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- Program Coordinator: Oscar Rocha | bscigrad@kent.edu | 330-672-2297
- Connect with an Admissions Counselor: U.S. Student | International Student
The Ph.D. degree in Biological Sciences - Ecology and Evolutionary Biology provides opportunities to study in areas such as animal behavior, entomology, limnology, microbial ecology, ornithology, systems ecology, systematic and evolutionary biology, environmental physiology, vertebrate ecology and population and community ecology. Although courses of study are tailored to students’ interests and needs, the program for all students normally includes training in population, community, ecosystems and evolutionary ecology and statistical theory. Because of the interdisciplinary nature of ecology, students are encouraged to take courses in geology, mathematics, chemistry and other disciplines.
For more information about graduate admissions, visit the graduate admission website. For more information on international admissions, visit the international admission website.
Student deficiencies in these areas at the time of admission shall be rectified during the first year of graduate study.
Graduates of this program will be able to:
Code | Title | Credit Hours |
---|---|---|
Major Requirements | ||
BSCI 70104 | BIOLOGICAL STATISTICS | 4 |
BSCI 70184 | RESPONSIBLE CONDUCT IN RESEARCH AND TEACHING-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES 1 | 2 |
BSCI 70191 | SEMINAR IN BIOLOGY (taken 2-4 times) | 2-4 |
Additional Electives | 14-16 | |
Student Seminar Presentation 2 | ||
Majors Electives, choose from the following: | 6 | |
BSCI 70370 | ECOLOGICAL AND EVOLUTIONARY GENETICS | |
BSCI 70371 | EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY | |
BSCI 70372 | COMMUNITIES AND ECOSYSTEMS | |
BSCI 70373 | POPULATION AND COMMUNITY ECOLOGY | |
Culminating Requirement | ||
BSCI 80199 | DISSERTATION I 3 | 30 |
Minimum Total Credit Hours for Post-Baccalaureate Students | 90 | |
Minimum Total Credit Hours for Post-Master's Students | 60 |
Students are required to take BSCI 70184 their first semester (or the following fall semester for those starting their studies in the spring semester).
Students are required to present at least one departmental seminar about their work.
Each doctoral candidate, upon admission to candidacy, must register for BSCI 80199 for a total of 30 credit hours. It is expected that a doctoral candidate will continuously register for BSCI 80199, and thereafter BSCI 80299, each semester, until all requirements for the degree have been met. It is expected that candidates will present the results of their research in a defense open to students and faculty, at which the dissertation will be presented and defended before the dissertation committee, with not more than one negative vote, in order to be recommended to the Department of Biological Sciences and the College of Arts and Sciences for degree conferral.
Students entering the program with a bachelor's degree must complete a minimum 20 credit hours of graduate courses beyond BSCI 80198 toward their degree. Students entering the program with a master's degree should consult with their guidance committee to determine how many courses are required.
After completing the required coursework, students complete the doctoral program by being admitted to candidacy, by proposing a research project to the faculty and by completing and defending that research with a written dissertation before a faculty committee.
Candidacy Exams: Students are admitted to doctoral candidacy following successful completion of both written and oral candidacy examinations. These exams are based on prior coursework and coursework taken in this graduate program as determined by students' academic Guidance Committee, which must consist of at least three eligible faculty members. The advisor(s) and a majority of members of the Guidance Committee must be members of the appropriate graduate program. This committee is responsible for determining the student's academic curriculum and for administering the candidacy exams. Following successful completion of candidacy exams, students register for dissertation - BSCI 80199 for two semesters and, thereafter, for BSCI 80299 continually until complete.
Prospectus: Following completion of the candidacy exam, students must successfully prepare, present and defend a formal prospectus of the research project before their dissertation committee.
Dissertation and Final Defense: Doctoral candidates must complete a dissertation. It is expected that candidates will present the results of their research in a defense open to students and faculty, during which they will present and defend before the dissertation committee, with not more than one negative vote, in order to be recommended to the department and College of Arts and Sciences for degree conferral.
9.3%
much faster than the average
64,700
number of jobs
$85,600
potential earnings
2.2%
slower than the average
44,700
number of jobs
$85,290
potential earnings
3.7%
about as fast as the average
7,600
number of jobs
$84,740
potential earnings
4.8%
about as fast as the average
71,400
number of jobs
$137,940
potential earnings
The Master of Science degree in Biological Sciences - Ecology and Evolutionary Biology provides opportunities to study in areas such as animal behavior, entomology, limnology, microbial ecology, ornithology, systems ecology, systematic and evolutionary biology, environmental physiology, vertebrate ecology and population and community ecology. Although courses of study are tailored to students’ interests and needs, the program for all students normally includes training in population, community, ecosystems and evolutionary ecology and statistical theory. Because of the interdisciplinary nature of ecology, students are encouraged to take courses in geology, mathematics, chemistry and other disciplines.
