College of Arts and Sciences

Departmental Email: gradbio@indiana.edu

Departmental URL: https://biology.indiana.edu

(Please note that when conferring University Graduate School degrees, minors, certificates, and sub-plans, The University Graduate School’s staff use those requirements contained only in The University Graduate School Bulletin.)

Curriculum

Curriculum
Courses
Faculty

Degrees Offered

Doctor of Philosophy and Master of Science in Evolution, Ecology and Behavior; Doctor of Philosophy and Master of Science in Genome, Cell, and Developmental Biology; Doctor of Philosophy and Master of Science in Microbiology; Master of Arts for Teachers in Biology.

Special Departmental Requirements

(See also general University Graduate School requirements.)

Admission Requirements

An undergraduate degree in one of the biological sciences, or a related field (e.g., chemistry, physics, or mathemat­ics) if appropriate biology courses were included in the student’s degree program. Students seeking admission to biology degree programs may apply directly to the Department of Biology or online. Applications must include a complete entrance form, letters of recommendation, and undergraduate tran­scripts. The TOEFL score is required if the native language is other than English.

Grades

For all graduate degrees, students must maintain a minimum GPA of B (3.0) in order to remain in good standing in the Graduate School. Courses to be counted toward the degree must be passed with a grade of B- (2.7) or better. To be eligible for financial support, the Department of Biology requires students to maintain a minimum GPA of 3.2.

Ph.D. Qualifying Examination

Includes written, oral, and research components. See specifics for each program below.

Satisfactory Progress Toward a Degree

After passing the preliminary examination, for a student to remain in “good standing” in the Department of Biology requires that sufficient progress is being made toward completing a thesis. If the research advisory committee judges progress to be unsatisfactory, probation may be recommended. At the end of the probationary period (usually a semester), probation will be lifted if the advisory committee judges the student’s progress to be satisfactory. If the advisory committee judges the student’s progress to remain unsatisfactory, then the student may be recommended for dismissal.

Thesis

The final requirement of each Ph.D. program is a Ph.D. thesis, which must be defended in a public research seminar and in a meeting of the research advisory committee. See specifics for each program below and requirements from the University Graduate School.

Other Provisions

All students enrolled in a Ph.D. program in the Department of Biology will be required to serve as associate instructors for at least one semester, regardless of their source of support; and they must complete formal instruction in teaching methods in order to enhance their teaching skills. Students whose native language is not English must become sufficiently fluent to pass the university's A.I. exam during the first year to remain in the program. It is the conviction of the department that teaching experience is a vital aspect of graduate education, whether or not the student intends to pursue a teaching career after attainment of the desired degree(s).

Evolution, Ecology and Behavior (EEB)

The Evolution, Ecology, and Behavior (EEB) program provides training in the evolutionary, ecological, and behavioral processes that underlie patterns of life and diversity. Our integrative and cooperative program promotes graduate research that strengthens and connects traditionally distinct fields.

Doctor of Philosophy Degree

Course Requirements

A total of 90 credit hours comprised of 29+ formal course credits. Course credits include: (1) a 20 credit ‘major’ (composed mostly of EEB courses, with exceptions approved by the EEB Graduate Program Director [GPD]), including two courses from one concentration area listed below and one course from a sec­ond area; (2) a six+ credit ‘minor’ (taken within Biology or through another department: credits vary from 6 to 15; see below); and (3) a three credit statistics ‘toolkit’ class (Z620 Biostatistics or equivalent). Up to six credits in the ‘major’ may come from three sources: (A) Z620 journal clubs, (B) L500 Independent Study/Readings (graded), and/or (C) L501 Rotations (graded). L500/L501 credits require written summaries approved by the students’ graduate advisor(s) and the GPD. Not more than four credits may come from any of sources (A) - (C). Additionally, two credits in the major should come from L570 (Seminar in Ecology and Environmental Biology). Remaining credit hours come from dissertation research. Any changes described here to course requirements can (but do not have to) apply retroactively. A student may apply courses taken for a MS degree if they are approved by the student’s advisory committee and the minor advisor.

