Meeting the prerequisites for admission to a college and then working for four to seven years to complete all assigned work is the process of earning a PhD in biology. There are many biology programs available, and students should consider the focus of each program to see if it aligns with their interests. Students may need to put in some effort to thoroughly research available PhD programs.
Students must have a bachelor’s degree, which may or may not be in biology, to be admitted to schools that offer a PhD in biology. It could be in a related field, but it must almost always have a life science component. Some colleges only accept students who have completed a biology undergraduate degree, and others are more demanding. They may prefer master’s degree holders or will not admit students to a PhD program until they have completed all master’s degree requirements. This means that the student starts as a master’s candidate and can only progress to PhD candidacy after completing a master’s degree.
Many schools have additional requirements for applicants in addition to prerequisites for undergraduate or graduate majors and degree completion. A number of schools require high scores on standardized tests such as the Graduate Record Examination (both general and subject) (GRE). Schools will undoubtedly want to see strong academic performance and a high grade point average, particularly in science and math subjects. Students will also require letters of recommendation and a strong personal statement as part of their application.
After being accepted into a PhD program, an applicant can expect to spend four to seven years fulfilling all of the requirements for a PhD in biology. This time could be cut in half if you entered at the master’s level. Each school may offer different types of studies, but most offer core courses as well as a variety of electives. Students often work as research assistants, student teachers, or section leaders in addition to taking classes.
Many schools require students to take comprehensive exams before they can begin working on a dissertation, which is an original piece of research. It can take several years to finish, and PhD candidates in biology usually have access to laboratories where they can conduct experiments that will be discussed in their dissertation. After completing the dissertation, students must present it in front of an audience and have it reviewed faculty. If it is approved, in addition to all other graduate requirements, the student will be awarded a PhD in biology.
Because of the changing nature of education, some students are now pursuing their PhDs online. This may not be equivalent to a degree from a traditional university in subjects like biology, which require a lot of laboratory and hands-on research. If students are considering an online doctorate, they should ensure that it meets the same standards as traditional doctorates and that it is accepted the biology profession as a whole.