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Graduate Program in
Molecular, Cellular, and Systemic Physiology.
Prerequisites for graduate training in physiology include an undergraduate degree in one of the biological, physical, or behavioral sciences preferrably with one year each of physics, mathematics, and chemistry. Students admitted to the graduate program are required to take our core physiology courses Mammalian Physiology (PHSL 410a, PHSL 410b), Presentation of Physiological Data (PHSL 501), and Advanced Seminar (PHSL 500 each semester). During the first semester, most students do laboratory rotations in Experimental Methods in Physiology (PHSL 510) to get aquainted with potential faculty research advisors and their research projects. Additional courses to fulfill the degree requirements are determined by the student in consultation with their faculty research advisor and Advisory Committee. The individualized graduate training program is subject to approval by the Department of Physiology’s Graduate Program Committee (GPC).
Admission and Program Requirements
Please select a degree program for details:
If you are interested in a graduate degree program or have questions, please contact us:
Director of Graduate Studies
Department of Physiology
Life Science II, room 245
Southern Illinois University
Carbondale, IL 62901-6512
Email: physiology@siumed.edu
Telephone: (618) 453-1544
Fax: (618) 453-1517
Financial Aid
The Department of Physiology offers financial assistance to qualified applicants accepted into the Graduate Program. Financial assistance comes from a variety of sources including: teaching assistantships from the department; university fellowships, which are applied for directly by the student; and research assistantships from grants obtained by graduate faculty members. Graduate student assistantships for the Fall 2009 semester range from $17,900-$22,700 for a 12 month, 50% appointment and include a full tuition waiver. Students interested in financial assistance should fill out the Financial Support Form available online and in the Department of Physiology office. Additional financial aid information may be found at the SIU Financial Aid Office web page. Financial assistance depends on availability, the student’s qualifications and academic status. Continued financial support is contingent upon the student’s progress toward the degree and good academic standing.
It is the policy of SIUC to provide equal employment and educational opportunities for all qualified persons without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, status as a disabled veteran or a veteran of the Vietnam era, sexual orientation or marital status. The University recognizes that the barriers of race, sex, and national origin of some individuals have resulted in their denial of full participation in all societal functions and is, therefore, committed to taking affirmative steps aimed at overcoming such historical patterns of discrimination in our society.
Visiting our Campus - For additional information about Carbondale and Southern Illinois University, including driving and parking directions, please click on the visitor information page.
Master’s Program
Admission Requirements
The Graduate School requires an earned grade point average (GPA) of 2.7 or better (A = 4.0) on all undergraduate work for admission. For serious consideration of admission into our program, students should have a GPA of 3.0 or better in undergraduate and graduate courses and have taken one year each of physics, mathematics, and chemistry.
The Graduate School also requires international students to take the TOEFL exam and obtain a score greater than 550 (paper score) or 220 (computer score). International students must pass a Test of Spoken English prior to the awarding of teaching assistantships.
The Graduate Program in Molecular, Cellular, and Systemic Physiology requires all applicants to submit 1) official undergraduate/graduate transcript(s), 2) official GRE scores from the general exam, 3) financial support form, 4) a 300-600 word goal statement of why they wish to do graduate work in our program, and 5) three letters of recommendation submitted by individuals who can comment on their academic abilities, character, and potential for doing research. The letters should be written on forms supplied by the department and official letterhead.
To initiate the online application process, go to Graduate School’s website: http://www.siu.edu/gradschl/index.htm and click on the Graduate School Application or go to http://www.gradapp.siu.edu and click on Apply Now.
The Graduate Program Committee makes decisions on admissions and will only evaluate applications that are complete and include: the application form, official transcript(s), GRE scores, goal statement, and three letters of recommendation. In order to be guaranteed full consideration for a departmental assistantship, completed applications should include the financial support form and be submitted by March 1st for matriculation in the Fall semester or by October 1st for matriculation in the Spring semester.
This program requires a $50.00 application fee that must be submitted with the application for Admissions to Graduate Study in Molecular, Cellular, and Systemic Physiology Graduate Program. Applicants may pay this fee by credit card if applying electronically. Applicants submitting a paper application must pay by personal check, cashier's check or money order made out to SIU, and payable to a U.S. Bank.
Master’s Program Requirements
A total of 30 semester hours at the 400- and 500-level is required for the Master’s degree. Of the total hours completed, at least 21 of these must be graded (A, B, C) hours. At least 15 of the total 30 must be 500-level courses taken at SIUC. Of these 15, a minimum of 3 hours of PHSL 599 (thesis research) is required. More than 3 hours of PHSL 599 may be taken, however only 6 may be counted toward the 500-level requirement.
The Chair of the Graduate Program Committee will act as an advisor to new graduate students until a research advisor is selected. The choice of a research advisor is a very important step and should be carefully considered. During the first semester, most students rotate through three research laboratories to get acquainted with faculty members and research programs before selecting an advisor who will direct the thesis research and help plan course work.
