Integrated Biosciences
UMD Graduate School
Program Overview
The Integrated Biosciences graduate program offers study toward the doctor of philosophy (PhD) degree and Master of Science (MS) degree under Plan A (coursework and original thesis). The program has two areas of emphasis:
- Cell, Molecular, and Physiological (CMP) Biology
- Ecology, Organismal, and Population (EOP) Biology
Admission and Application Requirements
To be admitted to the program, applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree or equivalent from an accredited college or university in the biological or physical sciences or a related field.
- Applicants with a GPA of 3.0 or better and 60th percentile placement in the GRE general test are preferred.
- Applicants for whom English is not a native language should submit TOEFL, MELAB, or IELTS scores.
- Applicants deficient in some requirements may be admitted with the provision that specific courses are completed within the first year of the program. Coursework used to make up deficiencies may not be applied toward fulfillment of the graduate degree.
Degree Requirements
MS Degree Requirements
Students must complete at least fourteen (14) course credits in the major; a minimum of six (6) credits of electives in another graduate program or programs (for a minor or related field) or in the IBS emphasis other than that which comprises the major program; and at least ten (10) thesis credits. Students must designate one of the areas of emphasis in the second semester of their first year. Students must present a department seminar and pass a final oral exam.
PhD Degree Requirements
Students must complete at least fourteen (14) course credits in the major; a minimum of six (6) credits of electives in another graduate program or programs (for a minor or related field) or in the IBS emphasis other than that which comprises the major program; and at least ten (10) thesis credits. Students must designate one of the areas of emphasis in their second semester.
In addition to completing the curriculum for the major and internal related fields, students will be required to pass both a written and oral preliminary examination prior to completing the Ph.D. program. The preliminary written examination will be administered once the student has completed the majority of the required coursework. This will typically occur in the summer of the second year. The written examination will consist of a completed NIH or NSF grant application for the student’s proposed research project. The project will be evaluated by the Thesis Examining Committee, which will also serve as the student’s Final Oral Examining Committee to provide continuity of advice during the length of the student’s research program.
PhD Oral Preliminary Examination
The oral preliminary examination will be administered within two months of the successful completion of the preliminary written examination. The examination will be administered by the graduate faculty according to Graduate School regulations and all students will be required to pass the oral examination to continue in the PhD program. Within one semester of passing the preliminary oral examination, each PhD student must file a Thesis Proposal Form with the Graduate School.
PhD Final Oral Defense
It is anticipated that most students will complete the requirements for the PhD degree within five years. The final oral defense will be conducted by the graduate faculty according to Graduate School regulations. It will consist of a public seminar presented by the student, followed by a closed examination with the student’s Examining Committee.
Deadlines and Dates
The IBS program only accepts applications for fall admission. The final application deadline is March 31. Prospective students are encouraged to apply by December 15 for fullest consideration for fellowships and assistantships. Applications received after January 1 will not be eligible for fellowship consideration.
Financial Aid
Both teaching and research assistantships are available through affiliated departments. The base salary in 2009 for a 9-month 50% appointment was $14,305 for master’s students and $16,505 for doctoral students. Graduate students holding an assistantship are eligible for health benefits and tuition waivers of up to 13 credits per semester. Additional $500 travel grants are available for students presenting at an approved conference. Summer support may be provided by research assistantships, available through individual faculty members holding research grants. In addition, some 12-month research assistantships are available.
Graduate school and other fellowships are also available on a highly competitive basis; prospective students must be nominated for these by the program, rather than applying directly. Applications should be completed by December 15 if a Graduate School Fellowship nomination is sought. Financial support is also available through the University of Minnesota/EPA Cooperative Training Partnership in Aquatic Toxicology and Ecosystem Research.
Areas of Specialization
The Cell, Molecular, and Physiological (CMP) Biology Emphasis
The CMP emphasis of the Integrated Biosciences Graduate Program provides students with a broad base of knowledge to investigate questions in biology from the molecular, biochemical, cellular and organism physiology levels. Coursework emphasizes:
- Ecology
- Organismal Biology
- Population Biology
- Molecular Biology
- Physiology
- Biochemistry
- Cell Biology
- Pharmacology
- Pathology
The Ecology, Organismal, and Population (EOP) Biology Emphasis
The EOP emphasis provides students with a broad curriculum in ecology, statistical analysis of ecological data, and mathematical analysis of theories and models. Students choosing the EOP emphasis are required to take some courses in:
- Cell biology
- Molecular biology
- Physiological biology
Contact Information
Office address: Integrated Biosciences Graduate Program, University of Minnesota Duluth, 251 Swenson Science Building, 1035 Kirby Drive, Duluth, MN 55812
Postal address: Integrated Biosciences Graduate Program, University of Minnesota Duluth, 207 Swenson Science Building, 1035 Kirby Drive, Duluth, MN 55812
Other important contact information: Phone: (218) 726-6898; Fax: (218) 726-8152;
Email: ibs@d.umn.edu; Website: www.d.umn.edu/ibs.
Director of Graduate Studies: Clay Carter, cjcarter@d.umn.edu, (218) 726-7347
Assistant to the Director of Graduate Studies: Dawn Johnson, ibs@d.umn.edu, (218) 726-6898
University of Minnesota Campuses