Degree Programs in Biology Research Principal areas of research available to graduate students include aquatic biology, aquatic toxicology, biochemistry, cell and molecular biology, ecology, environmental sciences, genetics, limnology, microbiology, neurobiology, physiology, plant sciences and remote sensing. Research facilities are housed in the Biology Building, the General Academic Building and the Science Research Building. Research capabilities include scanning and transmission electron microscopy (with electron dispersive spectroscopy capability), flow cytometry, high-performance liquid chromatography, single- and multi-unit electrophysiology, superspeed and ultracentrifugation, DNA synthesis, visible and ultraviolet spectroscopy, tissue culture, liquid scintillation counting and light microscopy, electrophoresis and chromatography. Environmental research capabilities include complete facilities for water and water pollution analyses, archaeological studies and satellite/airborne digital image analyses utilizing a computerized remote sensing system. An aquatic research field station with experimental ponds is located a few miles from campus. Research is supported by funds from the National Science Foundation, the National Institutes of Health, the National Institutes of Environmental Health, the Department of Defense, the Department of the Air Force Office of Scientific Research, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Texas Advanced Research Technology Program and industry. Other research is supported through UNT faculty research funds and several foundations. Joint appointments in biological sciences of faculty in the basic health sciences at the UNT Health Science Center at Fort Worth provide an added dimension to the research of the department and enhance the graduate program. Departmental faculty are involved in cooperative environmental research (with the Institute of Applied Sciences at UNT) and in molecular biology and neuroscience (through the Federation of North Texas Area Universities). Admission Requirements for Biology Degree 1. The student must apply for and be granted admission to the School of Graduate Studies by the graduate dean and also must be accepted by the Department of Biological Sciences. Application should be made at least three months prior to the anticipated date of entering graduate school. 2. Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores (quantitative and verbal) must be included with the application. A combined score of 1000 at the master's level and 1100 at the PhD level is required on the verbal (minimum 450) and quantitative sections of the aptitude test. Undergraduate students anticipating entrance into graduate study should take the examination in the final semester of the senior year. A grade point average of at least 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) is required on the last 60 hours of undergraduate work. 3. To be considered for admission to a graduate program in biological sciences, the applicant must submit the following to the departmental coordinator of graduate programs: a. a letter of intent, including a brief description with rationale, specifying the candidate's particular area of interest in biological sciences; b. three letters of recommendation from former professors if a recent graduate, or one of the three may be from an employer if employed for more than one year since graduation; c. official transcripts of all academic credit earned; and d. a statement of minimum financial assistance required, if any. (This will not affect evaluation of the application.) Master of Arts and Master of Science in Biology A minimum of 24 semester hours of formal course work plus a thesis based on 6 semester hours of research is required for the master's degree. Up to 6 hours of 4000-level courses may be taken toward the master's degree. The following are procedures and degree requirements for students enrolled in the master's programs. 1. Students who have received provisional admission to the graduate school must enroll in a minimum of 9 semester hours of formal graduate course work in their major field during the first semester. 2. Prior to registering for the second semester, each student must select a committee consisting of a major professor and at least two other faculty members. 3. The student must obtain the committee's approval of a degree program prior to registering for the second semester. Deficiencies will be stipulated at that time. The student may select, with the committee's approval, Option 1 (BIOL 5950, Thesis) or Option 2 (BIOL 5920-5930, Research Problems in Lieu of Thesis). The latter is considered by the biological sciences faculty to be a terminal degree. 4. Before the end of the second long semester in residence, the student will present a proposal for the thesis or research problem to the committee for evaluation. 5. The completed thesis or research problem will be submitted to the committee at least two weeks before the final filing date set by the graduate dean. 6. The candidate will present the results of the research at a departmental seminar. 7. The candidate must pass a final oral defense covering the field of concentration and the thesis or research problem. 8. The student is expected to engage in some classroom teaching or related activities as an integral part of the training. Doctor of Philosophy in Biology The degree consists of 90 semester credit hours beyond the bachelor's or 60 hours beyond the master's, with 12 hours allocated for the dissertation. The PhD represents the attainment of a high level of scholarship and achievement in independent research that culminates in the completion of a dissertation of original scientific merit. It is expected that the candidate will have published or have approved for publication at least one original research article in a refereed journal prior to graduation. The following are procedures and degree requirements for students enrolled in the doctoral program in biology. 1. The student will meet with the intended major professor for guidance until a doctoral committee and degree plan are established. 