Graduate Degrees

The PhD program in animal behavior is a transdisciplinary graduate degree program that provides doctoral-level training in mechanistic and functional approaches to understanding behavior in a variety of animal taxa.The study of behavior is at the interface of several scientific disciplines, including anatomy, ecology, evolution, neuroscience and physiology. This program offers the diverse but specialized array of skills and knowledge needed to produce excellent research in animal behavior.Students gain knowledge and skills with applied scientific value in areas such as veterinary science and mental and behavioral health in humans. The ecological focus of the program feeds into local, state and global priorities in biological conservation and ecosystem sustainability.

The MS in biology is a flexible degree program based around a student's individual interests, allowing them to explore areas of biology that thrive outside of traditional boundaries. This degree complements other, more specialized life sciences programs, allowing both interdisciplinary and traditional approaches. Courses include laboratory, field and theoretical work. This program currently admits students to either a thesis-based pathway or a coursework and capstone option. Students in the thesis pathway receive hands-on training and craft an individualized plan of study focused specifically on their own research interests. They work closely with an advisor from ASU's faculty of top-tier scientists doing research at the cutting edge of their fields. Students develop foundational research skills in the course of designing and completing their own research project.In the coursework and capstone pathway, students build an individualized curriculum from a wide variety of courses taught by global experts. In their final semester, they delve more deeply into their own area of interest by completing a capstone project. This option is ideal for students who do not need intensive research training but want to deepen and expand their biological knowledge and skills. The coursework and capstone pathway is also available in an online format.

The PhD program in biology offers individualized courses of study tailored to students' interests that include laboratory, field and theoretical work. Flexibility in the program is achieved by requiring only one core class, which is a choice between two topics that cover the breadth of the research directions in this program.Electives are also as flexible as possible and include areas outside of biology. The major goal is to provide students with the opportunity to create an adaptable and general degree program that allows both traditional and interdisciplinary approaches in any area of biology.

In the biology and society concentration of the PhD program in biology, students examine topics with biological and social dimensions that are best understood together rather than in isolation. The concentration provides plans of study tailored to individual needs and interests. It encompasses a solid foundation in life sciences and related sciences and provides a rigorous analytical and interdisciplinary education. Students may further specialize in one of four tracks:Bioethics, policy and law --- This track focuses on pressing moral, policy and legal issues raised by biosciences and biomedicine and on the methods needed to address them.History and philosophy of science --- This track focuses on the conceptual foundations of science, especially the epistemological and methodological assumptions that shape science and its progress.Ecology, economics and ethics of the environment --- This track focuses on the theory and empirical methods for understanding, analyzing and shaping policy that steer society toward a more productive, equitable and sustainable ecological future.Biology education research --- This track focuses on using education research to identify ways to broadly improve undergraduate biology education.

In the biology and society concentration of the MS program in biology, students examine topics in which biology intersects with society.The concentration tailors individual plans of study to individual needs and interests, with a solid grounding in the life and related sciences and with a rigorous analytical and interdisciplinary education. The program offers suggested courses for those wishing to focus on these areas: bioethics, policy and law; biology education research; ecology, economics and ethics of the environment; and history and philosophy of science.Bioethics, policy and law --- Students are trained in the pressing moral, policy and legal issues raised by the biosciences and biomedicine and in the disciplinary methods necessary to address these issues.Biology education research --- This focuses on using education research to identify ways to improve undergraduate biology education broadly.Ecology, economics and ethics of the environment --- This area trains students in the theory and empirical methods for understanding, analyzing and shaping policy for coupled human-natural systems.History and philosophy of science --- Students are trained in the conceptual foundations of science, especially the epistemological and methodological assumptions that shape science and its progress.

The PhD program in biology with a concentration in complex adaptive systems science trains the next generation of scientists in advanced concepts and methods needed for approaching diverse phenomena in the social and life sciences.The program is tightly integrated with diverse, ongoing university-wide research at Arizona State University on complex adaptive system science and emphasizes the value of a complex adaptive perspective to give students better insight and a more active role in seeking solutions to a broad array of critical issues facing society today. Students become fluent in the common language of complexity while also receiving a solid foundation in the domain knowledge of existing academic disciplines.

The ASU School of Life Sciences Master of Science in Biology, Coursework and Capstone option is a flexible program designed to prepare you to be competitive in a changing job market. You'll craft an individualized study program that samples from a wide diversity of courses taught by global experts, and then delve more deeply into your own area of interest by completing a capstone project. Do you have an adventurous spirit? This program is highly recommended for those who want broad training across the life sciences, and the opportunity to explore career paths that fall between traditional program boundaries. You'll learn about cutting-edge science across the full breadth of biology, and gain practice in analyzing, interpreting and presenting scientific results. ASU has been named as one of the top 100 most powerful global universities for research and teaching. During their time in the program, our MS students receive unparalleled access to top-tier scientists doing cutting-edge, interdisciplinary, and globally impactful research. Our master's in biology program will equip you with problem-solving and critical-thinking skills. You'll be prepared for a variety of careers including professional positions in medical, pharmaceutical and biotechnology fields. Other career paths include teaching positions at high school and community college levels, further studies in a PhD program or medical school, or working in other industries in biological research and development. Biology Faculty

Join in the transformation that new types and amounts of data are bringing to the life sciences. You can learn computational methods that complement traditional bench-based approaches, allowing you to arrive at novel insights, and you'll gain the knowledge and skills you'll need when applying computational techniques in life sciences research.

Scientists must go beyond publishing in journals if they want their research to be relevant to society. However, academic training rarely covers how to communicate with the press, the public, policymakers and other relevant stakeholders.This certificate program in environmental communication and leadership gives graduate students in environmental disciplines the important leadership and communication skills they need in order to increase their influence and reach above and beyond academia.

