Graduate handbook information is updated and maintained by each program. Graduate handbooks are available within each program's office and online at https://utexas.box.com/v/UTAustinGraduateHandbooks. Please contact the program with concerns or questions.

Master of Arts

The graduate program is focused on the doctoral degree; this degree is designed for those who anticipate careers in research, possibly combined with teaching or other activities. Students seeking only the master’s degree are rarely admitted. If a master’s degree student is admitted, their proposed program must be approved by the Graduate Studies Committee. The Master of Arts degree consists of 30 hours of coursework, including Biology 698 or 398R. The coursework must include a minor of six hours of coursework acceptable for graduate credit in another area of study.

Doctor of Philosophy

For the Doctor of Philosophy, preliminary training should have provided a working core of knowledge in general biology and the history of biology; other helpful areas are plant biology, vertebrate and invertebrate zoology, genetics, ecology, evolution, animal behavior, and physiology. Statistics and computational skills are also valuable.

Students must take two core courses in their first year in the program. Students take an additional four lecture courses, including at least two of the following EEB Fundamental courses: BIO 390C Fundamentals of Evolution, BIO 390D Fundamentals of Integrative Animal Behavior, and BIO 390E Fundamentals of Ecology.

At least one course must satisfy a requirement for quantitative skills. Students must also take an additional three courses, which may include lecture, graduate seminars, or reading courses.

The PhD degree requires a minimum of 30 semester hours, including a minimum of 6 hours of dissertation. The average time to degree is 6-7 years of full-time enrollment, with approximately 105-120 hours of course registration including research and dissertation hours.