DEPARTMENT OF BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES

I.  Program Leading to the Master of Science Degree in Biology.

General Sequence
A minimum of 30 graduate credits is required for the master's degree in biology.

1. Biology (20 credits, minimum):
   1. Courses as advised by a faculty advisor and/or the departmental Graduate Admissions Committee, including Bio 515a and 515b  for 2 credits and at least 6 additional credits at the 500 level or above (not including Bio 699);
   2. Research: Bio 699. Satisfactory completion of a thesis in biology, for which 12 to 18 credits will be awarded at the discretion of the thesis committee. Although a student may register for as many credits in research as advised by the faculty advisor, a maximum of 18 credits for Bio 699 can be credited toward the total 30 credits required for the master's degree. A thesis committee composed of an advisor selected by the student and one additional member who may be nominated by the student, but who must be approved by the Graduate Examinations Committee, should be approved not later than the end of the first year of full-time study. Each student is expected to present an oral research progress report each semester to the faculty of the appropriate core area. There will be an oral public defense of the thesis.
2. Supporting courses (0-10 credits). Courses in anthropology, mathematics, chemistry, physics, and psychology as advised; courses in other fields with the formal consent of the advisor.
3. Satisfactory completion of core and final examinations in biology.

II. Program Leading to the Master of Science in Forensic Biology

This degree program involves a unique collaboration between the New York State Police Forensic Investigation Center and the Department of Biological Sciences in training scientists with state-of-the-art knowledge and laboratory expertise in forensics.

General Requirements

A minimum of 40 graduate credits is required for the master's degree.

1. Biology (29 credits):
1. Required courses (17 credits): Bio 515a (1 credit) Responsible Conduct and Skills in Research and Bio 515b (1 credit) Responsible Conduct and Skills in Scientific Communication, Bio 517a (1 credit) Current Literature in Forensic Biology I and Bio 517b (1 credit) Topics in Forensic Science, Bio 519/Ant 519 (3 credits) Human Population Genetics, Bio 524 (3 credits) Advanced Molecular Biology, Bio 514 (2 credits) Biotechnology Laboratory, Bio 510 (1 credit) Laboratory & Environmental Safety, Bio 650 (0 credits) Graduate Research Seminar, for two semesters, Bio 627 (1 credit) Courtroom Testimony for Forensic Scientists, and Bio 575 (3 credits) Forensic Biology Laboratory. Students who have not had an undergraduate course in Genetics, Molecular Biology, Biochemistry and Immunology will be required to make up the deficiency by taking the appropriate undergraduate or graduate courses.
2. Internship: Bio 698 (6 credits): Satisfactory completion of an internship in forensic biology laboratory for which 6 credits will be awarded. The results obtained during the internship will be the subject of a substantial written report which will be examined by acommittee of three members, approved by the Graduate Examinations Committee.
3. Biology electives: (6 credits) Two chosen from the following: Bio 504 (3 credits) Cell Biology 1, Bio 513 (3 credits) Modern Use of Light Microscopy, Bio 525 (3 credits) Molecular Biology of Development, Bio 540 (3 credits) Principles of Bioinformatics, Bio 541 (3 credits) Molecular Neurobiology, Bio 617 (3 credits) Molecular Evolution.
2. Supporting courses (8-12 credits). Required courses: Sta 552 Principles of Statistical Inference or Mat 565 Applied Statistics, Crj 626 Law and Science in Criminal Justice, and other courses in mathematics or statistics, business, biology, chemistry, psychology, and criminal justice as advised; courses in other fields with the formal consent of the advisor.
3. Satisfactory completion of core and final examinations in Biology. The written internship report will serve as the final examination.
   

Admission for M.S. Programs

Applicants must have a bachelor's degree from an accredited University or College, and are required to submit a University at Albany standard graduate application, 3 letters of recommendation, all undergraduate transcripts, and scores from the Graduate Record Exam General Test. Students applying for the Forensic Biology sequence must have completed, with a grade of C or better, the following courses: genetics, biochemistry, immunology, and molecular biology; and have received a baccalaureate in a natural science.

