Biological Sciences, Ph.D.
Biological Sciences
Head: Dr. Gary Anderson
Campus Address/General Office: 212 Biological Sciences Building
Telephone: 204-474-9245
Fax: 204-474-7604
Email Address: biograd@umanitoba.ca
Website: umanitoba.ca/science/biological-sciences
Biological Sciences Program Information
The department offers graduate training leading to Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy degrees in a broad range of biological disciplines in both field and laboratory research.
Admission Information
Admission to the Faculty of Graduate Studies
Application and Admission Procedures are found in the Academic Guide.
Admission requirements for doctoral students are found in the Doctor of Philosophy General Regulations section of the Guide.
Biological Sciences Ph.D. Admission Requirements
Applicants are required to have a Master’s degree in Biology (or equivalent). Candidates normally have completed a M.Sc. degree before entering the Ph.D. program; however under certain circumstances transfer from a M.Sc. to Ph.D. program and entry into the Ph.D. without a M.Sc. is possible. Individual qualifications other than these will be considered.
Application Information
Students should complete and submit their online application with supporting documentation by the date indicated on the Biological Sciences Ph.D. program of study page.
Degree Requirements
Admission to the Ph.D. from a Master’s Degree: a minimum of six credit hours of graded course work at the 7000 level (including the core course BIOL 7220: Critical Thinking in Biological Sciences), and a thesis are required.
Admission to the Ph.D. from an Honours Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent: a minimum of 12 credit hours of graded course work at the 7000 level (including two core courses, BIOL 7100: Core Skills in Biological Sciences Research and BIOL 7220: Critical Thinking in Biological Sciences), and a thesis are required.
Upon recommendation by the Advisory Committee, the student may be required to take additional coursework beyond the minimum requirement.
Expected Time to Graduate: 3 - 4 years
Progression Chart
Where admission is directly from Master’s1:
| Year 1 | Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| GRAD 7300 | Research Integrity Tutorial | 0 |
| GRAD 7500 | Academic Integrity Tutorial | 0 |
| BIOL 7220 | Critical Thinking in Biological Sciences | 3 |
| BIOL 7XXX | Major subject at 7000 level | 3 |
| Hours | 6 | |
| Year 2 | ||
| GRAD 8020 | Doctoral Re-registration | 0 |
| GRAD 8010 | Doctoral Candidacy Examination | 0 |
| Hours | 0 | |
| Year 3 | ||
| GRAD 8020 | Doctoral Re-registration | 0 |
| Hours | 0 | |
| Year 4 | ||
| GRAD 8020 | Doctoral Re-registration | 0 |
| GRAD 8000 | Doctoral Thesis | 0 |
| Hours | 0 | |
| Total Hours | 6 | |
| 1 | Where admission to the Ph.D. is directly from a Master's Degree, a minimum of six (6) credit hours of graded course work at the 7000 level (including the core course BIOL 7220), and a thesis are required. |
Where admission is directly from an Honours Bachelor's Degree or equivalent1:
| Year 1 | Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| GRAD 7300 | Research Integrity Tutorial | 0 |
| GRAD 7500 | Academic Integrity Tutorial | 0 |
| BIOL 7100 | Core Skills in Biological Sciences Research | 3 |
| BIOL 7220 | Critical Thinking in Biological Sciences | 3 |
| BIOL 7XXX | Major subject at 7000 level | 6 |
| Hours | 12 | |
| Year 2 | ||
| GRAD 8020 | Doctoral Re-registration | 0 |
| GRAD 8010 | Doctoral Candidacy Examination | 0 |
| Hours | 0 | |
| Year 3 | ||
| GRAD 8020 | Doctoral Re-registration | 0 |
| Hours | 0 | |
| Year 4 | ||
| GRAD 8020 | Doctoral Re-registration | 0 |
| GRAD 8000 | Doctoral Thesis | 0 |
| Hours | 0 | |
| Total Hours | 12 | |
| 1 | Where admission to the Ph.D. is directly from an Honours Bachelor's Degree or equivalent, a minimum of 12 credit hours of graded course work at the 7000 level (including two core courses, BIOL 7100 and BIOL 7220), and a thesis are required. |
Registration Information
Students should familiarize themselves with the Faculty of Graduate Studies ‘GRAD’ courses applicable to their program. If you have questions about which GRAD course(s) to register in, please consult your home department/unit.
Regulations
Students must meet the requirements as outlined in both Supplementary Regulation and BFAR documents as approved by Senate.
Supplementary Regulations
Individual units may require specific requirements above and beyond those of the Faculty of Graduate Studies, and students should consult unit supplementary regulations for these specific regulations.
Bona Fide Academic Requirements (BFAR)
Bona Fide Academic Requirements (BFAR) represent the core academic requirements a graduate student must acquire in order to gain, and demonstrate acquisition of, essential knowledge and skills.
All students must successfully complete:
- GRAD 7300 prior to applying to any ethics boards which are appropriate to the student’s research or within the student’s first year, whichever comes first; and
- GRAD 7500 within the first term of registration;
unless these courses have been completed previously, as per Mandatory Academic Integrity Course and Mandatory Research Integrity Online Course.
Students must also meet additional BFAR requirements that may be specified for their program.
General Regulations
All students must:
- maintain a minimum degree grade point average of 3.0 with no grade below C+,
- meet the minimum and not exceed the maximum course requirements, and
- meet the minimum and not exceed the maximum time requirements (in terms of time in program and lapse or expiration of credit of courses).
