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Degree Requirements

Core Curriculum

Year 1, Fall

  • Life Sciences 520 (GST I) – Advanced Genetics/Genomics (4 hr)
  • Life Sciences 507 – Bioinformatics/Computational Biology Lab I (3 hr)
  • BCMB 511 – Advanced Protein Chemistry (3 hr)
  • Life Sciences 515 – Intro to GST ( Presentations of Research by GST Faculty ) (1 hr)
  • Life Sciences 505 – Research Rotation (2 hr)

Year 1, Spring

  • Life Sciences 521 (GST II) – Analytical Technologies (4 hr)
  • Life Sciences 517 – Bioinformatics/Computational Biology Lab II (3 hr)
  • BCMB 512 – Advanced Molecular Biology (3 hr)
  • Life Sciences 541 – Colloquium (Presentations of Research by GST Faculty) (1 hr)
  • Life Sciences 505 – Research Rotation (2 hr)

Rotation Policy

Students rotate in four different labs before finding a permanent lab and advisor. The rotations must cover at least two of GST’s five areas of emphasis.

Overall Requirements

The overall requirements are designed to comply with regulations of The Graduate School of The University of Tennessee. The requirements for the MS degree are a minimum of 30 hrs graduate credits beyond the baccalaureate degree, of which 6 must be in 500 (Thesis) and at least 12 hours of graded (A-F) graduate credit, exclusive of course 500. The requirements for the Ph.D. are a minimum of 24 hrs of 600 (Doctoral Research and Dissertation), plus a minimum of 48 hours of graduate course work beyond the baccalaureate degree, of which a minimum of 30 must be graded A-F and a minimum of 6 must be graded (A-F) at the 600 level. Thus the GST program requirements are:

  • Core courses: LFSC 520-21 GST I & II (4, 4); LFSC 507 (3), LFSC 517 (3), Bioinformatics & Computational Biology I & II (3,3); BCMB 511-12 (3, 3); LFSC 515 – Intro to GST (1); LFSC 541 Colloquium (1); LFSC 505 Research Rotation (4hr for Ph.D., 2 hr for M.S.). Total hours for core = 26 for Ph.D., 24 for M.S.; of which 24 for Ph.D./22 for M.S. are graded (Intro. to GST and Colloquium are not graded).
  • Expectations for additional coursework beyond the 1st year: a) Journal club every fall and spriing b) Colloquium every spring c) Other courses as chosen in consultation between the student, his or her advisor, and the student’s thesis/dissertation committee.
  • Thesis (MS; LFSC 500 Thesis) or dissertation (Ph.D.; LFSC 600 Doctoral Research and Dissertation). After core course completion and beginning registration of dissertation/thesis hours, students must register each semester for thesis/dissertation hours until completion of degree.
  • Comprehensive exam for Ph.D. students.
  • Formation of a thesis/dissertation committee during the second year and annual meetings to evaluate progress.

Registration Requirements

Fall and spring semesters of first year of (core curriculum) = 13 semester hours.

First year students in summer semester register for 6 hours of LFSC 500 (Thesis Hours). In subsequent years, the students are expected to maintain full time registration status as defined by The Graduate School. Any deviation of specified course load must be approved by the GST director.

Courses from other departments

GST students have the option to earn Minors or MS degrees through UT’s Intercollegiate Graduate Statistics Program and UT’s Interdisciplinary Graduate Minor in Computational Science (IGMCS).

Teaching Requirement

Each GST student must contribute to the teaching effort of Biology on the University of Tennessee campus. MS students are required to teach one semester, and Ph.D. students are required to teach two semesters. Normally, teaching is arranged during the student’s second year in the program in consultation with the Director and the student’s committee.

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