DOCTORAL DEGREE PROGRAM GUIDELINES
BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES (rev. 3/04)

For questions, contact the program either by phone or E-mail. Director of Graduate Study Daâd A. Saffarini 414-229-2964 daads@uwm.edu Phyllis Shaw, Program Assistant 414-229-5137 pshaw@uwm.edu Pat Hayes, Graduate School 414-229-6263 hayes@uwm.edu There are a number of general Graduate School regulations and requirements that are described in the Graduate School Bulletin. The Bulletin serves to acquaint the student with specific details governing grading and financial aid as well as general information on the University. The program of a student is governed by the rules in The Graduate School Bulletin issued in the year in which the student begins his or her degree program. Current regulations and procedures as they apply to the Ph.D. program in Biological Sciences are set forth below. I. GENERAL REQUIREMENTS A. RESEARCH. The Doctoral degree is a RESEARCH degree. The most important requirement is that you must make an original, publishable contribution to your field of study. Ph.D. students are required to have submitted or published at least one primary authored manuscript in a peer reviewed journal prior to graduation. B. MAJOR PROFESSOR. Upon acceptance in the program the student will be notified of his/her initial advisor. Any questions may be addressed to the advisor, or to the Graduate Director of the Department of Biological Sciences. It is possible for a student to change major professors if the advisor assigned initially is not in a research area appropriate for the student. If the decision to change advisors is made, the student must obtain the permission of his/her prospective advisor and notify the Graduate Director in writing of the change. C. DOCTORAL STUDENT STATUS. 1. DOCTORAL STUDENT. The Department considers students admitted to the doctoral program with a BS, BA or MS degree to be doctoral students. However, the Graduate School considers as doctoral students only those in the Ph.D. program that already have a MS degree or those who have completed 24 credits of graduate work. A student's classification is LS 6 (or DLS 6 for those lacking the MS or 24 graduate credits). 2. DOCTORAL CANDIDATE. A doctoral candidate must complete The University residence, formal course, and language/data analysis proficiency requirements, and pass the entire Ph.D. Preliminary Examination (see below). D. ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS. Upon acceptance to the program, you will be notified of any curricular prerequisites that must be completed as perceived by your advisor/committee. Extra programmatic requirements (physics, organic chemistry and calculus) will be determined by each student's dissertation advisory committee. All basic requirements must be remedied by the end of your first year. E. RESIDENCE REQUIREMENTS. 1. A PH.D. STUDENT MUST BE ENROLLED IN A GRADUATE PROGRAM OF RESEARCH, COURSEWORK, AND RELATED ACADEMIC ACTIVITIES FOR AT LEAST ONE CONTINUOUS ACADEMIC YEAR. Self-supporting students and students holding Research Assistantships can meet this requirement by completing at least 8 credits in each of two consecutive semesters, exclusive of summer sessions. Students holding a Teaching or Project Assistantship on campus and who are considered full-time students by the Department may satisfy this requirement by completing at least 6 graduate credits in each of three consecutive semesters (exclusive of summer sessions). In special cases, a portion of a student's program may be spent away from the University. A student who wishes to earn off-campus residence credit must obtain written approval from his/her advisor, the Biological Sciences Graduate Director, and the Graduate School. F. COURSE REQUIREMENTS. 1. CREDITS. Beyond the bachelors degree, you must earn a minimum of 54 graduate credits. If you enter the Program with a MS degree, up to 27 credits can apply toward the 54 credits required (24 if your MS degree is from UWM). 30 (of 54) credits must be earned in Biological Sciences 28 (of 54) credits must be earned in formal courses and seminars (i.e., not research, colloquium, or independent study) 4 (of 30) credits must be in Colloquium 9 (of 54) credits must fulfill your secondary area of concentration (see below). Requirements Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4 Total Course & seminar credits (28) ______ ______ ______ ______ _____ Bio Sci credits (30) ______ ______ ______ ______ _____ Secondary credits (9) ______ ______ ______ ______ _____ Colloquium (4) ______ ______ ______ ______ _____ Research ______ ______ ______ ______ _____ Total accumulated ______ ______ ______ ______ _____ Total needed (54) ______ ______ ______ ______ _____ 2. THE SECONDARY AREA OF CONCENTRATION. By the end of the first year, the student (in consultation with his/her advisor) shall select courses and seminars in a secondary area of concentration consisting of a minimum of 9 credits. This information must be recorded on the PLAN OF STUDY, signed by the student and advisor (see below). The secondary area of concentration is typically an area of biology other than the student's primary area of interest. 