | 3 |
| Bio 230 (Differentiation in Embryonic Systems) | 3 | Microbio 221 (Advanced Microbial Physiology) | 3 | Bio 230 (Differentiation in Embryonic Systems) | 3 | Microbio 221 (Advanced Microbial Physiology) | 3 |
| Bio 240 (Advanced Genetics) | 3 | Microbio 241 (Advanced Microbial Genetics) | 3 | Bio 240 (Advanced Genetics) | 3 | Microbio 241 (Advanced Microbial Genetics) | 3 |
| Bio 250 (Advanced Cell & Molecular Biology) | 3 | Microbio 261 (Advanced Microbial Ecology) | 3 | Bio 250 (Advanced Cell & Molecular Biology) | 3 | Microbio 261 (Advanced Microbial Ecology) | 3 |
| Bio 260 (Advanced Ecology) | 3 | Bio 250 (Advanced Cell and Molecular Biology) | 3 | Bio 260 (Advanced Ecology) | 3 | Bio 250 (Advanced Cell and Molecular Biology) | 3 |
| Bio 296 (Seminar) | 1 | Bio 296 (Seminar) | 1 | Bio 296 (Seminar) | 1 | Bio 296 (Seminar) | 1 |
| Bio 400 (Ph.D. Dissertation) | 12 | Bio 400 (Ph.D. Dissertation) | 12 | Bio 400 (Ph.D. Dissertation) | 12 | Bio 400 (Ph.D. Dissertation) | 12 |
| Specialty Elective | 3 | Microbiology Elective | 3 | Specialty Elective | 3 | Microbiology Elective | 3 |
| Specialty Elective | 3 | Microbiology Elective | 3 | Specialty Elective | 3 | Microbiology Elective | 3 |
| Specialty Elective | 3 | Microbiology Elective | 3 | Specialty Elective | 3 | Microbiology Elective | 3 |
| Specialty Elective | 3 | Microbiology Elective | 3 | Specialty Elective | 3 | Microbiology Elective | 3 |
| Specialty Elective | 3 | Microbiology Elective | 3 | Bio 399 (Independent Doctoral Research in Biology) | 2 | Bio 399 (Independent Doctoral Research in Biology) | 2 |
| Bio 399 (Independent Doctoral Research in Biology) | 2 | Bio 399 (Independent Doctoral Research in Biology) | 2 | Research Elective | 2 | Research Elective | 2 |
| Research Elective | 2 | Research Elective | 2 | Research Elective | 2 | Research Elective | 2 |
| Research Elective | 2 | Research Elective | 2 | Free Elective | 3 | Free Elective | 3 |
| Free Elective | 3 | Free Elective | 3 | Free Elective | 3 | Free Elective | 3 |
| Free Elective | 3 | Free Elective | 3 | ||||
| Free Elective | 3 | Free Elective | 3 | ||||
| Total Required Credits: | 58 | Total Required Credits: | 58 | Total Required Credits: | 37 | Total Required Credits: | 37 |
| Cell & Molecular Biology Electives | Developmental Biology Electives | Ecology & Taxonomy Electives | |||
| Subject Title | # of Units | Subject Title | # of Units | Subject Title | # of Units |
|
Bio 241 (Advanced Molecular Genetics)
|
3 | Bio 241 (Advanced Molecular Genetics) | 3 | Bio 210 (Advanced Systematics) | 3 |
| Bio 251 (Advanced Immunobiology) | 3 | Bio 281 (Experimental Design & Statistical Analysis) | 3 | Bio 262 (Freshwater Ecology) | 3 |
| Bio 397 (Current Topics in Biology) | 3 | Bio 397 (Current Topics in Biology) | 3 | Bio 263 (Terrestrial Ecology) | 3 |
| MBB 221 (Advances in Cell & Tissue Culture) | 3 | Bio 265 (Advanced Biogeography) | 3 | ||
| Microbio 212 (Ultrastructure of Microorganisms) | 3 | Plant Developmental Biology: | Bio 271 (Advanced Parasitology) | 3 | |
| Microbio 271 (Protozoology) | 3 | Bio 221 (Advanced Plant Physiology) | 3 | Bio 244 (Evolutionary Genetics) | 3 |
| Chem 240 (Advanced Biochemistry) | 3 |