Core and Final Examinations in Biology

The graduate training program in the department is divided into two core areas:  (1) Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior (EEB), and (2) Molecular, Cellular, Developmental, and Neural Biology (MCDN).  Students lacking undergraduate courses in any of the four core areas may be required, at the discretion of their master's committees, to make up these deficiencies.

Students are expected to acquire and demonstrate by means of an examination a comprehensive insight into the current state of knowledge and the current problems in one of these core areas. They will choose this area in consultation with their advisor.

To assist in preparation for the core examination, the appropriate faculty groups will provide a reading list of textbooks and original papers directed to the more significant aspects of the field.

Core area examinations will be administered at the end of spring session of the student's first full year of study. Based on the student's performance, the appropriate core area faculty will recommend that the student: 1) pass; 2) be dropped from the departmental graduate program; 3) be allowed to continue and retake the examination at the next offering. Failure of this examination a second time necessarily will result in the academic dismissal from the master's program.

A final written or oral examination in the student's area of specialization (for students not registered for Bio 699), or an oral defense of the thesis (for those registered in Bio 699) must be passed prior to the receipt of the degree.

III.  Combined B.S.-M.S. Program in Biology

Qualified undergraduates may apply for admission to the M.S. program and, if accepted, simultaneously work toward completion of the requirements for both undergraduate and graduate degrees. See Combined Baccalaureate- Master's Degree Programs for details.

IV.  Program Leading to the Master of Science Degree in Biodiversity, Conservation, and Policy

A minimum of 30 graduate credits is required for the master's degree, at least 18 of which must be in biology. Students entering the program with a degree in biology may pursue the policy and planning areas more heavily, while other majors may pursue biology more heavily.

1. Biology (11 credits, required courses):
   Bio 530A Biodiversity and Conservation Biology-Theoretical Issues (4); Bio 530B Biodiversity and Conservation Biology-Policy Issues (4); Bio 515a Responsible Conduct and Skill in Research (1) or 515b Responsible Conduct and Skills in Scientific Communication (1); Bio 630 Topics in Biodiversity, Conservation & Planning (2).
2. Policy and Planning Skills (6-8 credits, minimum)
   Pub 522 Politics and Policy (4) or Pub 513 Field Seminar in Public Policy (4); or Pub/Pad 666 Environmental Politics and Policy (4); and one of the following tool-based courses: Pub 514 Economics for Public Affairs II (4); or Gog 584 Graduate Introduction to Remote Sensing of the Environment (2), or Gog 596 Introduction to Geographic Information Systems (3).
3. Support courses as advised; at least one must be in biology, and a graduate-level statistics course is recommended (5-9).
4. Thesis: Bio 699 Research in biology or jointly with other departments (e.g., Policy) (4-6 credits).
5. Satisfactory completion of the core and final examinations in Biodiversity, Conservation, and Policy

Applicants must have a bachelor's degree from an acredited University or College with a minimum 3.0 GPA. For students pursuing emphasis in biology, suggested background course work includes genetics, evolution, and ecology, plus at least two courses in physical sciences (Physics, Chemistry, Earth or Atmospheric Sciences). The Graduate Admissions Committee of the Department of Biological Sciences may recommend that deficiencies be filled from undergraduate courses (without graduate credit), after acceptance. Students applying for admission to the M.S. in Biodiversity, Conservation, and Policy are required to submit a University at Albany standard application, 3 letters of recommendation, undergraduate transcripts, and scores from the Graduate Record Exam General Test.

Core and Final Examinations in Biodiversity, Conservation and Policy

Core examination in Biodiversity, Conservation, and Policy will follow the same guidelines as those listed under the program leading to a Master of Science Degree. The final examination will be an oral public defense of the thesis. There are three options for completing the thesis: 1) internship leading to a research project; 2) problem solving with previously collected data; and 3) original field and laboratory research.
 

