Faculty
Professor and Director, G. Thorgaard; Professors, R. Black, S. Bollens, G. Edwards, H. Hosick, K. Kardong, M. Laskowski, R. Mack, D. Moffett, C. Omoto, C. Robbins, H. Schwabl; Associate Professors, J. Bishop, P. Carter, D. Evans, R. Gomulkiewicz, L. Hufford, R. Lee, J. Mallatt, S. Moffett, J. Paznokas, W. Turner, P. Verrell, M. Webster; Assistant Professors, M. Alfaro, M. Dybdahl, A. McCubbin, C. Portfors, E. Roalson, C. Schultz, A. Storfer, M. Tegeder; Adjunct Faculty, C. Davitt, J. Hallett, D. Monk; Academic Coordinators, D. Banker, B. Marshall; Professors Emeriti, J. Crane, R. Johnson, L. Kirschner, M. Ku, J. Larson, D. Miller, P. Schroeder, E. Uribe.
Program
Degrees Granted: Master of Science in Biology, Master of Science in Botany, Master of Science in Zoology; Doctor of Philosophy (Botany, Zoology)Those contemplating graduate study in The School of Biological Sciences are advised to obtain a broad background in biological and physical sciences. All applicants are required to submit a formal application, a departmental supplemental application, official transcripts of all college work, three letters of recommendation and scores of the general aptitude tests from the Graduate Record Examination. Foreign students must score at least 550 on the TOEFL examination to be eligible for admission to Washington State University and will be tested for language proficiency if awarded a teaching assistantship. There is no general foreign language requirement. Reading proficiency in a foreign language may be required by the student’s advisory committee.
For the thesis master's degree in botany or zoology, a minimum of 21 credits of graded coursework, a thesis or a manuscript accepted for publication by a referred journal and a final oral defense of the thesis are required. A committee of three or more faculty members is appointed to develop and recommend the program of study. The committee chair is selected from among the faculty of the school. Faculty in all areas of the biological sciences may serve as committee members. Two committee members must be from the faculty of the School of Biological Sciences.
For the non-thesis master's degree, a minimum of 26 credits of graded coursework, an individual investigation of a special problem and a final oral examination are required. At least 20 credits must be in the biological sciences. A committee of three or more faculty members is appointed to develop and recommend the program of study. Permanent, tenure track faculty in all areas of the biological sciences may serve either as committee chairs or as committee members. Normally each of the faculty members represents a different biological discipline. One committee member must be from the biology program faculty.
For a Ph.D. degree in botany or zoology, a minimum of 35 credits of graded coursework, a thesis or published manuscript in a referred journal, preliminary oral examinations, a defense of a research proposal, and a final oral defense of the thesis are required. A committee of three or more faculty members and the majority must be from The School of Biological Sciences is appointed to develop and recommend the program of study. The committee chair is selected from among the faculty in The School of Biological Sciences. Faculty in all areas of biological sciences may serve as committee members but the majority of the committee must be faculty from within The School of Biological Sciences.
Undergraduate majors in such subjects as the applied plant sciences, the biological sciences, and the physical sciences may be well prepared for graduate study. Students having deficiencies are given adequate opportunity to fulfill departmental requirements.
Botany
The School of Biological Sciences also offers study and research leading to the degrees of Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy in Botany. Depth in one or more fields of botany and introduction to the methods of botanical research are provided for candidates for the master's degree. Those who seek the degree of Doctor of Philosophy may gain depth in two or more fields and intensive experience in research. Graduate study may involve specialization and research in anatomy, morphology, morphogenesis, cytology, genetics, ecology, physiology, taxonomy and systematics, and ultrastructure.
