Graduate Studies
Degree requirements
The Department of Biological Sciences has several Ph.D. and Master graduate requirements in addition to those of the Graduate School. All relevant requirements must be fulfilled in order to earn the appropriate degree.
TRANSCRIPTS. Official transcripts in original language showing previous degree(s) from another college or university must be on file in the Graduate School. Certified English translations are required for transcripts issued originally in a language other than English. International students are also required to have on file a certified copy of their diploma(s) with certified English translation(s).
CREDIT HOURS. A total of thirty (30) credit hours is required for all thesis Master programs. Using guidelines established for their specific area of biology, courses are arranged on an individual basis for each student by the student's Advisory Committee. At least one-half of the total credit hours used to satisfy the Master degree requirements must be earned in residence on the West Lafayette campus.
There is no minimum number of hours required for a Ph.D. degree. Most students in our Ph.D. program take an average of 24-30 credit hours. Plans of study with substantially less credit hours will need special justification for approval. At least one-third of the total credit hours used to satisfy degree requirements must be earned (while registered for doctoral study) in continuous residence on the Purdue campus where the degree is to be granted.
TEACHING REQUIREMENT. Ph.D. students must teach 1/4-time for one semester with direct contact with students unless the student has had post baccalaureate teaching experience at the college level.
All students whose native language is not English must have on file a minimum SPEAK/TSE score of 50 prior to assignment to a course that fulfills the teaching requirement.
SEMINAR REQUIREMENT. Each Ph.D. student is required to present a satisfactory seminar in each of two student participation seminar courses (normally BIOL 696).
Only seminars in which the student researches, in depth, a topic outside their own research field and presents it in a reasonable, coherent manner can be used to meet this requirement.
GRADES IN INDEX REQUIREMENT. Only grades of A, B, or C are acceptable on a plan of study for 500 and 600-level courses. An Advisory Committee may require a higher performance than C in certain courses. A grade of A or B is required for 400-level courses.
The student is expected to maintain a cumulative index of 3.0 Should the student fail to perform at a satisfactory level he/she may be asked to discontinue graduate study at Purdue University.
RESIDENCE REQUIREMENT. Six units of residence are required for Ph.D. degrees. Two units are required for Master degrees. Fifteen semester hours registration equal one unit of residency.
TIME LIMITATION. The School of Science has established a policy of seven (7) years from entry into the graduate program (i.e., 14 semesters plus the intervening summers - plus one additional summer to finish if necessary) be the maximum time allowed to complete the Ph.D.
Under normal circumstances, registration for Master candidates will be terminated after six (6) semesters of graduate studies in the Department of Biological Sciences (not including summer sessions).