Mar 28, 2024  
2017-2018 Undergraduate and Graduate Academic Catalog 
    
2017-2018 Undergraduate and Graduate Academic Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Environmental and Evolutionary Biology, Ph.D.


CIP Code: 8119 (261399-01)

Study in this program emphasizes environmental and evolutionary biology. Students enrolled in the program are expected to concentrate their dissertation work in an area of active faculty research.

Admissions


An acceptable grade-point average (3.0 minimum during the most recent 60 semester hours), satisfactory scores on the Graduate Record Examination, and three supporting letters of recommendation are required for regular admission.

Doctoral Advisory Committee


The doctoral advisory committee is constituted during the student’s first year in residence in the program. It includes a minimum of five doctoral-level scientists, at least three of whom are members of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette Biology Graduate Faculty. One member must be from outside the Department of Biology and may be from outside the University. The student’s advisor is a member of the committee and serves as chair.

General Requirements


A minimum of 72 semester hours of credit beyond the bachelor’s degree is required; at least 48 of these hours must be in non-dissertation course work. Students entering the program with a master’s degree must complete at least 24 hours of non-dissertation course work. At least 9 credits must be in environmental biology and 9 in evolutionary biology and a minimum of 12 hours must be at the 500 level. Students will take 1 hour of Colloquium in Biological Science each semester they are in residence; this course does not count toward the credit hours required for the degree.

Special Requirement


The student (as first author) must submit a manuscript to an appropriate journal prior to the final examination.

General Comprehensive Examination


The general comprehensive examination should be taken by the end of the second year of doctoral study. The examination will include an oral and a written component.

Dissertation


A specific research project must be completed, and a formal dissertation must be submitted to and approved by the student’s advisory committee and by an appropriate scientist from outside the University.

Final Examination


The final examination is an oral defense of the dissertation and may include related scientific topics.