3. LANGUAGE/DATA ANALYSIS PROFICIENCY. THE STUDENT MUST DEMONSTRATE PROFICIENCY IN EITHER A FOREIGN LANGUAGE OR IN DATA ANALYSIS. a. The student can demonstrate proficiency in data analysis by presenting 12 credits at the 200 level or above in any combination of mathematics, statistics, or computer science courses, including courses taken as an undergraduate. b. Foreign language proficiency can be demonstrated by formal coursework (e.g., 12 college credits of a single language), by satisfactory completion of the appropriate ETS language proficiency examination (e.g., > 50th percentile), or by satisfactory completion of a timed translation of a scientific paper(s). The student's Ph.D. Advisory Committee in consultation with the student and the appropriate Language Department determine the appropriate alternative. (Acceptable foreign languages are French, German, Russian, Spanish, Italian or another language demonstrably appropriate to the student's research program.) 4. GRADES. Continuation in the Ph.D. program is at the discretion of the Graduate School, the departmental Graduate Committee, and the major professor. A 3.0 (4.0 basis) average or better is required in all work taken as a graduate student. Students receiving a grade of less than a "B" in Biological Sciences coursework or an overall GPA < 3.0 will receive a letter of warning from the Graduate Director. GRADES OF D OR F ARE UNSATISFACTORY AND DO NOT COUNT IN MEETING DEGREE REQUIREMENTS. Poor performance will result in the student's dismissal from the Biological Sciences Graduate Program.   II. PROCEDURES TO FOLLOW AND DEADLINES TO MEET TIMELINE FOR Ph.D Program: Year 1: Form Ph.D. Advisory Committee Remedy basic coursework requirements Identify area of secondary concentration Submit Progress Report and Plan of Study Year 2: Complete course work Submit Dissertation Research Proposal Submit Progress Report and Plan of Study Year 3: Submit Application for Doctoral Preliminary Exam Take Prelim 1--written exam Take Prelim 2--oral exam Submit Doctoral Dissertation Proposal Hearing Form Submit Application for Dissertator Status Submit Progress Report and Plan of Study Year 4: Dissertation Research Submit Progress Report and Plan of Study Year 5: Submit application for Graduation Present departmental Colloquium Dissertation Defense Graduation A. THE Ph.D. ADVISORY COMMITTEE. 1. THE COMPOSITION AND FUNCTION OF THE COMMITTEE. The Ph.D Advisory Committee (hereafter called the Committee) plays a major role in the development of a student's program. The Committee must consist of at least five members, including the major professor and a faculty member representing the student's secondary area of concentration. At least four committee members must be UWM Graduate Faculty or in special cases Category B Academic Staff and recommended by the department or programmatic unit. At least two committee members must be voting members of the Department of Biological Sciences. The advisor, major professor, or committee chair for a doctoral student must be a member of the UWM Graduate Faculty or the UWM Category B Research Academic Staff, holding the title of Scientist, and recommended by the department or programmatic unit. The Dean of the Graduate School must approve any non-UWM Committee members (submit a cover letter and Curriculum Vitae.). Teaching Assistant support will be given on a priority basis to graduate students under the direction of voting members of the Biological Sciences Faculty. The Committee will meet with the student to construct a formal plan of required and advised course work. The Committee is also responsible for approval of the student's written dissertation proposal. Typically, the Committee will serve to administer the Preliminary Examination, read and evaluate the dissertation and to administer the final oral examination (dissertation defense) by the student (see below). The Committee shall meet at least once a year (more often if necessary) to monitor the student's research and academic progress, and must approve the PROGRESS REPORT AND PLAN OF STUDY documents once a year signed by the student and Ph.D. Advisory Committee members. The student's eligibility for financial aid is contingent upon the filing of this document with the Graduate Director by January 15 each year (see below). 