ANIMAL BIOLOGY: see also Biology

Head of the Department: Scott K. Robinson

Correspondence and Admission Information: Department of Animal Biology, 515 Morrill Hall, 505 South Goodwin Avenue, Urbana, IL 61801; (217) 333-7801; Fax (217) 244-4565; E-mail: ab@life.uiuc.edu

URL: www.life.uiuc.edu/animalbiology

GRADUATE DEGREE PROGRAMS

The Department of Animal Biology administers graduate degree programs as options in biology. Areas of training include physiological, population, community, and evolutionary ecology; ethology and physiological mechanisms of behavioral evolutionary biology, population genetics, molecular analysis, functional anatomy, and systematics; qua ntitative analysis of genetic and ecological systems; and conservation biology.

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, biochemistry, 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 60 hours of undergraduate work and for any graduate study is mandatory, and good scores on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) are necessary. 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 February 1. A minimum paper-based Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score of 580 (237 on the computer-based version) is preferred for international applicants.

Graduate Teaching Experience

Experience in teaching is considered a vital part of the graduate program and is required as part of the academic work of all Ph.D. candidates in this program.

MASTER OF SCIENCE

With approval of the M.S. in Biology committee, students in animal biology may pursue a M.S. degree in biology under the supervision of a departmental adviser (see Master of Science in Biology).

DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY

Candidates for the Ph.D. degree must demonstrate excellence by examination and, in consultation with an adviser and doctoral committee, plan and carry out original thesis research with distinction. A preliminary examination evalua ting the ability of students to integrate subject matter related to their fields is given during the third year. Courses in both statistical and computer science are required, and proficiency in one or more foreign languages may be required, depending on the field of research. Additional requirements may be prescribed by the adviser and doctoral committee. A final examina
tion, in which the student defends the thesis, and a presentation of the thesis at the departmental seminar complete the program.

FINANCIAL AID

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