Courses
Biological Sciences
Learning skills for a career in scientific research in Biological Sciences including: using the scientific method, applying for NSERC funding, maintaining a CV, abstract writing, ethics in research, research protocols and biosafety and biohazards, statistical designs and their assumptions, literature searching, critical thinking, critiquing the scientific literature, making teaching and research presentations. Not to be held with Methodology of Research ANAT 7090.
An in-depth study of topics related to how changing internal and external environments influence life sustaining physiological processes. Topics include plant and animal stress, endocrine & electrophysiology, metabolism and molecular biology of solute transport.
Equiv To: ZOOL 7140
An in-depth study of topics selected from physiological research of the department including plant, animal, stress physiology, ecophysiology, electrophysiology, endocrine or neurophysiology and others. Topics will be focused on the research area of each student to acquire specialized knowledge in a particular topic.
An in-depth study of topics selected from research interests within the department that may cover an evolutionary theme. This course will allow students to acquire or expand on specialized knowledge in a particular evolutionary topic through a series of readings or a combination of readings and lectures.
A core graduate level course within the Ph.D. program designed to stimulate discussion and thought in key areas applicable to the student's research discipline.
A seminar on current research topics in Zoology.
Equiv To: ZOOL 7230
A study of marsh, bog, and fen communities, with emphasis on their history, soil-plant relationships, and species distribution. Field work at the University Field Station (Delta Marsh) and nearby bog and fen sites will be an integral part of the course.
Equiv To: BOTN 7240
This course will first consider theoretical and practical aspects of systematics, and then consider how systematic and population-level studies have illuminated our understanding of evolutionary processes.
An in-depth study of topics selected from environment and ecology interests of the department, including population ecology, fisheries biology, plant/animal interactions, animal behaviour, ecosystem dynamics and restoration. Topics will be chosen to acquire specialized knowledge in a particular topic.
An in-depth study of topics covering all aspects of aquatic biological interests in the department including wetland ecology, limnology, oceanography, toxicology, conservation, and others. Topics will focus on the research interests of students so they may acquire specialized knowledge in particular areas.
The course discusses statistical problems and techniques which specifically apply to biological research. Laboratory exercises will be based primarily on examples from field research.
PR/CR: A minimum grade of C is required unless otherwise indicated.
Prerequisite: STAT 3130 or the consent of the instructor.
Equiv To: ZOOL 7360
Directed study and project(s) in selected aspects of the ecology of freshwater phytoplankton, periphyton and metaphyton.
Equiv To: BOTN 7370
Methods for handling biological data arising from field surveys; planning and undertaking biological studies. Theory of experimental design, vegetation sampling, multivariate analysis, techniques of remote sensing, spatial analysis and modeling.
Equiv To: BOTN 7440
Mutually Exclusive: BIOL 4312
Analysis of complex biological data sets arising from field surveys, vegetation sampling and remote sensing using techniques from Part 1.
Equiv To: BOTN 7450
An advanced topics course which will be an in-depth study of current research topics in cellular and developmental biology. An undergraduate background in cell and developmental biology or related areas is required.
A survey of methods and approaches for analyzing biological data containing many variables, suitable for graduate students. Offered in alternate years. Not to be held with BIOL 4312.
This is a lab intensive techniques course designed for 4th year undergraduate and graduate students interested in understanding the theory application of molecular methods specifically focusing on eukaryotic DNA. Students will learn essential and cutting-edge molecular techniques involved in gene-structure, amplification, transformation and sequencing.
PR/CR: A minimum grade of C is required unless otherwise indicated.
Pre-requisite: BIOL 2520 (Cell Biology) or equivalent.
This is a lab intensive techniques course designed for 4th year undergraduate and graduate students interested in understanding the theory and application of molecular methods specifically focusing on eukaryotic RNA. Students will learn essential and cutting-edge molecular techniques involved in identifying messenger RNA expression of a particular target protein in plant or animal tissue.
PR/CR: A minimum grade of C is required unless otherwise indicated.
Prerequisite: BIOL 2520 (Cell Biology) or equivalent.
Current and specialized aspects of plant pathology studied through lectures, seminars, prescribed readings and laboratory projects.
PR/CR: A minimum grade of C is required unless otherwise indicated.
Prerequisite: BIOL 4250 or equivalent, or consent of department head.
Equiv To: BOTN 7380
Lectures, seminars and readings focusing on special problems relating to the pathology of woody plants. Emphasis on ornamental shrub, shade tree, and forest tree species of local importance.
PR/CR: A minimum grade of C is required unless otherwise indicated.
Prerequisite: BIOL 4250 or equivalent, or consent of department head.
Equiv To: BOTN 7390
A general topics course to reflect an in-depth study of current interest topics to extend or acquire specialized knowledge in a particular area of biological interest. A subtitle may be added to the current title to reflect specialized interests.
A course to provide a broad knowledge of different topics within Biological Sciences peripheral to the specific topic of the student's thesis and will not become the introductory chapter of the thesis. Students will complete assignments by themselves but will participate and be evaluated as a group.
This course provides experience in the organization and execution of team research into current ecological issues. Teams consist of a graduate student team leader, 3-6 undergraduates, and a faculty advisor. Each project team identifies a specific research question, creates a proposal for answering it, and presents their results in a public forum.
Equiv To: BOTN 7880, ZOOL 7880