Mar 28, 2024  
2010-2013 Graduate Catalog 
    
2010-2013 Graduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Bioenvironmental Science, Ph.D.


Return to {$returnto_text} Return to: Graduate Programs

Goal

The Ph.D. Program in Bioenvironmental Science is a didactic and research-driven program with participating faculty from the Departments of Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics, and Computer Science. The program resides within the Department of Biology, within the School of Computer, Mathematical, and Natural Sciences (SCMNS) and utilizes an integrated interdisciplinary approach that is designed to offer flexibility in areas of specialization and training to meet the changing Bioenvironmental needs of the nation and global community in the 21st Century. Our goal is to produce highly skilled scientists who will apply knowledge derived from basic and applied research to address the multifaceted concerns of the Bioenvironmental science community in a changing global society.

Goal:

  • To provide graduate students with essential academic knowledge, research and practical skills needed for successful careers in Bioenvironmental Science related jobs at various private institutions, government agencies, academia, and industry. This will be accomplished by: Training students on the interaction between various components/systems of the environment and how to protect the health of humans in the changing environment;
  • Educating students on the importance of gene–environment and behavior-environment interactions in the development and homeostasis of biological organisms; Providing interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary research training that addresses the understanding of the underlying mechanism by which physical, chemical, and biological agents cause alterations in ecosystem integrity and cause morbidity and mortality in humans, animals, and other organisms, especially those of commercial value; Training students in the development of cost-effective methodologies whereby the impact of various environmental pollutants and toxic substances may be prevented and/or controlled;
  • Establishing partnerships with other research-intensive universities, government agencies, international organizations and the private sector that will provide training and internships to facilitate applied research activity and future career opportunities for students;
  • Establishing community outreach programs that provide awareness regarding the impact of physical, chemical, biological, and toxic agents generated by natural or anthropogenic events on human health.

General Program Description

The Ph.D. in Bioenvironmental Sciences is a full-time program of study offering research opportunities and instruction in five general areas of concentration: Environmental Toxicology, Environmental Science, Environmental Chemistry, Environmental Health Sciences, and Environmental Biotechnology. The courses offered in the program are primarily for doctoral students, however, students enrolled in the Master’s degree programs may participate. For example, Biology, Chemistry, and Engineering majors can enroll in suitable 500 and 600 level Bio-Environmental Science graduate courses for credit toward their degrees. The consent of the chairperson of the student’s major department is also required. Students in the Bioenvironmental Sciences Program need to seek approval of their Graduate Program Coordinator in order to take credits outside of SCMNS. Students are further-more strongly advised to consult with their academic (dissertation) advisors and the Coordinator of the Ph.D. Program prior to finalizing their registration each semester. Incoming students, who have not yet been assigned a faculty advisor, must seek approval for all course registration from the Coordinator of the Ph.D. Program.

General Preparatory Requirements

Students interested in the Ph.D. Program in Bioenvironmental Science must have a strong background in basic sciences including biology courses, physics, chemistry (through organic), and mathematics through calculus and differential equations. Course work in statistics and competence with computers are particularly important for perspective students.

Admission Requirements

Applicants are expected to have a bachelor’s or Master’s Degree in biology, chemistry, physics, environmental sciences or a related scientific discipline. Each applicant is required to take and demonstrate satisfactory performance on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General Test (verbal, quantitative, and analytical. Scores on the GRE are taken into consideration for TA or fellowship recommendation. Letters of recommendations from at least three academic referees should address the student’s motivation, ability to conceptualize and deal quantitatively with biological problems, and research potential. Evidence of research capability should be included. International students must submit a TOEFL score of at least 550.

Program Requirements


Core Courses


Please note that BIOL 632  is a requirement for all concentrations. This class is to be taken immediately following completion of the student’s Comprehensive Examination and will aid with the preparation of the dissertation proposal.