Modern facilities are available for research in these areas. Special equipment includes controlled-environment facilities, facilities for radio-biological research, gas exchange equipment for monitoring whole plants under a variety of controlled environmental conditions, computer terminals and a well-equipped Electron Microscope Center. The Ownbey Herbarium of Washington State University is one of the important regional plant collections in the nation and, in conjunction with the experimental laboratory, garden, and greenhouse facilities, provides excellent opportunities for graduate studies in systematics and evolution. Students who plan to enter graduate study in botany should include the following courses as part of their undergraduate preparation: organic chemistry, mathematics through integral calculus and one year of college physics.
Graduate students in plant ecology are currently pursuing studies in the general areas of ecophysiology, genecology, population ecology, plant-animal interaction, and structure and function of plant communities. Specific investigations include demographic studies in local grassland habitats, determinants of reproductive success, the coevolution of plants and their insect herbivores, and the ecophysiology of arid land plants. There are active programs in systematics centered in modern molecular, biochemical, electrophoretic, and cytotaxonomic studies. Research in plant physiology includes effects of global climate change (e.g., ultraviolet radiation and carbon dioxide) on photosynthesis, mechanisms of tolerance to plant stresses, regulation of carbon and nitrogen partitioning, and the study of phloem transport. In addition to these whole plant studies, there are active research programs investigating the structure and function of plasma membrane transport proteins, regulation of gene expression, targeting of specific proteins to discrete subcellular locations, and signal transduction events.
Zoology
The School of Biological Sciences offers a program of graduate study leading to the degrees of Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy in Zoology. Study leading to the Master of Science in Zoology provides a broad background in zoology and cognate areas. Experience in research is provided through the presentation of a thesis. The degree of Doctor of Philosophy involves specialization in a selected area of zoology, additional study in related areas, and a thesis. Teaching experience is required of all candidates for graduation.
Faculty interests and research programs are diverse, ranging from cellular and developmental biology, through various aspects of organismal biology, to ecology and evolutionary biology. Ecology and Evolutionary Biology are particularly prominent areas of the department's graduate program. A list of specific faculty interests can be obtained by writing to The School of Biological Sciences.
There are modern facilities for graduate study in cell and developmental biology, genetics, physiology, functional morphology, systematics and behavioral, environmental and evolutionary biology. The University's rural location is conducive for field studies. Special facilities include the vertebrate collections of the Charles R. Conner Museum, the George E. Hudson Biological Preserve of 800 acres, the Electron Microscopy Center, and the Eastlick Vivarium for maintaining lab animals.
Biology
The School of Biological Sciences offers graduate study leading to the degree of Master of Science in Biology. Degree programs are offered in Pullman and at WSU Tri-Cities. The Pullman program is non-thesis, interdisciplinary and designed to provide a balanced and broad understanding of various biological sciences. Students are given the opportunity to develop individualized programs of study that include a broad selection of courses from among all of the biological science units. Such programs are designed by students who plan: 1) to continue graduate education in biology; 2) to enter professional schools, e.g., dentistry, physical therapy, and veterinary medicine; and 3) to enter careers in biology teaching. At WSU Tri-Cities the thesis program offered is multidisciplinary and career-oriented, providing continuing education and professional advancement to members of the scientific community associated with the DOE Richland operations.
Cooperation with numerous other campus units extends research opportunities. Cooperative arrangements with faculty in biochemistry and biophysics, botany, entomology, genetics and cell biology, animal sciences, natural resource sciences and the veterinary college are readily achieved.
Admission with regular status requires at least a B average or its equivalent in the last half of undergraduate study, or an average of B or better for 12 semester hours of study in a recognized Graduate School. For admission, scores on the verbal, quantitative, and analytical sections of the GRE must be submitted. As a rule, students are expected to have completed approximately 30 semester hours of biology, including courses in development, ecology, evolution, genetics, and physiology, as well as one semester each of organic chemistry and calculus, and two semesters of physics. Virtually all of the advanced degree graduates have obtained teaching and/or research positions commensurate with their areas of specialization.
