PDF version of this chapterGraduate Degrees
Degree Programs in Biology
Graduate students may apply to one of four programs of study within the Department of Biological Sciences at the time of their admission to graduate study: the graduate programs in marine environmental biology and neurobiology/cell biology, which lead to the Master of Science or Doctor of Philosophy degrees in biology with emphasis in either chosen area; the graduate program in molecular and computational biology, which leads to a Master of Science or Ph.D. degree in molecular and computational biology; the graduate program in Computational Biology and Bioinformatics, which leads to a Ph.D. degree; and the graduate program in Integrative and Evolutionary Biology, which leads to a Ph.D. degree. The four programs emphasize different levels of biological organization and consequently may require somewhat different undergraduate preparation.
Biology
The graduate programs in biology with emphases in marine environmental biology and neurobiology/cell biology provide education and training of biologists interested in living systems ranging from cellular to ecosystem levels of organization, investigated by laboratory or field work. Courses and faculty research interests allow a multidisciplinary approach. Specialty areas of particular strength include marine biology, biological oceanography, neurobiology, cell biology, and integrative and evolutionary biology. A number of additional research areas are provided by adjunct faculty from other institutions, including the Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History, Childrens Hospital Los Angeles and the House Ear Institute. Students develop the ability to formulate and test hypotheses, integrating information and concepts in the completion of a research project (M.S.) or dissertation (Ph.D.). A guidance committee is formed for each student during the first year to develop a particular program of course work and research, and to evaluate the student’s progress. Specific information about the options in Biological Sciences can be obtained by requesting marine environmental biology and neurobiology information brochures.
Admission Requirements
Applicants must have a bachelor’s degree in a natural science (preferably biology), or in mathematics or engineering; required background courses include organic chemistry, general physics and mathematics through integral calculus. Applicants are evaluated by their transcripts and GPA; scores on the GRE General Test; three letters of recommendation; and a statement of interests. A faculty member must serve as initial sponsor and advisor. Applicants who are accepted but judged to have minor deficiencies are expected to correct them within the first year.Applications to the graduate program include a departmental form which may be obtained from: Graduate Programs Manager, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089-0371 or www.usc.edu/dept/LAS/biosci.
Degree Requirements
Refer to the Requirements for Graduation section and the Graduate School section of the catalogue for general regulations. All courses applied toward the degrees must be courses accepted by the Graduate School.
Master of Science in Biology
The M.S. degree program in biology admits students for a terminal degree only; students who may later wish to continue for a doctorate should enter the Ph.D. program initially, in which case the M.S. can be earned along the way by completion of the M.S. requirements.The M.S. degree program is a non-thesis program but a paper, based on the student’s original research investigation of a selected program in biology, constitutes one of the requirements. Each student must take two full biology graduate core courses (BISC 582 and BISC 583 or BISC 524 and BISC 525), two seminars and additional graduate courses or research units for a minimum of 24 units. Students also must satisfy the residency and other requirements of the Graduate School. Further details of these requirements are contained within each graduate program’s particular requirements and policies.
Doctor of Philosophy in Biology
Application deadline: January 1Students pursuing this degree choose between two broad areas of specialization, a marine environmental biology option or a neurobiology/cell biology option. Each option specifies particular course work and other requirements. A minimum total of 60 units is required, consisting of formal courses, seminars and research credit. At least 24 of the minimum 60 total units required are to be formal graduate course work (lecture or seminar courses). Candidates must also pass a screening examination to determine competence and point out deficiencies, fulfill a research tool requirement (computer skills, biostatistics, quantitative chemistry), and meet the residency and other requirements of the Graduate School. Because teaching experience is considered to be an important part of graduate training, each student is required to serve at least two semesters as a teaching assistant within the department.
Before the end of the fifth semester, each student must pass a written and oral qualifying examination given by the student’s guidance committee. The written part involves answering a number of questions at length. The oral part is in the area of the student’s intended research, based on a project selected and developed by the student into a written proposition. After passing the qualifying examination, the student completes the research investigation and any other requirements under the guidance of the research advisor who also chairs the dissertation committee. The student then writes a dissertation, which must be defended by the student before committee approval.
In the marine environmental biology option, each student receives a general background in marine sciences and obtains in-depth specialization in a research area of his or her choosing. Each student’s curriculum is fitted to the particular needs and demands of the chosen research field. The 24 units of formal course work must include the following: BISC 582 (4), BISC 584 (2), BISC 585 (2), BISC 529 (4), four advanced graduate seminars (8) and a statistics course approved by the student’s advisor.
