for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Biology

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The Doctor of Philosophy in Biology is not currently accepting applications. Suspension of admission effective Spring 2025. This program has been replaced by the Evolution, Ecology, and Behavior, PhD program. 

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Students pursuing this major select the Ecology, Ethology, and Evolution concentration.

Admission
Acceptance for graduate study in animal biology is based on the applicant's research potential and academic achievement. An undergraduate degree in the life sciences is the usual preparation, but students majoring in mathematics, computer science, or the physical and social sciences are also considered. Courses required for admission are inorganic and organic chemistry, a year of physics, and mathematics through calculus. Students lacking one or more of these courses may be admitted with the provision that such deficiencies be completed in addition to the normal graduate course load. A grade point average of at least 3.0 (A = 4.0) for the last two years of undergraduate work in a four-year undergraduate degree program or the last three years of a five-year undergraduate program and for any graduate study is mandatory. Considerable emphasis is placed on a student's interest and ability in research as demonstrated by previous work and letters of recommendation. Applications are considered for fall admission only. The deadline for application materials is December 15. A minimum paper-based Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score of 570 (230 on the computer-based version, 88 on the internet-based version) is preferred for international applicants.

Financial Aid
Financial aid is available in the form of fellowships and teaching and research assistantships for qualified students.

for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Biology

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Since the subject matter of our Program is interdisciplinary and broad, there is no one set of subject-based learning outcomes that is suitable for the evaluation of our graduate students. Instead, we will focus on appropriate research and professional development skills.

1. Design and implement independent research and integrate and apply core knowledge related to their field in 3 core areas out of 6 (behavior, conservation biology, ecology, evolution, genetics/ genomics, physiology/ anatomy)
2. Demonstrate effective oral and written communication skills
   1. Presentations
   2. Publications
   3. Grant writing
3. Apply rigorous statistics/analytical methods that typify their area of study
4. Professional skills
   1. Data management
   2. Citation management
   3. Mentoring
   4. Ethics
   5. Professionalism
   6. Networking
5. Teaching experience

Graduate Degree Programs in Evolution, Ecology, and Behavior

• Biology, MS
• required concentration:
• Biology: Ecology, Ethology, & Evolution, MS
• Biology, PhD
• required concentration:
• Biology: Ecology, Ethology, & Evolution, PhD

The Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Behavior administers graduate degree programs as concentrations in biology. Areas of training include the broadly defined disciplines of Animal Behavior, Biomechanics, Comparative Anatomy, Conservation Biology, Ecology, Evolution, Genetics/Genomics and Physiology.

for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Biology

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Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Behavior
Head of Department: Andrew Suarez
Director of Graduate Studies: Becky Fuller
Director of Admissions Committee: Becky Fuller
Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Behavior website
Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Behavior faculty
515 Morrill Hall, 505 South Goodwin Avenue Urbana, IL 61801
(217) 333-7801
Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Behavior email

College of Liberal Arts & Sciences
College of Liberal Arts & Sciences website

Admissions
Graduate College Admissions & Requirements