Concentration Area Requirements

Ecology/Population Biology

• BIOL-L575 Biodiversity and Ecosystem Functioning
• BIOL-L577 Theoretical Ecology
• BIOL-L578 Advanced Population Biology
• BIOL-L579 Community Ecology
• BIOL-L591 Plant Population Biology—An Experimental Approach
• BIOL-Z620 Advances in Ecosystem Science
• BIOL-Z620 Ecological Niches
• BIOL-Z620 Ecological Stoichiometry
• BIOL-Z620 Ecosystems and Global Change
• BIOL-Z620 Quantitative Biodiversity
• SPEA-E556 Limnology
• Or other courses approved by the EEB Graduate Program

Evolutionary Biology

• BIOL-L505 Molecular Biology of Evolution
• BIOL-L533 Evolution of Genes and Genomes
• BIOL-L534 Evolution of Proteins and Cells
• BIOL-L567 Evolution
• BIOL-L568 Evolutionary Genetics
• BIOL-Z620 Evolution of Development
• BIOL-Z540 Genetics of Structured Populations
• BIOL-Z620 Ethics, Race, and Population Genetics
• BIOL-Z620 Phylogenetics
• BIOL-Z620 Systematics
• GEOL-G562 Geometric Morphometrics
• INFO-I590 SNP Discovery and Population Genetics
• Or other courses approved by the EEB Graduate Program

Behavior/Physiology

• ABEH-A501 Techniques in Reproductive Diversity
• BIOL-L553 or Z620 Sensory Ecology
• BIOL-L560 Physiological Ecology
• BIOL-L581 Behavioral Ecology
• BIOL-Z460 Animal Behavior
• BIOL-Z466 Endocrinology
• BIOL-Z563 Comparative Neurobiology of Animal Behavior
• BIOL-Z566 Laboratory in Endocrinology
• BIOL-Z620 Behavioral Genetics
• PHSL-P548 Neuroethology
• Or other courses approved by the EEB Graduate Program

Minor

Each EEB student must complete coursework for a minor. The minor may be obtained from a separate department (e.g., Informatics, Statistics, Environmental Science, Geology, Geography, Education), a relevant interdepart­mental program (e.g., Animal Behavior), in a different graduate program in the Depart­ment of Biology (e.g., Genetics, Microbiology), or an ‘Individualized minor’. EEB will waive the three credit ‘toolkit’ requirement in statistics for students minoring in Statistics (12 credit). Requirements are set by the unit administering the minor but will consist of a minimum of 6 credits up to a maximum of 12 credits).

Ph.D. Qualifying Examination

Includes written oral and research components. All full-time Ph.D. students must pass part I of the examination (written and oral breadth of knowledge examination) by the end of the thirteenth week of their fourth semester and must pass part II of the qualifying examination (dissertation proposal defense) by the end of the sixth semester. In the event of failure or postponement of part II, students may retake the examination once, but no later than the end of their sixth semester.

Thesis

Students write a dissertation based on scientific research.

Final Examination

Public research seminar and oral defense of the dissertation before the student’s research committee.

Master of Science Degree

Course Requirements

A total of 30 credit hours, of which at least 20 credit hours must be taken in approved evolution, ecology, and behavior (or related) courses. The courses must have a coherent focus within the general field of ecology, evolutionary biol­ogy, and behavior, and must be approved by the student’s advisory committee.

Thesis

A thesis or alternative research project is required.

Final Examination

The thesis or alternative research project must be orally defended before the advisory committee.

Graduate Minor in Evolution, Ecology, and Behavior

Students in other departments or in other programs in the Department of Biology may concentrate in one of the three areas of specialization (ecology/population biology, evolutionary biology, or behavior/physiology) by selecting two or more courses from the chosen area for a minimum of 6 credits. The student’s minor advisor must be a core EEB or affiliated faculty member (https://biology.indiana.edu/graduate/evolution-ecology-behavior/faculty/index.html). The minor advisor may also approve of one course from each of two (or three) of the areas described. A course may not simultaneously satisfy both major and minor course requirements. Course offerings outside of the list below can be used to satisfy the EEB minor. However, such substitutions require approval of the minor advisor and the EEB Graduate Program Director. A student may apply courses taken for a MS degree if they are approved by the student’s advisory committee and the minor advisor. Students must achieve a grade of B- or better in a course to be able to count it towards the minor.