2. The major professor and the student will select a minimum of four doctoral committee members before enrollment for the third semester. A university member from outside the College of Arts and Sciences also will be selected prior to development of the research proposal and will serve as a voting committee member. 3. The committee will evaluate the student's credentials and draw up a degree plan for submission to the departmental chair and the graduate dean. The committee will meet with the student at least once each year to discuss progress. 4. A degree plan must be filed before the student may enroll for the second academic year. 5. A research proposal must be submitted to the committee as soon as possible after completion of the degree plan. It must be approved before meaningful research is begun. 6. Reading knowledge of a single foreign language is required, or 6 hours of approved courses in a tool subject. 7. Written and oral qualifying examinations will be administered by the committee upon fulfillment of the foreign language or tool subject and course work requirements. These examinations must be completed at least nine months prior to the intended graduation date. 8. During the last semester, the candidate will present the results of the research at a departmental seminar. 9. The candidate will prepare, in consultation with the major professor, a draft of the dissertation. Copies will be distributed to committee members at least one month prior to the deadline for receipt of the final copy by the graduate dean and at least two weeks prior to the final comprehensive examination. 10. The student is expected to engage in some classroom teaching or related activities as an integral part of the training. Degree Programs in Molecular Biology Master of Arts and Master of Science in Molecular Biology Admission requirements and procedures for the master's program with a major in molecular biology are the same as for the biology degree programs listed above. A minimum of 24 semester hours of formal course work plus a thesis based on 6 semester hours of research is required for the master's degree. Up to 6 hours of 4000-level courses may be taken toward the master's degree. Students can pursue course work at both UNT and Texas Woman's University through the Federation of North Texas Area Universities. The following are procedures and degree requirements for students enrolled in the master's programs. 1. Students who have received provisional admission to the graduate school must enroll in a minimum of 9 semester hours of formal graduate course work in their major field during the first semester. 2. Prior to registering for the second semester, each student must select a committee consisting of a major professor and at least two other faculty members. 3. The student must obtain the committee's approval of a degree program prior to registering for the second semester. Deficiencies will be stipulated at that time. The student must complete a thesis (BIOL 5950). 4. Before the end of the second long semester in residence, the student will present a proposal for the thesis to the committee for evaluation. 5. The completed thesis will be submitted to the committee at least two weeks before the final filing date set by the graduate dean. 6. The candidate will present the results of the research at a departmental seminar. 7. The candidate must pass a final oral defense covering the field of concentration and the thesis. 8. The student is expected to engage in some classroom teaching or related activities as an integral part of the training. Doctor of Philosophy in Molecular Biology The Doctor of Philosophy degree with a major in molecular biology is offered through a cooperative program of the Federation of North Texas Area Universities that includes the University of North Texas and Texas Woman's University. Students apply for acceptance into the program through one of the two participating universities. The federation doctoral program provides opportunities for formal course work, seminars, independent study, participation in regional and national conferences, and dissertation research. The program also includes federation-sponsored seminars featuring outstanding nationally and internationally recognized researchers. Graduate students enrolled at either UNT or TWU take courses at both universities, thus benefiting from the combined faculties and facilities of the two institutions. Students graduating from the federation program will be granted the PhD from the university through which they entered the program. Course descriptions for available UNT and TWU courses are available at the end of this section of the catalog. Federation Program Faculty The doctoral program is staffed by faculty from the University of North Texas and Texas Woman's University. The following faculty members from each university participate in the program: -University of North Texas: Benjamin, Chapman, Donahue, Kunz, Masaracchia, Norton, O'Donovan, Pirtle, Shanley, Zimmerman. -Texas Woman's University: Code, Conrad-Webb, Droge, Knesek, Lancaster, McIntyre, Mills, Rudick, Schwalm, Uphouse. Research Faculty of the two participating universities pursue a variety of research topics. UNT faculty research interests include pyrimidine metabolism in bacteria Pseudomonas ATCase; mechanism of natural transformation in gram-negative bacteria; organization and evolution of Pseudomonas catabolic plasmids; role of 5-hydroxytryptamine in the regulation of glycogenolysis; cyanide biodegradation; genetic organization and evolution of Pseudomonas metabolic plasmids; chemistry and enzymology of pathways for catabolism of aromatic compounds in soil microorganisms; regulation of insulin secretion; brain-stem lipids; glutathione-requiring enzymes; mammalian gene structure, organization and expression; and regulation of blood cell differentiation. TWU faculty research interests include binding and transport in cell membranes; gene regulation and hormone action; glycoprotein synthesis and secretion; biology of retroviruses; bacterial conjugation and gene transfer; aspects of brain development and brain function and mechanisms of generating motor patterns. Funding to support research efforts comes from the National Institutes of Health, National Science Foundation, Texas Advanced Technology Research Program, UNT and TWU faculty research funds, industry contracts and private foundations. Admission to the Federation Doctoral Program 1. Students must apply to and meet the general admission requirements of either the Graduate School at TWU or the Toulouse School of Graduate Studies at UNT. Applications of students who satisfy the graduate schools' admission standards are forwarded for review to the federation's Molecular Biology Committee, which is made up of faculty from each participating university. This committee is responsible for recommending acceptance into the federation doctoral program. 2. Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores (quantitative and verbal) must be included with the application. A combined score of 1000 is required on the verbal (minimum 450) and quantitative sections of the aptitude test. Undergraduate students anticipating entrance into graduate study should take the examination in the final semester of the senior year. A grade point average of at least 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) is required on the last 60 hours of undergraduate work. 3. To be considered for admission to a graduate program in biological sciences, the applicant must submit the following to the appropriate depart- mental coordinator of graduate programs: a. a letter of intent, including a brief description with rationale, specifying the candidate's particular area of interest in biological sciences; b. three letters of recommendation from former professors if a recent graduate, or one of the three may be from an employer if employed for more than one year since graduation; c. official transcripts of all academic credit earned; and d. a statement of minimum financial assistance required, if any. (This will not affect evaluation of the application.) Degree Requirements and Procedures The degree consists of 90 semester credit hours beyond the bachelor's or 60 hours beyond the master's, with 12 hours allocated for the dissertation. The PhD represents the attainment of a high level of scholarship and achievement in independent research that culminates in the completion of a dissertation of original scientific merit. It is expected that the candidate will have published or have approved for publication at least one original research article in a refereed journal prior to graduation. The following are procedures and degree requirements for students enrolled in the federation doctoral program in molecular biology. 1. The student will meet with the intended major professor for guidance until a doctoral committee and degree plan are established. 2. The major professor and the student will select a minimum of four doctoral committee members before enrollment for the third semester. A university member from outside the College of Arts and Sciences also will be selected prior to development of the research proposal and will serve as a voting committee member. At least one of the members of the committee must be from the other participating university in the federation program. 3. The committee will evaluate the student's credentials and draw up a degree plan for submission to the departmental chair and the graduate dean. The committee will meet with the student at least once each year to discuss progress. 4. A degree plan must be filed before the student may enroll for the second academic year. 5. A research proposal must be submitted to the committee as soon as possible after completion of the degree plan. It must be approved before meaningful research is begun. 6. Reading knowledge of a single foreign language is required, or 9 hours of approved courses in a tool subject. 7. Written and oral qualifying examinations will be administered by the committee upon fulfillment of the foreign language or tool subject and course work requirements. These examinations must be completed at least nine months prior to the intended graduation date. 8. During the last semester the candidate will present the results of the research at a departmental seminar. 9. The candidate will prepare, in consultation with the major professor, a draft of the dissertation. Copies will be distributed to committee members at least one month prior to the deadline for receipt of the final copy by the graduate dean and at least two weeks prior to the final comprehensive examination. 10. The student is expected to engage in some classroom teaching or related activities as an integral part of the training. Degree Programs in Biochemistry The MS and PhD in biochemistry are awarded by both UNT and UNT Health Science Center at Fort Worth (UNTHSC-FW). Students may select classes on both the Denton and Fort Worth campuses, but the major part of the course work and the student's thesis or dissertation research are normally done under the direction of a major professor located on the campus that awards the degree, either UNT or UNTHSC-FW. Research The biochemistry program encompasses a broad spectrum of student and faculty research interests reflective of the great impact of biotechnology on this diverse field. Current research interests in biochemistry at UNT include regulation of cell growth and metabolism by hormones and growth factors, mammalian gene structure, organization and expression, cellular regulation by the glycoxalase enzyme system, cell and molecular biology of invertebrate serotonin receptors, cell and molecular biology of prokaryotic sulfur metabolism and the molecular biology of prokaryotic ATCase, regulation of phospholipid metabolism and membrane biogenesis in plants. Research interests at UNTHSC-FW include molecular aspects of aging and genetic diseases, biochemical parasitology, cholesterol metabolism and atherosclerosis, growth factors and cell differentiation, glycoprotein structure, and lymphokine structure and function. The biochemistry program receives extramural research support