GENERAL INFORMATION FOR GRADUATE STUDENTS

The purpose of the graduate program in Biology is to train biological scientists skilled in teaching and research. Because of the vast scope of Biology, it is necessary that a mechanism be provided for a student to focus his/her primary attention on a specialized field within this discipline. In addition, a mechanism must be provided whereby a student may develop his/her background in areas supporting his/her primary interest. The organization and operating procedures of the graduate programs in Biology are designed to address both of these parameters.

I.    General Policies for All Graduate Students

Each student must satisfy not only the requirements of the Department of Biological Sciences, but also those of the Graduate School as shown in the Graduate Studies Bulletin. A student may choose any one catalogue that is in effect during his/her graduate enrollment, but must satisfy all regulations in the catalogue chosen. You are advised to secure a Graduate Bulletin for your own use and read it carefully. Lack of knowledge of a regulation will not excuse you from compliance with any regulation or degree requirement.

Five major curriculum areas (referred to here as areas) have been established within the Department of Biological Sciences. These areas are:

Area                                     Group

Botany                                          Botany

Ecology    }
Evolution  }                                    Ecology, Evolution, and
Physiology }                                        Organismal Biology (EEOB)

Molecular, Cellular, and                        Molecular, Cellular, and
    Developmental Biology(MCDB)                     Developmental Biology (MCDB)                   

The groups located to the right of each area are responsible for the organization of the curriculum in that area. A graduate student normally will concentrate on coursework and do research in one of the three groups and will be advised by a faculty member who identifies with that group. Ph.D. students in Botany or EEOB are required to complete basic curricula in two areas and M.S. students in one area as described under "Course Requirements." Ph.D. and M.S. students in MCDB are required to complete the basic curriculum in that area alone.

We recognize that there are certain disciplines that are covered by more than one area. As the five areas are only general headings, they do not preclude a student from pursuing a course of study in overlapping areas.

The courses that may be used to satisfy requirements in the specific areas, and the faculty identified with each group, are listed on the following pages.

Basic curriculum: BIOL 549 - Plant Physiology

Topics courses:

670 - Plant Ecology                      7xx - Plant Molecular Biology

726 - Soil-Plant Relationships           728 - Advanced Phycology

727 - Marine Phytoplankton               741 - Fungal Physiology

762 - Wetland Ecology                    764 - Advanced Plant Physiology

521 - Morphology of Vascular Plants

522 - Plant Anatomy

524 - Mycology

525 - Marine Botany

526, 527 or 528 - Fall, Spring or Summer Flora

*BIOL 702 (Selected Topics in Botany) may be used with the approval of the student's Advisory and Examination Committee. Each BIOL 702 must be at least 3 hours.

Faculty:

G. T. Cowley                  L. Marton                      V. B. Vance
B. A. Krizek                  N. C. Mishra                   R. G. Zingmark
D. E. Lincoln                 J. T. Morris

Basic curriculum:

     Ecology:                    BIOL 652 - Evolutionary Genetics
                                 BIOL 765 - Theoretical Ecology

And one of the following courses*:

BIOL 640 - Microbial Ecology                  BIOL 763 - Biology of Population
BIOL 650 - Biological Oceanography            BIOL 768 - Ecosystem Modeling and
BIOL 651 - Limnology                                        Environmental Planning
BIOL 670 - Plant Ecology                      BIOL 769 - Reproductive Ecology
BIOL 726 - Soil-Plant Relationships           ENHS 767 - Ecological Modeling and
BIOL 727 - Marine Phytoplankton                             Environmental Planning
BIOL 728 - Advanced Phycology                 ENHS 770 - Microbial Processes and
BIOL 731 - Advanced Invertebrate Zoology                    Pollution
BIOL 750 - Advanced Biol. Oceanography        ENHS 779 - Applied Environmental
BIOL 754 - Oceanographic Techniques                         Physiology
BIOL 755 - Quantitative Ecology               GEOG 746 - Climatology Seminar
BIOL 759 - Physiological Ecology              ECIV 762 - Advanced Hydrology
BIOL 762 - Wetlands Ecology

*These courses may not be used to satisfy both Ecology and any other basic curriculum requirement simultaneously.

    Evolution:                    BIOL 652 - Evolutionary Genetics
                                  BIOL 765 - Theoretical Ecology or one course under
                                                 Physiology

And one of the following courses:

BIOL 731 - Advanced Invertebrate Zoology
BIOL 766 - Evolutionary Biology
BIOL 769 - Reproductive Ecology

    Physiology:                BIOL 652 - Evolutionary Genetics

And two of the following courses:

BIOL 543 - Comparative Physiology
BIOL 549 - Plant Physiology
BIOL 635 - Neurobiology
BIOL 748 - Molecular Endocrinology
BIOL 759 - Physiological Ecology

Topics courses:*

505 - Developmental Biology I + Lab            703 - Selected Topics in Ecology
506 - Developmental Biology II + Lab           705 - Selected Topics in Zoology
525 - Marine Botany                            726 - Soil-Plant Relationships
530 - Histology                                727 - Marine Phytoplankton
531 - Parasitology                             728 - Advanced Phycology
534 - Animal Behavior + Lab                    731 - Adv. Invertebrate Zoology
536 - Ichthyology                              734 - The Vertebrates
537 - Aquaculture                              748 - Molecular Endocrinology
543 - Comparative Physiology                   750 - Advanced Biol. Oceanography
549 - Plant Physiology                         754 - Oceanographic Techniques
575 - Marine Ecology                           759 - Physiological Ecology
577 - Ecology of Coral Reefs                   760 - Electron Microscopy + Lab
620 - Immunobiology                            762 - Wetlands Ecology
635 - Neurobiology                             763 - Biology of Populations
640 - Microbial Ecology                        766 - Evolutionary Biology
650 - Biological Oceanography                  768 - Ecosystem Modelling and
651 - Limnology                                         Environmental Planning
660 - Biology of Mammals                       769 - Reproductive Ecology
670 - Plant Ecology

*In addition, other courses approved by the student's Advisory Committee may be taken.