Biological Sciences
500 Seminar 1 May be repeated for credit. Prereq 20 hours Bot. S, F grading.
501 Proposal Defense Seminar 2 Research proposal as part of the preliminary examination for candidacy in the Ph.D. program.
504 Experimental Methods in Plant Physiology 3 (2-3) Rec Biol 320. Advanced techniques and instrumental methods applicable to research in plant physiology.
505 Principles of Organic Evolution 3 (2-3) Prereq Biol 301. The evolutionary processes that influence adaptation, population differentiation, and speciation in organisms. Credit not granted for both Biol 405 and 505.
506 Microtechnique 4 (2-6) Graduate-level counterpart of Biol 406, E Mic 406; additional requirements. Credit not granted for both Biol 406, Emic 406 and Biol 506.
507 Electron Microscopy Laboratory 4 (2-6) Prereq one year biology; one year org chem; one year phys; by interview only. Techniques of transmission electron microscopy, especially those applicable to biological materials; theory and practice for electron optics and specimen preparation.
509 Plant Anatomy 4 (2-6) Graduate-level counterpart of Biol 409; additional requirements. Credit not granted for both Biol 409 and 509.
510 Fish Population Ecology 2 Review of abiotic and biotic factors controlling or regulating fish population densities and critical review of relevant literature. Cooperative course taught by UI (Fish 514), open to WSU students.
511 Reproductive Biology of Fishes 2 Prereq graduate standing. A graduate-level course covering all aspects of the reproductive biology of fishes. Cooperative course taught by UI (Biol 558), open to WSU students.
512 Molecular Mechanisms of Plant Development 3 Prereq Biol 320. Physiology of growth; metabolism during development and reproduction.
513 Plant Metabolism 3 Prereq Biol 320, MBioS 303. Metabolic processes unique to plants, including the primary incorporation of nitrogen, sulfur, carbon dioxide and phosphate into bio-molecules.
514 Fish Genetics 2 Prereq MBioS 301. Chromosomal, biochemical, quantitative, and ecological aspects of fish genetics with emphasis on applications to aquaculture and fish management. Cooperative course taught by WSU, open to UI students (FISH 519).
515 Fish Physiology 2 Prereq Fish 411 and permission. Principles and methods used to study vital organs, organ systems, growth, and reproduction of fishes; emphasis on osmoregulation, metabolism, endocrinology, and respiration. Cooperative course taught by UI (Fish 511), open to WSU students.
516 Water Relations and Intercellular Transport 3 Prereq Biol 320. Structure, physiology, biochemistry and molecular biology of transport and partitioning of water, mineral nutrients and assimilated organic compounds within plants.
517 Stress Physiology of Plants 3 Graduate-level counterpart of Biol 417; additional requirements. Credit not granted for both Biol 417 and 517.
518 Photosynthesis, Photorespiration, and Plant Productivity 3 Rec Biol 320 or MBioS 303. Photosynthesis, photorespiration and the interrelationship of those biochemical, physiological, and environmental factors which determine plant productivity.
519 Introduction to Population Genetics 3 Prereq MBioS 531. Survey of basic population and quantitative genetics. Cooperative course taught by WSU, open to UI students (For 511/Gene 505).
520 Conservation Genetics 2 Prereq Biol 301. Genetic studies and approaches relevant to efforts to conserve threatened and endangered populations of organisms.
521 Quantitative Genetics 2 PrereqBiol 519 or permission of instructor. Fundamentals of quantitative genetics; evolutionary quantitative genetics.
522 Molecular Population Genetics and Evolution 2 Prereq MBioS 531. Evolutionary change of molecular sequences; genetic distance and phylogeny; genomic evolution.
523 Advanced Fishery Management 3 Contemporary management of marine and freshwater fish and shellfish populations; commercial, recreational and subsistence fisheries; policy interface of biological systems.
