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Fall 2012 Graduate Calendar
BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
THE DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY DEGREE
In addition to the general requirements as set out in the
Faculty of Graduate Studies Regulations
, the following requirements must be met by all students proceeding to the Ph.D. degree.
Admission Requirements
Applicants with an honours degree in Biological Sciences or related field and who have been judged to be outstanding students may be admitted directly into the Ph.D. program. Applicants holding an M.Sc. degree or equivalent from the University of Windsor or from another recognized university or college may be admitted to the Ph.D. program with advanced standing in course work as described below.
Program Requirements
Students may pursue one of the following fields within the PhD in Biological Sciences: 1) Molecular/Cellular Biology; 2) Ecology, Evolution, Environment, and Behaviour; and 3) Neuroscience and Behaviour.
Course Work:
Students proceeding toward the Ph.D. degree will follow one of the programs given below:
1) Students proceeding directly to the Ph.D. from an Honours B.Sc. degree will be expected to:
(a) comply with the general regulations;
(b) attend all departmental seminars in Biological Sciences (formal presentations of visiting speakers; graduate student seminars, thesis defense presentations and dissertation defense presentations) each year of full-time registration;
(c) present a departmental seminar in each year of enrollment (the dissertation defense may count as one of these);
(d) successfully complete a minimum of four graduate co
urses. With the approval of the Doctoral Committee, courses may be in a cognate area. Statistics
65-453
(Statistics for Life/Social Sciences) may be allowed for graduate credit;
(e) complete a dissertation embodying the results of an original investigation;
(f) defend the dissertation at a public lecture or seminar.
Students recommended and approved for transfer into the Ph.D. program after having completed one year of an M.Sc. degree in Biological Sciences at the University of Windsor will normally receive credit for graduate course work completed during the M.Sc. program.
2) Students entering into a Ph.D. program with an M.Sc. degree will be expected to:
(a) comply with the general requirements;
(b) attend all departmental seminars in Biological Sciences (formal presentations of visiting speakers, graduate student seminars, thesis defense presentations and dissertation defense presentations) each year of full-time registration;
(c) present a departmental seminar in each year of enrollment (the dissertation defense may count as one of these);
(d) successfully complete a minimum of two graduate courses for a minimum total of four (4) courses for the M.Sc. and Ph.D. combined. With the approval of the Doctoral Committee, courses may be in a cognate area. Statistics
65-453
(Statistics for Life/Social Sciences) may be allowed for graduate credit;
(e) complete a dissertation embodying the results of an original investigation;
(f) defend the dissertation at a public lecture or seminar.
Grading:
A student must maintain at least a B- standing in each course in Biological Sciences and at least a B- average in any non-Biological Sciences courses. Any student whose performance is deemed unsatisfactory in course work or research will be asked to withdraw.
Doctoral Committee:
Within the first term of the student's registration, the doctoral committee will be formed except for the external examiner, who is to be appointed during the student's final year of study/research. The full committee will consist of at least five members; one must be from outside the University, one from the University faculty but outside Biological Sciences, and three must be within Biological Sciences. The research advisor will act as chairperson of this committee. The student should meet with individual committee members on an informal basis at least twice a year.
The doctoral committee must meet for the following:
(a) to review and approve course work and the research proposal no later than six months into the program;
(b) to prepare and administer the comprehensive examination within the first two years of the student's registration in the program;
(c) to discuss the student's progress within two months after the comprehensive examination. (The extramural committee member need not participate.);
(d) to discuss the student's research and dissertation at least two months before the anticipated time of the final oral examination;
(e) the final oral examination.
Research Progress:
Each year from the date of initial registration, the student must submit a Research Progress Report to and meet with his or her doctoral committee. In addition, the student must review his or her research in a meeting with the doctoral committee at least six months before the anticipated date of the final oral examination.
Dissertation:
Six months before the anticipated date of the final oral examination the student must review the research and dissertation in a meeting with the committee.
A dissertation embodying the results of an original investigation in the student's major field is required of all candidates. The dissertation is expected to be of a quality suitable for publication in a refereed biological journal.
Examinations:
(a)
Comprehensive Examination:
The primary purpose of the Comprehensive Examination is to ensure that the student demonstrates both a reasonable mastery of the field of specialization, and knowledge of broader areas of Biology; it is designed to test the student's command of knowledge and ability to integrate that knowledge. This examination must be completed within two years of the student's initial registration in the program. Prior to the examination, the student will have provided the doctoral committee with a written proposal outlining the background, approach and general expectations of the intended research project; however the Comprehensive Examination is not intended to be, and should not be limited to, a defense of this proposal. The Comprehensive Examination will normally be an oral examination administered by the doctoral committee, and chaired by the Biological Sciences Graduate Coordinator (or designate). The student's Academic Advisor will communicate the results of the examination and any recommendations to the student, and to the Biology Graduate Committee. Following the Comprehensive Examination the doctoral committee may assign the student appropriate remedial or supplementary course work. Successful completion of the examination and any remedial studies or course work recommended by the doctoral committee is prerequisite to the student's admission to candidacy in the doctoral program.
(b) Finally, the student will be requested to defend the dissertation orally at a public lecture or seminar (final oral examination).
BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES:
COURSES
BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES:
PROGRAMS
BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES:
INSTRUCTORS
GRADUATE STUDIES FACULTY REGULATIONS