master
of science degree
doctor of philosphy degree
special graduate programs
financial support
how to apply
The Department of Biological Sciences offers programs
leading to the Master of Sciences
and Doctor of Philosophy degrees. The Department's graduate program
is highly interactive, and students move easily between fields within the department and interact with other programs and institutions
on and off campus.
Graduate research is generally in one of three areas:
The Department is involved in several special
graduate programs taking advantage of other researchers,
faculty, and facilities at GW and elsewhere in the Washington
area. Financial support is available on a competitive
basis. Applications for the Fall semester are due January
2.
Students interested in applying to our graduate program
should consult the Frequently Asked Questions web page.
For detailed information on procedures for fulfilling
graduate degree requirements see the Biology Graduate
Student Handbook and the Columbian College's Graduate
Student Handbook. Information for current Biological Sciences graduate students is found
on this page.
Thesis and Dissertation research in the Department
is generally in one of three areas:
Cell, Molecular, and Developmental Biology
Graduate research opportunities in cell, molecular,
and developmental biology cover a wide variety of
topics, but most are linked through common interests
in protein-protein and receptor-ligand interactors.
Research projects involve well-studied model systems
and comparisons among different types of organisms,
and often include active collaborations with biologists
at the GW Institute for Biomedical Sciences, NIH,
FDA, and USDA. Faculty with research interests in
this area include Allard, Brown, Church, Donaldson, Hernandez, Johnson,
Morris, Packer, Turano, and Smith.
Systematics and Evolution
Graduate research in systematics
and evolution includes comparative studies of
many different kinds of organisms. Our curriculum
is one of the few in the world specializing in the
principles and methods of systematics and comparative
biology, putting us at the forefront of the emerging
field of biodiversity studies. The program is enhanced
by a formal agreement with the Smithsonian's National
Museum of Natural History enabling curators to advise
students and facilitating access to its extensive
collections. Faculty with research interests in this
area include Allard, Burns, Church, Clark, Herendeen, Hernandez, Hormiga,
Johnson, Knowlton, Lipscomb, Smith, and Wells.
Environmental Biology
Graduate research in environmental biology emphasizes
the accumulation of baseline data and assessment of
potential biological indicators of ecosystem disturbances.
Both field- and laboratory-based methods are used
to assess the degree and impact of natural and human-generated
changes in a variety of terrestrial and aquatic habitats.
Faculty with research interests in this area include
Knowlton, Lill, Merchant, and Wells.
The research interests of the Department's faculty
are described on the Faculty, Staff,
and Students and Frequently Asked
Questions web pages.
MASTER OF SCIENCE DEGREE
Each Master's degree program includes course
work and may include a thesis, and is designed by
the student in consultation with a departmental adviser.
The masters degree with thesis requires:
Twenty-four credit hours
Thesis (6 credits) based on original research
Satisfactory completion of final comprehensive examination
The non-thesis masters degree requires:
Thirty-six credit hours
Satisfactory completion of final comprehensive examination
For a description of the requirements for the Master's
Degree see the Columbian
College's Graduate Bulletin web page.
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DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY DEGREE
Each doctoral program is formulated by the student
in consultation with an advisory committee. 72 course
credits are required, including 12-24 credits of dissertation
research. Course
work is designed to prepare the student for general
examinations in three or more fields relevant to the
major area of interest. Following these exams, the student
undertakes dissertation research under the guidance
of a dissertation director. The final examination is
an oral defense of the dissertation. For a description
of the requirements for the Doctor of Philosophy Degree
see the Columbian
College's Graduate Bulletin web page.
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SPECIAL GRADUATE PROGRAMS
Several special graduate programs combine faculty of
the Department of Biological Sciences with researchers
and faculty outside the Department. The systematics
and evolution program offers a unique graduate curriculum
devoted to the methodologies and theories of comparative
biology and the understanding of biological diversity.
An agreement with the Smithsonian's
National Museum of Natural History allows curators
to co-advise students and facilitates access to the
collections and facilities of one of the world's great
natural history museums.
Genetics
Program
The Genetics Program is an interdepartmental curriculum
leading to the degrees of Master of Science and Doctor
of Philosophy degrees in genetics. This program, administered
by a member of the faculty of Biological Sciences,
includes course work and faculty from six other departments
in the graduate school plus several government agencies
and private industry.
Environmental
and Resource Policy Program
The Environmental and Resource Policy Program is
an interdisciplinary program leading to the degree
of Master of Arts in the field of public policy with
a concentration in environmental and resource policy.
This program, administered by a member of the faculty
of Biological Sciences, includes course work and faculty
from other departments in the graduate school plus
several government agencies and private industry.
Hominid
Paleobiology Doctoral Program
The Hominid Paleobiology Doctoral Program provides
interdisciplinary training in human evolutionary studies.
The program focuses on research on human evolution
that is explicitly biological and experimental.
Musem
Studies Program
The Museum Studies Program offers an interdisciplinary
program leading to the Master of Arts degree. Individual
degree plans may include course work within the Department
of Biological Sciences.
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FINANCIAL SUPPORT
Ten Graduate Teaching Assistantships (GTAs) and ten research fellowships
with stipend
and tuition waiver are available in the Departmental
graduate program at the doctoral level.
Grants to individual faculty
members (e.g., PEET)
may also provide support for students working on the
specific research goals of the grant. Application for
GTAs and Fellowships is included in the application
form for admittance. For further information about fellowships
visit the Graduate
Funding Opportunities web page.
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HOW TO APPLY
Instructions on how to apply online can be found at
the Columbian
College of Arts and Sciences Graduate Admissions
web page. A request for an application package may also
be sent from this page. Please submit a 1-2 page statement
of research interests with the application, and contact
with a prospective faculty advisor is strongly encouraged
(see the Faculty, Staff, and Student
and Frequently Asked Questions pages
for descriptions of faculty research interests
and contact addresses). Applicants should have an undergraduate
degree in an appropriate field and must meet the requirements of the Columbian
College of Arts and Sciences.
Application deadline for the Fall semester is
January 2. Applications for the Spring and Summer
semesters are accepted but may not be competitive for
funding. Application for funding is made with the application
for admittance.
For further information contact the Department's
Admissions Director.
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