Certificate Requirements
Upon completion of the IQ Biology certificate, students receive a certificate in Interdisciplinary Quantitative Biology from the CU Boulder Graduate School, in addition to a PhD from their degree-granting home department. Completion of the IQ Biology certificate requires students to fulfill specific requirements. These requirements are designed to ensure that students, in addition to their disciplinary ability, demonstrate fundamental competencies in mathematics, computation, and biology. The certificate requirements are distinct from those stipulated by doctoral degree-granting programs of study/departments, however formal agreements with several departments minimize time to degree.
The certificate is listed on the student's CU Boulder transcript and demonstrates that the faculty have determined that the student has completed the following steps and has demonstrated that they completed the following course, research, dissertation, and activity requirements.
Course Requirements
- Quantitative Optical Imaging and Recitation 4 credits including recitation
- IQ Biology Research Rotation Fall and Spring, 3 credits per semester
- Bioinformatics and Genomics 4 credits or Mathematical and Computational Biology 3 credits
- Biologically Inspried Multi-Agent Systems 3 credits
- Responsible Conduct of Research 1 credit
- Gap Filling Course Roughly 3 credits, will be suggested by the student and approved by the mentoring committee to fill-in knowledge "gaps"
See the course descriptions page for more information about IQ Biology coursework
Research Requirements
- Three 8-week Research Rotations Rotate in at least two disciplines/departments
- Collaborative Team Research Project Learn the team science aspects of interdisciplinarity
- Thesis Committee Meetings Held each year including at least one out-of-discipline IQ Biology faculty member
- Choose a Faculty Advisor Program of study and advisor must be chosen by May 15th of the 1st year in IQ Biology
- Dissertation Complete a Ph.D. in accordance to the specified degree program rules
Activity Requirements
- Mentoring Committee Meetings
- Idea Exchance Participate in bi-weekly activities throughout the program
- Seminar Series Attend weekly seminars
- IQ Biology Symposium Held bi-yearly
Before Graduation
- Outreach Participate in at least one pre-approved activity
Additional Requirements
- All domestic graduate students must file for residency with the university after their first year.