Study in this program emphasizes environmental and evolutionary biology. Students enrolled in the program are expected to concentrate their dissertation work in an area of active faculty research.

• ADMISSION
  An acceptable grade-point average (3.0 minimum during the most recent 60 semester hours), a satisfactory score on the General Record Examination, and 3 supportive letters of recommendation are required for regular admission. Applicants are encouraged, but not required to submit scores from the Biology Subject GRE.

• DOCTORAL ADVISOR COMMITTEE
  is constituted during the student's first year in the residence in the program. It includes a minimum of five doctoral-level scientists, at least three of whom are members of the UL Lafayette Biology Graduate Faculty. One member must be from outside the Department of Biology and may be from outside the University. The student's advisor is a member of the committee and serves as the chairman.

• GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
  A minimum of 72 semester hours of credit beyond the bachelor's degree is required; at least 48 of these hours must be in non-dissertation course work. Students entering the program with a master's degree must complete at least 24 hours of non-dissertation course work. At least 9 credits must be in environmental biology and 9 in evolutionary biology, and a minimum of 12 hours must be at the 500 level.

• LANGUAGE REQUIREMENT
  Demonstration of proficiency in either a natural language or in computer science, statistics, calculus, or a combination of these may be required by the advisory committee. A natural language is defined as one other than the student's native language.

• SPECIAL REQUIREMENT
  The student (as first author) must submit a manuscript to an appropriate national journal prior to the final examination.

• GENERAL COMPREHENSIVE EXAMINATION
  The general comprehensive examination must be taken by the end of the second year of doctoral study. The examination will include an oral and a written component.

• DISSERTATION
  A specific research project must be completed and a formal dissertation must be submitted to and approved by the student's advisory committee, and by an appropriate scientist from outside the University.

• FINAL EXAMINATION
  The final examination is an oral defense of the dissertation and may include related scientific topics.