2. PROCEDURE FOR ESTABLISHING THE COMMITTEE. Shortly after beginning the first semester, the student and the advisor begin preparing a plan for the complete program of doctoral studies. The Committee must be established by the end of the first year of enrollment. Consult the proposed Committee members and obtain their consent to serve. B. PROGRESS REPORTS AND PLANS OF STUDY. 1. You must file a PLAN OF STUDY and PROGRESS REPORT by January 15 of your first year. Both forms must be signed by yourself and by your major professor. File the original PLAN with the Biological Sciences Graduate Director. 2. You must update your PLAN OF STUDY and file a PROGRESS REPORT by January 15 each year you are in the graduate program. You and your major professor can include separate comments on your PROGRESS REPORT. Both forms must be signed by yourself and by your major professor. File these yearly plans with the Biological Sciences Graduate Director. STUDENTS WHO DO NOT FILE A COMPLETED PROGRESS REPORT AND PLAN OF STUDY IN ANY YEAR ARE NOT MAKING SATISFACTORY PROGRESS AND WILL BECOME INELIGIBLE FOR DEPARTMENTAL AND UNIVERSITY-WIDE FINANCIAL AID (RAs, PAs, TAs, FELLOWSHIPS) AND RISK DISMISSAL FROM THE PROGRAM. C. DISSERTATION PROPOSAL. The doctoral student must prepare a formal, written Dissertation Proposal outlining the objectives and methodologic approach of his/her research project. The proposal should be in NIH/NSF format, with Literature Review, Introduction, Aims/Hypotheses, Methods, References, etc. It must be thorough and of the highest quality. The proposal should show the student's understanding of the project by providing an Introduction containing sufficient, referenced background to justify the research, and a Methods section that a) asks the critical questions that the research is intended to answer; b) shows how anticipated results of experimentation will advance knowledge in the research field; and c) demonstrates a knowledge of the techniques that will be used to address the research questions. A typical proposal is 10-plus pages in length, exclusive of references. The Dissertation Proposal must be submitted to and approved by the student's Ph.D. Advisory Committee before the student can take Parts I and II of the Preliminary Examination (see below). It is recommended that the student have a committee meeting to make an oral presentation of the proposal to the PhD. Advisory Committee. D. PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION. The Doctoral Preliminary Examination is administered in two parts. Parts I and II of the Preliminary Examination are designed to test the student's academic and scientific preparedness to continue in the Ph.D. program. The student must complete Section I and submit the Application for Doctoral Preliminary Examination form (obtain from http://www.uwm.edu/Dept/Grad_Sch/Publications/) two weeks prior to beginning the preliminary exams. From this form the Graduate School determines the eligibility of the student to take the preliminary exams. After an initial written Dissertation proposal is presented to, and approved by, the student's Committee, Parts I and II of the examination can be administered. Part I is a written examination and Part II is an oral examination. Parts I and II of the exam MUST be taken before the end of the 3rd year of full time enrollment (before completion of 24 or 36 credits for students with a MS or BS degree, respectively). FAILURE TO MEET THESE DEADLINES WILL RESULT IN DISMISSAL FROM THE PROGRAM. See the Graduate School Calendar of Important Dates and Deadlines (in the current Graduate School Bulletin), for specific deadlines and target dates related to taking the Preliminary Examination. The student may petition the Graduate School to take only 1 credit during the semester that he/she intends to take Parts I and II of the Preliminary Examination, even while receiving financial support as a TA, PA, RA, or fellow. Such a petition will be granted only once during the student's tenure to this point in the Ph.D. program. (A second petition will be granted after receiving dissertator status). The Examining Committee is usually the same as the Ph.D. Advisory Committee, but may be any 3 appropriate UWM graduate faculty or Ph.D. Committee members approved by the latter. 