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Graduate
programs in Zoology at Miami University
Introduction
from James T.
Oris, Ph.D., Professor and Director of Graduate
Studies
There
are two program tracks in the department,
leading to a Master's or Ph.D. degree.
1.
Students interested in a research-based M.A. or M.S. degree
apply for our Master's Program. Applicants for the Master's
Program must have completed or anticipate completion of
a B.A. or B.S. degree, or equivalent. After earning a Master's
degree, students may choose to continue working toward a
Ph.D. degree.
2.
Students interested in earning a Ph.D. degree apply to our
Doctoral Program. Entry into our Doctoral Program requires
prior completion of a Master's degree or 30 semester hours
of graduate work with at least a 3.0 average. Students who
do not have a prior Master's degree or graduate coursework
may still apply since this requirement can be fulfilled
during the first 1-2 years of the Doctoral Program.
The
Department of Zoology works throughout the year to recruit
high-quality, motivated students for our Master's
and Doctoral programs. Students who apply to our program will
all be evaluated by the Graduate Advisory Committe (GAC),
and decisions concerning admissions are made based on the
quality of the application materials, the presence of a willing
faculty advisor, and the availability of graduate assistantships.
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graduate student who is accepted into The Department
of Zoology receives an offer of financial assistance.
We
provide 2 years of University support to Master's
students and up to 6 years of of University
support for Doctoral student
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My
role as director of the graduate program within the Department
of Zoology at Miami University is to chair the committee
responsible for recruiting and admitting new graduate students,
monitoring the progress of continuing graduate students,
and evaluating current policies and procedures of the graduate
program. I also work as a representative for the Department
at the university-level Graduate School.
Every
student who receives an offer of admission also receives
an offer of financial assistance in the form of a graduate
assistantship (either teaching or research-based). We closely
examine a student's undergraduate, and if appropriate graduate,
coursework to ensure that they meet our prerequisites. Grade
point average is taken into account as well. Typically we
expect a GPA higher than a 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. We also require
the general aptitude portion of the GRE. Nearly all of our
students attain verbal and quantitative scores above the
50th percentile. We evaluate the statement of purpose provided
by the applicant not only to determine the student's area
of interest, but also to assess the general writing ability
of the student. We require that all Doctoral program applicants
contact a faculty member to serve as an advisor prior to
admission. Master's level applications are not required
to identify an advisor, but we strongly suggest that all
applicants contact and discuss their interests with one
or more faculty members in the department. Very few students
are admitted into the program without the endorsement of
at least one faculty member in the department.
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students have ample opportunities to pursue individual
work both in the field and in the lab |
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Typically,
we begin our evaluations for the next academic year admissions
in February. This process continues throughout the spring
season, and sometimes into the summer, depending on the number
of positions that become available.
Once
you enter the program, you will be expected to meet coursework
requirements, assistantship duties, and conduct an independent
research project. My role in that process is to approve the
composition of a graduate committee, comprised of your faculty
advisor and several other faculty who will help direct your
research. I also monitor your progress throughout your program
in the three areas listed above.
We provide 2 years of University support to Master's students
and up to 6 years of of University support for Doctoral students
(BA/BS to Ph.D. = 6 years; MA/MS to Ph.D. = 4 years). If all
goes well, your degree requirements will be fulfilled within
a 2 year period for Master's students, or a 4-6 year period
for Doctoral students, and we will be able to count you as
another success story from our department!
Sincerely,
James
T. Oris
orisjt@muohio.edu
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