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Head of the Department: Scott K. Robinson
515 Morrill Hall
505 South Goodwin Avenue, Urbana, IL 61801
(217) 333-7801
Fax (217) 244-4565
E-mail: ab@life.uiuc.edu
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; quantitative 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 evaluating 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 examination, 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.
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