Bio 232 (Advances in Plant Developmental Biology)
|
3 | Bio 397 (Current Topics in Biology) | 3 |
| Chem 241 (Lipids & Related Systems) | 3 | Bio 234 (Developmental Morphology of Vascular Plants) | 3 | Bio 399 (Indepentdent Doctoral Research in Biology) | 2 |
| Chem 242 (Carbohydrates & Related Systems) | 3 | Microbio 271 (Protozoology) | 3 | ||
| Chem 243 (Nucleic Acids) | 3 | Animal Developmental Biology | MS 250 (Marine Ecology) | 3 | |
| Chem 244 (Proteins) | 3 | Bio 222 (Advanced Animal Physiology) | 3 | ||
| Chem 245 (Enzymes) | 3 | Bio 233 (Advances in Animal Developmental Biology) | 3 | ||
| Chem 247 (Molecular Biochemistry) | 3 | Bio 251 (Advanced Immunobiology) | 3 | ||
| Genetics Electives | Microbiology Electives | Physiology Electives | |||
| Subject Title | # of Units | Subject Title | # of Units | Subject Title | # of Units |
| Bio 241 (Advanced Molecular Genetics) | 3 | Bio 241 (Advanced Molecular Genetics) | 3 | Bio 241 (Advanced Molecular Genetics) | 3 |
| Bio 242 (Cytogenetics) | 3 | Bio 251 (Advanced Immunobiology) | 3 | Bio 224 (Stress Physiology) | 3 |
| Bio 243 (Population Genetics) | 3 | Bio 397 (Current Topics in Biology) | 3 | Bio 281 (Experimental Design & Statistical Analysis) | 3 |
| Bio 281 (Experimental Design & Statistical Analysis) | 3 | Bio 399 (Indepentdent Doctoral Research in Biology) | 2 | Bio 397 (Current Topics in Biology) | 3 |
| Bio 244 (Evolutionary Genetics) | 3 | Microbio 212 (Ultrastructure of Microorganisms) | 3 | Bio 399 (Indepentdent Doctoral Research in Biology) | 2 |
| Bio 397 (Current Topics in Biology) | 3 | Microbio 251 (Microbial Pathogenesis) | 3 | Chem 240 (Advanced Biochemistry) | 3 |
| Bio 399 (Indepentdent Doctoral Research in Biology) | 2 | Microbio 262 (Soil Microbiology) | 3 | Plant Physiology: | |
| Microbio 241 (Advanced Microbial Genetics) | 3 | Microbio 271 (Protozoology) | 3 | Bio 221 (Advanced Plant Physiology) | 3 |
| MBB 241 (Advances in Genetic Engineering) | 3 | Microbio 281 (Industrial Microbiology) | 3 | Bio 232 (Advances in Plant Developmental Biology) | 3 |
| Chem 243 (Nucleic Acids) | 3 | MBB 215 (Biology of Viruses) | 3 | ||
| Chem 245 (Enzymes) | 3 | MBB 280 (Advances in Microbial Biotechnology) | 3 | Animal Physiology: | |
| Chem 247 (Molecular Biochemistry) | 3 | MS 242 (Marine Microbiology) | 3 | Bio 222 (Advanced Animal Physiology) | 3 |
| MS 261 (Physiology of Marine Algae) | 3 | Bio 233 (Advances in Animal Developmental Biology) | 3 | ||
| FS 216 (Advanced Food Microbiology) | 3 | Bio 251 (Advanced Immunobiology | 3 | ||
| FS 236 (Industrial Food Fermentation) | 3 | ||||
| FS 326 (Low Temperature Microbiology) | 3 | ||||
Ph.D. BIOLOGY (by RESEARCH) IMPLEMENTING RULES AND REGULATIONS
(Approved by the Institute of Biology Graduate Committee on 22 May 2014, Revised on 15 November 2014,2 June 2015, and 5 October 2015)
I. Admission Requirements*
A. A graduate of one of the following:
1. M.S. degree in the Biological Sciences or related fields from a recognized institution of higher learning with at least 24 units of graduate courses with a thesis requirement (proof of thesis required), or
2. MS degree in other fields not covered in I.A.1from a recognized institution of higher learning with research track record, or
