Curriculum Requirements
Required Courses
Curriculum requirements for students admitted to the DERB would include 1) two courses from the following in reproductive biology with one of these serving as required course and the other serving as an elective, and 2) one seminar or journal club with relevance to reproductive studies. The elective course in Reproductive Biology must be approved by the Executive Committee of the DERB. Other courses that are not listed would require approval by the DERB Executive Committee in the event any listed courses become unavailable or new courses become available with emphasis in Reproductive Biology. This change is requested in order to enhance flexibility by students and faculty of the DERB (these requirements approved by Graduate Council March 16, 2015).
MCP 220 General and Comparative Reproduction, 3 units
MCP 222 Mammalian Gametogenesis and Fertilization, 3 units
EPI 255 Reproductive Epidemiology, 3 units
ETX 250 Reproductive Toxicology, 3 units
MCB 213 Developmental Biology, 3 units
MCB 251 Molecular Mechanisms of Early development, 3 units
MCB 255 Molecular Mechanisms in Pattern Formation and Development, 3 units
Seminar Courses in Reproductive Biology
GGG 295 Seminar in Chromosome Biology (Fall Quarter, even years), 1 unit
ANS 290 Fertilization and Early Development Journal Club, 1 unit
PHR 292 Topics in Genetics and Reproduction, 1 unit
APC 298 Group Study in Gamete Reproduction, 1 unit
ABG298 Topics in Mammary Gland Biology, 1 unit
Elective Courses
See list of courses above.
Qualifying Examination
The Ph.D. qualifying examination shall include examination of a general understanding of comparative reproductive biology and an in-depth comprehension of reproduction in the context provided by the specialty area of the affiliated graduate group. At least one faculty member of the DERB shall participate in the oral qualifying examination. Although an affiliated graduate group may require both a written and an oral examination, examination for the DERB will include only the oral examination. Satisfactory performance on the qualifying examination for the DERB will be judged independently from performance for the Ph.D. The Chair of the DERB and the student’s Ph.D. program Graduate Adviser must co-sign the Qualifying Examination Committee form, which is submitted to Graduate Studies for approval by the Dean of Graduate Studies.
An allowable outcome of the Qualifying Examination is that the student’s performance may be “passing” for the Ph.D. but “not passing” for the DE. In the event that a student passes the PhD qualifying exam, but receives a “not pass” for the DE, the Executive Committee of the DE will define a plan for remediation. The plan may include, but is not limited to re-examination by the DE Executive Committee, coursework, teaching, or preparation of a paper. If the student is re-examined, the outcome is limited to “pass” or “fail”. If the student receives a “fail”, the student is disqualified from the DE.
Dissertation Requirements
The student’s Dissertation Committee shall be selected in accordance with the regulations of the Ph.D. program, but must include at least one member of the DE. The DE member may be the Dissertation Committee Chair. The dissertation topic will be relevant to the area of the DE.
Degree Conferral Process
The Designated Emphasis will be awarded solely in conjunction with the Ph.D. and will be signified by the degree designation “Ph.D. in X with Emphasis in Reproductive Biology” where X is the Ph.D. program. For example- PhD in Molecular, Cellular, & Integrative Physiology with a Designated Emphasis in Reproductive Biology.