1. PART I: THE WRITTEN EXAM The members of the Committee shall identify at least two areas of research for which the student will prepare "mini-grant" proposals or write essays answering questions in their field. Which of these two options a student pursues is determined by the major advisor in consultation with the student and his/her advisory committee. The written exam differs considerably from the student's Dissertation Research proposal. The Committee shall indicate the selected fields of inquiry to the student, with one typically being in the student's minor field. Members of the Committee shall write one or more questions covering the identified fields. Questions selected for the examination shall be approved by the Advisor and prepared in writing, with each question listed under the appropriate field. On the date scheduled for the administration of Part I of the Preliminary Examination, the student's major advisor will give the questions/paragraphs to the student. A copy of the written questions/paragraphs MUST be placed in the student's file. At its discretion, the Examination Committee may request that the student provide outlines of the material to be considered in each proposal, allowing the student one week to prepare all of the outlines. The student will have 6 weeks from the time he/she receives the questions (or alternatively, from the date of approval of the outlines) to write the 2 mini-research proposals or essays. The written portion for each topic should not exceed 5 pages of single-space type (exclusive of references) and must address issues raised in the questions. If the student follows the 'mini-grant proposal' option, answers must follow the format of proposals submitted to national granting agencies such as NSF or NIH (outlined below). The student is STRONGLY advised to procure appropriate examples of grant proposals prior to writing to the exam. i. Background and Significance: The result of a search of the literature, this section provides the background and rationale for the proposed research. This section should be a critical review of the literature, and should make clear why the proposed research is justified. ii. Specific Aims/Hypotheses: This is a statement of specific goals, or questions that the proposed research will answer. iii. Methods: This section should outline the methods (including statistical) that will be used to address each experimental question, and should show reasonable familiarity with techniques. Expected and alternative outcomes of experiments and their implications should be discussed. Anticipated pitfalls/problems should be covered. iv. References: Include in alphabetical order or in numerical order of citation complete literature citations referenced in the previous sections. Cite author(s), title of article, source (journal; book, volume number and editors), inclusive pages, and date of publications. For books, provide publisher and location. Appropriate members of the Committee must grade the proposals by one week after the date that they are due for submission to the student's advisor. Students who do not pass Part I of the Preliminary Examination may (with the permission of their Committee) retake part or all of the written examination. The student may repeat Part I of the examination only once. After passing the written examination, the student and the Committee should administer Part II (the oral exam) of the Preliminary Examination within two weeks. 2. PART II: THE ORAL EXAM All members of the Ph.D. Advisory Committee may participate in Part II of the Preliminary Examination. The content of the Dissertation Proposal and the questions/topics of the written examination will be explored in further detail during the oral examination. The final decision concerning the outcome of Parts I and II of the Preliminary Examination will be made by a majority of the Advisory Committee and recorded on the appropriate forms (available from http://www.uwm.edu/Dept/Grad_Sch/Publications/). 1. Section IV of the Application for the Doctoral Preliminary Exam 2. The Doctoral Dissertation Proposal Hearing Form As noted above, the student may be allowed to retake part or all of the examination, or in the case of overall poor performance, may be asked to withdraw from the program at the discretion of the student's Committee, the Graduate Director, and the Department Chairperson. For students retaking any part (or all) of the Preliminary Examination, failure of any part (or all) of the examination will normally result in dismissal from the Graduate Program. Copies of the questions for Part I of any Preliminary Examination will be made available to other graduate students upon request. The student must pass Parts I and II before applying for Dissertator Status. Following successful completion of the preliminary exams, the doctoral student obtains the Application for Doctoral Dissertator Status form from http://www.uwm.edu/Dept/Grad_Sch/Publications/. E. ADMISSION TO CANDIDACY AND DISSERTATOR STATUS Upon, (1) successful completion of Parts I and II of the Preliminary Examination, (2) return