GRADUATE PROGRAM

Major areas of study:

• Cell and Developmental Biology
• Bioimaging
• Cell Motility
• Neuroscience

The Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology provides excellent research training opportunities, offering state-of-the-art facilities and research programs in areas such as cell and developmental biology, bioimaging, and neuroscience. In addition, many of the department faculty participate in the Interdisciplinary Graduate Groups in Cell Motility, Biomembranes, and Neuroscience, providing avenues for collaboration with faculty in other University departments as well as at Roswell Park Memorial Institute.

It is the advisor's responsibility to arrange with the student, at the time of entry, a tentative program of study. The program for each student is developed on an individual basis but, in general, comprises interdisciplinary courses, courses in areas relevant to the student's research, and a substantial thesis/project prepared under the supervision of a full time department faculty member and committee selected by the student and faculty advisor. During the first year, most students participate in a laboratory rotation (ANA 575) to gain experience in two or more research areas before deciding upon a research topic. Students are required to take Seminar (ANA 514). Students must attain a minimum overall grade point average of 3.0.

For the Master's degree, a 2-year schedule should be developed; for the doctoral degree, the student and advisor should prepare a 3-4 year program. The department considers it the responsibility of each student to devote full time attention to their academic and research activities in the program. At the end of each semester, the Director of Graduate Studies will review, with the graduate faculty, the progress and activites of each graduate student. Any deficiencies or failures to comply with school or departmental policy, as well as any instructions or required actions, will be communicated in writing by the Director of Graduate Studies.

The Master's Degree

To be accepted as a student in the Master's program, the applicant must have completed a baccalaureate degree. Selection of students for the Master's degree will be based upon review, by the Department Admissions Committee, of undergraduate transcripts, recommending letters, and results of the Graduate Record Examinations (Parts I and II, Natural Sci. or Math). Applicants with professional degrees may substitute standardized test scores appropriate to the student's professional discipline (e.g. MCAT). After completion of the Master's program, students may apply for entrance into the doctoral program .

The Master's Program

1. Academic Requirements
a. Completion of two of the following: (1) Gross Anatomy (ANA 500G), (2) Histology (ANA 503), (3) Neuroscience (ANA 502G), or 4) Cell Biology (ANA 505, 506). Only one of the first three courses (ANA 500G, 503, 502G) may be taken in the first year. A grade of "B" or better is required in each course. Students who fail to achieve at least a "B-" or a "C" in one required course have one opportunity to successfully complete remedial work as deemed appropriate by the course coordinator. Students who fail to acheive "Bs" in both required courses will not be afforded remediation and will be dismissed from the program.

b. Participation in Departmental Seminar (ANA 514) is required each semester.

b. Completion of additional courses selected by the student and the advisor.

c. During the second year in the program, after completion of required course work and identification of a research topic or special project, the student should submit the "Application to Candidacy" to the Director of Graduate Studies. This application will be forwarded by the Graduate Director to the Health Sciences Divisional Committee for approval. Appropriate forms are available in the department office.

2. Research or Special Project

A. Research

1. Completion of a research Master's requires that a written thesis describing experimental work be submitted. The thesis must be submitted to the student's committee at least three weeks before the scheduled defense.

2. The Master's defense will consist of a public seminar presenting the thesis work followed by a final examination on the thesis and previous course work conducted orally by a committee consisting of the student's advisor and at least two other departmental faculty members (to be chosen by the student and advisor). This committee is to be assembled soon after the area of research is decided upon so that the committee can have an active role in advising the student regarding the research.

3. After the research defense, the student must submit two bound copies of the thesis to the Graduate School and one bound copy to the Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, arranged in the format required by the Graduate by the Graduate School. The Departmental copy must be submitted before the Graduate School copies are submitted.

B. Special Project

1. Completion of a special project requires that a scholarly written report be submitted. The report must be submitted to the student's committee at least three weeks before the scheduled defense.

2. The Master's defense will consist of a public seminar presenting the project work followed by a final examination on the thesis and previous course work conducted orally by a committee consisting of the student's advisor and at least two other departmental faculty members (to be chosen by the student and advisor). This committee is to be assembled soon after the project area is decided upon so that the committee can have an active role in advising the student regarding the project.

3. After the defense, the student must submit two bound copies of the project report to the Graduate School and one bound copy to the Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, arranged in the format required by the Graduate by the Graduate School. The Departmental copy must be submitted before the Graduate School copies are submitted.