R. Benner                  T. J. Hilbish             R. Vogt
B. C. Coull                V. P. Lewis               D. S. Wethey
G. T. Cowley               D. E. Lincoln             L. T. Wimer
W. D. Dawson, Jr.          C. R. Lovell              S. A. Woodin
J. M. Dean                 J. T. Morris              R. G. Zingmark
P. J. DeCoursey            T. A. Mousseau            B. E. Ely
J. M. Quattro              R. J. Feller              R. A. Raguso
M. Fletcher                R. H. Sawyer              B. S. T. Helmuth
S. E. Stancyk

Basic curriculum:*

BIOL 711 - Structure and Function of Nucleic Acids
BIOL 712 - Gene Expression
BIOL 713 - Genetic Analyses & Transactions
BIOL 714 - Advanced Cell Biology
BIOL 717, 718 - Biological Chemistry

Topics courses:**

701 - Selected Topics in Biochemistry (3 hrs.)
704 - Selected Topics in Genetics and Developmental Biology (3 hrs.)

Potential substitutes for topics courses:**

620 - Immunobiology                     736 - Advanced Developmental
643 - Advanced Microbiology             748 - Molecular Endocrinology
652 - Evolutionary Genetics             749 - Methods in Molecular
655 - Biotechnology                          and Cell Biology
665 - Human Biochemical Genetics        753 - Developmental Genetics
725 - Embryology of Angiosperms         760 - Electron Microscopy + Lab

* For those students electing to use Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental
Biology as their secondary area of study, two of the six basic curriculum
courses may be selected in consultation with the student's Major Professor.

**With the approval of their Advisory and Examination Committee the student
may substitute an appropriate 600 or 700 level course for 701/704.

Faculty

F. G. Berger                       R. P. Lawther             R. M. Showman
F. F. Bolander, Jr.                D. E. Lincoln             H. T. Spencer
L. H. Bowman                       C. R. Lovell              V. B. Vance
W. D. Dawson                       L. Marton                 R. Vogt
M. J. Dewey                        N. C. Mishra              A. Waldman
B. E. Ely                          T. A. Mousseau            B. Waldman
M. R. Felder                       R. C. Patel               L. T. Wimer
T. J. Hilbish                      D. Reisman                D. C. Yoch
B. A. Krizek                       R. H. Sawyer

1.    Research

The department assigns high priority to research. A research program is an essential and strongly emphasized part of the requirements for both the M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Biology. In consultation with his/her professor, a graduate student develops an original research proposal for approval by his/her Advisory Committee. The research is carried out under the direction of the major professor, and is the basis of the thesis or dissertation.

A high level of research performance is expected of all students, with a quality appropriate for publication in a refereed scientific journal.

2.    Seminars

The Department of Biological Sciences conducts formal and informal seminars. Through these seminars, students are introduced to current developments in the biological sciences and have the opportunity to meet recognized scientists. Formal seminars convene three times monthly and usually involve speakers from other departments and campuses. Additional seminars are scheduled periodically. ALL GRADUATE STUDENTS ARE EXPECTED TO ATTEND FORMAL SEMINARS ON A REGULAR BASIS.

Informal seminars provide an opportunity for graduate students and faculty to meet in an informal setting, where they may present their own research findings or discuss current literature. Faculty and students organize their own informal seminars and schedule these at times convenient to the participants. Each graduate student can be expected to present at least one informal seminar each year.

3.    Graduate Student/Faculty Relationships

Graduate students in the Department of Biological Sciences are considered an integral part of our professional family. They should always feel free to discuss their curricula, career goals, and other concerns with any of the faculty. The graduate student normally establishes close rapport in the daily working relationships with his/her major professor and research colleagues. Mutual respect and common courtesy should prevail in all relationships among faculty and graduate students.

4.    Office and Laboratory Care

Graduate degree students will be assigned desk and laboratory space appropriate to their requirements. It is essential that graduate students maintain these areas in an orderly state and not infringe upon the space and patience of their colleagues. In the event that additional space is needed, the graduate student should contact his/her major professor or the Department Chairman.

II.    Ph.D. DEGREE PROGRAM

The Ph.D. degree in the Department of Biological Sciences is a research degree and is awarded to those individuals who have exhibited the ability to do independent and original scientific investigation. The M.S. degree is not a prerequisite for the Ph.D. Program.

The following procedures and examinations will be required of all students enrolled in the Ph.D. degree program of the Department of Biological Sciences. A checklist containing these steps is located in the Appendix.

1.    Choose a Major Professor.

a. When: Graduate students are encouraged to visit faculty research laboratories and meet as many faculty as possible during their first semester of graduate study. In the event that a selection of a major advisor has not been made by the end of the first semester, the student is required to take one laboratory rotation during his/her second semester. A "laboratory rotation" normally consists of 6-10 weeks of research experience working with a faculty member. This experience may constitute a small independent project or a component of another project. A student who undertakes a laboratory rotation with a faculty member is under no obligation to continue dissertation research with that professor. The student must formally affiliate with a major professor by the end of two academic semesters in residence.

If this or any other deadline in this Handbook is not met and the Graduate Studies Committee has not granted an extension, THE STUDENT WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO REGISTER. Since students must register in order to qualify for financial support, a hold or his/her registration would terminate such support.

b. How: The selection of a major professor is by mutual agreement and is formalized by submission of a completed "Selection of Major Professor" form to the Graduate Director (see Appendix).

A graduate student may change his/her major professor at any time up to the point at which he/she attempts the comprehensive examination. In the event that a graduate student deems a change of major professor necessary he/she should approach his/her major professor and request release. In the event that personal friction is involved, the Department Chairman will serve as an intermediary to arrange for a mutually satisfactory transition.

