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Biochemistry students accepted into the graduate program are admitted primarily to pursue a Ph.D. The Ph.D. program at UA prepares high-achieving students for senior research positions in industry or government laboratories, or a career in college-level or university-level teaching and research. A number of interdisciplinary research and training programs are also available under the Biochemistry Ph.D. program including, Biological Chemistry Program, Biological Physics Program, Biochemistry and Molecular and Cellular Biology, Biological Physics Program, Applied Math, and the IGERT Program in Comparative Genomics and others.
The Doctor of Philosophy with a major in biochemistry is primarily a research degree. The number and selection of courses is tailored to the individual student's needs and interests according to the guidelines available from the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. A dissertation based upon original laboratory research is required. All students must pass a series of written examinations, a comprehensive examination and a final oral defense examination.
A limited number of students are accepted to purse Master of Science degrees in Biochemistry. Typically, no financial support is provided for pursuit of these degrees. Please contact the Graduate Coordinator if you plan to apply for these programs.
The MS degree is a research degree requiring a written thesis. All students must pass a final oral examination.
College of Science
University of Arizona - Main - Tucson
APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS
1. Three letters of recommendation. One of the letters must come from your research advisor. These letters should be submitted by your referees using the online system.
2. Transcripts from all colleges and universities you have attended or are currently attending. Transcripts should be uploaded in your online application.
3. A brief Statement of Purpose, describing your past research experiences, goals, teaching experience and why you want to attend The University of Arizona.
4. TOEFL or IELTS scores.
Please self-report your total internet-based TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) score and upload a copy of your score report. English proficiency is one of the conditions for admission for all applicants whose native language is not English. A minimum aggregate TOEFL score of 80, with a score of at least 24 on the speak portion is required for admission. An IELTS (International English Language Testing System) composite score of 7.5 (no subject area below a 7).
Please upload all application materials to your online application.
Minimum TOEFL: 80
Minimum IELTS: 7
Students in the Chemistry and Biochemistry Ph.D. program are supported for the duration of their studies at UA through research or teaching assistantships, as well as full graduate tuition remission. In addition, a number of our students have received highly-competitive fellowships, including prestigious National Science Foundation predoctoral fellowships, which support them for the duration of their studies in the program. Moreover, students who are engaged in interdisciplinary research through one of the externally funded research programs qualify for training grant support.
Domestic Applicants:
International applicants will not be considered for conditional admission by this program.
4832
ETS Major Field Code(s) for this program: 0300, 0301, 0303, 0304, 0306, 0399
NRC Taxon(a) for this program: Biochemistry, Biophysics, and Structural Biology
63
BIOC 565 Protein & Enzymes, 3 units
BIOC 568, Nucleic Acids, Metab & Signal, 4 Units
CHEM 595b Group Meeting, 10 units maximum
BIOC 595b Journal Club, 10 units maximum
CHEM 595a/b Professional Development, 2 units
BIOC 792 Rotation, 6 units
BIOC 900 Research, 1 – 5 units per semester
BIOC 920 Dissertation, 18 units
Research Directors discretion
Research Directors discretion
3 units – Research Directors discretion
Please refer to the Graduate Student Handbook for students who are pursuing this program of study.
| Program-level Information | |
|---|---|
| Application Acceptance Rate | 38.46% |
| Avg. Time-to-degree (years) | 5.36 |
| Department-level Information | |
| Enrollment Percent Male | 47.83% |
| Enrollment Percent Female | 52.17% |
| Enrollment Percent International | 47.83% |
| Enrollment Percent URM | 0% |