There are no additional course requirements, but many students enroll in courses and seminars for their first two years. Normative time for the Ph.D. is five years, and most students finish within 6 years. The M.A. is available to IB students by thesis or examination. 15 December, 1996. The Department of Integrative Biology mainly accepts candidates for the Ph.D. and does not have direct admission into the Masters degree program.
Admission is highly competitive.
It is advised that any serious prospective applicant visit the University and contact the appropriate professors with whom the applicant might work. Applicants are rarely admitted if they have not made personal contact with a prospective faculty member or if their interests do not overlap strongly with at least one faculty member. In fact, an applicants' folder must be supported by at least one faculty member to gain entry into the program. Unsponsored students are extremely rare. Within conservation-related fields, prior research experience is viewed as highly desirable.