2.   Pass the Admission to Candidacy Examinations.

a. What: Each doctoral student must qualify in two of the five curriculum areas: 1) Botany, 2) Ecology, 3) Evolution, 4) Physiology, or 5) Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology (MCDB) to be recommended for admission to candidacy. The full MCDB curriculum (six courses) counts as two areas; any two courses count as a single area for non-MCDB students.

The qualification procedures vary among the areas, as indicated in the table below. The specific areas selected for qualification must be indicated prior to registering for the first semester. Therefore the student should consult a faculty advisor prior to or immediately upon arrival in the department for assistance in choosing the areas, and should then inform the Graduate Director as to the areas selected using the "Declaration of Areas Chosen for Ph.D. Qualification" form (see Appendix).

b. When: A student is allowed two opportunities to qualify in the specific areas. A student who is unsuccessful on the first attempt in an area may switch to a different field for the second attempt, but then has only one opportunity in that new area. In no case can the period for final qualification exceed 2 years from the date of initial enrollment.

Failure to successfully complete the qualification procedures within the allotted period for the selected areas will result in dismissal from the Ph.D. program.

c. How: The qualification procedures for the individual groups are given below:

Botany              Students who select Botany as one of their qualifying areas must
                    complete BIOL 549 with a grade of B or above. Students having previously
                    completed coursework equivalent to BIOL 549 may substitute another basic
                    curriculum course for qualification. If a second attempt is necessary,
                    students may repeat BIOL 549 to achieve a minimum grade of B or take a
                    qualifying examination.

Ecology,            To qualify in the area of Ecology, Evolution or Physiology, a student
Evolution, and      must complete at least two of the courses in the basic curriculum in
Organismal          that respective track with at least a B in each course. Prior completion
Biology (EEOB)      of equivalent courses with grades of B or higher will be considered
                    as qualifying a student in the appropriate track. The determination of
                    equivalent coursework will be made by the Diagnostic Committee of EEOB.
                    Alternatively, a successful examination of a dissertation proposal
                    written entirely by the student will also qualify him/her for candidacy.
                    The examination will be conducted by the student's provisional advisory
                    committee.

Molecular,          Students who choose this as their only area must complete four of the
Cellular,and        six-course basic curriculum with at least a B average. Students who
Developmental       choose this as their secondary area must complete two of the six-course
Biology (MCDB)      basic curriculum with at least a B average and the approval of their
                    Major Professor. Students failing to achieve a B average may take a
                    qualifying exam for their second attempt. Students who have had coursework
                    equivalent to the core courses in one or more of the above fields should,
                    prior to the first registration,consult the Chairman of the Molecular,
                    Cellular, and Developmental Biology group for alternative options.

3.    Select an Advisory and Examination Committee.

a. Who: The Advisory and Examination Committee consists of at least five members:

    (1)    the major professor;

    (2)    one member of the Biological Sciences Department whose interests are directly related to the               student's research goals;

    (3)    one member of the Biological Sciences Department whose interests lie outside the student's               research goals;

    (4)    one other member of the Biological Sciences Department; and

    (5)    a member from another department.

It should be noted that while the Graduate School recognizes as many as four different committees (Program Advisory Committee, Oral Comprehensive Examination Committee, Dissertation Committee, and Dissertation Oral Examination Committee), the Department of Biological Sciences consolidates all of these functions into a single committee, the Advisory and Examination Committee.

b. What: The Advisory Committee is responsible for approval of the student's program of study, approval of a dissertation research program, administration of both the comprehensive and dissertation examinations, and approval of the dissertation. The Advisory Committee must meet at least once a year to review the progress of the student. In the event that the student does not have an Advisory Committee because he/she has not yet passed the Admission to Candidacy Examinations, the Graduate Studies Committee or a provisional committee (see E. below) will perform this evaluation. The committee chairman is responsible for notifying the Graduate Director, in writing, of all official actions of the committee. Four positive votes are required for approval of any action by the committee.

c. When: The committee must be in place by the end of the 2nd year in residence but not before the student has passed the Admission to Candidacy Examination.

d. How: The major professor should send a letter to the Graduate Director recommending faculty members for the student's committee. IF THE OUTSIDE MEMBER IS NOT A MEMBER OF THE GRADUATE FACULTY OF USC, THEN TWO ADDITIONAL PIECES OF SUPPORTING MATERIAL MUST BE SUBMITTED: the Curriculum Vitae of the outside member and a letter justifying the presence of this individual on the committee. The Department Chairman and the Graduate Dean then approve the composition of the committee. The Department Chairman will designate a member other than the major professor as the chairman of the committee.

If the composition of the committee needs to be changed at a later time, the major advisor should follow the same procedure outlined above.

e. Provisional Committee. Students who have not yet passed their Admission to Candidacy Examinations but would like the advice and guidance of a committee may form a provisional committee whose composition matches that of the Advisory Committee. The major professor must notify the Graduate Director of the formation and composition of a provisional committee. Although this committee can offer advice and guidance, it is not an official committee recognized by the graduate school and, thus, cannot approve Curriculum Programs or administer Comprehensive Examinations. If the major professor and student wish the provisional committee to continue as the Advisory and Examination Committee after the Admission to Candidacy Examinations have been passed, the major professor should so notify the Graduate Director in writing.

4.    Complete Course Requirements.

a. What: The Ph.D. graduate curriculum in Biological Sciences consist of the basic curriculum in two areas and additional coursework as required by the individual groups (see below). The basic six-course curriculum in MCDB counts as two areas; for those students wishing to use MCDB as their secondary area of study, an appropriate two-course sequence chosen from the six-course basic curriculum will be chosen in consultation with his/her major professor. These requirements should be considered the minimum; the Advisory and Examination Committee with the approval of the Department Chairman may impose additional requirements up.

b. How: The curriculum requirements for the different groups within the Department of Biological Sciences are given below:

1. The basic curriculum of the student's primary and secondary areas. The student must have a B average in the botany basic curriculum.

2. If the student has previously completed coursework equivalent to the entire basic curriculum, he/she must still take at least one topics course.*

or

1. The basic curriculum of the student's primary and secondary areas. Both areas may be within EEOB (i.e., Ecology, Evolution, and/or Physiology) or the secondary area may be in another group.