The functions of the research advisor are:
1. To provide guidance in the student’s research and the facilities required.
2. To provide mentorship in conducting, evaluating, and publishing scientific research.
3. To serve as chair of the Advisory Committee and consultant for the selection of the other members of the Advisory Committee (at least three additional members from the graduate faculty, including one from outside the department).
Members of the Advisory Committee should provide expertise in or complementary to the research area and provide guidance in the selection of course work. The student should meet with the committee yearly or as needed to discuss research and academic progress.
Following the selection of a research advisor and the Advisory Committee, the Graduate Faculty Committee Approval Form (available in the department office) must be filled out with the names and signatures of committee members and filed with the department secretary. The completed form will then be forwarded to the Graduate School for final approval.
The thesis should represent a competent piece of original research carried out on a specific physiological problem or area under the research advisor’s supervision. It should include an adequate review of the literature, a statement of the hypothesis, a set of experiments testing the hypothesis by whatever methods are appropriate, an analysis of the results, and an interpretation of the work and its significance. Upon completion of the thesis research, a final department seminar is presented followed by an oral examination. The examination will be conducted by the Advisory Committee and will cover the subject of the thesis and other matters related to the discipline.
Certificate in Anatomy
The purpose of the anatomy certificate is to allow graduate students to become proficient in anatomy teaching. This will allow them to compete more effectively for jobs in this field. Students are eligible for the anatomy certificate if they are in an existing anatomically-based master's or Ph.D. program (e.g. Physiology, Anthropology, or Zoology). Additional prerequisites (e.g., embryology, basic vertebrate anatomy) are preferred. Students lacking such prerequisites will be encouraged to obtain them prior to admission into the anatomy certificate program. The Graduate Program Committee of the Department of Physiology will review all applications. In addition to graduate coursework in anatomy, students in the anatomy certificate program will obtain experience teaching gross anatomy to undergraduates and medical students. A minimum of 17-18 graduate credit hours are required for fulfillment of the certificate requirements. They are: Advanced Human Anatomy, (PHSL 401a,b, 10 hours), Histology, (ZOOL 409, 4 hours) and either Neuroanatomy, (PHSL 573, 3 hours) or Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy, (ZOOL 418, 4 hours). Additional recommended courses include: Multimedia in Medical Education, PHSL 581 a, b; and Clinical Applications/Radiology, PHSL 582. Where appropriate, these courses may also count for credit toward the master's or Ph.D. degree. The Graduate Program Committee in the Department and the student's advisory committee will oversee the student's progress. Students supported by assistantships will have the same teaching obligations as all other departmentally supported students. Students will be required to teach at least two semesters of gross anatomy assisting Physiology and Anatomy Department faculty in the Medical School. For more information, contact: Chairman of the Graduate Program Committee Department of Physiology, School of Medicine Southern Illinois University Carbondale, IL 62901-6512 Telephone: 618-453-1544 Email: physiology@siumed.edu
Doctoral Program
Admission Requirements
The Graduate School requires an earned grade point average (GPA) in previous graduate work of at least 3.25 (A = 4.0) and acceptance by the academic unit offering the Ph.D. program. International students must take the TOEFL exam and obtain a score greater than 550 (paper score) or 220 (computer score), and must pass a Test of Spoken English prior to the awarding of teaching assistantships.
The Graduate Program in Molecular, Cellular, and Systemic Physiology requires all applicants to have taken one year each of physics, mathematics, and chemistry and to submit the following: 1) official undergraduate and graduate transcript(s), 2) official GRE scores from the general exam, 3) financial support form, 4) a 300-600 word goal statement of why they wish to do graduate work in our program, and 5) three letters of recommendation submitted by individuals who can comment on their academic abilities, character, and potential for doing research. The letters should be written on forms supplied by the department and official letterhead.
To initiate the online application process, go to Graduate School’s website: http://www.siu.edu/gradschl/index.htm and click on the Graduate School Application or go to http://www.gradapp.siu.edu and click on Apply Now.
The Graduate Program Committee makes decisions on admissions and will only evaluate applications that are complete and include: the application form, official undergraduate and graduate school transcript(s), GRE scores, goal statement, and three letters of recommendation. In order to be guaranteed full consideration for a departmental assistantship, completed applications should include the financial support form and be submitted by March 1st for matriculation in the Fall semester or by October 1st for matriculation in the Spring semester.
This program requires a $50.00 application fee that must be submitted with the application for Admissions to Graduate Study in Molecular, Cellular, and Systemic Physiology Graduate Program. Applicants may pay this fee by credit card if applying electronically. Applicants submitting a paper application must pay by personal check, cashier's check or money order made out to SIU, and payable to a U.S. Bank.