The neurobiology/cell biology option provides each student with a broad, fundamental background in neurobiology and with detailed knowledge and expertise in the chosen area of concentration. Each student’s curriculum is tailored to the particular interests of that individual. The formal course work includes 12 units of specified courses (a two semester core sequence plus four BISC 539 seminars) and 12 units of advanced electives chosen from a long list of courses in biological sciences, psychology, computer science, and other relevant departments. Students are expected to attend and participate in departmental research seminars.
Molecular and Computational Biology
This program is designed to train the participants intensively in the concepts and experimental methodologies of molecular biology and biochemistry. The subject matter is organized in an integrated fashion (lectures, seminars and laboratory) to present fundamental information on the biochemistry, biophysics, genetics and development of cells from a variety of different organisms. Primary emphasis is on the relationship between structure and function at different integrative and functional levels. The program offers a Ph.D. in Molecular Biology and a Ph.D. in Computational Biology and Bioinformatics. Applications may be obtained from: Graduate Programs Manager, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles CA 90089-0371 or www.usc.edu/dept/LAS/biosci/mcb.
Admission Requirements
Applicants are expected to have a bachelor’s degree or equivalent in a cognate area such as biology, chemistry, physics, engineering, bacteriology, computer science, or bioinformatics. Undergraduate work should include a basic course in biology, basic physics, physical chemistry, organic chemistry, biochemistry and calculus. Students who are deficient in any of these may be required to correct the deficiency during the first two years of graduate study. Courses taken to correct these deficiencies are usually not credited toward the degree. The student must submit letters of recommendation from at least three faculty members who can evaluate the promise of the student for graduate work and independent research. The applicant must take the GRE General Test prior to acceptance.
Degree Requirements
These degrees are awarded under the jurisdiction of the Graduate School. Refer to the Requirements for Graduation section and the Graduate School section of the catalogue for general regulations. All courses applied toward the degrees must be courses accepted by the Graduate School.
Master of Science in Molecular and Computational Biology
The study of molecular biology places so many demands upon the student that it is difficult to attain any satisfactory level of competence in the time generally taken for a master’s degree. Therefore, enrollment of graduate students as master’s degree applicants is not encouraged and is reserved for special circumstances. The curriculum of the master’s student is patterned after that of the doctorate up to and including the qualifying examination, but not including thesis research. The qualifying examination will serve as the comprehensive master’s examination.
Doctor of Philosophy in Molecular Biology
During the first year, the student’s program is under the direction of an initial guidance committee composed of members of the committee on admissions to the program. Before the end of the second semester a permanent guidance committee, chaired by the student’s research director, is established. Thereafter, the student’s program of studies and dissertation is under the direction of the permanent guidance committee and the dissertation committee.Application deadline: January 1
Screening Procedure
In the third semester the student’s progress is discussed and evaluated by the guidance committee. The purpose of this evaluation is to determine competence to continue graduate study, and to point out deficiencies to be remedied prior to the qualifying examination.
Course Requirements
A minimum of 24 of the 60 units required for the Ph.D. degree must be in formal course work, exclusive of research. These must include the core courses, BISC 502a and BISC 502b, to be completed in the first year with a B average. Additionally, students will register for BISC 504L (3-3) in both semesters. In the fall semester of the second year, students will choose an additional 4-unit, 400- or 500-level course in consultation with their advisor. Students must participate in molecular biology seminars. Other courses may be chosen, in consultation with the program chair, from graduate offerings of this and other departments.
Language Requirement
Students in the graduate program in molecular biology are not required to pass a foreign language examination.
Qualifying Examination
The examinations qualifying the student for candidacy for the Ph.D. in molecular biology must be initiated in the second semester of the second year. The first part is written and consists of comprehensive questions covering the student’s knowledge of prokaryotic and eukaryotic molecular biology and developmental biology or genomics. The second part is an oral examination. It consists of general questions and the presentation and defense of a proposition outlining a research program, which must be in a field other than the student’s immediate research interest. This examination sequence must be completed by the end of the fifth semester of the program.
Doctoral Dissertation
The dissertation is based on original, publishable, and significant research conducted independently by the student under the guidance of the dissertation committee.
Defense of the Dissertation
The defense of the dissertation is either a defense oral or a final oral. In most cases a defense oral will suffice if approved by the dissertation committee.
