DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY IN BIOLOGY
by Research
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 on PhD in Biology (by Research)
| First Year | |||
| First Sem | Second Sem | ||
| Subject Title | # of Units | Subject Title | # of Units |
| Bio 397 (Current Topics in Biology) | 3 | Bio 296 / Micro 296 (Seminar) | 1 |
| Bio 296 / Micro 296 (Seminar) | 1 | Bio 296 / Micro 296 (Seminar) | 1 |
| Total Credits | 4 | Total Credits | 2 |
| Second Year | |||
| First Sem | Second Sem | ||
| Subject Title | # of Units | Subject Title | # of Units |
| Bio 395 (Advanced Studies in Biology) | 4 | Bio 395 (Advanced Studies in Biology) | 4 |
| 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 | |
| Subject Title | # of Units |
| Bio 241 (Advanced Molecular Genetics) | 3 |
| Bio 251 (Advanced Immunobiology)* | 3 |
| Microbio 212 (Ultrastructure of Microorganisms) | 3 |
| Microbio 271 (Protozoology)* | 3 |
| MBB 221 (Advances in Cell & Tissue Culture)* | 3 |
| Chem 240 (Advanced Biochemistry) | 3 |
| Chem 241 (Lipids & Related Systems) | 3 |
| Chem 242 (Carbohydrates & Related Systems) | 3 |
| Chem 243 (Nucleic Acids) | 3 |
| Chem 244 (Proteins) | 3 |
| Chem 245 (Enzymes) | 3 |
| Chem 247 (Molecular Biochemistry) | 3 |
| Bio 397 (Current Topics in Biology) | 3 |
| Developmental Biology Electives | |
| Subject Title | # of Units |
| Bio 241 (Advanced Molecular Genetics) | 3 |
| Bio 281 (Experimental Design & Statistical Analysis) | 3 |
| Bio 397 (Current Topics in Biology) | 3 |
| Plant Developmental Biology: | |
| Bio 232 (Advances in Plant Developmental Biology)* | 3 |
| Bio 234 (Developmental Morphology of Vascular Plants) | 3 |
| Bio 221 (Advanced Plant Physiology)* | 3 |
| Animal Developmental Biology: | |
| Bio 233 (Advances in Animal Developmental Biology)* | 3 |
| Bio 251 (Advanced Immunobiology)* | 3 |
| Bio 222 (Advanced Animal Physiology)* | 3 |
| Ecology & Taxonomy Electives | |
| Subject Title | # of Units |
| Bio 210 (Advanced Systematics) | 3 |
| Bio 262 (Freshwater Ecology) | 3 |
| Bio 263 (Terrestrial Ecology) | 3 |
| Bio 265 (Advanced Biogeography) | 3 |
| Bio 397 (Current Topics in Biology) | 3 |
| Bio 271 (Advanced Parasitology)* | 3 |
| Bio 244 (Evolutionary Genetics) | 3 |
| Microbio 271 (Protozoology) | 3 |
| MS 250 (Marine Ecology) | 3 |
| Genetics Electives | |
| Subject Title | # of Units |
| Bio 241 (Advanced Molecular Genetics) | 3 |
| Bio 242 (Cytogenetics) | 3 |
| Bio 243 (Population Genetics) | 3 |
| Bio 281 (Experimental Design & Statistical Analysis) | 3 |
| Bio 397 (Current Topics in Biology) | 3 |
| Bio 244 (Evolutionary Genetics) | 3 |
| Microbio 241 (Advanced Microbial Genetics) | 3 |
| MBB 241 (Advances in Genetic Engineering) | 3 |
| Chem 243 (Nucleic Acids) | 3 |
| Chem 245 (Enzymes) | 3 |
| Chem 247 (Molecular Biochemistry) | 3 |
| Physiology Electives | |
| Subject Title | # of Units |
| Bio 241 (Advanced Molecular Genetics) | 3 |
| Bio 224 (Stress Physiology)* | 3 |
| Bio 281 (Experimental Design & Statistical Analysis) | 3 |
| Chem 240 (Advanced Biochemistry) | 3 |
| Bio 397 (Current Topics in Biology) | 3 |
|
Plant Physiology:
|
|
| Bio 221 (Advanced Plant Physiology)* | 3 |
| Bio 232 (Advances in Plant Developmental Biology)* | 3 |
|
Animal Physiology:
|
|
| 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.