from the National Institutes of Health, the National Science Foundation, U.S. Department of Agriculture, World Health Organization, the Texas Advanced Technology Research Program, the Robert A. Welch Foundation, the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation, UNT Faculty Research Funds and other specialized organizations. In addition, research programs in biochemistry are sponsored by a number of biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies, including Eli Lilly, Johnson and Johnson, Upjohn, Abbott Laboratories, Warner-Lambert, Lescarden, Greenwich Laboratories Inc. and Alcon Laboratories. Laboratories in biochemistry are well equipped with the most advanced instruments and special equipment, including a gas-phase protein microsequencer; amino acid analyzers; DNA Thermocycler peptide synthesizers; nucleic acid probe synthesizer; pulsed-amperometric, fluorescence and UV monitoring HPLCs; FPLCs; tissue culture laboratories; UV-visible and fluorescence spectrophotometers; analytical and preparative HPLCS; liquid scintillation spectrometers; and analytical and preparative ultracentrifuges. Admission Requirements for Biochemistry The student must apply for and be granted admission to the School of Graduate Studies by the graduate dean and also must be accepted by the Department of Biological Sciences. Application should be made at least three months prior to the anticipated date of entering graduate school. Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores (quantitative and verbal) must be included with the application. A combined score of 1000 at the master's level and 1100 at the PhD level is required on the verbal and quantitative sections of the aptitude test (minimum 450 verbal). Undergraduate students anticipating entrance into graduate study should take the examination in the final semester of the senior year. A grade point average of at least 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) is required on the last 60 hours of undergraduate work. To be considered for admission to a graduate program in biological sciences, the applicant must submit the following to the departmental coordinator of graduate programs: a. a letter of intent, including a brief description with rational, specifying the candidate's particular area of interest in biochemistry; b. three letters of recommendation from a former professors if a recent graduate, or one of the three may be from an employer if employed for more than one year since graduation; c. official transcripts of all academic credit earned; and d. a statement of minimum financial assistance required, if any. (This will not affect evaluation of the application.) New students should contact the graduate affairs committee immediately upon arriving on campus for information on departmental requirements. A departmental policy bulletin that delineates these requirements is available to students. Students must take admission examinations covering the various areas of undergraduate chemistry and biochemistry during the first semester of residence. These examinations are given early in the week of registration each semester. Biochemistry requires admission examinations in biochemistry and organic and physical chemistry. The results of these examinations are used for counseling purposes. Advisory Program The biochemistry graduate affairs committee serves as adviser to the beginning student. When a field of specialization and a major professor have been selected, a committee is then appointed to serve in an advisory capacity. The student meets periodically with this committee for research progress reports and consultation. Master of Science in Biochemistry The applicant seeking a master's degree with a major in biochemistry will plan a program with the assistance of the major professor and the advisory committee. At least 30 hours of graduate course work is required for the Master of Science degree. The student must maintain a B average in all biochemistry courses. The biochemistry program requires completion of three of the four core courses with an average grade of B or above. Supporting course work may be taken in biology, chemistry, physics, computer science, mathematics or any combination of these areas. A research thesis is required. Courses in biochemistry may form a substantial part of the work taken for the Master of Science degree with a major in biomedical sciences. Doctor of Philosophy in Biochemistry The core course requirement consists of the completion of four courses. After completion of the formal course work, foreign language or computer science requirement, and BIOC 6010, the student will apply to the dean of the School of Graduate Studies for admission to candidacy for the Doctor of Philosophy degree. This should be done at least one year before graduation. The research must culminate in the writing and defense of a dissertation of demonstrable scientific merit. It is expected that the candidate will have published or have accepted for publication at least one original research article in a refereed scientific journal prior to graduation. Students also may conduct research in biochemistry, leading to the PhD degree, by entering the molecular biology program of the Federation of North Texas Area Universities. Further information about the molecular biology program is listed above. Degree Programs in Environmental Science The University of North Texas Program in environmental science in the Department of Biological Sciences is an interdisciplinary collaboration of the Department of Geography, the Department of Chemistry and the Department of Philosophy, as well as other departments at UNT. The program offers graduate studies in environmental science that lead to the Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy degrees. The course of study involves core courses and electives that are flexible and designed to accommodate students with various backgrounds and interests in the natural, physical and social sciences, who desire careers related to environmental science. Specifically, individuals are trained to identify problems, collect