For more information about graduate admissions, visit the graduate admission website. For more information on international admissions, visit the international admission website.
Graduates of this program will be able to:
Code | Title | Credit Hours |
---|---|---|
Major Requirements | ||
BSCI 60104 | BIOLOGICAL STATISTICS | 4 |
BSCI 60184 | RESPONSIBLE CONDUCT IN RESEARCH AND TEACHING-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES 1 | 2 |
BSCI 60191 | SEMINAR IN BIOLOGY (taken 2-4 times) | 2-4 |
BSCI 60370 | ECOLOGICAL AND EVOLUTIONARY GENETICS | 2 |
or BSCI 60371 | EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY | |
BSCI 60372 | COMMUNITIES AND ECOSYSTEMS | 2 |
or BSCI 60373 | POPULATION AND COMMUNITY ECOLOGY | |
Additional Electives | 12-14 | |
Student Seminar Presentation 2 | ||
Culminating Requirement | ||
BSCI 60199 | THESIS I 3 | 6 |
Minimum Total Credit Hours: | 32 |
Students are required to take BSCI 60184 their first semester (or the following fall semester for those starting their studies in the spring semester).
Students are required to present at least one departmental seminar about their research.
After completing 6 credit hours of BSCI 60199, students must register continually for BSCI 60299 until the degree is earned. Students begin research by successfully preparing, presenting and defending a formal prospectus for their research project to their committee. For the thesis and final defense, it is expected that students will present the results of their study in a defense open to students and faculty. The thesis must be presented and defended before the Guidance Committee with not more than one negative vote in order to be recommended to the Department of Biological Sciences and the College of Arts and Sciences for degree conferral.
Students must complete a minimum 14 credit hours of graduate courses beyond BSCI 60198 toward their degree.
9.3%
much faster than the average
64,700
number of jobs
$85,600
potential earnings
2.2%
slower than the average
44,700
number of jobs
$85,290
potential earnings
3.7%
about as fast as the average
7,600
number of jobs
$84,740
potential earnings
4.8%
about as fast as the average
71,400
number of jobs
$137,940
potential earnings
Graduates of this program will be able to:
For more information about graduate admissions, visit the graduate admission website. For more information on international admissions, visit the international admission website.
Student deficiencies in these areas at the time of admission shall be rectified during the first year of graduate study.
Code | Title | Credit Hours |
---|---|---|
Major Requirements | ||
BSCI 70104 | BIOLOGICAL STATISTICS 1 | 4 |
BSCI 70142 | BIOENERGETICS | 3 |
BSCI 70143 | EUKARYOTIC CELL BIOLOGY | 3 |
BSCI 70144 | SELECTED READINGS IN EUKARYOTIC CELL BIOLOGY | 1 |
BSCI 70184 | RESPONSIBLE CONDUCT IN RESEARCH AND TEACHING-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES 2 | 2 |
BSCI 70191 | SEMINAR IN BIOLOGY (taken 2-4 times) | 2-4 |
Additional Electives 3 | 13-15 | |
Student Seminar Presentation 4 | ||
Culminating Requirement | ||
BSCI 80199 | DISSERTATION I 5 | 30 |
Minimum Total Credit Hours for Post-Baccalaureate Students | 90 | |
Minimum Total Credit Hours for Post-Master's Students | 60 |
Students may substitute a different graduate-level statistics course for BSCI 70104, if deemed appropriate by the students' advisor/guidance committee.
Students are required to take BSCI 70184 their first semester (or the following fall semester for those starting their studies in the spring semester).
Students are to select courses in consultation with their academic faculty advisor. It is recommended that students enroll in BSCI 70195 for selected current topics. Additional coursework should provide the necessary skills and/or knowledge base to aid in the completion of the student's research project and be beneficial for their professional development.
Students are required to present at least one departmental seminar about their work.
Doctoral candidates, upon admission to candidacy, must register for BSCI 80199 for a total of 30 hours. It is expected that doctoral candidates will continuously register for BSCI 80199, and thereafter BSCI 80299, each semester, until all requirements for the degree have been met. It is expected that candidates will present the results of their research in a defense open to students and faculty, at which the dissertation will be presented and defended before the dissertation committee, with not more than one negative vote, in order to be recommended to the Department of Biological Sciences and the College of Arts and Sciences for degree conferral.