Schedule for the Master's Program
Students normally will follow this general schedule:


Year 1 (options/requirements) (a) Cell Biology I & II (b) Biochemistry (c) Departmental Seminar (d) Rotation or Research

Year 2 (options/requirements) (e) Departmental Course (a) Departmental Courses (b) Departmental Seminar (c) Research (d) Elective Courses (e) Submit "Application to Candidacy" (f) Completion of research/project and defense

The departmental admissions committee will review the application, undergraduate, graduate or professional school records, Graduate Record Examination scores (Parts I and II, Natural Sci. or Math) or scores from standardized tests appropriate to the applicant's discipline, (e.g., MCAT), and recommendations for the applicants. Applicants may apply for admission to the doctoral program after completing a baccalaureate degree.

The Doctoral Program

1. Academic Requirements


a. Cell Biology i & II (ANA 505, 506) or equivalent, and two of the following: (1) Gross Anatomy (ANA 500), (2) Histology (ANA 503), (3) Neuroscience (ANA 502G). A student may also choose to take only one of the departmental courses (ANA 500G, 503, 502G) and then participate in teaching that course in a subsequent semester. A grade of "B" or better is required in each course. Students who fail to achieve at least a "B-" or a "C" in one required course have one opportunity to successfully complete remedial work as deemed appropriate by the course coordinator. Students who fail to acheive "Bs" in both required courses will not be afforded remediation and will be dismissed from the program.

b. Participation in the Departmental Seminar (ANA 514) is required each semester.

c. Additional course work as determined by the advisor, student and advisory committee.

d. Enrollment in ANA 575, Research Rotation, is strongly recommended for students who are undecided as to an area of research.

2. Research.

By the end of the second year the student must:

a. Select, with the aid of his/her advisor, a dissertation committee to be composed of a minimum of the student's advisor and two other departmental faculty. Other University faculty may be added as deemed appropriate.

b. Submit to that committee an initial written statement of the proposed research.

3. Qualifying Examination.

The examination will be written and oral and will center on major topics relevant to the student's research. It will also cover general and theoretical issues in Anatomy and Cell Biology. Prior to taking the qualifying exami-nation, the student must:

a. Submit a detailed proposal of his/her doctoral research that is satisfactory to the dissertation committee.

b. Successfully complete the academic requirements in la, above.

c. Upon completion of the qualifying examination, the student will submit the "Application to Candidacy" to the Graduate School which includes an abstract of the proposed research. The appropriate forms for this application, available in the department office, should be completed by the student and submitted to the Director of Graduate Studies, who will forward the application to the Health Sciences Divisional Committee for approval.

d. The qualifying examination must be completed by the end of the fifth semester.

4. Dissertation

A written dissertation based on the research shall be submitted to the dissertation committee, at least three weeks before the scheduled defense. After the research defense, the student must submit one unbound copy of the dissertation to the Graduate School and one bound copy to the Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, arranged in the format required by the Graduate School. The departmental copy must be submitted before the Graduate School copies are submitted.

5. Dissertation Defense

Before the dissertation defense, an outside reader will be solicited by the student's advisor following consultation with, and agreement by, the dissertation committee and the student. This invitation should be to an individual from outside the State University of New York at Buffalo and recognized as an authority in the research subject. The dissertation defense will consist of a public seminar presenting the research followed by an oral defense of the dissertation work open only to the departmental faculty (others by invitation of the student and dissertation committee). At the end of the defense, the dissertation committee shall vote on the acceptance of the defense.


Schedule of the Doctoral Program
Students normally will follow this general schedule:


Year 1(options/requirements) (a) Cell Biology I & II (b) Departmental Courses (c) Departmental Seminar (d) Rotation or Research	Year 2 (a) Additional courses (b) Research (c) Departmental Seminar (d) Complete Qualifying Exam (e) Submit "Application to Candidacy"
Year 3 (a) Departmental Seminar (b) Research (c) Additional courses as necessary (d) Qualifying examination if not completed	Year 4 (a) Departmental Seminar (b) Research, preparation and defense of dissertation

Course Work
Minimum 72 credit hours for Ph.D.(30 credit hours for M.A.), including Cell Biology I & II and 2 of the departmental courses in Anatomy; ANA 514, 575; specialty courses.

Examinations
oral comprehensives; Ph.D. candidates also must complete written comprehensives

Dissertation
required of Ph.D. candidates; thesis or project required of M.A. candidates

Program Standards
minimum 3.0 G.P.A. and "B" or better in required courses and satisfactory progress on research project

Residence Requirement
minimum 1 year full-time

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Last update: June 2007