The faculty in the Department of Biology offer programs leading to the M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Biology. A concentration in ecology is available, among other areas of study.
The faculty collaborate with the Departments of Microbiology and Plant Biology in offering the program leading to the Master of Natural Science degree when one of the concentrations is biology.
Students admitted to the Master of Education degree program with a major in Secondary Education may also elect biology as the subject matter field.
These programs are designed to prepare students for careers in teaching and research in educational, medical, industrial, and governmental institutions.
Graduate Record Examination. Submission of scores on the verbal, quantitative, analytical, and advanced sections of the Graduate Record Examination is required for admission to the M.S. and Ph.D. degree programs.
Application Deadline. Completed college and departmental application materials should be received by January 15 for admission in the fall semester.
MASTER OF SCIENCE
The program of each student is prepared in consultation with the supervisory committee, consisting of a major professor and two additional faculty members. A minimum of 30 semester hours is required. The program must include six hours of thesis, one hour of seminar, and may include a maximum of eight additional hours in various special graduate courses such as research and reading and conference. A final oral examination covering the thesis and related subject matter is administered by the supervisory committee.
DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY
The Ph.D. program in the Department of Biology allows the student to acquire high research competency in one or more specialized areas while receiving a broad, solid grounding in biological sciences.
See “Doctor of Philosophy” for general requirements.
Program of Study. The program of study is planned by the student and the supervisory committee, consisting of a major professor and four additional faculty members. The program is tailored to the needs of the individual student.
Foreign Language Requirements. None are required by the department. However, each student’s supervisory committee may specify a reading proficiency in one or more foreign languages if appropriate to the student’s educational objectives.
Comprehensive Examinations. The comprehensive examination consists of a written and oral component. To advance to candidacy for the Ph.D., the student must successfully complete three graduate seminars in areas different from the major area of emphasis; one of these must be a 2 credit writing seminar completed by the end of the third semester (see topics outlines under “Research Activity”). The seminars include evaluation of synthetic writing skills. A synthetic, detailed research proposal must be completed by the fourth semester. The student must defend the proposal orally to the supervisory committee within three weeks after successful completion of the written research proposal.
Dissertation Requirements. A dissertation based on original research is required. (See “Research and Dissertation Requirements.”)
Final Examinations. A final defense of the dissertation is required (see “Open Dissertation Defenses”). The defense consists of a public seminar followed by an oral examination administered by the student’s supervisory committee.
RESEARCH ACTIVITY
Research of faculty and graduate students includes a wide range of biological topics. Current research interests within the department include:
Cell and Molecular Biology. Protein synthesis; cytoskeleton assembly; localization of RNA in oocytes and embryos; regulation of exocytosis and endocytosis; cell division; cell-cell interaction; electron microscopy; recombinant DNA; gene mapping; analysis of cloned developmentally regulated genes; regulation of gene expression in eukaryotes; mechanisms of interferon action.
Developmental Biology. Cell and organ differentiation; regulation; development of synapses; developmental genetics; control of oogenesis; in vitro fertilization.
Genetics. Molecular and developmental genetics; genetic regulatory mechanisms of cellular differentiation; chromosomal ultrastructure and function; behavioral genetics; variation in natural populations; human population genetics; molecular evolutionary genetics.
Physiology. Membrane metabolism and function, thermal adaptation, regulation, and ion transport; tissue, epithelial, and cuticular function; comparative endocrinology; neurophysiology; environmental physiology especially related to desert adaptations.
Evolution. Population genetics, molecular evolution, systematics, speciation, evolution of behavior, morphological diversification.
Behavior. Reproductive behavior; sexual selection; communication; neural and hormonal mechanisms of behavior; behavioral ecology; behavioral genetics.
Ecology. Life histories, dispersal, and foraging; plant-animal interactions; community structure; biogeography; physiological ecology; ecosystems structure and functioning; wildlife fisheries management. Research in terrestrial and aquatic desert habitats reflects the unique location of ASU.
History and Philosophy of Biology. The nature of biological science and the way science changes; who does biology and why; what assumptions do biologists make and how they influence the research done; questions about funding, institutions, and the social context for biology.
Biology Education. Student reasoning patterns and alternative conceptual frameworks; the nature of scientific reasoning; learning styles, instructional techniques, and issues in curriculum development.
Facilities. The modern Life Science Center houses well-equipped research laboratories and teaching facilities. The Life Sciences Electron Microscopy Laboratory includes both scanning and transmission electron microscopes as well as a freeze-fracture unit. Housing of laboratory animals and maintenance of breeding colonies are provided by the Animal Research Center. Arizona fauna is well represented in departmental collections. Desert, montane, riparian, and lacustrine habitats are within driving distance; species diversity is high.
Omnibus Graduate Courses: See omnibus graduate courses that may be offered.
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