PhD in Complex Biological Systems
The Ph.D. in Complex Biological Systems (CBS) program is a doctoral research program for students pursuing a Ph.D. in a biological discipline, broadly defined. It is intended for students who have completed undergraduate education. The Complex Biological Systems (CBS) Program will emphasize use-oriented, problem-focused education that comprehensively addresses the scales of societal problems and the connections between these scales.
Why choose Rowan's complex biological systems program?
The Department of Biological & Biomedical Sciences at Rowan University proudly offers a Ph.D. in Complex Biological Systems (CBS), an interdisciplinary program designed to cultivate the next generation of biological scientists.
This unique doctoral program integrates a strong foundational curriculum across molecular, cellular, organismal, and systemic levels, coupled with advanced computational data analysis techniques. The program culminates with an integrative, capstone course focused on comprehensive analysis of a research problem across all organizational levels.
Our curriculum not only imparts deep understanding but also equips students with hands-on experience through elective coursework and via use-inspired, problem-focused research with a dedicated research mentor. With a Ph.D. in the CBS program, students will enter their chosen field at the cutting edge equipped with the broad knowledge and experience needed to be competitive in today’s highly collaborative, multidisciplinary workforce. The program paves the way for careers in research, teaching, project management, consulting, or scientific/technical writing in academia or industry.
The following is a list of items required to begin the application process for the program. Once applications are reviewed by the admissions committee, promising applicants will be invited for a remote interview prior to final acceptance decision. Applicants may be offered admission to the Thesis Track M.S. program with the potential to shift to the Ph.D. track with acceptable performance after their first year. Priority will be given to applications fully completed before December 15. Upon receipt of the materials below, a representative from the Rowan Global Admissions Processing Office will contact you with confirmation or will indicate any missing items.
Key considerations
Quick Facts
Credits
Application Deadlines
Fall Entry Term
Studying complex biological systems at Rowan
What You'll Learn
The Ph.D. in Complex Biological Systems is a full-time graduate program offered in a face-to-face format at our Glassboro, NJ, campus. It requires the completion of 72 graduate semester hours. As a fundamentally interdisciplinary field, Complex Biological Systems graduates will perform original laboratory research and take courses that will provide a strong background in biological problems at several levels of organization: molecular, cellular, organismal, and ecological. The coursework for the Ph.D. in Complex Biological Systems has been designed and sequenced in a way that will allow students to develop increasingly complex and cumulative knowledge over the course of their training and integrate their knowledge across organizational levels. Ph.D. students will complete a dissertation under the mentorship of faculty in the Department of Biological & Biomedical Sciences.
The following courses make up the Ph.D. in Complex Biological Systems program.
- 72 Semester Hours
- Required Courses: 18 Semester Hours
- Elective Courses: 6-18 Semester Hours
- Research Courses: 30-48 Semester Hours
- Foundation Courses: No
- Graduation / Exit / Thesis Requirements: Yes
- Conferral of the doctorate will occur only after satisfactory completion of all course requirements, submission of a doctoral thesis, and approval by the candidate’s Thesis Committee of the written thesis and oral defense. This process and all forms are regulated by Rowan University’s School of Graduate Studies and outlined in the Thesis & Dissertation Manual.
Required Courses: 18 S.H.
| Course Number | Title | S.H. (Credits) |
| CBS 01510 | Molecular Foundations of Biological Systems | 3 |
| CBS 01520 | Cellular Foundations of Biological Systems | 3 |
| STAT 02515 | Organismal Foundations of Biological Systems | 3 |
| CBS 01540 | Biological Networks and Systems | 3 |
| CBS 01570 | Computational Methods and Data Analysis in Biological Systems | 3 |
| CBS 01580 | Integrative Analysis of Biological Problems | 3 |
| CBS 01590 | Graduate Seminar (zero credit course required 6 semesters) | 0 |
Research Credits: 30-48 S.H.
| Course Number | Title | S.H. (Credits) |
| CBS 01550 | Thesis Research | 30-48 |
Restricted Elective Courses: 6-18 S.H.
| Course Number | Title | S.H. (Credits) |
| CBS 01560 | Fundamentals of Teaching for Biological Sciences | 3 |
| Any 500-level (or higher) course pre-approved by the Graduate Program Coordinator and the student’s thesis advisor | 6 |
Transfer Credit Evaluation Policy
The department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences Admissions Committee will evaluate all potential course equivalencies.
Note: The courses listed above are not official and are subject to change. For an official list of available courses please visit the Rowan University Academic Catalog.
Admission Requirements
The following is a list of items required to begin the application process for the program. There may be additional action or materials required for admission to the program. Upon receipt of the materials below, a representative from the Rowan Global Admissions Processing Office will contact you with confirmation or will indicate any missing items.
- Completed Rowan Global Application Form
- No application fee required
- Bachelor’s degree (or its equivalent) from an accredited institution of higher learning, evidence of success in life sciences-relevant coursework preferred
- Official transcripts from all colleges attended (regardless of number of credits earned)
- Minimum undergraduate cumulative GPA of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale)
- Current professional resume or curriculum vitae
- Typewritten statement of professional objectives, preferably including an indication of faculty whose research is of interest to the applicant
- Three letters of recommendation
- Interview (Applicants will be contacted directly by the Faculty Admission Committee regarding the interview. The interview can be in person or via telephone.)
- TOEFL language test (International)
- WES evaluation (International)
Tuition and Aid
To view the tuition rate for this program please visit the Bursar's website.
We know paying for tuition can be a challenge. That is why Rowan provides students with the financial resources needed to put their education first by offering grants, loans, work-study, and scholarships.
Careers and outcomes
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