Students entering the program with a bachelor's degree must complete a minimum 20 credit hours of graduate courses beyond BSCI 80198 toward their degree. Students entering the program with a master's degree should consult with their guidance committee to determine how many courses are required.
Following completion of the candidacy exam, doctoral students must successfully prepare, present and defend a formal prospectus of the research project before the dissertation committee.
Candidacy Exams: Students are admitted to doctoral candidacy following successful completion of both written and oral candidacy examinations. These exams are based on prior coursework and coursework taken in this graduate program as determined by students' academic Guidance Committee, which must consist of at least three eligible faculty members. The advisor(s) and a majority of members of the Guidance Committee must be members of the appropriate graduate program. This committee is responsible for determining the student's academic curriculum and for administering the candidacy exams. Following successful completion of candidacy exams, students register for dissertation - BSCI 80199 for two semesters and, thereafter, for BSCI 80299 continually until complete.
Prospectus: Following completion of the candidacy exam, doctoral students must successfully prepare, present and defend a formal prospectus of the research project before their dissertation committee.
Dissertation and Final Defense: Doctoral candidates must complete a dissertation. It is expected that candidates will present the results of their research in a defense open to students and faculty, during which they will present and defend their dissertation before their dissertation committee, with not more than one negative vote, in order to be recommended to the department and College of Arts and Sciences for degree conferral
9.3%
much faster than the average
64,700
number of jobs
$85,600
potential earnings
2.2%
slower than the average
44,700
number of jobs
$85,290
potential earnings
6.1%
faster than the average
138,300
number of jobs
$91,510
potential earnings
3.1%
about as fast as the average
20,200
number of jobs
$84,400
potential earnings
Graduates of this program will be able to:
For more information about graduate admissions, visit the graduate admission website. For more information on international admissions, visit the international admission website.
Code | Title | Credit Hours |
---|---|---|
Major Requirements | ||
BSCI 50142 | BIOENERGETICS | 3 |
BSCI 50143 | EUKARYOTIC CELL BIOLOGY | 3 |
BSCI 60104 | BIOLOGICAL STATISTICS 1 | 4 |
BSCI 60144 | SELECTED READINGS IN EUKARYOTIC CELL BIOLOGY | 1 |
BSCI 60184 | RESPONSIBLE CONDUCT IN RESEARCH AND TEACHING-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES 2 | 2 |
BSCI 60191 | SEMINAR IN BIOLOGY (taken 2-4 times) | 2-4 |
Major Electives 3 | 9-11 | |
Student Seminar Presentation 4 | ||
Culminating Requirement | ||
BSCI 60199 | THESIS I 5 | 6 |
Minimum Total Credit Hours: | 32 |
Students may substitute a different graduate-level statistics course for BSCI 60104, if deemed appropriate by the students' advisor/guidance committee.
Students are required to enroll in BSCI 60184 their first semester (or the following fall semester for those starting their studies in the spring semester).
Students are to select courses in consultation with their academic faculty advisor. It is recommended that students enroll in BSCI 50195 for selected current topics. Additional coursework should provide the necessary skills and/or knowledge base to aid in the completion of the student's research project and be beneficial for their professional development.
Students are required to present at least one departmental seminar about their work.
After completing 6 credit hours of BSCI 60199, students must register continually for BSCI 60299 until the degree is earned. Students begin research by successfully preparing, presenting and defending a formal prospectus for their research project to their committee. For the thesis and final defense, it is expected that students will present the results of their study in a defense open to students and faculty. The thesis must be presented and defended before the Guidance Committee with not more than one negative vote in order to be recommended to the Department of Biological Sciences and the College of Arts and Sciences for degree conferral.
Students must complete a minimum 14 credit hours of graduate courses beyond BSCI 60198 toward their degree.
9.3%
much faster than the average
64,700
number of jobs
$85,600
potential earnings
2.2%
slower than the average
44,700
number of jobs
$85,290
potential earnings
4.9%
about as fast as the average
87,500
number of jobs
$46,340
potential earnings
3.1%
about as fast as the average
20,200
number of jobs
$84,400
potential earnings
Learn more about the programs and services offered by the Academic Success Center.
Graduates of this program will be able to:
Admission to a minor is open to students declared in a bachelor’s degree, the A.A.B. or A.A.S. degree or the A.T.S. degree (not Individualized Program major). Students declared only in the A.A. or A.S. degree or the A.T.S. degree in Individualized Program may not declare a minor. Students may not pursue a minor and a major in the same discipline.