2. Additional 3-hour graduate courses to reach a total of six courses.*

or

1. The six-course basic curriculum of the MCDB Group, which must be completed by the end of the second academic year with a B average or better.

2. Three credit hours of either BIOL 701 or 704 or an approved substitute at the 600 or 700 level.*

3. One credit hour of either BIOL 801 or 804.

*A topics course is any graduate biology course that is not used by the student as his/her basic curriculum, excluding seminars (801-805), and research courses (758, 798). Biology 757 will not qualify as a topics course or basic curriculum course unless the content initially presented as a 757 section is later approved as a regular course.

c. Grades: A student is required to pass all courses in this program and must maintain a minimum GPR of 3.00 for each academic year. In addition, the student's average must be at least 3.00 on all courses attempted for graduate credit, and on a all courses numbered 700 or above. A student who accumulates more than 8 hours of C+ or lower in graduate courses will be dismissed from the degree program.

d. Credit for Previous Work: Any of the above requirements completed at the M.S. level at USC-Columbia may be applied to the Ph.D. requirements. The above requirements may be satisfied by coursework taken at another institution upon evaluation either by the student's Advisory and Examination Committee (MCDB Group), by the Appraisal Committee of the Botany Faculty (Botany Group), or by the Diagnostic Committee (EEOB Group).

Even if the candidate satisfies most of his/her course requirements by previous work, he/she must still take sufficient coursework to satisfy the residency requirements; this entails registering for at least 18 h over three consecutive semesters (excluding summers). Biology 899 cannot be used to satisfy this requirement, but Biology 798 can.

e. Notification: A "Ph.D. Degree Program" form for each student must be completed and approved by the student's Advisory and Examination Committee and submitted through the Graduate Director for the Dean's approval (see Appendix; form available from the Graduate Studies Office). It must include the following:

(1)    all coursework required to satisfy the above requirements, including work at another institution,
       if it is to be accepted in lieu of department courses;

(2)    a minimum of 12 semester hours credit in Biology 899, Dissertation Preparation;

(3)    the language to be used to satisfy the language requirement or a statement that this requirement
       is to be waived (see below); and

(4)    the signatures of the student and all his/her committee members.

All coursework (including that taken at other institutions) must be completed within 8 years of the defense of the student's dissertation. The professors of record for the outdated courses can revalidate courses that fall outside of this time frame and that were taken at USC. If the original professor is not available, the professor currently teaching the course can revalidate it. If the original professor is not available and the course is no longer being taught, the course can be revalidated by the Chair of the MCDB Group, by the Appraisal Committee of the Botany Group, or by the Diagnostic Committee (EEOB Group). The student should obtain a Permit for Revalidation Form (GS 04) from the Graduate School and have the appropriate professor/committee chair sign it. Courses taken outside of USC cannot be revalidated; however, the student may request that the Graduate Dean extend the deadline. This request should be in the form of a letter justifying the request; the letter should first be submitted to the Graduate Studies Committee, who will forward the request to the Dean with their recommendation.

f. When: The Curriculum Program must be submitted by the end of the 2nd year in residence.

5.    Complete the Foreign Language Requirement.

a. What: A reading knowledge of one foreign language is required of all candidates for the Ph.D. degree. The student, with the advice and consent of his/her Advisory and Examination Committee, will determine which language he/she shall use to satisfy this requirement or the committee may choose to waive this requirement.

b. How:

(1)    If the requirement is to be waived, it should be so stated on the "Ph.D. Program Form" (see
       Appendix).

(2)    For a native English-speaker, reading knowledge will be demonstrated by an examination
       administered by the Department of Foreign Languages.

(3)    For a foreign student whose native language is not English, English may be used as a foreign   
       language, with the approval of his/her committee. Competency in English will be determined by an
       examination administered by the English Department.

6.    Satisfy Teaching Requirements.

A Ph.D. student is required to complete two semesters of instruction as an assistant in Biology courses. All students, irrespective of financial support (e.g., Research Assistantship, Fellowship), will complete this requirement. If the student has previous teaching experience at the collegiate level or its equivalent, he/she may request a waiver of this requirement from the Graduate Studies Committee.

7.    Submit Research Proposal.

A copy of the student's Research Proposal as approved by his/her Advisory Committee must be submitted to the Graduate Director for inclusion in the student's permanent file.

8.    Pass the Comprehensive Examination.

a. What: The candidate will be required to pass a written, followed by an oral, comprehensive examination on the fields of study for which he/she is responsible. The format and administration of this examination will be determined by his/her Advisory and Examination Committee after the completion of his/her course requirements or concurrently with enrollment in his/her final semester of coursework. At least ten days but not more than six weeks shall elapse between the completion of the written and oral examinations. Any member of the Biology Faculty may attend the oral examination, and ask questions of the candidate, but the Committee alone will assess the student's achievement. In the event that a student does not pass either the written or oral portion, he/she may, at the discretion of the committee in consultation with the Department Chairman, be allowed one retake of that examination after a three-month interval.

b. Notification: The committee chairman will provide the Graduate Director with written notification of the results of the comprehensive examination. In addition, the written portion of the comprehensive examination must be submitted for inclusion in the student's permanent file. A committee member, if he/she chooses, may release a copy of his/her part of this examination to the student.

c. When: The Comprehensive Examination must be taken by the end of six academic semesters in residence.

9.    Write and Successfully Defend a Dissertation.

A dissertation based on original investigation is required of all Ph.D. candidates. Each doctoral student will submit a written dissertation proposal to his/her Advisory Committee for its approval. A copy of the approved proposal will be submitted to the Graduate Director for inclusion in the student's file. During the writing of the dissertation, the major professor and at least one other committee member will read and advise on one or more preliminary drafts. All members of the candidate's committee will evaluate copies of the final manuscript.

