Program Requirements

Course Requirements

Total Credit Hours Required: 6 credit hours

Core Courses (3 credit hours)

BIOL 5700.03: Communication Skills
BIOL 9530.00: PhD Thesis

General Electives (3 credit hours)

At least 3 credit hours of Graduate electives selected in consultation with the supervisory committee.

Additional Requirements

Students without an MSc Degree must also complete BIOL 5710 and an additional 3 credit hours of general electives above and beyond the requirements noted above.
Students transferring from the MSc Degree to the PhD must meet the course requirements of the MSc degree for their PhD (BIOL 5700, BIOL 5710 and 6 credit hours of graduate electives).
Students with an MSc who have previously completed BIOL 5700 may replace this requirement with 3 credit hours of general elective courses.
As part of their graduate training, all students must teach in at least two 3 credit hour undergraduate courses. Students with external supervisors may teach in classes in the supervisor’s home Department or Faculty. Only demonstrator, not marker, positions can be used to fulfil this requirement.
Students must take an admission to candidacy examination during the first nine months.
A preliminary examination including a review paper and thesis progress report is required for all PhD students. Students must pass the preliminary examination at least one year before submitting a PhD thesis.
Students are expected to participate in weekly departmental seminars.
Additional courses may be assigned by the supervisory committee to address deficiencies or to acquire skills considered beneficial but of subsidiary importance.