Biology, PhD
The Biology Graduate Program represents many areas of biology, and interactions with a diverse group of colleagues provide opportunities to broaden every student’s thinking and make connections between different fields and scientific approaches. Areas of research include microbiology, cell biology, development, physiology, neuroscience, animal behavior, plant biology, genetics, computational biology, evolution, ecology and biodiversity.
Each entering graduate student has the freedom to pursue topics ranging from the behavior of molecules to that of cells, organisms, genomes, and ecosystems. We encourage students to get broad exposure through lab rotations with any faculty member in the Biology Graduate Group. As students focus on more specific research interests, they tailor their graduate education accordingly, choosing courses from different departments and schools at Penn as appropriate.
Students complete most of their course work and lab rotations in the first year and then start their thesis research in the second year while completing their teaching requirement and preparing for their candidacy exams. Students are then fully focused on thesis research by the end of the second year. Students still have the option of taking additional courses in advanced years in order to enhance their graduate research.
For more information: http://www.bio.upenn.edu/graduate/
University PhD Benchmarks
In addition to Program requirements, the following milestones must be completed:
| Code | Title | Course Units |
|---|---|---|
| Qualifying Evaluation | ||
| Candidacy Examination | ||
| Dissertation Defense/Oral Exam | ||
| Dissertation Deposit | ||
For more information view the University’s Academic Rules for PhD Programs.
Required Courses
| Code | Title | Course Units |
|---|---|---|
| Foundation Course | ||
| BIOL 7000 | Advanced Topics in Current Biological Research | 1 |
| Writing Requirement | ||
| BIOL 6010 | Communication for Biologists | 1 |
| Core Courses | ||
| Select two of the following: | 2 | |
| Cell Signaling | ||
| Human Evolutionary Genomics | ||
| Genome Science and Genomic Medicine | ||
| The Genetics of Adaptation: How sex, conflict, and pathogens shape modern genomes | ||
| Epigenetics | ||
| Evolutionary Biology | ||
| Evolution and Ecology of Infectious Diseases | ||
| Theoretical Population Biology | ||
| Cell Biology | ||
| Electives | ||
| Select three electives with Attribute HPBI 1 | 3 | |
| Independent Study and Research | 6.5 | |
| Independent Study and Research | ||
| Teaching Requirement | ||
| Two semesters of teaching are required | ||
| Total Course Units | 13.5 | |
University PhD Benchmarks
In addition to Program requirements, the following milestones must be completed:
| Code | Title | Course Units |
|---|---|---|
| Qualifying Evaluation | ||
| Candidacy Examination | ||
| Dissertation Defense/Oral Exam | ||
| Dissertation Deposit | ||
For more information view the University’s Academic Rules for PhD Programs.
- 1
See the website for a list of electives: http://www.bio.upenn.edu/graduate/handbook/academic-topics/course-requirements
The degree and major requirements displayed are intended as a guide for students entering in the Fall of 2025 and later. Students should consult with their academic program regarding final certifications and requirements for graduation.
Sample Plan of Study
| Code | Title | Course Units |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | ||
| Fall | ||
| Advanced Topics in Current Biological Research | ||
| Cell Biology | ||
or BIOL 5022 | Cell Signaling | |
| Statistics for Biologists | ||
or BIOL 5517 | Theoretical Population Biology | |
| Independent Study and Research | ||
| Spring | ||
| Genome Science and Genomic Medicine | ||
or BIOL 5234 | Epigenetics | |
| Chromosomes and the Cell Cycle | ||
or BIOL 5710 | Microbial Diversity and Pathogenesis | |
| Biological Data Analysis | ||
| Independent Study and Research | ||
| Independent Study and Research | ||
| Summer | ||
Thesis Research | ||
| Year 2 | ||
| Fall | ||
Additional Coursework | ||
| Independent Study and Research | ||
Teaching Requirement | ||
| Spring | ||
| Communication for Biologists | ||
Additional Coursework | ||
| Independent Study and Research | ||
Teaching Requirement | ||
| Summer | ||
Candidacy Exam | ||
| Year 3 and Beyond | ||
Dissertation | ||