Program: Biological Sciences (Ph.D.) - South Dakota State University

2006-2008 Graduate Catalog

Apr 08, 2025

This is a cooperative program leading to the Doctor of Philosophy degree in Biological Sciences. Departments that cooperate in the program are Animal and Range Sciences, Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, Biology and Microbiology, Dairy Science, Plant Science, Veterinary Science, at South Dakota State University, and the Department of Biology at the University of South Dakota.

This program allows for considerable latitude in the education and training of students. The plan of study, including a range of 30-40 hours of dissertation credit, can be designed to meet the interests and individual needs of the student. While the training of most students is largely directed to a single discipline represented within one of the participating departments, crossdiscipline training is available. Generally, identification of a major professor with resources to support the student’s dissertation project is required for unconditional acceptance into the program. Therefore, interested persons should make application for program admission well in advance of the anticipated date of enrollment.

Please refer to each departmental section for a listing of the graduate faculty and details regarding the areas of study offered in this program. Inquiries should be made directly to the department representing the discipline of interest.

Core Requirements

All students are required to present a seminar on their dissertation project. All other courses submitted in the doctoral candidate’s plan of study are approved by the student’s advisory committee.

The Biological Sciences program has only three specific course requirements:

BIOS 890 - Seminar
This course requires students to give a presentation on their dissertation research topic. This course is offered annually in the Spring semester. Responsibility for offering the course rotates among the Departments that participate in the BIOS PhD Program. There will be a defined format for the course with the intent to expose the students to a wide range of biological research areas and require students to communicate with colleagues in other fields of specialization.
GSR 601 - Research Regulations Compliance
This course is offered annually in the Fall semester and consists of lecture/seminars covering the following topics: Animal Care & Use, Human Subjects, Recombinant DNA, Radioactive materials & Radiation Safety, Laboratory/Biological Safety, Research Integrity, Conflict of Interest, Financial Accountability, and Intellectual Property.
STAT 541 - Statistical Methods II
This course is offered in Fall, Spring, and Summer. It covers analysis of variance, various types of regression, and other statistical techniques and distributions.

General Requirements (Ph.D.)

Graduate students should consult with their advisor before registering for graduate work.

See Doctor of Philosophy Degree Requirements.