PhD Biology at Arizona State University

Programme overview

The Doctor of Philosophy program in biology is intended to accommodate your diverse interests and academic requirements, which may encompass laboratory, field or theoretical work in a variety of biological disciplines. This program is flexible and customizable. Flexibility in the program is achieved by requiring you to complete one core course, offering a choice between two topics that represent the broad spectrum of research directions available within the program.

What you will study

84 credit hours, a written comprehensive exam, an oral comprehensive exam, a prospectus and a dissertation Required Core (3 or 4 credit hours) BIO 514 Statistical Models for Biology (4) or BIO 620 Research Prospectus Writing (3) Electives (67 or 68 credit hours) Other Requirement (1 credit hour) BIO 610 Introduction to Responsible Conduct of Research in Life Sciences (1) Culminating Experience (12 credit hours) BIO 799 Dissertation (12) Additional Curriculum Information The program is tailored to the needs of the individual student.

Career pathways

Earning a PhD in biology opens an array of vibrant career opportunities across academia and government, industry and nonprofit sectors. Graduates excel in roles such as teaching at educational institutions of all levels or spearheading research in next-generation laboratories. Career examples: principal investigator in a government laboratory or nonprofit organization, professor or instructor at a university or college, science teacher in an elementary or high school, wildlife, animal, environmental, conservation or forensic scientist.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

Applicants must fulfill the requirements of both the Graduate College and The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Applicants must have earned a bachelor's or master's degree in biology or a related discipline from a regionally accredited institution. Applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in the last 60 hours of their first bachelor's degree program or a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in an applicable master's degree program. Applicants must submit the following: graduate admission application and application fee official transcripts academic record form personal statement curriculum vitae or resume three letters of recommendation proof of English proficiency Additional Application Information An applicant whose native language is not English must provide proof of English proficiency regardless of their current residency. Research experience is desired for entry into this program.

Domestic applicants: USD 13,327 a year (2026-27). Arizona resident tuition. Tuition only for the graduate on-campus (Tempe/Downtown Phoenix/Polytechnic/West Valley) rate band in the ASU tuition estimator, 2026-27: Fall 2026 plus Spring 2027 term tuition summed (full-time flat rate; part-time credit loads Source

International applicants: USD 24,780 a year (2026-27). International tuition. Tuition only for the graduate on-campus (Tempe/Downtown Phoenix/Polytechnic/West Valley) rate band in the ASU tuition estimator, 2026-27: Fall 2026 plus Spring 2027 term tuition summed (full-time flat rate; part-time credit loads ar Source

Entry terms: Fall, Spring and Summer; the terms available for each programme are listed in Degree Search.

Graduate application deadlines are set by each programme office and listed in Degree Search. The nonrefundable application fee is $75 for U.S. citizens, permanent residents, DACA and international online students outside the U.S., and $120 for international students on a nonimmigrant visa studying in the U.S.

Apply through the official page: https://admission.asu.edu/apply/graduate/admission

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