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Program Details

Graduate Program: Cancer Biology (PHD)

General Information

Request Information
Program/Degree
Cancer Biology (PHD)  
Program Description

The Cancer Biology Graduate Interdisciplinary program leads to a Ph.D. degree in Cancer Biology. The Program allows students to focus their training in several related disciplines which have in common research faculty studying various aspects of cancer biology. A MS is not offered. Please note: Prospective students should apply through the Arizona Biological & Biomedical Sciences (ABBS) program. Cancer Biology does not accept direct applicants; all students enter through the ABBS program. 

 
Department/Academic Unit(s)

Graduate Interdisciplinary Programs

The Graduate College sponsors several Graduate Interdisciplinary Programs (GIDPs) in addition to the many interdisciplinary possibilities available through regular graduate degree programs. GIDPs transcend departmental boundaries by facilitating cutting edge teaching and research at the nexus of traditional disciplines. The high value placed on interdisciplinary research and education is indicative of The University of Arizona's enthusiasm and commitment to fostering innovation and creativity among its faculty and students.

 

 
College

Graduate College/GIDP

 
Campus where offered

University of Arizona - Main - Tucson

 
Contacts
Admissions Contact
Jorge Camarillo
520-626-7479
Graduate Program Coordinator
Jorge Camarillo
520-626-7479
Director of Graduate Studies
Cynthia Miranti
520-626-2269
Graduate College Degree Counselor
Tammy Tran
520-621-0119
 
Tuition and Fees
Please refer to the UA Bursar's Office Tuition and Fees Calculator for up-to-date information about tuition and fees. 
Please refer to the UA Registrar's's Office Special Course Fees for up-to-date information about special course fees. 

Admissions Information

Admissions Requirements

3 letters of recommendation
Statement of purpose

 
Standardized Tests

GRE is not required 

English Proficiency: https://grad.arizona.edu/admissions/requirements/international-applicants#english-proficiency

 
Funding Opportunities

Financial aid is available through Graduate Research Assistantships, fellowships and donated funds. All students admitted to the ABBS program are supported financially. After 3 rotations a research advisor will be determined and this advisor will provide the financial support.

 
Admissions Deadlines

Domestic Applicants:

  • Fall: December 1

International Applicants:

  • Fall: December 1
 
International Conditional Admission

International applicants will not be considered for conditional admission by this program.

Other Information
The GRE Institution Code for The University of Arizona is 4832

ETS Major Field Code(s) for this program: 0206

NRC Taxon(a) for this program: Cell and Developmental Biology, Microbiology, Immunology and Infectious Disease, Pharmacology, Toxicology and Environmental Health

Completion Requirements

Minimum Credit Units

63 

Core Coursework Requirements

Minumum credits: 36 credits of coursework, 18 credits of dissertation, 9 credits of minor coursework
Core coursework: Core courses must be completed and awarded a Grade of A or B during the first two years in the program.
See Other Requirements for Successful Completion of the Program below for more details.
Language requirements: None
Other requirements: Cancer Biology Graduate Interdisciplinary Program satisfactory academic progress guidelines

Year One (ABBS Program through mid-March):
Complete first year core courses, no less than a B grade
Rotate through at 3-4 laboratories to identify a research lab, complete lab rotation evaluation
Attend final oral defense of fellow students
Participate in student research meetings

By July 1 of first year:
Identify research advisor and lab
Select minor
Complete annual evaluation for meeting with Progress Committee

Year Two:
Complete second year core courses, no less than a B grade
January 1 identify research project area and, with mentor, select potential supervisory committee members
By March 1 contact committee members and plan first committee meeting, plan for preliminary exam

Years 3-5:

Pass comprehensive exam by September 15 of third year
Complete dissertation research and publish results in at least one peer-reviewed journal
Limit of 7 years for completion of degree


Core Courses:
Must be completed in the first two years (or with permission of Chair)
Grade of B or better
63 total credits requred: 36 coursework credits (22 of which must be graded units) and 18 dissertation credits, plus 9 credits of minor area coursework 

BIOS 576A: Biostatistics

CBIO 552: Cancer Biology

CBIO 553: Advanced Topics in Cancer Biology

IMB 521: Scientific Grantsmanship

CBIO 561: Clinical Experience

CBIO 596H: Cancer Biology Seminar (taken each semester)

CBIO 595C: Cancer Biology Colloquium (taken every fall)

PHCL 595B: Scientific Writing Strategies, Skills and Ethics OR MCB 695E: Science, Society and Ethics


Annual Evaluation
Provide annual report to Progress Committee at meeting at the end of Spring semester

Comprehensive exam:
Please see handbook for most up-to-date information on comprehensive exam requirements

Milestones
Core courses complete by end of fourth semester
Research laboratory identified by July 1 of first year
Comprehensive exam no later than September 15 of third year
Final oral defense no later than seven years from start of program

 

 
Elective Coursework

Students may choose from any elective coursework at the university approved by their PI. 

Commonly selected electives include:

CBIO 515: Mechanisms of Human Disease

CBIO 524: Contrast Agents, Molecular Imaging and Kinetics

CBIO 530: Proteins and Nucleic Acids as Drug Targets

CBIO 531: Nutrition and Cancer

CBIO 550: Drug Disposition and Metabolism

CBIO 595A: Oncogenes and Signal Transduction

CBIO 602A: General and Systems Toxicology

CBIO 610: Molecular and Cellular Toxicology

CBIO 630A: Cell Communication and Signal Transduction, Part I

CBIO 630B: Cell Communication and Signal Transduction, Part II

CMM 579: Art of Scientific Discovery

CMM 695D: Human Genetic Disease Colloquium

PCOL 601A: Epigenetics in Development and Disease

PHSC 670: Principles in Drug Discovery, Design, Development

 
Additional Requirements

No additional requirements

 
Minor Requirements for Doctoral Students in this Program

A minor in Cancer Biology requires 9 units. A review of the minor plan with the Program Chair is highly encouraged before classes are taken.

Cancer Biology students may major in any graduate-level program with the approval of their PI, including Cancer Biology.

 
Student Handbook

Please refer to the Graduate Student Handbook for students who are pursuing this program of study.

 

Program StatisticsInformation about these numbers

Program-level Information
Application Acceptance Rate 75%
Avg. Time-to-degree (years) 5.41
 
Department-level Information
Enrollment Percent Male 36.36%
Enrollment Percent Female 63.64%
Enrollment Percent International 9.09%
Enrollment Percent URM 13.64%

Back to statistics
  • All application, admit, and enrollment data are from Fall 2022.
  • Average Time to Degree calculates how long graduates in the last 5 years (2018-2022) took to complete their degrees, counting back to the first semester entering their program.
  • Underrepresented Minorities (URM) includes domestic students of ethnic groups traditionally underrepresented in higher education: African Americans, Hispanics, Native Americans, and Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders.

Persistent link: https://grad.arizona.edu/catalog/programinfo/CBIOPHD
Last revised 10 Aug 2020
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