The Ph.D. candidate must also pass an oral dissertation examination, which shall be administered and evaluated by his/her Advisory Committee. Members of the academic community may attend the examination and ask questions but may not vote. The Biological Sciences faculty should be informed of the time and place of the defense at least one week ahead of the event. Approval of the dissertation requires at least four affirmative votes. The committee chairman is responsible for notifying the Graduate Director of the results of the vote.

10.    Give a Dissertation Seminar.

Upon completion of his/her thesis research, the Ph.D. candidate present a formal seminar to the Department of Biological Sciences, in which he/she will discuss and defend his/her dissertation.

The dissertation seminar is a public exposition of the student's research findings and interpretations, with open discussion of his/her presentation. The seminar should therefore be

    a. scheduled on a day, and at a time, suitable for attendance by most Biological Sciences Faculty                   and graduate students.

    b. formally publicized a minimum of one week prior to the seminar (a copy of the announcement should be           submitted to the Biological Sciences Graduate Office), and

    c. announced to other departments whose faculty or students might be interested in the seminar
        subject.

The seminar should precede the defense, and may serve the function of an oral presentation for the Dissertation Examination Committee as a part of the dissertation examination.

III.    M.S. DEGREE PROGRAM

The following procedures and examinations are required of all students enrolled in the M.S. degree program of the Department of Biological Sciences. A checklist containing these steps is located in the Appendix.

1.    Choose a Major Professor.

a. When: Graduate students are encouraged to visit faculty research laboratories and meet as many faculty as possible during their first semester of graduate study. In the event that a selection of a major advisor has not been made by the end of the first semester, the student is required to take one laboratory rotation during his/her second semester. A "laboratory rotation" normally consists of 6-10 weeks of research experience working with a faculty member. This experience may constitute a small independent project or a component of another project. A student who undertakes a laboratory rotation with a faculty member is under no obligation to continue dissertation research with that professor. The student must formally affiliate with a major professor by the end of two academic semesters in residence.

If this or any other deadline in this Handbook is not met and the Graduate Studies Committee has not granted an extension, THE STUDENT WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO REGISTER. Since students must register in order to qualify for financial support, a hold or his/her registration would terminate such support.

b. How: The selection of a major professor is by mutual agreement and is formalized by submission of a completed "Selection of Major Professor" form to the Graduate Director (see Appendix).

2.    Select an Advisory and Examination Committee.

a. Who: The Advisory and Examination Committee consists of at least three members:

    (1) the major professor;

    (2) one member of the Biological Sciences Department whose interests are directly related to the
              student's research goals;

    (3) one member of the Biological Sciences Department whose interests lie outside the student's research                goals or from another department.

b. What: The Advisory and Examination Committee is responsible for approval of the student's program of study and administration of the oral examination. The Advisory Committee must meet at least once a year to review the progress of the student. The committee chairman is responsible for notifying the Graduate Director, in writing, of all official actions of the committee.

c. When: The committee must be in place by the end of two academic semesters in residence.

d. How: The major professor should send a letter to the Graduate Director recommending faculty members for the student's committee. The composition of the committee is then approved by the Department Chairman who will designate a member other than the major professor as the chairman of the committee.

If the composition of the committee needs to be changed at a later time, the major advisor should follow the same procedure outlined above.

3.    Complete Course Requirements.

a. What: A student shall be required to earn six hours of thesis research, and 24 hours of course credit, at least half of which shall be at the 700 and 800 levels no more than 3 hours of which maybe BIOL 798. If a student has been granted admission with deficiencies they must be made up within the first year of enrollment. These requirements should be considered the minimum; the Advisory Committee with the approval of the Department Chairman may impose additional requirements up.

b. How: The curriculum requirements for the different groups within the Department of Biological Sciences are given below:

1. The botany basic curriculum.

2. If the student has previously completed coursework equivalent to the entire basic curriculum, he/she         must still take at least one topics course.*

3. The student must have a B average in the basic curriculum.

or

1. The three-course curriculum of the student's chosen area (Ecology, Evolution or Physiology).

2. The student must have a grade of B or better in each of these three courses.

or

1. The six-course curriculum of the Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology Group.

2. Three credit hours of either BIOL 701 or 704 or an approved substitute at the 600 or 700 level.*

3. One credit hour of either BIOL 801 or 804.

*A topics course is any graduate biology course that is not used by the student as his basic curriculum, excluding seminars (801-805) and research courses (758, 798).

c. Grades: The student must maintain a minimum GPR of 3.00 for each academic year, and must obtain a GPR of at least 3.00 for all courses numbered 700 or above. Students who accumulate more than eight hours of C+ or lower in graduate courses will be dismissed from the degree program.

d. Credit for Previous Work: The above requirements may be satisfied by coursework taken at another institution upon evaluation either by the student's Advisory and Examination Committee (MCDB Group), or by the Appraisal Committee of the Botany Faculty (Botany Group), or by the Diagnostic Committee (EEOB Group). The number of hours that can be transferred is limited to 9-12 hours, depending upon the origin of the credit (see the Graduate Studies Bulletin).

e. Notification: An "M.S. Degree Program" form for each student must be completed and approved by the student's Advisory and Examination Committee and submitted through the Graduate Director for the Dean's approval (see Appendix; form available from the Graduate Studies Office). It must include the following:

    (1) all coursework required to satisfy the above requirements, including work at another institution if           it is to be accepted in lieu of department courses;

    (2) a minimum of 6 semester hours credit in Biology 799, Thesis Preparation;

    (3) additional coursework to a total of 30 hours;

    (4) the language to be used to satisfy the language requirement or a statement that this requirement is           to be waived (see below); and

    (5) the signatures of the student and all his/her committee members.

All coursework (including that taken at other institutions) must be completed within 6 years of the Oral Examination. Courses that fall outside of this time frame and that were taken at USC can be revalidated as described under Ph.D. Degree Program, which also describes requests for extensions of this deadline.

f. When: The Curriculum Program must be submitted by the end of the first year in residence.

