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Ph.D. Program
Summary
Terrence
Johnson
Department of Biological Sciences
Tennessee State University, Nashville, TN
May 7, 2003
The study of
biological sciences in this program emphasizes an interdisciplinary
approach to research training. Programs of study will involve cellular
and molecular biology and agribiology. The emphasis of this program will
be to train scientists in biological research who will be highly
competent to work in industry with biologists, biochemists, engineers,
agricultural scientists, and others to develop solutions to problems
that have an impact on our quality of life and who can teach in higher
education.
Persons accepted into this program will
pursue vigorous original research in cellular and molecular biology or
agrobiology. These research areas are supported by ten (10) faculty
members from the Department of Biological Sciences. Additionally, other
research support faculty include members from the Department of
Chemistry (2) and the School of Agriculture and Home Economics (5 -
including the CARP program).
Program admission requirements include a
bachelor's degree, GRE subject matter scores of 600 or better, and
unconditional admission to the Graduate School of Tennessee State
University. Degree requirements include 75 graduate hours credit which
include 27 hours of core course work and 24 hours dissertation research.
Recruitment will occur in the 1997-98
academic year and will focus on students holding master's degrees. These
students would require less than 75 hours and could be graduates by
years four and five of the program. Some of these recruits could be, for
instance, community college faculty.
The State of Tennessee will need increasing
numbers of biological scientists for positions in industry, private
laboratories, and in academic institutions. This need for persons to
fill these positions is forecast to continue until at least year 2005.
It is reported that the U.S. can expect a significant rise in the demand
for scientists and engineers through the next decade. This is true in
the area of biology, which can expect a 26% increase in the job market.
What will be the source of these trained workers? Tennessee State
University can play a major role in producing a portion of these
well-trained biological scientists needed now and into the 21st century.
Approval of this proposed program will make the role possible, and help
achieve the goals of the Geier Settlement. These needs in
Tennessee, and indeed in the nation, may become critical.
The total estimated initiation expense to
Tennessee State University for the proposed Ph.D. Program is $319,400.00
over a five-year period. This amount supports six graduate student
assistants, two research technicians, one clerical person, maintenance
of equipment, operating expenses, the acquisition of periodicals (the
Library) and minor renovations. Support for travel is currently provided
for in the Departmental Budget. Additional support for the program will
be made available through a Research Infrastructure in Minority
Institutions (RIMI) grant presently funded from October 1996 through
September 2001. Grants and external support for the proposed program
will be continuously solicited.
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