The oral examination will give applicants the opportunity to unravel complex problems and will also test their overall knowledge of biochemistry and molecular biology. Recommendations for advancement to candidacy for the Ph.D. degree are made on the basis of the successful completion of these requirements and the student's maintenance of at least a 3.0 GPA in courses other than research. A student who has not been recommended for advancement to candidacy at the end of two and a half years will be terminated unless given permission to terminate graduate work with an M.S. degree. The student's dissertation committee consists of the research advisor, one other member from the department and one member from outside the department. The dissertation must represent an original contribution to biochemistry and should indicate the ability of the student to undertake independent investigation.
Students normally defend a rough draft of the dissertation.
Any interested faculty member in the department may attend the defense. After the dissertation has been completed, the student normally presents a seminar to the entire department.