PROGRAM LEADING TO THE DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY DEGREE IN BIOLOGY

The general aim of the doctoral program is to prepare qualified students to become productive scholars in the biological sciences. Previous training and the kinds of research a graduate student may undertake vary widely. A creative piece of research is the central theme of doctoral work, and research by its very nature is unpredictable. It is the aim of this graduate program to allow students to guide themselves insofar as possible, consistent with a high standard of effort and achievement, so that they may gain in ability to learn and to act on their own. Ordinarily, the student will spend four or five years beyond the baccalaureate in study and research to earn the Ph.D. Doctoral students are expected to devote full-time study to their graduate education.

Various specializations are: biochemistry, macromolecular structure, morphogenesis and development, molecular genetics, neural mechanisms, developmental neurobiology, cell physiology and differentiation, plant development, and population biology.

Requirements for Admission to the Doctoral Program in Biology

Applicants must have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited University or College. Undergraduate preparation should preferably include (1) 18 credits in biology, (2) 2 courses in mathematics (at least 6 credits); (3) 2 courses in physics with laboratories (at least 6 credits); and (4) 4 courses in chemistry with laboratories of which 2 courses must be in organic chemistry with laboratories (at least 12 credits). In addition, the general University requirements for admission to doctoral study must be satisfied including the University at Albany standard graduate application, 3 letters of recommendation, all undergraduate and graduate transcripts, and scores from the Graduate Record Exam General Test.

Program of Studies

The graduate training program in the department is divided into two core areas:  (1) Molecular, Cellular, Developmental, and Neural Biology (MCDN) and (2) Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior (EEB).  Students are expected to acquire and demonstrate by means of an examination a comprehensive insight into the current state of knowledge and the current problems in one of these core areas.  Each student will choose this area in the first year in consultation with his/her advisor.

Students entering the doctoral program are assigned to a temporary advisor by the Graduate Admissions Committee. During the first year of study students are encouraged to pursue research in the laboratory of one or more faculty members. At the end of the first year or during the second year of studies, it is expected that the student's interest will have sufficiently crystallized so that he/she may select dissertation advisors who will take primary responsibility for supervising his/her education and  research. The dissertation advisor with at least three additional faculty members, nominated by the student and approved by the Graduate Examinations Committee, constitute the student's Dissertation Committee. One member of the committee may be an expert in the candidate's field from another department of this University or from another academic institution. Under the guidance of the dissertation committee the student shall present a dissertation proposal to the Dissertation Committee before final approval of the dissertation.

The dissertation committee has the responsibility to supervise the research on which the dissertation is based.

Qualifying Examination, Part 1

The core area examination will constitute Part 1 of the Qualifying Examination and must be passed before proceeding to Part 2.  Each student entering the doctoral program will elect to be examined in one of the two core areas at the end of the spring semester of the student's first full academic year in residence. The exam will be administered by a faculty group representing that area, who will provide reading lists and give guidance to the student preparing for the examination. All or a major portion of the examination will be written. An oral component may be required of all or selected individual students being examined in any major area. This determination will be made by the core area faculty. A student who successfully passes this examination and who subsequently changes the area of research specialization will not be required to pass another area examination.

Based on the student's performance in Part 1, appropriate core area faculty will recommend that the student: 1) pass; 2) be allowed to continue in the doctoral program and retake the Qualifying Examination before the beginning of the next academic year; 3) be dropped from the Ph.D. program and be allowed to enroll in the M.S. program; 4) be dropped from the departmental graduate program. Failure of the Qualifying Exam, Part 1 a second time will necessarily result in academic dismissal from the department.

Qualifying Examination, Part 2

This examination consists of an oral defense of a research proposal prepared by the student. The proposal and the student's preparation for this research are evaluated. The research proposal is a detailed document outlining the background and the proposed conduct of a piece of research designed to answer a significant question (or series of significant questions) in modern biology. This examination should be taken by the end of the 5th semester in residence and must be taken by the end of the 6th semester in residence. Based on the student’s performance the Dissertation Committee will recommend that the student: 1) unconditionally pass; 2) conditionally pass with remedial work to be completed within 6 months; 3) fail and be allowed to retake and pass the exam within 6 months; 4) fail and be allowed to apply to the M.S. program; or 5) fail and be dismissed from the departmental graduate program. The examination will be conducted by the student’s Dissertation Committee.