3. M.D. or D.V.M. from a recognized institution of higher learning with research track record.
B. Acceptance by a faculty member of the Institute of Biology as a prospective dissertation advisee. The acceptance will be based on a submitted research proposal that have been consulted with and approved by the faculty who will act as the prospective Dissertation Adviser.
C. GWA of 1.75 or better in the M.S., M.D., or D.V.M. program.
D. At least one article, published within the last five (5) years, in a highly reputable journal (e.g., Scopus- or Thomson Reuters indexed) in which the applicant is the primary author.
E. Passing an English Proficiency Test as per University Policy for foreign applicants whose medium of instruction in the previous degree programs is not English.
Note: Prescribed tests are TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) and IELTS (International English Language Testing System).
F. Completed application form and other required documents submitted to the College of Science Graduate Office. Deadline of application may also be found at the site.
G. Passing a placement examination to be administered by the Graduate Committee of the Institute of Biology. The placement examination is as follows:
1. For those who meet the requirements of I.A.1., oral presentation and acceptance of a research proposal to be evaluated by at least one member from each of the following areas: Cell Biology, Ecology and Taxonomy, Developmental Biology, Genetics, Microbiology, and Physiology.
2. For those who meet the requirements of I.A.2. and I.A.3., the placement examination will be in two parts:
2.1. The comprehensive essay-type written examination will be based on the specialization that the student intends to take.**
2.2. An oral presentation and acceptance of the research proposal submitted by the applicant.
*Those who are already enrolled in the regular Ph.D. Biology (Option 1) program may shift to Option 3 provided they satisfy all admission requirements.
**If an applicant fails, he/she may re-apply.
H. Passing the interview process of the Graduate Committee of the Institute of Biology.
II. Graduation Requirements
A. Completion of twenty six (26) units of Program of Study consisting of 8 units of Biology 395 (Advanced Studies in Biology) for four
(4) units each to be taken two times, Biology 397 (Current Topics in Biology) for three (3) units; Biology 296 or Microbiology 296 (Graduate Seminar)
to be enrolled three times for a total of three (3) units; and twelve (12) units of Biology 400 (Ph.D. Dissertation).
B. Passing the oral presentation of the Dissertation Proposal.
C. Submission of a progress report approved by the Dissertation Adviser and Reader at the end of each semester if enrolled in Biology 400.
D. Presenting a Colloquium as prescribed by the Graduate Program of the College of Science.
E. Passing the oral presentation and defense of the Dissertation.
F. Submission and acceptance of at least two (2) papers from the Dissertation Research in a highly reputable journal (e.g., Scopus- or Thomson Reuters indexed) in which the student is the primary author.
G. Oral presentation in an international conference within three (3) years of the program or a national scientific conference within two (2) years of the program.
H. Submission of bound manuscript as prescribed by the College of Science as well as a digital copy of said approved manuscript; and
I. Maximum residency of five (5) years. Maximum residency rules of the University shall apply.
III. Course Requirements
A. Biology 296 or Microbiology 296 (Graduate Seminar) to be taken three (3) times for a total of three (3) units;
B. Biology 397 (Current Topics in Biology) for three (3) units
C. Biology 395 (Advanced Studies in Biology) to be taken two (2) times for a total of eight (8) units; and
D. Biology 400 (Ph.D. Dissertation) for a total of 12 units.
IV. Program Administration
A. A potential Dissertation Adviser from the Institute of Biology should already be identified upon acceptance into the Program.
