Requirements

Special Admissions Requirements

An undergraduate major in biology, biophysics, molecular biology, or biochemistry is recommended. MCAT scores may be substituted for the GRE General Test; GRE Subject Test recommended.

To enter the Ph.D. program, students apply to an interest-based track, usually the "Molecular Cell Biology, Genetics, and Development (MCGD) " track, in the combined program in Biological and Biomedical Sciences (BBS) http://info.med.yale.edu/bbs/. See also "Admission Details".

Special Requirements for the Ph.D. Degree

Students are required to take at least 5 graduate level courses. No specific curriculum of courses is required, but CBIO602a (Molecular Cell Biology) is recommended for all students to attain a solid foundation in molecular cell biology. Also recommended is a seminar course, such as CBIO603a (Seminar in Molecular Cell Biology) or CBIO606b (Advanced Seminar Course), where students can develop the skill for critical analysis of research papers. Students design their own curriculum of courses to meet individual interests and needs, in consultation with the director of graduate studies. During the first year, students are also required to participate in three laboratory rotations. In the second year, a committee of faculty members determines whether each student is qualified to continue in the Ph.D. program. There is a written and oral qualifying examination at the end of the fourth term. In order to be admitted to candidacy, students must have met the Graduate School Honors requirement, maintained a high pass average in course work, passed the qualifying examination, and submitted an approved prospectus. The remaining degree requirements include completion of the dissertation project and the writing of the dissertation and its oral defense, the formal submission of copies of the written dissertation to the Graduate School, and the deposit of an additional copy with the department. Laboratory rotations and thesis research may be conducted outside of the department.

An important aspect of graduate training in cell biology is the acquisition of teaching skills through participation in courses appropriate for the student's scientific interests. These opportunities can be drawn from a diverse menu of lecture, laboratory, and seminar courses given at the undergraduate, graduate, and medical school level. Ph.D. students are expected to participate in two terms (or the equivalent) of teaching. Students are not expected to teach during their first year.

Master's Degrees

M.Phil. Requirements for the M.Phil. degree are the same as for admission to candidacy (see above).

M.S. See Graduate School requirements; this degree is normally granted only to students who are withdrawing from the Ph.D. program.

Prospective applicants are encouraged to visit the BBS web page http://info.med.yale.edu/bbs/main.html, Molecular Cell Biology, Genetics, and Development (MCGD) Track. Program materials are available upon request to Dr. Carl Hashimoto, the Director of Graduate Studies, Department of Cell Biology, Yale University, PO Box 208002, New Haven CT 06520-8002.