4.    Complete the Foreign Language Requirement.

a. What: A reading knowledge of one foreign language is required of all candidates for the M.S. degree. The student, with the advice and consent of his/her Advisory and Examination Committee, will determine which language he/she shall use to satisfy this requirement or the committee may choose to waive this requirement.

b. How:

    (1) If the requirement is to be waived, it should be so stated on the "M.S. Program Form" (see            Appendix).

    (2) For a native English-speaker, reading knowledge will be demonstrated by an examination administered            by the Department of Foreign Languages.

    (3) For a foreign student whose native language is not English, English may be used as a foreign            language, with the approval of his/her committee. Competency in English will be determined by an
          examination administered by the English Department.

5.    Satisfy Teaching Requirement.

An M.S. student is required to complete one semester of teaching as an assistant in a Biology course. All students, irrespective of financial support (e.g., Research Assistantship, Fellowship), will complete this requirement. If the student has previous teaching experience at the collegiate level or its equivalent, he/she may request a waiver of this requirement from the Graduate Studies Committee.

6.    Pass the Oral Examination.

The M.S. candidate must pass an oral comprehensive examination, which will be administered and evaluated by his Advisory Committee. The exam may not be taken before completion of the foreign language requirement and the approval of a final draft of the thesis by the major professor and readers. Approval requires a unanimous vote. The committee chairman is responsible for notifying the Graduate Director of the results of the vote.

7.    Write a Thesis.

A thesis based on experimental investigation is required of each M.S. candidate. This thesis must be approved by two of the three members of the Advisory and Examination Committee. The title of the thesis should be submitted to the Biological Sciences, Graduate Office.

8.    Transfer to the Ph.D. Degree Program.

An M.S. candidate may request transfer to the Ph.D. degree program at any time after entering the M.S. program. The student should write the Graduate Director a letter requesting the transfer and providing an explanation. In addition, letters from his/her advisor and one other faculty member from the Department of Biological Sciences must support the request. The Graduate Studies Committee will then vote on the request.

IV.    NON-DEGREE STUDENTS

The category of non-degree student is primarily for students who have no intention of entering the Department of Biological Sciences as advanced degree candidates but who wish to enroll in graduate level biology courses for personal or professional enrichment.

    Required application materials, to be submitted to the Graduate School:

Graduate application information form
Transcripts of all previous college work

Eligible applicants:

         1. Any person holding a baccalaureate degree in the Biological Sciences, with a GPA
            ³ 2.5 in the major, or a score of at least 600 on the GRE subject exam in either biology
            or biochemistry.

         2. Any person holding a baccalaureate degree in another science which included at least
            4 biology majors courses, with a GPA ³ 2.5 in both their major and the biology courses
            (or GRE Biology Exam score of at least 600).

         3. Other applicants are admitted only by exception, upon review by the Graduate Director
            and/or the Department Chairman.

Admission is for a period of one year, with a maximum enrollment of 9 semester hours of graduate credit. At least half of the courses taken as a non-degree graduate student must be in the Department of Biological Sciences.

V.    TRANSIENT GRADUATE STUDENTS

Admission Requirements

The category of transient student is reserved for students who are advanced degree candidates at some institution other than the University of South Carolina and who wish to matriculate in the Department of Biological Sciences in order to participate in particular courses or research programs which are not adequately represented in their own institutions.

No formal admission standards are required of transient students. In order to enroll in this capacity, an applicant must obtain the approval of his/her major professor, the department in which he/she is a degree candidate, the Chairman of the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of South Carolina, and the Dean of the Graduate School. He/she must meet all prerequisites to courses he/she wishes to take at the University of South Carolina.

VI.    TEACHING ASSISTANTS

Once awarded a teaching assistantship, the assistant is an employee of the department and is expected to perform his/her assigned duties in a professional manner. Assigned duties include teaching laboratory sections of any of numerous courses offered by the department and/or performing other educationally related tasks, such as laboratory material preparation, examination proctoring and grading, and taking role in lecture sections. Each task is important, and assignments are made in an attempt to assure that the overall operation of the department is at maximum efficiency.

Assistants normally are assigned up to eight contact hours of laboratory teaching and are expected to prepare themselves and their laboratory materials adequately. In most cases the testing and grading within assigned laboratory sections are also the teaching assistant's duty, but may be under the close direction of the professor of the course. Frequently, students will request an assistant's time outside of class to clarify academic problems. A serious assistant should be available, within reason, to grant such requests. From the above, it is obvious that an eight contact-hour assistantship will entail well over eight hours of work.

Assistants assigned duties other than in-class teaching are expected to render service comparable to the time spent in and out of class by teaching personnel (15-18 hour/week). Such assigned tasks are no less important than those of laboratory teachers. In fact, the adequacy of the classroom instruction is often directly related to the adequacy of out-of-class work.

Each assistant has a three-fold responsibility:

1. To his/her students.

2. To the professor of the course with which the student is associated.

3. To the Department of Biological Sciences.

Questions, problems, or suggestions directly related to assigned jobs should be directed to the professor of the course. Other problems or suggestions, dealing with broader aspects of teaching assistantships, should be directed to Dr. Cowley, Assistant Department Chairman.

The Business Office is responsible for initiating all personnel actions regarding teaching assistants. Primarily, this paperwork includes employment verification for payment of stipends and for eligibility for special tuition rates. Any questions regarding these matters should be directed to the Business Office.

Teaching assistants are routinely paid on the fifteenth and the last working day of each month. A graduate stipend is paid in nine equal checks each semester, regardless of the length of the semester. Summer TA stipends are paid in two checks on June 15 and 30 for Summer Session I, or as two checks on July 31 and August 15 for Summer Session II. Summer RA stipends are normally paid semimonthly as during the regular semester.

Assistantships are awarded for one semester and may be re-awarded on a semester basis according to the following criteria.

Teaching assistants should be aware that failure to fulfill their assigned responsibilities may result in immediate termination of appointment, even during a semester.