Coursework

Ecology/Population Biology

• BIOL-L575 Biodiversity and Ecosystem Functioning (1.5 cr)
• BIOL-L577 Theoretical Ecology (3 cr)
• BIOL-L578 Advanced Population Biology (3 cr)
• BIOL-L579 Community Ecology (3 cr)
• BIOL-Z620 Advances in Ecosystem Science (3 cr)
• BIOL-Z620 Ecological Niches (1.5 cr)
• BIOL-Z620 Ecological Stoichiometry (1.5 cr)
• BIOL-Z620 Ecosystems and Global Change (1.5 cr)
• BIOL-Z620 Quantitative Biodiversity (1.5 cr)
• SPEA-E556 Limnology (3 cr)

Evolutionary Biology

• BIOL-L505 Evolution of Development (1.5 cr)
• BIOL-L533 Evolution of Genes and Genomes (3 cr)
• BIOL-L534 Evolution of Cells and Proteins (3 cr)
• BIOL-L567 Evolution (3 cr)
• BIOL-L568 Evolutionary Genetics (3 cr)
• BIOL-Z540 Genetics of Structured Populations (3 cr)
• BIOL-Z620 Ethics, Race, and Population Genetics (1.5 cr)
• BIOL-Z620 Systematics (1.5 cr)
• GEOL-G562 Geometric Morphometrics (3 cr)
• INFO-I590 SNP Discovery and Population Genetics (3 cr)

Behavior/Physiology

• ABEH-A501 Techniques in Reproductive Diversity (3 cr)
• BIOL-L560 Physiological Ecology (3 cr)
• BIOL-L581 Behavioral Ecology (3 cr)
• BIOL-Z460 Animal Behavior (3 cr)
• BIOL-Z466 Endocrinology (3 cr)
• BIOL-Z563 Comparative Neurobiology of Animal Behavior (3 cr)
• BIOL-Z620 or L553 Sensory Ecology (3 cr)
• BIOL-Z620 Behavioral Genetics (1.5 cr)

Genome, Cell, and Developmental Biology (GCDB)

The GCDB program is administered by the Genome, Cell, and Developmental Biology (GCDB) faculty group in Biology and consists of formal coursework, laboratory research, and professional development. Students in the GCDB program learn how to plan, execute, and critically analyze scientific research. Other professional development includes learning how to give oral presentations and write high-quality research papers and grant proposals. The GCDB program provides students with the training and research experience necessary to pursue a diversity of careers, including academic research, biomedical research, biotech industry, university-level teaching, among others.

Doctor of Philosophy Degree

Course Requirements

Students must complete a total of 90 credit hours, which includes formal core coursework totaling 19.5 credits for the major. In addition, students must receive research ethics training (0-1.5 credits; see below) and complete a 6+ credit minor (credits vary by minor). GCDB students take a common core program of classes (see below). In addition, students typically do research rotations in three different labs during the first semester, after which they identify a lab in which to do their thesis research and form their advisory committee. Other courses can be substituted for the GCDB requirements pending permission from the student’s Advisory Committee, the GCDB Program Director, and University Graduate School. Any changes described here to course requirements can (but do not have to) apply retroactively.

Courses for the GCDB Major

• BIOC-B511 Duplicating and Expressing the Genome (3.0 cr)
• BIOL-L501 Rotations (3.0 cr)
• BIOL-L523 Critical Analysis Lit. (1.5 cr)
• BIOL-L585 Genetics (3.0 cr)
• BIOL-L586 Cell Biology (3.0 cr)
• BIOL-L587 Dev. Biology (3.0 cr)
• BIOL-Z620 Bioinformatics 2 Go (1.5 cr)
• BIOL-Z620 Grant Writing (1.5 cr)
• BIOL-Z620 Research Ethics and Career Development (1.5 cr) or Responsible Conduct of Research workshops offered through the Offices of the Vice Provost for Graduate Education and Health Sciences, Research Compliance, and the Vice Provost for Research.

