2009-10 University Catalog

Consult the Four-Year Guarantee Requirements for information on eligibility. The concept of "adequate progress" as it is used here only refers to maintaining eligibility for the four-year guarantee; it is not a requirement for the major. To maintain adequate progress in ecology and evolutionary biology, students must meet the following requirements:

• Declare the EBIO major and begin course work in the major in the first semester of the freshman year.
• Sign up during the first semester with the departmental undergraduate services coordinator as a participant in the guarantee program.
• Complete additional requirements for the four-year guarantee that are described on a handout available in the EBIO Undergraduate Advising and Resource Center.

A minor is offered in ecology and evolutionary biology. Declaration of a minor is open to any student enrolled at CU-Boulder, regardless of college or school. For more information. see www.colorado.edu/artssciences/students/undergraduate/academics/minors.html.

A combined BA and MA degree with thesis is offered for the highly motivated undergraduate major who is interested in completing a bachelor and master's degree within five years. Applications for the BA/MA degree are considered on a competitive basis. Freshmen, sophomores, and juniors are eligible. Applicants must have an overall GPA of 3.00 or higher in the EBIO major and the support of a faculty research advisor. Applications are available from the EBIO graduate coordinator, and are due on October 15 and March 15.

Candidates for this degree must complete all college core requirements by the end of the senior year. To be awarded BA and MA degrees, students must maintain a GPA of 3.00 or better and complete at least 144 credit hours. The degree requires 24 hours of graduate credit at the 5000-level or above and 4-6 hours of thesis credit. In addition to a thesis based on original research, the candidate is required to take a comprehensive examination in three subject areas by the end of the senior year. The final examination consists of a thesis defense to the thesis committee; it should be scheduled by the end of the fifth year.

Students interested in this degree are encouraged to consult with the director of the program early in their undergraduate career. The department considers this a terminal degree, and no financial support is available from the department for students enrolled in this program.

Admission information may be obtained from the departmental office or from the CU-Boulder web page. Completed applications are due in the departmental office by December 31 for consideration for fall semester admission. A complete application includes a statement of intent, letters of recommendation, official transcripts, and GRE scores. Applications for spring semester admission are not accepted. Students are required to have a bachelor's degree in biology or an equivalent. Students admitted without a sufficient background in chemistry, physics, or mathematics are expected to make up those deficiencies during their first year of graduate study.

A master's degree with thesis is offered for students interested in continuing their training as professional biologists. For some students the MA I provides a basis for work on a PhD at the University of Colorado or at another institution, although the MA is not required for admission to the PhD program. Prospective students are urged to consult with faculty advisors before December 31 to see whether application for the MA I or PhD program is appropriate. Applications for the MA I program are considered on a competitive basis; the department only admits students for whom financial support is available. Thirty hours of course work are required for the degree, at least 24 of which must be at the 5000 level or above, including 4-6 hours of thesis credit. The thesis topic is presented to the thesis committee as a written research proposal. The MA I final examination consists of the thesis defense; it should be scheduled within two years for full-time students.

A non-thesis master's degree program is offered for students who are interested in obtaining a greater knowledge of ecology and evolutionary biology but who are not interested in degree work beyond the MA. This program is suitable for secondary school teachers and others whose career choices do not require a research thesis. A faculty sponsor is required before admission can be granted; applicants are encouraged to communicate with potential sponsors before December 31. Financial support is not guaranteed for MA II students. Thirty credit hours of course work are required for the degree, at least 24 of which must be at the 5000 level or above, including 4 hours of independent research leading to a paper to be presented to the faculty sponsor. A final oral exam may be required by the student's MAII faculty advisory committee.

The PhD is a research degree, involving the production of a major piece of original research (the dissertation). Most recipients of the PhD from EBIO go on to teach and conduct research in a university setting, or to do research and pursue leadership roles in private or governmental institutions. Applicants are encouraged to communicate directly with potential thesis advisors and visit the department before completing the application. Applications are considered on a competitive basis and financial support in the form of fellowships or assistantships usually is made available. Students are expected to form an advisory committee of five faculty members (including one from outside EBIO) soon after beginning their studies. This committee aids the student in designing a research program and in making choices concerning course work. The PhD comprehensive exam is administered by the student's dissertation committee and must be taken within the first five semesters of degree work. It consists of a written research proposal on the dissertation topic, a formal presentation summarizing the student's research progress, and an oral examination centered on the student's research. Upon completion of the dissertation, the student will be given a final examination administered by the dissertation committee.

A total of 30 hours of course work must be taken, although independent study credit may be included in this total. A total of 38 hours of PhD dissertation credits must also be taken. PhD students are required to teach at least one year, generally by serving as a departmental teaching assistant.