Teaching assistantships for summer sessions are awarded to as many qualified applicants as departmental needs and budgetary considerations dictate. Teaching assistantships are awarded for only one summer session. Support for the remainder of the summer depends upon grants, grant overhead, or other funding sources.

Graduate School regulations specify that teaching and research assistantships can be held only by students in a graduate degree program, not by non-degree students. Those graduate students holding regular (half-time) assistantships must register for 9 (Ph.D.) or 12 (M.S.) hours during the academic year. An enrollment of 3 hours per each summer session is required for graduate students awarded summer TA's or RA's.

In accordance with Graduate School Regulations, a graduate student may not hold any other position of employment while he/she is supported by a TA or RA.

TEACHING ASSISTANTS ARE INSTRUCTED TO AVOID ANY PERSONAL OR SOCIAL INVOLVEMENT WITH STUDENTS ENROLLED IN THEIR SECTIONS. SUCH INVOLVEMENT COMPROMISES THE ASSISTANT'S OBJECTIVITY AS AN INSTRUCTOR, AND IS SUFFICIENT GROUNDS FOR TERMINATING THE ASSISTANTSHIP.

VII.    MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION AND POLICIES

Room (Office) Assignments

The department will attempt to provide office and/or study space for all graduate students. Such space is limited, and it is departmental policy that students with graduate assistantships will be given first priority. Students with research assistantships normally will be placed in the area of their work. Students without support will be located with their major professors, if such is agreeable to the professors concerned. The Graduate Director is responsible for these assignments.

Normally, the only furniture provided is a carrel (table with bookshelves) and chair. Office supplies are not furnished.

Keys

Keys to department facilities are issued on an as-required basis. The Business Associate is responsible for the control of keys.

In no case will a key be issued to a faculty member's office or research laboratory without specific authorization by the faculty member. Under no circumstance is a key to be duplicated or loaned to other persons. If a key is lost, such should be reported promptly to the Business Office.

Areas of Limited Access

Access is limited to some areas within the department (e.g., photographic darkroom, greenhouse, and computer terminal room). When use of such facilities is necessary, see the Business Office.

Equipment and Facilities

If any piece of equipment is in improper working condition or is missing, the appropriate staff or faculty member should be notified. Students should always be alert for conditions that warrant repair or are unsafe.

No area should be left unsecured. Thefts, unfortunately, are not uncommon, and precautions must be taken to prevent loss of personal and departmental items.

Telephones

Most assigned study spaces are near a telephone. These phones are limited to on-campus calls or calls within the greater Columbia area. Under no circumstance is a student to place a toll call from a departmental phone, without the express approval of their major professor or the Department Chairman. Collect calls cannot be accepted under any circumstances. These regulations also pertinent to the department FAX machine; the secretary to the Department Chairman is responsible for charging grants or individuals for FAX transmission.

Mail

The department provides mailboxes for graduate students in the mailroom next door to CLS 401. Mail is delivered and picked up twice a day. Outgoing mail should be placed in the appropriate trays beneath the faculty mailboxes in CLS 401. Students are to furnish their own postage stamps.

Teaching assistants are responsible for the safe operation of the laboratories they teach. Proper procedures for using volatile and flammable solvents, explosive or poisonous chemicals, and radioactive materials must be followed. A fire extinguisher is located in each teaching laboratory, and first-aid kits are in CLS 401 and most teaching labs. Dr. E. F. Thompson is the safety officer and can provide additional information on request. Be alerted that a teaching assistant is legally responsible and may be liable for any accident that occurs in his/her laboratory.

The guiding document for all safety matters is the USC Health and Safety Manual. A number of copies are available in the department. Graduate students cannot use radioisotopes until they have completed an instructional course offered by the Safety Services Office. Your major professor is responsible for alerting you to any unusual hazards.

Accidents that pose a threat to persons or property should be reported at once to the Department Office. Minor injuries may be treated using first aid kits found in CLS 401 or in various labs. If professional attention is needed, the injured should go or be taken to the Health Center for treatment. Students who are injured while on the job are covered under Workman's Compensation.

Fire extinguishers are located in most labs and in the halls. Students should be familiar with their use. When an extinguisher is used, the Business Office should be notified, so that the extinguisher can be refilled.

Duplicating Machines

The duplicating machines in the department are for official use only. They are not to be used for theses, dissertations, personal notes, or other personal papers.

Library

Interlibrary loans and use of the library's "non-coin" photocopiers are charged to the department and must be authorized by the student's major professor. Uncommitted students may seek such authorization from the faculty member directing the course or project, or from the Business Manager.

Penney Reading Room (CLS 403

The Penney Reading Room, located adjacent to the Biological Sciences Department offices, contains many major journals, which graduate students may peruse without having to visit the library. These are personal subscriptions to faculty members, who have generously lent them to the department for general use. These issues should be treated with care and not be removed from the room except for copying. The Penney Reading Room is open until 9:30 PM.

Secretarial Assistance

The office staff does not provide secretarial services for graduate students. Teaching assistants are expected to prepare and duplicate the exams and materials for their own lab sections; communal typewriters and personal computers are located throughout the department. Any material requiring secretarial assistance must be submitted by your faculty supervisor.

VIII.    GRADUATE ASSOCIATION OF BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(G.A.B.S.)

The Graduate Association of Biological Sciences draws its membership from graduate students in the life sciences. Primarily a social body, the chief aim of the organization is to promote informal social interactions among graduate students in the various scientific disciplines. It also sponsors and maintains the graduate student lounge located in CLS 205.

Academically, the group hosts an annual invited speaker, selected by the membership. Group members are also active participants in the recruitment of new graduate students, and assist the department in various capacities. The organization also selects a representative to attend faculty meetings.

New graduate students are especially encouraged to become active in the GABS organization, as this provides an excellent means of establishing oneself as a member of the graduate student community of both the Department and the University.