Areas of Concentrations


Environmental Biotechnology


Degree Program Requirements


General

Students are bound by the requirements stated in the catalog in effect when they enter the graduate program. The department in which the student specializes and the student’s advisory committee may, at their discretion, recommend additional requirements for the students.

Satisfactory Progress

To continue in a degree program a student must make satisfactory progress towards the degree. If the Graduate Committee determines that satisfactory progress is not being made, a student may be required to withdraw because of academic deficiency. Students may appeal this decision with the appropriate Morgan State University Academic and Status Degrees Committee.

Program of Study

The student’s program of study is subject to Graduate Council policies and individual program requirements. Doctoral programs include a major field or area of concentration.

A candidate for the Ph.D. must complete a minimum of 33 hours of graduate coursework beyond the master’s degree and a minimum of 60 hours of graduate course work beyond the baccalaureate degree. A minimum of 18 semester hours of the student’s coursework must be Morgan courses at the 600 levels, exclusive of dissertation hours. In addition, a minimum of 9 hours of the course 800, 801, 802 (Doctoral Research) is required during the first two years of the student’s tenure within the program and prior to the completion of the Comprehensive Examinations (Comp). Following the successful completion of the Comp, the student may enroll in BIOL or CHEM 995 (fall) , 996 (spring), Dissertation Research. These credits may be taken repeatedly as needed for the duration of the student’s work on her/his dissertation. As the student progresses in her/his work, BIOL 997 - Dissertation Guidance  may be taken in combination with either BIOL 995 or 996. The student may enroll in BIOL 997  repeatedly. Within the final stages of dissertation completion, but at least 12 month prior to graduation, the student must enroll and successfully complete BIOL 998  (6 credits). This class is only taken once.

Time Limit

Comprehensive examinations must be taken and completed within three (3) years following initial enrollment in the Ph.D. program.

Continuous Registration

The student must register continuously for courses, 600 level or above, (minimum of 3 hours) from the time the doctoral research proposal is approved, admission to candidacy is accepted, registration for 600 level courses is begun, whichever comes first, including the semester in which the dissertation is approved and accepted by the School of Graduate Studies.

The Comprehensive Examinations

The Comprehensive Examination will consist of written and oral portions. The written examination is fashioned by the faculty instructing in the CORE COURSES (possibly in collaboration with other faculty whose expertise is needed) and is administered over a two-day period.. The written examination is based in part on the student’s coursework and in part on the general background that the student’s Committee thinks is necessary to address specifically the proposed area of the dissertation research. The aim of the examination is to require students to review all prior coursework in the requirement and concentration areas. The examination will also test their ability to synthesize and interpret information in the critical intellectual fashion expected of Ph.D. candidates and to judge the aptitude of the candidate for carrying out original scientific research. Examination results may be used by the student’s Committee to guide the student’s selection of additional courses to complete the program. The results of the written examination will be pass, conditional pass, or fail. A conditional pass is accepted to mean pass, providing the student subsequently eliminates inadequacies by means stipulated by the committee. In the event of a failure, the Committee may elect to allow a single repetition of the examination. Copies of the examination questions along with the candidate’s answers will be placed in the student’s department file.

The Dissertation proposal constitutes the oral examination and must be scheduled within the academic year following the successful completion of the written examination. Oral examinations are open to all faculty but closed to other students; only the candidate’s advisory committee members will be responsible for scoring the candidate on the oral portion of the comprehensive examination. The examination will be held at a convenient time during the year for the Committee and the student and preferably should not be held during regular examination periods. An announcement must be distributed at least two weeks prior to the oral examination. The results of oral examination will be announced immediately following the oral exam. The results will be pass, conditional pass, or fail. A conditional pass is accepted to mean pass, providing the student subsequently eliminates inadequacies by means stipulated by the committee. In the event of a failure, the Committee may elect to allow a single repetition of the examination.

