Guide to Graduate Education in Science, Engineering and Public Policy

Arizona State University

School of Life Sciences

School of Life Sciences-Graduate Program Arizona State University 1711 South Rural Roud Tempe, AZ 85287 Phone: 480.965.0803 Fax: 480.965.6899 Email: sols@asu.edu Program link: http://sols.asu.edu/grad/bio_soc.php

Background

Within the biology degree programs, students may choose a formal concentration in the areas where biology intersects with society. There are two tracks:
Bioethics, policy and law.
History and philosophy of science.
Bioethics, policy and law trains students in the pressing moral, policy and legal issues raised by the biosciences and biomedicine and in the disciplinary methods necessary to address these issues. The history and philosophy of science trains students in the conceptual foundations of science, including especially the epistemological and methodological assumptions that shape science and its progress.

The program is richly interdisciplinary, drawing from the following and other disciplines to develop skills for analyzing and addressing the problems where biology intersects with society:

• Anthropology.
• Biology.
• Health administration of policy.
• History.
• Justice studies.
• Law.
• Nursing.
• Philosophy.
• Political science.
• Religious studies.

The concentration tailors individual programs of study to individual needs and interests, with a solid grounding in the life and related sciences and with rigorous analytical and multidisciplinary education. The two tracks offer suggested courses for those wishing to focus on these areas.

Degrees Offered:

MS Biology (Biology and Society)
PhD Biology (Biology and Society)

Admissions Requirements:

Ph.D. Biology:

The biology and society concentration within the biology doctoral program admits one cohort annually for programs of study that begin in the fall semester. The deadline for applications is Dec. 15 for students wishing to begin a program of study the following August. There is no guarantee that applications received after Dec. 15 will be reviewed. The biology Ph.D. program usually notifies applicants of admissions status no later than the following April 15. Top candidates are usually interviewed prior to admission to the program. Please check out our tips on applying for graduate study in the School of Life Sciences at http://sols.asu.edu/grad/apply_tips.php for additional information.

International Students: Students applying from outside of the U.S. will need to submit additional documents (http://graduate.asu.edu/admissions/international.html). Students from countries whose native language is not English must provide evidence of English proficiency with acceptable scores on the TOEFL or IELTS. TOEFL and IELTS scores must be current, with the test date within two years of the first day of classes of the semester you enroll at ASU. Students who wish to attend ASU while holding a student visa (F–1 or J–1) will need to submit a financial guarantee form (http://graduate.asu.edu/f1j1applicants.html).

Degree Requirements:

MS Biology:

Requires 30 hours, following the general requirements for the M.S. in Biology, with additional requirement that the program of study, the committee, and the research prospectus and thesis focus on the area of concentration

• BPL Bioethics, Policy, and Law Track
  3 hours – Bioethics
  3 hours – Policy
  3 hours – Law (from a list of options related to science,
  technology, and law)
  6 hours – Two seminars, approved by the committee
  3 hours – Readings and Conference
  6 hours – Research
  6 hours – Thesis
  Total: 30 hours

• HPS History and Philosophy of Science Track
  3 hours – History of Science
  3 hours – Philosophy of Science
  3 hours – Logic, Decision Theory, or Epistemology
  6 hours – Two seminars, approved by the committee
  3 hours – Reading and Conference
  6 hours – Research
  6 hours – Thesis
  Total: 30 hours

Ph.D. Biology:

Degree requires 84 hours, of which at least 24 hours are for research study and dissertation, and of which 30 hours may be transferred from an appropriate masters degree. The remaining hours should concentrate in areas relevant to the selected track within the concentration.
The coursework for the Bioethics, Policy and Law Track, as well as the History and Philosophy of Science Track are the same as listed above for the M.S.