Biochemistry and molecular biology graduate core

The PhD in biochemistry and molecular biology (BMB) is designed to provide a broad, graduate-level foundation, followed by advanced study and research to foster professional specialization. Students are required to successfully complete a minimum of four BMB foundation courses across the disciplines of biochemistry, molecular genetics, cell biology and BMB tools (one course in each discipline, equivalent to 12 hours) and an additional four courses (equivalent to 12 hours) selected from foundation, advanced and supporting electives, in consultation with the student’s advisory committee. Supporting elective courses may be in biology, chemistry, computer science, mathematics or physics. Contact the department for further details on qualifying foundation, advanced and supporting elective courses. Students must enroll in BIOL 5860  at least once per year for the duration of their degree.

Doctoral degree requirements and procedures

1. During the second long term/semester, the student, in consultation with the major professor, selects an advisory committee of four other faculty members, three of whom must be from the department faculty. The fourth may be from another UNT department, the Federation of North Texas Area Universities or another university if the member is granted adjunct status in the department. Additional members may be added to the committee as long as the majority of the committee members are faculty in the Department of Biological Sciences. A copy of the form designating the committee should be filed with the graduate advising secretary before the student’s third long term/semester.

2. Before registering for the third long term/semester, the student, major professor and advisory committee prepare a formal degree plan of the courses to be taken by the student, including the language or tool- subject requirement. The degree plan consists of 90 hours for students having only a bachelor’s degree, including a minimum of 12 hours of foundation and 12 hours of advanced/electives courses, and 12 hours of dissertation. Only 6 hours of special problems (6900-6910) may be counted towards the degree plan. The number of individual research (6940) hours counted toward the degree plan is determined by the major professor and advisory committee. A copy of the degree plan, signed by all committee members, should be submitted to the graduate advising secretary before the student’s third long term/semester. All course work must be at the 5000 and 6000 levels. Doctoral students may not receive graduate credit for any undergraduate course by taking the course under a 5000- or 6000-level designation, such as special problems. Undergraduate courses, except those cross listed as graduate courses, are considered to be for the correction of deficiencies and are not included in the graduate degree plan hours.

3. Doctoral students may take written and oral candidacy examinations only after completing a minimum of four (equivalent to 12 hours) of foundation courses and two (equivalent to 6 hours) advanced courses. Oral examinations may be taken only after the student has passed all written examinations. All exams must be completed within one month, and must be completed by the end of the fifth long semester. The manner and form of the written and oral candidacy examinations are determined by the major professor, who is chair of the student’s advisory committee, and the committee members. The examining professor sets guidelines for administration of written examinations. The student is responsible for scheduling rooms for the examinations.

4. Before registering for the sixth long semester, a formal research proposal, outlining current progress and objectives to complete the dissertation should be submitted and defended to the major professor and advisory committee for approval.

5. Students may not register for dissertation hours (6950) until all formal courses (excluding seminar), candidacy exams and the research proposal are complete and approved, and documentation is filed with the graduate advising secretary. PhD candidates should be actively writing their dissertations while taking dissertation hours. Once registered for dissertation, the student must maintain continuous enrollment in at least 3 hours of 6950 during each long semester until the dissertation is submitted to the graduate school. Failure to maintain continuous enrollment may invalidate previous 6950 credit or result in the student being dismissed from the degree program, unless granted an official leave of absence by the dean of the Toulouse Graduate School. If the student uses university facilities or faculty time or both during one or both summer terms/semesters, the student must also enroll for a minimum of 3 hours of 6950 during the summer.

6. Following approval by the major professor, a draft of the dissertation must be submitted to the committee at least two weeks prior to the defense of the dissertation and final examination.

7. A formal seminar based on the dissertation must be presented by the student during the student’s final term/semester. The candidate must schedule a room for and publicly advertise the seminar and defense. Directly following the seminar, the candidate defends the dissertation in a final oral examination conducted by the major professor and advisory committee.

8. The candidate is responsible for completing all requirements and meeting all deadlines for graduation within the time specified by the graduate school.

9. A final copy of the dissertation must be submitted to the Department of Biological Sciences main office either bound or on disk in pdf format.