Admission to Candidacy

Admission to candidacy reflects agreement among the student, Graduate Committee, and the School of Graduate Studies that the student has demonstrated the ability to do acceptable work and that satisfactory progress has been made toward the degree

A student may be admitted to candidacy for the doctoral degree after: (1) formation of the Graduate Advisory Committee, (2) passing the Comprehensive Examination, (3) fulfilling any language requirements for the Ph.D., (4) maintaining at least a B average in all graduate coursework, and (5) obtaining the Supervisory Committee’s approval of the dissertation proposal and course program. A public oral defense of the proposal, constituting the general examination (described below) is included in step (2). Each student is responsible for filing the admission to candidacy form, which lists all courses required for the degree, including courses taken at Morgan State University or at any other institution. Prior to admission to the doctoral program, the admission to candidacy form must be signed by the Doctoral Committee. Admission to candidacy must be applied for and approved by the Graduate Advisory Committee and the School of Graduate Studies at least one full semester prior to the date the degree is to be conferred.

Teaching Requirement

As a requirement for graduation, all Ph.D. candidates must satisfactorily complete at least two academic years of teaching assistant (TA) duties in a department appropriate to the student’s area of concentration. Discharge of this requirement will be scheduled by mutual agreement between the student, major advisor, Program Coordinator and the Department Chair. The Chair will act upon the request based on the Department’s anticipated teaching need and the availability of tuition credits. The Department Chair will also certify that the TA assignment fulfills the requirements. The instructor of the course in which the student is involved will certify that the student has satisfactorily discharged the TA duties and has met the teaching requirements as listed below. The completed original certification form is kept in the student’s file.

The TA requirement may be discharged by activities related to either undergraduate labs or recitations in which the principal activity of the TA is instruction rather than grading or logistical support. The ideal TA experience would integrate a number of aspects of teaching including lectures and/or demonstrations, student evaluations (testing), and grading.

Dissertation Requirement

A dissertation is expected to treat a topic related to the candidate’s specialty in the major subject, show the results of original research, provide evidence of high scholarship, and make a significant contribution to knowledge in the field. A general rule of thumb is that a typical dissertation is the equivalent of three publications in peer-reviewed journals. A dissertation defense must be scheduled with unanimous approval by the student’s Graduate Advisory Committee and the Dean of the School. After revisions are made subsequent to the defense and approved by the student’s Committee, the final draft of the dissertation must be submitted to the Dean of the School of Graduate Studies.

Summary of Procedures for Doctoral Degree

Procedures Under the Direction of Date
Admission as a potential degree candidate School of Graduate Studies and Major Department Prior to completing 15 hours of graduate courses
Appointment of Doctoral Committee* The School of Graduate Studies on recommendation of Department Chair Preferable during first year of graduate study, but at the latest, prior to application for admission to candidacy
Comprehensive Examinations* Major Department Prior to admission to candidacy
Language Requirement(s)** Major Department Prior to admission to candidacy
Submission and approval of application for admission to candidacy Doctoral Degree Committee and the School of Graduate Studies At least one semester prior to graduation
Submission of application for graduation School of Graduate Studies According to the School of Graduate Studies Academic Calendar
Payment of graduate fees Bursar’s Office According to the School of Graduate Studies Academic Calendar
Submission of dissertation to the Doctoral Committee Student At least two weeks prior to the Defense of Dissertation Examination
Scheduling of Defense of Dissertation Examination Student, Committee and Office of Graduate Admissions and Records No later than three (3) weeks prior to Defense of Dissertation Examination
Defense of Dissertation Examination Doctoral Committee Scheduled in conjunction with the School of Graduate Studies Academic Calendar
Approval and Acceptance of final copy of Dissertation and Doctoral Forms Doctoral Committee and the School of Graduate Studies According to the School of Graduate Studies Academic Calendar
Removal of incomplete(s) Instructor of the course Not later than three (3) weeks prior to Commencement

Return to {$returnto_text} Return to: Graduate Programs