of the signed Application for the Doctoral Preliminary Exam and Doctoral Dissertation Proposal Hearing Form to the Graduate School, and (3) the acceptance of the final written Dissertation Proposal by the student's committee, the student can submit the Application for Doctoral Dissertator Status. The student will be admitted to formal candidacy for the Ph.D. degree and is given "Dissertator" status. A doctoral student in Dissertator status must register each semester for three graduate level credits (at a reduced Dissertator rate). A Dissertator using University facilities during any summer must also register for three graduate research credits (in the eight-week summer session). F. DISSERTATION RESEARCH. Dissertation research is initiated and conducted with the major professor. A student must be registered for Dissertation Research credits in order to use the facilities of the University for research. A grade of pass or fail is recorded for all research credits. The Dissertation should be of such caliber and be written in a style and format appropriate for publication in a peer-reviewed journal. Ph.D. students are required to have submitted or published at least one primary authored manuscript in a peer reviewed journal prior to graduation. The candidate must file an Application for Graduation with the Graduate School early in the semester in which graduation is anticipated. After reviewing the candidate's records to determine eligibility, the Graduate School will forward the approved application to the Biological Sciences Graduate Director. The Biological Sciences Graduate Director forwards the names of the members of the Committee to the Graduate School and a Warrant for the final oral examination (defense of the Dissertation) is issued. The Dissertation Defense must be posted publicly at least one week prior to the defense. G. FINAL ORAL EXAMINATION. The final oral examination is a defense of the Dissertation but may also cover the general field of the primary and secondary areas of study. The examination may not be taken until all other degree requirements are satisfied. The student submits the Application for the Doctoral Dissertation Defense and Graduation form (http://www.uwm.edu/Dept/Grad_Sch/Publications/) and the Graduate School issues the Warrant for Doctoral Defense form which will be signed by the Advisory Committee and the Biological Sciences Graduate Program Director following the successful completion of the final exam. A majority of the Committee must approve the Dissertation in order for the student to pass. The final oral examination must be taken within five years after passing the Preliminary Examination. Candidates who exceed this time limit may be required to retake the Preliminary Examination and be admitted to candidacy a second time. All components of the Ph.D. program MUST be completed within 10 years of matriculation. Ph.D. students are required to present a Colloquium in the Department of Biological Sciences prior to graduation. H. THE FINAL SEMESTER BEFORE GRADUATION. In the semester when the Dissertation is to be completed there are important application deadlines that must be met. (See the Graduate School Bulletin, Dissertation Instructions and Graduate School Calendar for target dates and specific deadlines.) Upon completion of the final oral examination and the acceptance of the Dissertation, the student must provide two copies of the Dissertation to the Graduate School, one to the Department, one to the major professor and one to each of the other Committee members (upon request). I. GRADUATION. By signing the Final Examination Warrant, the candidate's Committee makes a recommendation to the Dean of the Graduate School concerning the merit and acceptability of the Dissertation. The Graduate School further reviews the Dissertation to ensure that all specifications regarding style and format have been met (details for preparation and review of the Dissertation are available from the Graduate School). The successful Ph.D. candidate is one who has met all requirements and specifications of the degree program. Attendance at graduation ceremonies is optional, but students are urged to attend. Each candidate is presented at the platform by his/her major professor or proxy, and hooded by the Dean of the Graduate School and the Chancellor. Dates for ordering graduation attire are set by the Office of the Secretary of the University. For questions, contact the program either by phone or E-mail. Director of Graduate Study Daâd A. Saffarini 414-229-2964 daads@uwm.edu Phyllis Shaw, Program Assistant 414-229-5137 pshaw@uwm.edu Pat Hayes, Graduate School 414-229-6263 hayes@uwm.edu




Last Modified: August 8, 2007


Thomas P. Schuck