525 Experimental Plant Ecology 1 (0-3) Same as NATRS 525.
526 Population Analysis 1 Same as NATRS 526.
527 Fish Behavior 3 Causes, mechanisms, and functions or fish behavior, including reproduction, communication, schooling, feeding, migration, and orientation. Cooperative course taught by UI (FISH 520), open to WSU students.
529 Principles of Population Dynamics 1 Same as NATRS 529.
530 Statistical Ecology 4 (2-6) Prereq introductory statistics course. Collection and interpretation of ecological data according to biometrical procedures.
531 Principles of Systematic Biology 3 Graduate-level counterpart of Bot 431; additional requirements. Credit not granted for both Bot 431 and 531.
532 Biology of Amphibians and Reptiles 4 (3-3) Graduate-level counterpart of Biol 432; additional requirements. Credit not granted for both Biol 432 and 532.
533 Modern Methods in Systematics 4 (2-6) Rec Biol 431 or 511. Selecting, gathering, and analyzing morphological, cytological, molecular data for phylogenetic and evolutionary studies.
534 General and Comparative Neurophysiology 4 Same as Neuro 530.
535 Angiosperm Families of the World 3 (2-3) Prereq Biol 332 or 431. Description, classification, and geographic distribution of families of flowering plants of the world.
536 Wildlife Nutrition 3 (2-3) Same as NATRS 531.
538 [M] Animal Behavior 3 (2-3) Graduate-level counterpart of Zool 438; additional requirements. Credit not granted for both Biol 438 and 538.
540 Stable Isotope Theory and Methods 3 (2-3) Prereq Chem 105, 106. Theory and practice of measuring stable isotope ratios of biologically important elements; training in the use of isotope mass spectrometers. Credit not granted for both Biol 440 and 540.
543 Predator-Prey Dynamics 1 Same as Entom 543.
548 Evolutionary Ecology 3 Rec Biol 372, 405. Evolutionary dynamics of natural populations and the co-evolution of species. Cooperative course taught by WSU, open to UI students (WLF 548).
551 Comparative Vertebrate Reproduction 3 Graduate-level counterpart of Biol 451; additional requirements. Credit not granted for both Biol 451 and 551. Cooperative course taught by UI (Zool 511), open to WSU students.
552 Comparative Physiology and Biochemistry 2 Species have evolved in distinct modes of functioning which enable them to survive in their respective environments; focus on particular environmental or functional themes.
553 Development and Plasticity of the Nervous System 3 Comparative approach to neural development and repair in the invertebrates and vertebrates. Cooperative course taught jointly by UI WSU and UI (Biol 509).
555 General and Cellular Physiology 4 (3-3) Same as V Ph 555.
557 Advanced Mammalian Physiology 4 Same as V Ph 557.
558 Molecular and Cellular Reproduction 3 (2-2) Same as MBioS 528.
559 Hormones, Brain and Behavior 3 Prereq upper-division biology, psychology or anthropology course. Classical behavioral endocrinology from molecular to whole organisms, integrating evolutionary ecology, neuroethology and behavioral neuroendocrinology.
560 Plant Ecophysiology 3 Graduate-level counterpart of Biol 460; additional requirements. Credit not granted for both Biol 460 and 560.
561 Environmental Physiology 3 Prereq Biol 350 or 353. Graduate-level counterpart of Biol 460; additional requirements. Credit not granted for both Biol 460 and 560. Cooperative course taught by WSU, open to UI students (WLF 560).
562 Community Ecology 3 Graduate-level counterpart of Biol 462; additional requirements. Credit not granted for both Biol 462 and 562.
563 Field Ecology 2 (0-6) Graduate-level counterpart of Biol 463; additional requirements. Credit not granted for both Biol 463 and 563. Cooperative course taught by WSU, open to UI students (Bot 537).
564 Molecular Ecology and Phylogeography 3 Prereq Biol 301 or equivalent; Biol 405 or equivalent. Use of genetic markers for the study of ecological phenomena, including kinship, population structure, and phylogeography.
