REQUIREMENTS FOR THE PH.D. DEGREE

RULES AND REGULATIONS OF THE PROGRAM IN BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY

General Remarks

The academic policies of the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Program are determined by vote of the faculty of the program. The operation of the Program is administered by an elected Executive Committee, which includes one student member. This summary describes the current policies and practices of the Program. The general requirements of the Graduate School of Biological Sciences also apply, as described in the Graduate Catalog. The rules allow a considerable degree of flexibility, and further adjustments can of course be made where they are justified by special circumstances. All such individual decisions are made by the Executive Committee. In addition, the Executive Committee reviews the progress of all students each semester, in consultation with their academic advisors.

Admission Requirements

Entering students are expected to have taken the following undergraduate courses before entering the Program: one year of biology including laboratory; mathematics through one year of calculus; physics; organic chemistry and physical chemistry. In special instances students lacking certain of these requirements may be admitted, but they are expected to discuss remedying their deficiency with the Executive Committee.

The Physical Chemistry Requirement

A good foundation in physical chemistry is particularly important for modern research in biochemistry and molecular biology. Therefore the Program has established the following requirement in physical chemistry:

All students should have taken at least one semester and preferably two semesters of undergraduate physical chemistry. Students who have not had such a course before entering the Program should take at least one semester of physical chemistry.