B. The deliverable of each Biology 395 to be enrolled is the submission of a paper related to the Dissertation Research in a highly reputable journal (e.g., Scopus- or Thomson Reuters indexed).
C. Teaching load credit for Biology 395 is one (1) unit for at most every five (5) students.
D. The dissertation should be based at the Institute of Biology; sandwich programs are therefore discouraged. If there is an opportunity to do
research outside the Institute or the University, then work done for this opportunity should not exceed 30% of the Ph.D. research output.
Short-term research work done outside the Institute or University will be allowed only to augment Ph.D. output.
E. Each student will be appointed a Program Committee or Dissertation Committee headed by the Dissertation Adviser who should be a regular
faculty member of the Institute and who will directly supervise the student. The Committee will be composed of three (3) members who will be appointed by the Graduate Committee: the Adviser and two members. Members of the Committee could be as follows:
1. one (1) Adviser and two (2) Readers; or
2. one (1)Adviser, one (1) Co-Adviser (external), and one (1) Reader (internal)
The Committee Members shall be assigned at an early stage of the Program as they will guide/supervise the direction of the research that will be
undertaken by the student. At a later stage when the student has successfully delivered his/her colloquium and is deemed ready to defend his/her dissertation,
two (2) Examiners (at least one external) will be assigned by the Graduate Committee. The two Examiners will join the Dissertation Committee and together they w
ill constitute the Doctoral Dissertation Panel.
F. All other guidelines set in the Revised Guidelines for Graduate Programs of the College of Science (as approved by the College of Science Graduate Faculty Council on 11 August 2004 and revised on 26 January 2015) shall apply.
Curriculum Map of the Ph.D. Biology Program
| First Year | Second Year | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First Sem | Second Sem | First Sem | Second Sem | ||||
| Subject Title | # of Units | Subject Title | # of Units | Subject Title | # of Units | Subject Title | # of Units |
| Bio 397 (Current Topics in Biology) | 3 | Bio 296 / Micro 296 (Seminar) | 1 | Bio 395 (Advanced Studies in Biology) | 4 | Bio 395 (Advanced Studies in Biology) | 4 |
| Bio 296 / Micro 296 (Seminar) | 1 | Bio 296 / Micro 296 (Seminar) | 1 | ||||
| Total Credits | 4 | Total Credits | 2 | Total Credits | 4 | Total Credits | 4 |
| Third Year | |||||||
| First Sem | Second Sem | ||||||
| Subject Title | # of Units | Subject Title | # of Units | ||||
| Bio 400 (Ph.D. Dissertation) | 6 | Bio 400 (Ph.D. Dissertation) | 6 | ||||
| Total Credits | 6 | Total Credits | 6 | ||||
| Cell & Molecular Biology Electives | Developmental Biology Electives | ||
| Subject Title | # of Units | Subject Title | # of Units |
| Bio 241 (Advanced Molecular Genetics) | 3 | Bio 241 (Advanced Molecular Genetics) | 3 |
| Bio 251 (Advanced Immunobiology)* | 3 | Bio 281 (Experimental Design & Statistical Analysis) | 3 |
| Microbio 212 (Ultrastructure of Microorganisms) | 3 | Bio 397 (Current Topics in Biology) | 3 |
