Expectations

The Biological Sciences (BISI) Graduate Program strives to provide Ph.D. students with opportunities to develop and excel in scholarship and research.  BISI students may expect:

• A broad selection of courses
• Opportunities to interact with a wide variety of scientists via seminar series and events
• Mentoring by faculty
• From their advisor (or, prior to selection of an advisor, the program)
  • Regular access and advice during the research and thesis writing processes
  • Training in scientific writing and in givin oral presentations
  • Introductions, for example at conferences, to colleagues in the field
  • Assistance and advice with professional development and job searches

Graduate students in the BISI Graduate Program whould make the transition from classroom learning to active supervised full-time original research during their graduate career and are expected to develop a mastery of their specific field as well as broader disciplines.  In particular, full-time doctoral students who arrive with a baccalaureate degree normally will:

• Become engaged in supervised research during their 1st year
• Identify a thesis adviser and thesis topic (or at least the general focus of the thesis research) by the end of their 1st year
• Secure advancement to candidacy (i.e. pass the qualifying exam) by the end of their 6th semester
• Complete all requirements and graduate within 5-6 years.

It is a student's responsibility to notify the Biological Sciences Graduate Office, in writing, of any circumstances that would prevent her/him from maintaining graduate standing, meeting benchmarks on time, or fulfilling the requirements.

The Graduate School of the University of Maryland expects all students to make satisfactory progress toward their degree.  This includes maintaining an overall B average in course work and being responsible for meeting all deadlines and requirements relevant to their graduate program.  These deadlines are posted by the Graduate School each academic year.