and interpret data, and develop solutions to today's complex and challenging environmental problems. The training is truly interdisciplinary, promoting the analytical and communicative skills required to study the critical problems facing municipalities, industries, utilities, and state and federal agencies. Students will be exposed to a wide variety of opportunities in education and research that reflect the universityıs interdisciplinary approach to environmental sciences. Environmental researchers at UNT adopt many different techniques and approaches to probe and solve environmental and ecological problems. The Environmental Science faculty members are active in a diversity of research endeavors, including biology, chemistry, aquatic toxicology, remote sensing and land use analyses, environmental modeling, earth resources, environmental policy, ground water and archaeology. Admission Deadlines Completed applications, including official transcripts, GRE scores, letters of recommendation, environmental science application form and a letter of intent, must be received by: -June 1 for the fall semester -November 1 for the spring semester Applications missing these deadlines will be retained for the following semester. Master of Science in Environmental Science Two options are available at the master's level: thesis option and non-thesis option. The basic thesis option degree plan consists of 36 graduate hours, including a core of 19 or 20 semester hours (depending on which of the optional core courses are selected), with the remaining 16 or 17 semester hours selected from a list of potential electives. The non-thesis option degree plan consists of 42 graduate hours, including a core of 25 to 28 semester hours (depending on which of the optional core courses are selected), with the remaining 14 to 17 hours selected from a list of potential electives. Each student must select the thesis or non-thesis option upon admission to the program, and with the guidance of a Graduate Advisory Committee comprised of three faculty members, will develop an individual degree plan according to the student's area of interest. Only students who select the thesis option are eligible for teaching or research assistantships. Admission Requirements Students admitted to the master's program must meet or exceed all requirements set forth by UNT's Graduate School. Please refer to "Requirements for Admission to the Toulouse School of Graduate Studies" earlier in this catalog for complete details. In addition to these requirements, each student must have a minimum overall 3.0 GPA, or a 3.2 GPA for the last 60 hours of course work, and a minimum GRE score of 1000 (combined verbal and quantitative score). Undergraduate course work also must include at least 9 credit hours of biology, 8 credit hours of chemistry (must be courses with laboratories) and mathematics up to calculus. In addition, three letters of reference by people who can evaluate the applicants potential for graduate education must be sent to the Graduate Coordinator, University of North Texas Environmental Science Program. Each student must submit a letter of intent that states the student's intent to attend graduate school at UNT, what background the student has to be successful in an environmental science graduate program and what the student expects to gain from the program. Finally, an application form for the environmental science program must be completed. The form is included in the application package. Doctor of Philosophy in Environmental Science The doctoral program is a research degree, and a major, innovative dissertation is required for all students. A Doctoral Committee comprised of six faculty members will help the student select courses for a degree plan. Applicants to the PhD program must arrange to have a faculty member agree to chair this committee prior to application. Students entering the PhD program immediately after a bachelor's degree are required to take a minimum of 90 hours of graduate level course work, while students entering the PhD program after a master's degree are required to take a minimum of 60 hours. The degree plan will include 41 to 45 semester hours of core requirements (depending on which of the optional core courses are selected) and 12 hours of dissertation. The remaining hours will be selected from a list of potential electives, the number of hours depending on whether the students is in the 60 hour or 90 hour program. Students must select their Doctoral Committee within the first year after admission to the program and, with the guidance of the Doctoral Committee, develop individualized degree plans based on their area of interest. Admission Requirements Students admitted to the doctoral program must meet or exceed all requirements set forth by UNT's graduate school. Please refer to "Requirements for Admission to the Toulouse School of Graduate Studies" earlier in this catalog for complete details. In addition to these requirements, each student must have a minimum overall 3.0 GPA, or a 3.2 GPA for the last 60 hours of undergraduate course work, or a minimum of an overall 3.5 GPA in their master's degree, an a minimum GRE score of 1100 (combined verbal and quantitative score). Bachelor's and master's course work must be in an appropriate field (directly applicable to environmental science), with course work in biology, chemistry and mathematics. Transcripts will be evaluated and undergraduate leveling course work may be required. In addition, three letters of reference by people who can evaluate the applicants potential for doctoral education must be sent to the Graduate Coordinator, University of North Texas Environmental Science Program. Finally, each student must submit a letter of intent that states the studentıs plans to attend graduate school at UNT, what background the student has that will facilitate their success in an environmental science graduate program and the general area of environmental research the dissertation will involve. Courses of Instruction All Courses of Instruction are located in one section at the back of this catalog.