The Graduate School allows direct entry into the Ph.D. program. The Graduate Program Committee may accept a post-baccalaureate student directly into a Ph.D. program if they meet the following additional criteria:
1. A cumulative undergraduate grade point average of 3.5 (A = 4.0).
2. Sufficient undergraduate course work in biology, chemistry, physics, and mathematics or an outstanding score on the graduate record exam (GRE) on (a) the general part or (b) the advanced part in biology, chemistry, physics, or mathematics.
A student admitted to the doctoral program under this option is subject to the admissions requirements stated above and all other requirements of the doctoral degree, including: course work, retention, residency, examinations, research proposal, dissertation, and all applicable time limits. The Advisory Committee may adjust the course work and requirements of the student based on the student’s background and research area. Students who have taken one or more core courses at another accredited university may be given credit toward their core requirements if such courses are deemed equivalent to our core courses by the Graduate Program Committee and department grade requirements are met. The Graduate Program Committee may be contacted for further information regarding this option.
The Department of Physiology offers the Ph.D. accelerated entry option to a graduate student in the Master’s program who demonstrates the intellect, research aptitude, and commitment for pursuing a doctoral degree. At the end of at least one year of studies at the Masters level, the student may request that their Advisory Committee review their qualifications and performance in order to establish eligibility for entry into the doctoral program under this option. The student must have a GPA of at least 3.25 (A = 4.0) in graduate course work and letters of reference attesting to the student’s abilities and potential to perform doctoral level research. The Advisory Committee must establish that the student is prepared and able to conduct research at the doctoral level, which may be established by publications; presentations at meetings; depth of understanding; and quality of seminars, presentations, and research proposal. The Advisory Committee will make a recommendation that the student should either continue in the Master’s program or advance into the doctoral program.
After the student’s eligibility has been established, the research advisor and/or the Advisory Committee will prepare a written review of the student’s qualifications and submit it to the Graduate Program Committee for approval. The Graduate Program Committee will then submit a recommendation to the Chair of the Department of Physiology, who will in turn submit a letter to the Graduate School requesting a waiver of a master’s degree or master’s equivalency and entry into the doctoral program.
The student will need to submit the following items to the Graduate School: A letter of acceptance into the doctoral program from Graduate Program Committee Chair, a Graduate School application form (indicating Ph.D.), and a completed Notification of Accelerated Entry Option Students Form.
A student admitted to the doctoral program under this option is subject to all requirements of the doctoral degree, including: course work, retention standards, residency, examinations, research proposal, dissertation, and all applicable time limits.
Please note that only courses taken after admission to the doctoral program will count toward residency.
Doctoral Program Requirements
1) Total Hours
The requirements for the Ph.D. degree are established by the Graduate School, the Guide to Graduate Studies, and the student’s Advisory Committee. The Graduate School requires 24 semester hours prior to candidacy and 24 semester hours of dissertation credit.
2) Advisory Committee
The Chair of the Graduate Program Committee will act as an advisor to new graduate students until a research advisor is selected. The choice of a research advisor is a very important step and should be carefully considered. During the first semester, most students rotate through three research laboratories to get acquainted with faculty members and research programs before selecting an advisor who will direct the thesis research and help plan course work.
The functions of the research advisor are:
1. To provide guidance in the student’s research and the facilities required.
2. To provide mentorship in conducting, evaluating, and publishing scientific research.
3. To serve as chair of the Advisory Committee and consultant for the selection of other members of the Advisory Committee (at least four additional members from the graduate faculty, including one from outside the department).
Members of the Advisory Committee should provide expertise in or complementary to the research area and provide guidance in the selection of course work. The student should meet with the committee yearly or as needed to discuss research and academic progress.
Following the selection of a research advisor and the Advisory Committee, the Graduate Faculty Committee Approval Form (available in the department office) must be filled out with the names and signatures of committee members and filed with the department secretary. The completed form will then be forwarded to the Graduate School for final approval.
3) Preliminary Examination
Preliminary examinations for doctoral students consist of a set of written exams covering the student’s research area and course work, a research proposal in the area of the dissertation research project, and an oral defense of the proposal. In most cases, the written exams are taken in early August after completion of the second year of study. After passing the written exams, the student will have one month to write the research proposal. The student’s Advisory Committee will evaluate the research proposal and if it is found acceptable, the oral defense of the proposal will be scheduled with the Advisory Committee.
4) Dissertation
The dissertation should represent a competent piece of original research carried out on a specific physiological problem or area under the advisor’s supervision. It should include an adequate review of the literature, a statement of the hypothesis, a set of experiments testing the hypothesis by whatever methods are appropriate, an analysis of the results, and an interpretation of the work and its significance. The research should be of sufficient quality and quantity to merit publications in peer-reviewed journals. Upon completion of the dissertation research, a final department seminar is presented followed by an oral examination. The examination will be conducted by the Advisory Committee and will cover the subject of the dissertation and topics related to the discipline.