IX.    DIRECTORY OF KEY PERSONNEL, FY 2000-2001

X.    ACCESS TO GRADUATE STUDENT EDUCATIONAL RECORDS

Access to graduate student educational records of the Department of Biological Sciences is regulated in accordance with University Policy D 4.01, of the Policies and Procedures Manual. The following guidelines include the main points of the policy, but be aware that the entire policy will be followed.

    1. Most of the information in student records is confidential,and may not be made public nor released to
    outside parties except as noted in D 4.01, unless the student requests such release in writing.

    2. Department faculty, administrators, and appropriate staff have direct access to student educational
    records in the exercise of their academic and administrative duties, but may not remove graduate
    records from the office except according to procedures established by the graduate records clerk.

    3. Graduate students may examine their own educational records with the exception of parental financial      records, any confidential letters of recommendation filed before November 12,1974, and any letters of       recommendation filed since that date to which the student has signed a waiver of access.

Materials not included in educational records are personal notes, law enforcement records, employment records, medical and psychiatric records, and counseling records.

Students must follow the procedures outlined below in order to obtain access to their educational records.

Procedures for Access to Student Records

Each enrolled student or former student of the University of South Carolina is accorded the right to inspect and review official educational records or files of the University directly related to that student, other than materials to which the student has waived access. The following procedures will be followed.

A student may obtain certain types of information contained in his/her records by making inquiry through the graduate director, graduate records clerk, or the student's major professor. Such inquiries should be limited to specific information such as dates, grades, or the presence or absence of pertinent materials. No information otherwise accessible to the student will be communicated to him/her indirectly through such an inquiry.

XI.    APPENDIXES (Graduate Record Forms)

(Copies of all Forms in these appendixes can
be found in the Graduate Studies Office, CLS 108.)

A.    SELECTION OF MAJOR PROFESSOR

        I have agreed to serve as Major Professor for ________________________________

during his/her work toward the ______________________________ degree in Biology.

                Faculty Member: ____________________________________

                Endorsed by Student: ________________________________

                Date: _______________________________________________

B.    DECLARATION OF AREAS CHOSEN FOR PH.D. QUALIFICATION

Name: ____________________________________________

Date of Entry: _________________________, 19______

I have chosen the following two areas in which to qualify for admission to Ph.D. candidacy (one area for Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology students).

_______ Botany

_______ Ecology

_______ Evolution

_______ Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology

_______ Physiology

                                    Signed: ___________________________________

                                    Date: _____________________________________

C.    Ph.D. STUDENT CHECKLIST

Name: ________________________________          SSN: ____________________________________

Date of Entry: _______________________ (8-yr. limit on courses w/o revalidation)

Requirement                          Notification*                              Deadline

Choose Curriculum Area                  Form                                  By orientation

____________________

____________________

Admission to Candidacy Exams        Letter from group                       By end of 4th academic
                                    chairman or                              semester
                                    course grades

Choose Major Professor                  Form                                  By end of 2nd academic
                                                                            semester
_________________________

Choose Advisory & Exam. Committee    Letter from Advisor                      By end of 2nd year

Maj. Prof.: ____________                 Biol. #4:                              ______________

Chairman: ______________                Outside Dept.:                          ______________                

Biol. #3: ______________

Approve Curriculum Program                   Form                            Same as Committee appointment

Core #1: _______________                  BIOL 899:                              __________

Core #2: _______________                  Other:                                 __________

Topics: ________________

Approve/Waive Language Requirement     Form (see above)                     Same as Committee appointment

Teaching Requirement                    No notification                     By end of 2nd academic
                                             required                            semester (recommendation)

Approve Research Proposal                Copy to File                      By end of 4th academic
                                                                                 semester (recommendation)

Comprehensive Exams                     Copy to File;                          By end of 6th academic
                                     Letter from Committee Chairman                 semester

Dissertation Seminar                  Submit announcement to the Biological
                                    Sciences Graduate Office, CLS Room 108

Dissertation Defense                Letter from Committee Chairman

*All forms can be obtained from, and should be returned to, the Biological Sciences Graduate Office.

D.    PH.D. DEGREE (CURRICULUM) PROGRAM

Information not yet available.

E.    SUPPLEMENT TO "PROGRAM OF COURSES"

Please be advised that your program must be approved by your advisory committee, and the "Program of Courses" form initialed by the members of your committee other than your major professor, before submitting it to the Graduate Director.

Please list the courses you have counted as satisfying the following Biological Sciences Department requirements for the M.S./Ph.D. degree. Also include on the program form the number of credits for each course listed on that form.

Area of Specialization _________________________________

Basic Curriculum I    __________________________________

                    ____________________________________

                    ____________________________________

Basic Curriculum II ____________________________________
(Ph.D. only)

                    ____________________________________

                    ____________________________________

Topics course(s):    ___________________________________

                    ____________________________________

F.    M.S. STUDENT CHECKLIST

Name: _______________________________                  SSN: _______________________________

Date of Entry: __________________ (6-yr. limit on courses w/o revalidation)

Requirement                                     Notification*                      Deadline

Choose Major Professor                          Form                        By end of 2nd academic
                                                                            semester
____________________________________

Choose Advisory & Exam. Committee               Letter from                 By end of 2nd academic
                                                Advisor                      semester

Maj. Prof.: _________________________

2nd Reader: _________________________

Chairman: ___________________________

Approve Curriculum Program                      Form                          By end of 1st year

Core: _______________________________

Topics: _____________________________

BIOL 799: ___________________________

Other: ______________________________

Approve/Waive Language                          Form (same as                  By end of 1st year
Requirement                                     one for Curriculum
                                                Program)

Teaching Requirement                            No notification                By end of 1st academic
                                                                              semester (recommendation)

Thesis Defense                                  Letter from Committee
                                                Chairman (include
                                                title of the thesis;
                                                should be submitted
                                                to the Biological Sciences
                                            Graduate Office, CLS Room 108)

*All forms can be obtained from, and should be returned to, the Biological Sciences Graduate Office.

G.    MASTER'S DEGREE (CURRICULUM) PROGRAM