Minor

Each student must select a minor field distinct from the chosen degree. The student has the option to select any minor in consultation with their advisor and the GCDB Graduate Program Director. The minor may be from within biology or from other units on campus. The requirements for the minor are decided by the minor-granting program.

Ph.D. Qualifying Examination

Includes written, oral and research components. All full-time Ph.D. students must take the qualifying examination by the end of the fourth week of their fifth semester. In the event of failure or postponement, students may retake the examination once, but no later than the end of the twelfth week of their fifth semester.

Thesis

Students write a thesis based on their scientific research and are expected to publish the findings of their scientific research in peer-reviewed journals.

Final Examination

Public research seminar and oral defense of the dissertation before the student’s research committee.

Master of Science Degree (Students are not currently being admitted to this program)

Course Requirements

A total of 30 credit hours is required for the degree. These 30 hours are composed of 19.5 credit hours of required courses plus an additional 11.5 credit hours of L800 laboratory research and / or other courses. Coursework must be approved by the student’s advisory committee and the GCDB Graduate Program Director. Note that students are expected to do research rotations (L501) in at least three laboratories during the fall of their first semester.

Thesis

The students are required to prepare a thesis that must be approved by the student’s advisory committee.

Final Examination

The final exam normally includes a public research seminar and oral defense of the thesis. Alternative formats for the final examination are possible and require the approval of the advisory committee and GCDB Graduate Program Director. 

Graduate Minor in Genetics

A faculty member whose primary affiliation is with the Department of Biology, and who has expertise in Genetics, must serve on the student's Advisory Committee as the minor advisor and must participate in designating required course work. The minor advisor will determine whether courses meet the minor requirement in accordance with the requirements outlined below. The Genetics minor requires a minimum of 6 credits of course work selected from the list of courses below. Students may substitute courses for those on this list only upon approval of their Advisory Committee, the GCDB Director, and University Graduate School. A GCDB student can choose to minor in other fields that match their research and career aspirations with approval of their Advisory Committee and the GCDB Director. Any course requirements described here can (but do not have to) apply retroactively. A grade of B- or better is required for a course to count towards the Genetics minor. A student may apply courses taken for a MS degree if the courses are approved by the student’s advisory committee, the minor advisor, GCDB Program Director, and University Graduate School.

Course Listings for Genetics Minor¹

• BIOC-B512 Biochemical mechanisms of DNA repair (1.5cr)
• BIOC-B513 Cell response to DNA damage (1.5cr)
• BIOC-B680 Molecular Mechanisms of Cancer (1.5 cr)
• BIOL-L511 Advanced Gene Regulation (3cr)
• BIOL-L533 Evolution of Genes and Genomes (3cr)
• BIOL-L567 Evolution (3cr)
• BIOL-L568 Evolutionary Genetics (3cr)
• BIOL-L585 Genetics (3cr)²
• BIOL-L586 Cell Biology (3cr) ²
• BIOL-L587 Developmental Biology (3cr) ²
• BIOL-M511 Molecular Biology of Prokaryotes (3cr)
• BIOL-M541 Virology and Host Responses (3cr)
• BIOL-M585 Microbial Genetics and Pathogenesis (3cr)
• BIOL-Z562 Genetics of Behavior (1.5cr)
• BIOL-Z620 BioInformatics-2-Go (1.5 cr) ²
• BIOL-Z620 Evolution of Proteins and Cells (3cr)
• BIOL-Z620 Introduction to Computational Data Processing in Biology (1.5cr)
• BIOL-Z620 Introduction to Computational Workflow Design in Biology (1.5cr)
• BIOL-Z620 CyberInfrastructure-enabled Computational Genome Science (3cr)
• BIOL-Z620 Phylogenetics (3cr)
• BIOL-Z620 Evolution (3cr)
• BIOL-Z620 Introduction to Genomics and BioInformatics (1.5cr)
• BIOL-Z620 Microbial Genetics and Techniques (1.5cr)
• BIOL-Z620 Chromosome and Genome Biology Journal Class³
• BIOL-Z620 Cell Biology Journal Class³
• BIOL-Z620 Methods in Epigenomics
• BIOL-Z620 The Legacy of Drosophila(3cr)
• BIOL-Z620 Digital Imaging and Light Microscopy (1.5cr)
• BIOL-Z620 Biological Electron Microscopy (1.5cr)
• BIOL-Z620 Genetics of Human Metabolic Disease (3cr)
• BIOL-Z620 Recent advances in genetics and cell biology (3cr)
• INFO-I519 Introduction to Bioinformatics (3cr)
• INFO-I590 SNP Discovery and Population Genetics (3cr)
• MSCI-M580 Molecular Biology of Cancer (3cr)
• PHSL-P550 Physiology of Cancer Journal Class³
• PSY-P467 Diseases of the Nervous System (3cr)
• PSY-P526 Neurobiology of Learning and Memory (3cr)
• PSY-P566 Molecular and Cellular Neurobiology (3cr)