Student Teaching
Since most graduates in biological sciences will spend some part of their careers in academic work, teaching experience is considered an important part of graduate training. Each graduate student in the program is therefore required to assist in the teaching program of the Department of Biological Sciences.
Doctor of Philosophy in Computational Biology and Bioinformatics
During the first year, the student’s program is under the direction of an initial guidance committee composed of members of the admissions committee. After passing the screening procedure before the end of the first semester, the student must form a guidance committee consisting of an advisor and four other faculty members, including at least one from another department. Thereafter, the student’s program of studies and dissertation are under the direction of the permanent guidance committee and the dissertation committee.Application deadline: January 1
Screening Procedure
The screening examination should be taken by the end of the second semester in the program. If the student fails the examination, the department, at its discretion, may permit the student to take it again during the next semester. The screening examination consists of written examinations on topics including molecular biology, mathematical probability and statistics.
Qualifying Examination
The qualifying examination should be taken within two semesters following successful completion of the screening examination.The written portion of the qualifying examination consists of a dissertation proposal. This document should include: introduction, statement of the problem, literature survey, methodology, summary of preliminary results, proposed research, references, appendix (including one or two fundamental references).
The oral portion of the qualifying examination consists of presentation of the Ph.D. dissertation proposal. The student must demonstrate research potential.
Course Requirements
The student must complete, with no grade lower than a B, a minimum of 60 units of courses carrying graduate credit and approved by the guidance committee. The required courses include: BISC 502a, CSCI 570, MATH 505a, MATH 541a, MATH 578ab, MATH 650. An additional 6 units of elective courses will be taken in consultation with the student’s advisor. Students must register for a minimum of 4 units of dissertation research (BISC 794ab).
Transfer of Credit
No transfer of credit will be considered until the screening examination is passed. A maximum of 30 units of graduate work at another institution may be applied toward the course requirements for the Ph.D. A grade of B- (A = 4.0) or lower will not be accepted and, at most, two grades of B will be accepted. A Ph.D. candidate may petition the department for transfer of additional credit, after he or she passes the qualifying examination.
Dissertation
Following passage of the screening examination and approval of a dissertation topic by the guidance committee, the student begins research toward the dissertation under the supervision of the dissertation committee. The primary requirement of the Ph.D. is an acceptable dissertation based on a substantial amount of original research conducted by the student.
Doctor of Philosophy in Integrative and Evolutionary Biology
This program of study is designed to provide each student with a broad, fundamental background in integrative and evolutionary biology (IEB) coupled with detailed knowledge and expertise in the chosen area of concentration. The core of the course work in integrative and evolutionary biology consists of a two-semester course (BISC 510ab) that is taken by all first-year graduate students. Various faculty members also give a variety of advanced courses and seminars on specialized research topics each semester. In addition, a range of courses in areas relating to IEB are available in various departments on the University Park and Health Sciences campuses.Application deadline: January 1
Course Requirements
Each student’s curriculum is tailored to the particular interests of the individual and the needs and demands of the chosen research field. The 24 units of formal course work must include 12 units of specified course work (a two-semester core sequence, BISC 510ab and seminar, BISC 549, minimum 4 units) and 12 units of advanced electives chosen in consultation with the student’s advisor.
Elective Courses
The content of elective courses changes from semester to semester according to the interests of students and faculty. These courses are worth 2, 3 or 4 units, and are offered in biological sciences, anthropology, kinesiology, psychology, molecular biology, computer science, gerontology, cell and neurobiology and other relevant departments.
Qualifying Exam
By the end of the third semester, students should choose a committee consisting of four “inside” IEB faculty and one “outside” faculty. This committee will conduct the qualifying exam and provide guidance during dissertation research. The chair of the committee will serve as the principle advisor. Students should consult extensively with each committee member regarding subjects to be covered in the exam.The qualifying exam consists of written and oral parts. Both parts must be finished before the end of the fifth semester. For the written exam, the advisor will obtain two to three questions from each of the four inside faculty. Three suggested formats are: 1) write a brief review of a specific topic; 2) summarize, critically evaluate and synthesize a large body of knowledge; 3) devise an experiment to test a hypothesis.
The oral exam consists of an oral defense of written questions and will be conducted within a month of the written part of the qualifying exam. The exam will consist of a critical defense of the written response to questions, so students should expect questions that relate to questions posted in the written part. The oral exam may also be used to tell whether weaknesses that were identified in the written exam have been corrected.