565 Topics in Ecology and Evolution V 1-3 May be repeated for credit; cumulative maximum 6 hours. Current topics in ecology, population, biology, evolution, behavior, systematics, and biogeography.
566 Mathematical Genetics 3 Same as Math 563.
567 Ecological Restoration 3 Prereq graduate standing or by permission. Introduction to major issues in restoration ecology; major ecological dimensions of restoration.
568 Conservation Ecology 3 Graduate-level counterpart of Biol 468; additional requirements. Credit not granted for both Biol 468 and 568.
569 Ecosystem Ecology and Global Change 3 Same as ES/RP 569. Credit not granted for both Biol 469 and 569.
570 Diversity of Plants 3 Prereq graduate standing. Graduate-level counterpart of Biol 470; additional requirements. Credit not granted for both Biol 470 and 570.
573 Cellular and Molecular Aspects of Development 3 Prereq MBioS 401, MBioS 303, or Biol 321. Current biochemical and ultrastructural research in developmental biology.
583 Physiological Interactions in Predator-Prey Relations 1 Same as Entom 583.
586 Special Projects in Electron Microscopy 2 (0-6) or 3 (0-9) May be repeated for credit. By interview only. Practical training in one or more areas of electron microscopy; TEM, SEM, ultramicrotomy, specimen processing, darkroom procedures and light microscopy.
587 Special Topics in Electron Microscopy 1 May be repeated for credit; cumulative maximum 4 hours. S, F grading.
589 Advanced Topics in Zoology V 1-3 May be repeated for credit; cumulative maximum in Biol 589, 590 - 10 hours. Recent advances in zoology.
590 Advanced Topics in Botany V 1-4 May be repeated for credit. Recent research in plant science.
591 Seminar in Molecular Plant Sciences 1 May be repeated for credit. Same as MPS 515.
592 Advanced Topics in Cell Biology V 1-3 Same as MBioS 526.
593 Seminar I 1 May be repeated for credit. Literature and problems.
594 Advanced Topics on Vertebrate Form and Function V 1-3 May be repeated for credit. Analysis of animal structure and function emphasizing the evolution of complex systems; constructional morphology; ecomorphology; phylogenetics; heterochrony; size and shape.
595 Seminar II 1 May be repeated for credit; cumulative maximum 8 hours. Literature and problems.
597 Teaching Practicum V 1-4 May be repeated for credit; cumulative maximum 4 hours. Zoology laboratory teaching internship. S, F grading
600 Special Projects or Independent Study Variable credit. S, F grading.
700 Master’s Research, Thesis, and/or Examination Variable credit. S, F grading.
702 Master’s Special Problems, Directed Study and/or Examination Variable credit. S, F grading.
800 Doctoral Research, Dissertation, and/or Examination Variable credit. S, F grading.
Electron Microscopy
506 Microtechnique 4 (2-6) Prereq by interview only. Graduate-level counterpart of E Mic 406; additional requirements. Credit not granted for both E Mic 406 and 506.
507 Electron Microscopy Laboratory 4 (2-6) Preq one year biology; one year org chem.; one year phys; by interview only. Techniques of transmission electron microscopy, especially those applicable to biological materials; theory and practice for electron optics and specimen preparation.
586 Special Projects in Electron Microscopy 2 (0-6) or 3 (0-9) By interview only. Practical training in one or more areas of electron microscopy; TEM, SEM, ultramicrotomy, specimen processing, darkroom procedures and light microscopy. May be repeated for credit. Special Projects in Electron Microscopy 2 (0-6) or 3 (0-9) Practical training in one or more areas of electron microscopy; TEM, SEM, ultramicrotomy, specimen processing, and confocal flourescent microscopy. May be repeated for credit.
587 Special Topics in Electron Microscopy 1 May be repeated for credit; cumulative maximum 4 hours. S, F grading.