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Graduate Program Program Overview
Ph.D. Requirements
M.A. Requirements
Courses
Advising
Application Process
Graduate Research
Molecular Cell & Developmental Biology
225 Sinsheimer Laboratories
Phone: 831.459.4986
Fax: 831.459.3139
Map & Directions
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PhD TIMELINE & DEGREE REQUIREMENTS
First Year
- Graduate core curriculum (3 courses in sequence, one per academic quarter)
- Three laboratory rotations (10 weeks per rotation)
- Three rotation talks
- Choice of a thesis advisor
- Participation in research meetings and departmental seminars
Second Year
- Begin thesis research
- Submission of research proposal for the oral qualifying exam
- Oral qualifying exam
- Formation of faculty thesis committee for student guidance in following years
- Participation in research meetings and departmental seminars
- Advanced graduate elective courses (student must enroll in at least two)
Third Year to Graduation
- Third year students present their research to the department in a formal seminar format
- Participation in research meetings and departmental seminars
- Advanced graduate courses
- Completion of thesis research
- Writing and submission of thesis
- Presentation of thesis defense to the department in seminar format
[Course descriptions]
MCD Biology graduate students are expected to work full-time towards their degrees and, therefore, each student should enroll for 15 or more units of coursework in every quarter.
Ph.D.: First Year | Second Year | Third Year | Graduation First Year
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Orientation - Newly admitted students are expected to arrive at least one week before the start of classes for orientation and an introduction into the Molecular, Cell and Developmental Department. |
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Graduate Advisory Committee interview - new students meet with an advisory committee, to assess the student's strengths and weaknesses and recommend appropriate coursework. The advisory committee then serves to monitor the students progress through the first year. |
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Graduate Core Courses - new student coursework the first year includes the following classes. |
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200A. Advanced Genetics.
An analysis of selected topics in the primary research literature including conditional lethality, classical fine structure genetics, the coding problem, control of operon expression, phage lambda, and developmental genetics. |
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200B. Advanced Molecular Biology.
An in-depth coverage of the structure, function, and synthesis of DNA, RNA, and proteins. Discussion of the roles of macromolecules in the regulation of information in the cell. |
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200C. Advanced Cell Biology. (Spring)
An in-depth coverage of topics in cellular and sub cellular organization, structure, and function in plants and animals. Emphasis on current research problems. |
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BIOL 296 Rotation talks |
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Participate in lab research meetings (BIOL 280) |
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Attend the Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology departmental seminar series (Mondays Biol 292 and Fridays, Biol 291) - selected topics of current interest to MCD biologists presented by weekly guest speakers |
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Independent Study (BIOL 297) as needed to come to 15 total units |
Second Year
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Form Oral Examination Committee - Students, in conjunction with their faculty advisor, select a committee to administer the Oral Exam. |
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Selection of Orals outside of topic and abstract submission |
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Oral examination in Spring quarter |
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Form thesis committee |
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Participate in lab research meetings (280) and departmental seminar series (291 & 292) |
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Independent Study (BIOL 297) as needed to come to 15 total units |
Third Year and on
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Give Third Year Talk in Spring quarter |
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Advance to Candidacy |
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Thesis research in preparation for thesis defense and writing of dissertation |
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Completion of two graduate course electives |
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Participate in lab research meetings (280), departmental seminar series (291 & 292) and Independent studies (297 or 299). |
Graduation
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Completion of individual dissertation research work. |
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Completion of any advanced graduate course work required by Graduate Advisory Committee. |
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Completion of two quarters of service as a teaching assistant. |
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Presentation of dissertation defense in departmental seminar. |
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