In advance of taking this examination, the student will nominate to the Graduate Programs Committee, a chair and at least three additional faculty members to serve as the Dissertation Committee. When appropriate, one member of the committee may be an expert in the student's field from another department of this University or from another academic institution.  The examination will be conducted by the student's Dissertation Committee.

The committee will examine critically the construction of the research proposal, will probe into the student's preparation to pursue research along the proposed lines, and will make recommendations as necessary for the modification of the research proposal. The Dissertation Committee will report to the Graduate Programs Committee the results of each examination of a prospective degree candidate and a copy of the research proposal will be made a part of the student's permanent record in the departmental files. The Dissertation Committee will meet at least once every year with the student throughout the course of his/her dissertation research to evaluate progress and offer advice. A majority of the committee must be present at each meeting. The chair of the committee will submit a written report to the Graduate Program Committee summarizing the student's progress and the committee's evaluation after each committee meeting.

Courses and Seminars

Two of the specific aims of the doctoral program are to train students in the basic disciplines of modern biology and to give them a thorough awareness of current problems. To fulfill these aims a range of topically oriented courses is offered.

Most courses consist of lectures with occasional student presentations. In the lecture part of these courses the basic principles are covered. Through active participation in the seminar parts of the courses, the students are brought to the forefront of knowledge and problems in the various fields. Each Core Area will recommend a general program of study for students.  Specific courses will also be recommended by the individual student's advisor and Dissertation Committee.

Research Tool Requirement

The Department of Biological Sciences requires demonstration of proficiency in one research tool. The requirement can be fulfilled by competency in computer programming, statistical analysis, advanced mathematics, or electronic theory and design.

Teaching Requirement

All students enrolled in the Ph.D. programs are required to teach at least two semesters during their raduate tenure.

Full Time Study in Residency

Each student in a doctoral program must engage in full-time study beyond the master's degree or equivalent at the University in at least two sessions after admission to the advanced program. This requirement is designed to insure for each doctoral student a sustained period of intensive intellectual growth. For this purpose a student will enroll in full-time study (12 credits) taken in each of two sessions, or in a regular session and a summer session, not necessarily consecutive, which must be completed satisfactorily, except as indicated here:

• Students authorized to register for work on a dissertation may meet this 12 credit per session requirement by satisfactorily completing a minimum of 8 earned course credits and registering for work on the dissertation for load credits that will bring the total to 12 credits for each of two sessions.

• Graduate assistants holding a full assistantship may meet the residency requirement by completing one academic year in such a position, including the satisfactory completion of a minimum of 15 registered credits during the year plus satisfactory completion of assigned duties.

• All requests for an exception to this policy must be submitted to the Chair of the Department’s Graduate Programs Committee for consideration by their Executive Committee (Committee Chair and Chairs of the two subcommittees, Admissions and Examinations) on an individual basis.

A student is admitted to candidacy for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy upon the following:

1. Satisfactory record in course and seminar study;
2. Completion of the University residence requirements;
3. Fulfillment of the research tool requirement;
4. Passing both parts of the qualifying examination;
5. Demonstration of ability to conduct research;
6. Completion of the teaching requirement.

The student must complete, under the supervision of the dissertation committee, a dissertation which represents a significant and original contribution to knowledge in the student's field of specialization.

In the event that students elect to pursue dissertation research other than that specified in a successfully defended research proposal, they must nominate to the Graduate Examinations Committee a new dissertation committee and must submit a new research proposal that has been approved by the new committee. A new qualifying examination, part 2, will not be required.

A public oral defense of the dissertation must be given before the Ph.D. degree is awarded to the student.  A copy of the dissertation must be placed in the main office for review by interested individuals at least one week prior to the scheduled public defense.