Biology, PhD
Shape your studies around your scientific passions, tailoring your education in genetics, ecology, systems biology or cellular biology. Focus your doctoral path on the questions that fascinate you most and design a program that fits your research goals.
Quick facts
Locations
Credits
Additional facts
STEM-OPT extension eligible: Yes
International students (F1) can extend U.S. work experience by 24 months.
Accreditation
Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Biology, PhD degree description
The Doctor of Philosophy program in biology is intended to accommodate your diverse interests and academic requirements, which may encompass laboratory, field or theoretical work in a variety of biological disciplines. This program is flexible and customizable. Flexibility in the program is achieved by requiring you to complete one core course, offering a choice between two topics that represent the broad spectrum of research directions available within the program. The program provides a diverse selection of elective courses, which enable you to customize your academic pursuits.
The program's primary objective is to cultivate an adaptable academic foundation that promotes interdisciplinary research. By deeply engaging with core and specialized scientific areas, you prepare to lead and innovate in your respective field. This approach ensures that you not only be an expert in your respective research field but also possess the breadth of knowledge necessary to confront complex biological challenges.
Why earn your biology PhD at ASU?
Study alongside professional faculty and pursue meaningful research opportunities in a program dedicated specifically to the study of biology. With an interdisciplinary approach and flexible coursework, you can connect ideas across fields while going deep in the life sciences that matter most to you.
Curriculum
This graduate degree includes courses focused on a specialized topic, so you can advance your skills for further professional opportunities. Explore all courses below:
84 credit hours, a written comprehensive exam, an oral comprehensive exam, a prospectus and a dissertation
Required Core (3 or 4 credit hours) Electives (67 or 68 credit hours) Other Requirement (1 credit hour) Culminating Experience (12 credit hours) Additional Curriculum Information An oral comprehensive examination is required to advance to candidacy, and a formal defense of the final written dissertation is required before graduation.
BIO 514 Statistical Models for Biology (4) or
BIO 620 Research Prospectus Writing (3)
BIO 610 Introduction to Responsible Conduct of Research in Life Sciences (1)
BIO 799 Dissertation (12)
The program is tailored to the needs of the individual student. The plan of study is developed by the student and a supervisory committee consisting of a major professor and three additional faculty members. The electives credit hours comprise coursework showing breadth in biology subdisciplines, seminars and research.
What you'll learn
The following learning outcomes highlight some of the knowledge and skills you'll develop to support your future success.
- Able to review scholarly literature as they develop specialized expertise in their selected research area.
- Able to perform research that they have designed to address important and challenging questions in the field of biology.
- Able to communicate the findings and originality of their research, both orally and in writing.
Able to review scholarly literature as they develop specialized expertise in their selected research area.Admission requirements
Here are the admission and application details
All students are required to meet general university admission requirements.
U.S. applicants (opens in new window) | International applicants (opens in new window) | English proficiency (opens in new window)
Applicants must fulfill the requirements of both the Graduate College and The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Applicants must have earned a bachelor's or master's degree in biology or a related discipline from a regionally accredited institution. Applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in the last 60 hours of their first bachelor's degree program or a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in an applicable master's degree program. Applicants must submit the following: Additional Application Information Research experience is desired for entry into this program.
An applicant whose native language is not English must provide proof of English proficiency regardless of their current residency.
Application deadlines
| Session | Modality | Deadline | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Session A/C | In Person | 11/15 | Final* |
*A final deadline means that all applications and application materials must be received by Admission Services by the deadline date. Applications that are incomplete may not be considered after the final deadline. Applications that are submitted past the final deadline may not be considered.
Paying for college
Use our calculator to estimate your full-time or part-time tuition fees for this program prior to any financial aid. Keep in mind that most of our students receive financial aid, which can reduce out-of-pocket costs.
Get an estimateCareer opportunities
Careers this biology PhD degree prepares you for
Earning a PhD in biology opens an array of vibrant career opportunities across academia and government, industry and nonprofit sectors. Graduates excel in roles such as teaching at educational institutions of all levels or spearheading research in next-generation laboratories. They are sought-after for their expertise by government agencies overseeing environmental preservation and private firms innovating in biotechnology, health care and sustainable agriculture.
Career examples include:
- principal investigator in a government laboratory or nonprofit organization
- professor or instructor at a university or college
- researcher in an academic, private or industrial laboratory related to health care, food or agriculture
- science teacher in an elementary or high school
- wildlife, animal, environmental, conservation or forensic scientist
Contact information
Use the contact information below to get in touch if you're a current student or have general questions.
Prospective students should fill out the Request for Information form.
School of Life Sciences
|
LSA 181
sols.grad@asu.edu
480-965-1768
Admission deadlines
Frequently asked questions about degree programs
Accelerated programs allow students the opportunity to expedite the completion of their degree.
Accelerated master's
These programs allow students to accelerate their studies to earn a bachelor's plus a master's degree in as few as five years (for some programs).
Each program has requirements students must meet to be eligible for consideration. Students typically receive approval to pursue the accelerated master's during the junior year of their bachelor's degree program. Interested students can learn about eligibility requirements and how to apply.
Concurrent degrees allow students to pursue their own personal or professional interests, earn two distinct degrees and receive two diplomas. To add a concurrent degree to your existing degree, work with your academic advisor.
Joint programs, or jointly conferred degrees, are offered by more than one college and provide opportunities for students to take advantage of the academic strengths of two academic units. Upon graduation, students are awarded one degree and one diploma conferred by two colleges.
ASU adds new programs to Degree Search frequently. Come back often and look for the "New Programs" option.
ASU Online offers programs in an entirely online format with multiple enrollment sessions throughout the year. See https://asuonline.asu.edu/ for more information.
The Western Regional Graduate Program (WRGP) provides a reduced tuition rate to non-resident graduate students who qualify. Visit the WRGP/WICHE webpage for more information: https://graduate.asu.edu/wiche.