The PhD in environmental life sciences is an integrative graduate degree program that provides doctorate-level training in several fields focused on the interactions between organisms (e.g., plant, microbe, humans and other animals) and the environment (locally and globally).This unique program integrates training across many fields of study. Dissertations may include any of the following, plus related fields:biology (ecology, physiology, evolution)biochemistry and chemistryconservation scienceenvironmental engineeringgeosciencesmathematics and statisticssocial sciencesspatial sciencessustainabilityGraduate students are trained by means of a core class taught by environmental life science faculty members, through hands-on experiences in the lab and field, with guidance from committee members across multiple disciplines, and in research seminars.The program focus is on collaborative, interdisciplinary and integrative study of the causes and consequences of environmental variation across scales ranging from the organism to the globe. The overall goal is to provide a unique, interdisciplinary doctoral program that encourages students to explore and solve complex problems in the context of natural and anthropogenic environmental change.Administered by ASU's School of Life Sciences, eight additional schools participate in this interdisciplinary program to promote broad, collaborative training.

Become a next-generation scientist and address challenges of the biosphere and human health.

The history and philosophy of science is an interdisciplinary field that traces its origin to foundational works such as Thomas Kuhn's "Structure of Scientific Revolutions." The field is based on the idea that the best way to understand science is to study how it changes over time, along with careful analysis of its concepts and fundamental principles.The PhD program in history and philosophy of science combines training in the core areas of history and philosophy of science with an emphasis on interdisciplinary studies of the sciences, including:computational history and philosophy of sciencefoundations of evolutionary theorygeneral philosophy of science and epistemologyhistory and philosophy of applied ethics and science policyhistory of 19th and 20th century biologyThe program is especially appropriate for students with an undergraduate or master's degree in philosophy, history, or the sciences and for those who seek to broaden their disciplinary studies. Science students who have not taken relevant undergraduate humanistic core courses can make up these courses during their first years in the program.

The PhD program in microbiology offers a dynamic research environment; a broad range of basic, translational and use-inspired research areas; cutting-edge transdisciplinary training; and opportunities to work with world-class faculty and collaborative research partners committed to training scientific leaders with skills necessary for addressing significant global microbiological problems and challenges.This program focuses on the smallest of living things and immunology. Students can tailor the program around their interests and gain skills in contemporary approaches used in microbiology, biomedicine and biotechnology. They train in a broad array of fields, including microbial ecology and evolution, geomircrobiology, bacterial physiology and genetics, bacterial pathogenesis, metabolic engineering, immunology and vaccine development, and cancer biology.Faculty members are associated with the School of Life Sciences, The Biodesign Institute, The Translational Genomics Institute, Barrow Neurological Institute, and other area hospitals and research centers.

The MS in microbiology is designed to prepare students for careers in bacteriology, virology, mycology, immunology and oncology in academic institutions, government agencies or commercial entities.Students train broadly in microbiology, including microbial ecology and evolution, geomicrobiology, bacterial physiology and genetics, bacterial pathogenesis, metabolic engineering, immunology and vaccine development, and cancer biology. They receive advanced training in the study of microbes and their impact on humankind, disease and the environment. The tools they use range from nanotechnologies and genomics to mathematical models and satellite-based imaging.Students receive training in teaching as well as in basic, translational and use-inspired research with world-class faculty and collaborative research partners. Faculty members are associated with the School of Life Sciences, The Biodesign Institute, The Translational Genomics Institute, Barrow Neurological Institute, and other area hospitals and research centers.

The MS program in molecular and cellular biology encourages interdisciplinary, innovative research, allowing students to choose from a diverse range of research and training opportunities. Students gain skills in contemporary approaches used in molecular and cellular biology.

The PhD program in molecular and cellular biology emphasizes interdisciplinary approaches in fundamental and highly applied molecular and cellular biology to answer basic and translational research questions. Students can tailor the program around their interests while gaining skills in the most innovative approaches and techniques.Faculty have a diverse range of research interests and training opportunities for doctoral students interested in pursuing a degree that extends beyond the traditional boundaries of biological research. Participating faculty members and researchers are drawn from multiple departments, colleges, centers and institutes across the university including:New College of Interdisciplinary Arts and SciencesSchool of Biological and Health Systems EngineeringSchool for Engineering of Matter, Transport and EnergySchool of Human Evolution and Social ChangeSchool of Life SciencesSchool of Mathematical and Statistical SciencesSchool of Molecular SciencesParticipating faculty members are also based at partner institutions in the greater Phoenix area, including:Caris Life SciencesMayo Clinic ArizonaPhoenix Children's HospitalTranslational Genomics Research InstituteUniversity of Arizona College of Medicine-Phoenix

Neuroscience is the scientific study of the nervous system. Studies in neuroscience can be multifaceted and combine physiology, anatomy, molecular biology, developmental biology, cytology, computer science and mathematical modeling to understand the fundamental and emergent properties of the many different cells in the brain and how they interact and co-regulate each other.Students integrate several levels of analysis --- molecular, cellular, systems, behavioral and cognitive --- to investigate basic, translational and clinical questions about the relationship between the brain and behavior.The PhD program in neuroscience includes aspects of graduate-level training from many different units on campus as well as from the program's partner institutions distributed across the greater Phoenix area. Partner institutions include Barrow Neurological Institute, Translational Genomics Research Institute, University of Arizona College of Medicine and Sun Health Research Institute.

Plant biologists are needed for critical research and conservation roles in several industries. This unique program has three areas of focus to help meet the demands of conserving plant resources in a rapidly changing world: plant sciences, quantitative skills and human dimensions.

The graduate certificate program in scientific teaching in higher education prepares graduate students with the skills and knowledge needed to implement and evaluate evidence-based teaching at the college level.