Code | Title | Credit Hours |
---|---|---|
Minor Requirements | ||
BSCI 10110 | BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY (ELR) (KBS) (KLAB) | 4 |
BSCI 10120 | BIOLOGICAL FOUNDATIONS (ELR) (KBS) (KLAB) | 4 |
BSCI 30140 | CELL BIOLOGY | 4 |
BSCI 30171 | GENERAL MICROBIOLOGY | 4 |
Biological Sciences (BSCI) Electives, choose from the following: | 6-7 | |
BSCI 30156 | ELEMENTS OF GENETICS | |
BSCI 40148 | PRINCIPLES OF INFECTIOUS DISEASE | |
BSCI 40162 | SOIL BIOLOGY | |
BSCI 40174 | IMMUNOLOGY | |
BSCI 40273 | INTRODUCTION TO MYCOLOGY | |
BSCI 40363 | MICROBIAL ECOLOGY | |
BSCI 40380 | BIOGEOCHEMISTRY | |
BSCI 40581 | ANIMAL PARASITOLOGY | |
Minimum Total Credit Hours: | 22 |
Minimum Minor GPA | Minimum Overall GPA |
---|---|
2.000 | 2.000 |
The following Biological Sciences (BSCI) courses may NOT be used in the elective category for majors or minors in the Department of Biological Sciences:
Code | Title | Credit Hours |
---|---|---|
BSCI 10001 | HUMAN BIOLOGY (KBS) | 3 |
BSCI 10002 | LIFE ON PLANET EARTH (KBS) | 3 |
BSCI 10003 | LABORATORY EXPERIENCE IN BIOLOGY (KBS) (KLAB) | 1 |
BSCI 10005 | ANATOMY FOR VETERINARY TECHNICIANS | 5 |
BSCI 11010 | FOUNDATIONAL ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY I (KBS) (KLAB) | 3 |
BSCI 11020 | FOUNDATIONAL ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY II (KBS) (KLAB) | 3 |
BSCI 16001 | HORTICULTURAL BOTANY | 3 |
BSCI 20019 | BIOLOGICAL STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION | 4 |
BSCI 20021 | BASIC MICROBIOLOGY | 3 |
BSCI 20022 | BASIC MICROBIOLOGY LABORATORY | 1 |
BSCI 21010 | ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY I (KBS) (KLAB) | 4 |
BSCI 21020 | ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY II | 4 |
BSCI 26002 | ECOLOGICAL PRINCIPLES OF PEST MANAGEMENT | 3 |
BSCI 26003 | PLANT IDENTIFICATION AND SELECTION I | 3 |
BSCI 26004 | PLANT IDENTIFICATION AND SELECTION II | 3 |
BSCI 30050 | HUMAN GENETICS | 3 |
BSCI 40020 | BIOLOGY OF AGING | 3 |
Graduates of this program will be able to:
Admission to a minor is open to students declared in a bachelor’s degree, the A.A.B. or A.A.S. degree or the A.T.S. degree (not Individualized Program major). Students declared only in the A.A. or A.S. degree or the A.T.S. degree in Individualized Program may not declare a minor. Students may not pursue a minor and a major in the same discipline.
Code | Title | Credit Hours |
---|---|---|
Minor Requirements | ||
BSCI 10120 | BIOLOGICAL FOUNDATIONS (ELR) (KBS) (KLAB) | 4 |
BSCI 30140 | CELL BIOLOGY | 4 |
BSCI 30156 | ELEMENTS OF GENETICS | 3 |
Biological Sciences (BSCI) Electives, choose from the following: | 11-12 | |
BSCI 30171 | GENERAL MICROBIOLOGY | |
BSCI 40148 | PRINCIPLES OF INFECTIOUS DISEASE | |
BSCI 40150 | MOLECULAR MECHANISMS OF DISEASE: CANCER | |
BSCI 40151 | MECHANISMS OF DISEASE: OBESITY AND RELATED METABOLIC DISEASES | |
BSCI 40152 | MOLECULAR MECHANISMS OF DISEASE: NEUROLOGICAL DISORDERS | |
BSCI 40154 | DIABETES AND CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE | |
BSCI 40157 | NEUROBIOLOGY OF DRUG ADDICTION | |
BSCI 40174 | IMMUNOLOGY | |
BSCI 40581 | ANIMAL PARASITOLOGY | |
Minimum Total Credit Hours: | 22 |
Minimum Minor GPA | Minimum Overall GPA |
---|---|
2.000 | 2.000 |
The following Biological Sciences (BSCI) courses may NOT be used in the elective category for majors or minors in the Department of Biological Sciences:
Code | Title | Credit Hours |
---|---|---|
BSCI 10001 | HUMAN BIOLOGY (KBS) | 3 |
BSCI 10002 | LIFE ON PLANET EARTH (KBS) | 3 |
