General Requirements

Last updated: Spring 2023

General requirements for the Ph.D. and M.S. degrees in Organismic and Evolutionary Biology follow those of the Graduate School. Incoming OEB students are required to take core courses in Ecology and Evolution. The Ecology course is offered in the fall of odd-numbered years; the Evolution course in the fall of even-numbered years. In addition to these two courses, a broad range of more specialized ecology and evolution electives are offered through participating departments. Students are also required to take OEB 697B Ecology and Evolutionary Biology (proseminar for new OEB students), OEB 697Y Graduate Student Seminar Series (OEB student seminars) as well as two semesters of OEB Seminars. Statistical coursework through multivariate analysis is required. The program requires no foreign language competency.

The student’s Guidance Committee determines additional coursework. Ph.D. students are required to teach for a minimum of one semester. Both the Ph.D. and the M.S. require acceptance of a thesis with original research. The Ph.D. also requires that students pass an oral preliminary examination by the end of the second year in residence and defend a doctoral dissertation. Contact the OEB Office for a detailed description of degree requirements.