| Microbio 271 (Protozoology)* | 3 | Plant Developmental Biology: | |
| MBB 221 (Advances in Cell & Tissue Culture)* | 3 | Bio 232 (Advances in Plant Developmental Biology)* | 3 |
| Chem 240 (Advanced Biochemistry) | 3 | Bio 234 (Developmental Morphology of Vascular Plants) | 3 |
| Chem 241 (Lipids & Related Systems) | 3 | Bio 221 (Advanced Plant Physiology)* | 3 |
| Chem 242 (Carbohydrates & Related Systems) | 3 | ||
| Chem 243 (Nucleic Acids) | 3 | Animal Developmental Biology: | |
| Chem 244 (Proteins) | 3 | Bio 233 (Advances in Animal Developmental Biology)* | 3 |
| Chem 245 (Enzymes) | 3 | Bio 251 (Advanced Immunobiology)* | 3 |
| Chem 247 (Molecular Biochemistry) | 3 | Bio 222 (Advanced Animal Physiology)* | 3 |
| Bio 397 (Current Topics in Biology) | 3 | ||
| Ecology & Taxonomy Electives | Genetics Electives | Physiology Electives | |||
| Subject Title | # of Units | Subject Title | # of Units | Subject Title | # of Units |
| Bio 210 (Advanced Systematics) | 3 | Bio 241 (Advanced Molecular Genetics) | 3 | Bio 241 (Advanced Molecular Genetics) | 3 |
| Bio 262 (Freshwater Ecology) | 3 | Bio 242 (Cytogenetics) | 3 | Bio 224 (Stress Physiology)* | 3 |
| Bio 263 (Terrestrial Ecology) | 3 | Bio 243 (Population Genetics) | 3 | Bio 281 (Experimental Design & Statistical Analysis) | 3 |
| Bio 265 (Advanced Biogeography) | 3 | Bio 281 (Experimental Design & Statistical Analysis) | 3 | Chem 240 (Advanced Biochemistry) | 3 |
| Bio 397 (Current Topics in Biology) | 3 | Bio 397 (Current Topics in Biology) | 3 | Bio 397 (Current Topics in Biology) | 3 |
| Bio 271 (Advanced Parasitology)* | 3 | Bio 244 (Evolutionary Genetics) | 3 | Plant Physiology: | |
| Bio 244 (Evolutionary Genetics) | 3 | Microbio 241 (Advanced Microbial Genetics) | 3 | Bio 221 (Advanced Plant Physiology)* | 3 |
| Microbio 271 (Protozoology) | 3 | MBB 241 (Advances in Genetic Engineering) | 3 | Bio 232 (Advances in Plant Developmental Biology)* | 3 |
| MS 250 (Marine Ecology) | 3 | Chem 243 (Nucleic Acids) | 3 | ||
| Chem 245 (Enzymes) | 3 | Animal Physiology: | |||
| Chem 247 (Molecular Biochemistry) | 3 | Bio 222 (Advanced Animal Physiology)* | 3 | ||
| Bio 233 (Advances in Animal Developmental Biology)* | 3 | ||||
| Bio 251 (Advanced Immunobiology)* | 3 | ||||
* Students must have taken the following prerequisite courses or equivalent prior to enrolling in the corresponding graduate core courses:
Bio 121 (Plant Physiology with lab) is prerequisite for Bio 220, Bio 221, and Bio 224
Bio 122 (Animal Physiology with lab) is prerequisite for Bio 220 and Bio 222, and Bio 224
Bio 133 (Developmental Biology with lab) is prerequisite for Bio 230, Bio 232, Bio 233
Bio 140 (Fundamentals of Genetics with lab) is prerequisite for Bio 240
Bio 150 (Fundamentals of Cell & Molecular Biology with lab) is prerequisite for Bio 250, Bio 251, MBB 221
Bio 160 (Fundamentals of Ecology with lab) is prerequisite for Bio 260
The following prerequisite courses are only required for elective courses:
Bio 120 (Fundamentals of Ecology with lab) is prerequisite for Bio 251
Bio 171 (General Parasitology with lab) is prerequisite for Bio 271 and Microbio 271
Students who are interested in applying for stipends and research assistant positions, please refer to the Student Resource Page.