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Requirements for the Ph.D. Degree

Candidates for the doctor of philosophy degree in EEMB must normally have completed a bachelor's degree in one of the biological sciences, with a preparation deemed equivalent to that required for the bachelor's degree from UCSB. Students who are admitted to graduate standing with deficiencies in preparation will be required to take appropriate undergraduate courses. Doctoral students select, with the approval of their advisory committee, two areas of study. One area of study must be selected from the list below; the other may be selected from the list, or from an appropriate discipline in other departments.

1. Ecology with Ecosystem, Evolutionary, Physiological, Community, or Population emphases
2. Behavioral Ecology
3. Biology of Deep Sea Animals
4. Biological Oceanography
5. Invertebrate Biology
6. Limnology
7. Macroevolution
8. Mathematical Biology
9. Parasitology
10. Population Genetics
11. Physiology/ Ecological Physiology
12. Stream Ecology
13. Vertebrate Evolution, Morphology, and Systematics
14. Pharmacology
15. Endocrinology
16. Comparative Physiology

Completion of the Ph. D. degree requires the following

1. Hold a teaching assistantship for the equivalent of two quarter during some point in the graduate career in order to obtain teaching experience.
2. Take two written qualifying examinations administered by faculty in the department in two areas of study at least one of which is from the list above.
3. After passing the qualifying exams, pass an oral qualifying examination which must be taken before the end of the ninth quarter.
4. Complete a doctoral dissertation under the general supervision of a committee.
5. Defend the dissertation in a final oral examination. With the approval of the candidate's doctoral committee, a scheduled departmental seminar may be substituted in lieu of the final oral examination.