Program/Course Requirements

Completion requirement

In addition to Faculty of Graduate Studies requirements and Faculty of Science requirements, the Department requires:

a) Completion of a minimum of 6 units for both the Master of Science and doctoral programs. Students transferring from the MSc program to the PhD program will be required to take a minimum of 3 units in addition to work already completed. Please note that graduate courses must be chosen in consultation with the supervisor and approved by the Graduate Program Director. Course requirements may include courses offered by other Departments.

b) Completion of the appropriate number of Biology 601 Research Seminar courses in addition to (a) above.

c) Presentation of a Departmental Pre-Defence seminar on the results of the thesis research.

Transfer from the Master of Science to the doctoral program

A request to transfer from the Master of Science program to the doctoral program may be made no later than twenty-four months after initial registration. Students who transfer will be required to take one additional 3-unit course, regardless of course work completed before the transfer, and are expected to meet the 36-month deadline for completion of candidacy requirements.

Additional Program Information

Completion requirement

Flexible Grade Option (CG Grade)

Students admitted to the Department of Biological Sciences will not be allowed to request the Flexible Grade Option (CG Grade) for any course that is applicable to their degree; or apply any course awarded a grade of CG towards their graduation requirements.

Students may choose the CG grade for a course taken extra to load.

The use of the CG grade will not affect students' eligibility for internal awards.

Credit for Undergraduate Courses

At least one-half of a graduate student’s coursework must be at the 600 level or higher.

Only when appropriate to a student’s program may graduate credit be received for courses numbered 500-599, which are considered undergraduate courses. Courses below the 500 level will not be accepted for graduate credit.

Time Limit

Expected completion time is four years for the Doctor of Philosophy degree. Maximum completion time is six years.

Supervisory Assignments, Research Proposal and Required Examinations

Completion requirement

Supervisory Assignments

Applicants must contact faculty members directly regarding supervision of their graduate program, prior to submitting an application. The Department does not accept students unless at least one faculty member has indicated a willingness to act as supervisor. For the PhD program, the supervisor, in consultation with the student, selects a Supervisory Committee consisting of the supervisor and at least two other faculty members whose research experience will be beneficial to the student's graduate program.

Research Proposal

Doctoral students must complete a written thesis proposal no later than twelve months after initial registration in the program. The proposal will be evaluated in a supervisory committee meeting. See handbook for further information about the proposal requirements and evaluation process.

Required Examinations

Candidacy

Doctoral students must pass oral and written Field of Study examinations. For complete details of the examination format and other candidacy requirements, see handbook.

Thesis Examinations

Final Thesis Examinations are required at both the Master of Science and doctoral level. In addition to the Faculty of Graduate Studies regulations, the Department has the following requirements:

A public “Exit” Seminar preceding the examination is required.

Scheduling of the Examination

All members of the Supervisory Committee must have reviewed the student’s research, including a relevant written sample of the materials related to the thesis, before an examination can be scheduled.

Composition of the Committee

The Internal Examiner must be external to the home program.

Financial Assistance

Completion requirement

Financial assistance may be available to qualified students. For information on awards, see the Awards and Financial Assistance section of this Calendar.

Students applying for the Open Scholarship Competition must submit their scholarship applications to the Department of Biological Sciences by the appropriate deadline. Please contact mailto:sci.grad@ucalgary.ca for further information.

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Biological Sciences

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