BSCI 10003 | LABORATORY EXPERIENCE IN BIOLOGY (KBS) (KLAB) | 1 |
BSCI 10005 | ANATOMY FOR VETERINARY TECHNICIANS | 5 |
BSCI 11010 | FOUNDATIONAL ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY I (KBS) (KLAB) | 3 |
BSCI 11020 | FOUNDATIONAL ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY II (KBS) (KLAB) | 3 |
BSCI 16001 | HORTICULTURAL BOTANY | 3 |
BSCI 20019 | BIOLOGICAL STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION | 4 |
BSCI 20021 | BASIC MICROBIOLOGY | 3 |
BSCI 20022 | BASIC MICROBIOLOGY LABORATORY | 1 |
BSCI 21010 | ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY I (KBS) (KLAB) | 4 |
BSCI 21020 | ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY II | 4 |
BSCI 26002 | ECOLOGICAL PRINCIPLES OF PEST MANAGEMENT | 3 |
BSCI 26003 | PLANT IDENTIFICATION AND SELECTION I | 3 |
BSCI 26004 | PLANT IDENTIFICATION AND SELECTION II | 3 |
BSCI 30050 | HUMAN GENETICS | 3 |
BSCI 40020 | BIOLOGY OF AGING | 3 |
Graduates of this program will be able to:
Admission to a minor is open to students declared in a bachelor’s degree, the A.A.B. or A.A.S. degree or the A.T.S. degree (not Individualized Program major). Students declared only in the A.A. or A.S. degree or the A.T.S. degree in Individualized Program may not declare a minor. Students may not pursue a minor and a major in the same discipline.
Code | Title | Credit Hours |
---|---|---|
Minor Requirements | ||
BSCI 10110 | BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY (ELR) (KBS) (KLAB) | 4 |
BSCI 30360 | GENERAL ECOLOGY | 4 |
BSCI 40374 | CONSERVATION BIOLOGY (ELR) | 4 |
BSCI 40375 | ENVIRONMENTAL BIOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT | 4 |
Biology Electives, choose from the following: | 3-5 | |
BSCI 30275 | LOCAL FLORA (ELR) | |
BSCI 30277 | ECONOMIC BOTANY | |
BSCI 30370 | CLIMATE CHANGE BIOLOGY | |
BSCI 40170 | STREAM BIOLOGY | |
BSCI 40222 | INVASION BIOLOGY | |
BSCI 40364 | LIMNOLOGY | |
BSCI 40365 | FIELD METHODS IN ORNITHOLOGY (ELR) | |
BSCI 40368 | WETLAND ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT (ELR) | |
BSCI 40376 | TROPICAL FIELD BIOLOGY AND CONSERVATION (ELR) | |
BSCI 40377 & BSCI 40378 | PREPARATION FOR FIELD COURSE TO SOUTH AFRICA and FIELD COURSE TO SOUTH AFRICA (ELR) | |
Minimum Total Credit Hours: | 19 |
Minimum Minor GPA | Minimum Overall GPA |
---|---|
2.000 | 2.000 |
The following Biological Sciences (BSCI) courses may NOT be used in the elective category for majors or minors in the Department of Biological Sciences:
Code | Title | Credit Hours |
---|---|---|
BSCI 10001 | HUMAN BIOLOGY (KBS) | 3 |
BSCI 10002 | LIFE ON PLANET EARTH (KBS) | 3 |
BSCI 10003 | LABORATORY EXPERIENCE IN BIOLOGY (KBS) (KLAB) | 1 |
BSCI 10005 | ANATOMY FOR VETERINARY TECHNICIANS | 5 |
BSCI 11010 | FOUNDATIONAL ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY I (KBS) (KLAB) | 3 |
BSCI 11020 | FOUNDATIONAL ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY II (KBS) (KLAB) | 3 |
BSCI 16001 | HORTICULTURAL BOTANY | 3 |
BSCI 20019 | BIOLOGICAL STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION | 4 |
BSCI 20021 | BASIC MICROBIOLOGY | 3 |
BSCI 20022 | BASIC MICROBIOLOGY LABORATORY | 1 |
BSCI 21010 | ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY I (KBS) (KLAB) | 4 |
BSCI 21020 | ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY II | 4 |
BSCI 26002 | ECOLOGICAL PRINCIPLES OF PEST MANAGEMENT | 3 |
BSCI 26003 | PLANT IDENTIFICATION AND SELECTION I | 3 |
BSCI 26004 | PLANT IDENTIFICATION AND SELECTION II | 3 |
BSCI 30050 | HUMAN GENETICS | 3 |
BSCI 40020 | BIOLOGY OF AGING | 3 |