¹ Or an equivalent course at IU or graduate work transferred from another university with approval of the GCDB Graduate Program Director

² GCDB students cannot use these courses for the Genetics minor due to overlap with major degree requirements.

³ The same journal class cannot be taken twice to fulfill the major and minor. However, different journal classes can be taken for the major and minor.

Microbiology

Microbiology is an interdisciplinary graduate program that provides training in the microbiology of bacteria and viruses. Students in our program learn how to critically analyze and plan scientific research, present seminars, write high-quality research papers, and obtain grant funding. Our graduate program provides students with the training and research experience necessary to pursue a wide range of careers in academic biomedical research, the biotech industry, government science, and university-level teaching. 

Doctor of Philosophy Degree

Course Requirements

The Microbiology program requires a total of 90 credit hours. Of these, 22.5 credit hours (21 credits if Responsible Conduct of Research workshop is taken to fulfill the Ethics requirement) come from the Core Program course work listed below. Most Advanced Courses are half-semester 1.5-credit hour courses in areas requested by students. Each student must also take Grant Writing and Research Ethics and Career Development courses. Students also typically do research rotations in three different labs during the first semester, after which they identify a lab in which to do their thesis research and form their advisory committee.

The courses that make up the 22.5 credit hours for the Microbiology major are indicated below. Other appropriate courses may be substituted in their place with permission from the Advisory Committee and the Microbiology Graduate Program Director. Any changes described here to course requirements can (but do not have to) apply retroactively.

Major Course Requirements

• * BIOL-M511 Molecular Biology of Prokaryotes (3.0 cr)
•  *BIOL-M541 Virology and Host Responses (3.0 cr)
• BIOL-M585 Microbial Genetics and Pathogenesis (3.0 cr)
• BIOL-L500 Independent study (3.0 cr)
• BIOL-L523 Critical Analysis of Scientific Literature (1.5 cr)
• BIOL-M500 Research rotations (3.0 cr)
• BIOL-Z620 Grant Writing (1.5 cr)
• BIOL-Z620 Ethics and Career Development (1.5 cr) or Responsible Conduct of Research workshops offered through the Offices of the Vice Provost for Graduate Education and Health Sciences, Research Compliance, and the Vice Provost for Research.
• Elective Advanced Course work - Z620, one or more biochemistry course, one or more bioinformatics courses, or other relevant coursework (6.0 credits)

*Only one of these courses needs to be completed for the major

Minor

Each student must select a minor field distinct from the chosen degree. The student has the option to select any minor in consultation with their advisor and the Microbiology Graduate Program Director. Suggested minors for this degree include Bacteriology (for students in Virology focused labs) and Virology (for students in bacteriology focused labs). The minor may be from within biology or from other units on campus. The requirements for the minor are decided by the minor-granting program.

Ph.D. Qualifying Examination

Includes written, oral and research components. All full-time Ph.D. students must take the qualifying examination by the end of the fourth week of their fifth semester. In the event of failure or postponement, students may retake the examination once, but no later than the start of their third year in graduate school.

Thesis

Students write a thesis based on scientific research.

Final Examination

Public research seminar and oral defense of the dissertation before the student’s research committee.

Master of Science Degree (Students are not currently being admitted to this program)

Course Requirements

A total of 30 credit hours. At least 12 credit hours must be courses from the core Microbiology curriculum other than M500 rotation credits or research credits. The courses must be approved by the student’s advisory committee and the Microbiology Graduate Program Director.

Students are expected to rotate (M500) in at least three laboratories dur­ing the fall semester.

Thesis

The students are required to prepare a research-based thesis that must be approved by the student’s advisory committee.

Final Examination

Normally must be orally defended before the advisory committee.

Graduate Minors in Microbiology, Bacteriology, and Virology

Students in other departments or in other programs in the Department of Biology may minor in Microbiology, Bacteriology or Virology by completing a minimum of 6 graduate credits from the courses listed below. Students in the Microbiology program may minor in Bacteriology or Virology so long as a course does not simultaneously satisfy both major and minor course requirements. A minor advisor must join the student's Advisory Committee and participate in designating required course work. This minor advisor will approve courses that meet the minor requirement. Course offerings outside the list below can be used to satisfy these minors, but such substitutions require approval of the minor advisor and the Microbiology Graduate Program Director. An overall average of B (3.0) or better is required in courses for each of these minors.

Course listings from Microbiology Minor

• BIOL-M430 Virology Lecture (3 cr.)
• BIOL-M440 Medical Microbiology: Lecture (3 cr.)
• BIOL-M460 Microbial Evolution (3 cr.)
• BIOL-M480 Microbial and Molecular Genetics (3 cr.)
• BIOL-M511 Molecular Biology of Prokaryotes (3 cr.)
• BIOL-M525 Microbial Physiology and Biochemistry (3 cr.)
• BIOL-M541 Virology and Host Responses (3 cr.)
• BIOL-M550 Microbiology (3 cr.)
• BIOL-M585 Microbial Genetics and Pathogenesis (3 cr.)
• BIOL-Z620/M440 Medical Microbiology and Medical Immunology (3 cr.)
• BIOL-Z620 Quantitative Biodiversity (1.5 cr)

Course listings from Bacteriology Minor

• BIOL-M 440 Medical Microbiology: Lecture (3 cr.)
• BIOL-M 460 Microbial Evolution (3 cr.)
• BIOL-M 480 Microbial and Molecular Genetics (3 cr.)
• BIOL-M 511 Molecular Biology of Prokaryotes (3 cr.)
• BIOL-M 525 Microbial Physiology and Biochemistry (3 cr.)
• BIOL-M 550 Microbiology (3 cr.)
• BIOL-M 585 Microbial Genetics and Pathogenesis (3cr.).
• BIOL-M 620 Medical Microbiology and Medical Immunology (3 cr.)
• BIOL-Z620 Quantitative Biodiversity (1.5 cr)

Coursework Available for Virology minor

• BIOL-M 416 Biology of AIDS (3 cr.)
• BIOL-M 430 Virology Lecture (3 cr.)
• BIOL-M 541 Virology and Host Responses
• BIOL-M 620 Medical Microbiology and Medical Immunology (3 cr.)
• BIOL-Z620/L321 Human Immunology (3 cr)
• BIOL-Z620/L410 Viral Immunology (3 cr)

Master of Arts for Teachers Degree

The Master of Arts for Teachers in biology is offered by the University Graduate School (not the School of Education) to provide training beyond the bachelor’s degree for those who intend to teach in junior or senior high school and who wish additional training in biology. Each student in the program must possess a teacher’s certificate by the time the degree is con­ferred, with the exception of international students who intend to return to their native country.

Admission Requirements

Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution with sufficient hours in biology to enable the student to take courses carrying graduate credit.

Course Requirements

A total of 36 credit hours, of which a minimum of 25 credit hours must be in courses in the biological sciences that carry graduate credit; the remaining 11 credit hours may be in edu­cation. All programs of study must be approved by the Master of Arts for Teachers program advisor.

Certification Requirements

For a complete list of courses in education and other areas that are required for provisional certification, consult the School of Education Undergraduate Program Bulletin.