Policies and Standards for the Doctor of Philosophy in Biology (Regular and Straight Ph.D. Biology Programs)

May 12, 2011

CHED MEMORANDUM ORDER NO. 007-11

 

In accordance with the pertinent provisions of Republic Act (RA) No. 7722, otherwise known as the "Higher Education Act of 1994," by virtue of Commission en banc Resolution No. 060-2011 dated 05 April 2011 and for the purpose of rationalizing graduate biology education in the country with the end view of keeping apace with the demands of global competitiveness, the following Policies and Standards for Ph.D. in Biology are hereby adopted and promulgated by the Commission.

ARTICLE I

Introduction

SECTION 1.

Graduate education is an advanced training or schooling beyond the undergraduate degree. It leads to the mastery of a certain discipline or a specialized field, which prepares students to become leaders in their chosen fields and to contribute to the rapidly changing global community.

It is recognized that Philippine higher education institutions have varying approaches to the organization and structure of graduate programs in biology. These Policies and Standards do not intend to homogenize, but rather to set minimum requirements and expectations of the Ph.D. Biology program. SECHIA

ARTICLE II

Authority to Operate

SECTION 2.

All private higher education institutions (HEIs) intending to offer the degrees stated above must secure proper authority from the Commission in accordance with existing rules and regulations. State universities and colleges (SUCs), and local universities and colleges (LUCs) should likewise strictly adhere to the provisions stated in these policies and standards.

ARTICLE III

Program Specifications

SECTION 3. Degree Name. —

The degree program herein shall be called Doctor of Philosophy in Biology (Ph.D. Biology).

SECTION 4. Program Description. —

4.1. Program Overview

The curriculum of the regular Ph.D. Biology program is a continuation of the Master of Science in Biology program. A Ph.D. Biology student in the regular program is expected to have completed the requisite core courses during the master's study. This is in contrast to a Ph.D. Biology student in the straight program, wherein the requisite core courses must first be complied with.

The straight Ph.D. Biology program is designed for exceptionally talented students who have completed eighteen (18) units of graduate coursework with a GPA of 1.25 (or its equivalent) in two (2) consecutive terms. Honor graduates in the B.S. Biology program may qualify for admission to this program.

4.2. Objectives of the Program

1. To produce students who can generate and transmit new or advanced knowledge.

2. To strengthen students' abilities to analyze, synthesize and evaluate research data. aDIHCT

3. To prepare students to become part of the advanced manpower resource of the country for academic and research institutions, and industries.

4.3. Program Majors

The Ph.D. Biology students may major in the following areas: ecology, systematics, physiology, genetics, cell and molecular biology, and microbiology. Other areas may be offered provided these are supported by the administering unit.

ARTICLE IV

Competency Standards

SECTION 5. Competency Standards. —

A holder of a Ph.D. in Biology should:

1. have the knowledge, skills, perspectives and understanding to be capable of self-directed quality scientific work;

2. demonstrate a general knowledge of mathematics, statistics, physics, chemistry and all other fields in biological science, and an in depth knowledge of his or her area of research;

3. be able to keep abreast with the major developments in his/her field of specialization;

4. demonstrate skill in designing experimental protocols and in conducting productive self-directed research; and

5. have acquired oral, written, and visual communication skills.

ARTICLE V

Curriculum

SECTION 6. Curriculum Specifications. —

6.1. Curriculum Components aEcADH

Table 1. Curriculum Outline for the Ph.D. Biology Program

 

Components	Straight	Regular
Biology Core Courses*	15	-
Biology Specialty Courses	15	15
Electives	6	6
Seminar	1	1
Dissertation	12	12
	––––	––––
Total	49	34
	====	====
* Similar to the Core Courses of M.S. Biology and M. Biology

6.2. Sample Program of Study

Table 2. Sample Program of Study (Regular Ph.D. Program)

Year	First Semester	No. of Units	Second Semester	No. of Units
First	Specialty Course 1	3	Specialty Course 4	3
	Specialty Course 2	3	Specialty Course 5	3
	Specialty Course 3	3	Specialty Elective 1	3
		––––		––––
	Total	9	Total	9
		====		====

Summer (Dissertation*)

Second	Specialty Elective 2	3	Dissertation*
	Seminar 1	1
	Dissertation*
		––––
	Total	4
		====

Summer (Dissertation*)

 

Third	Dissertation	Dissertation
* Dissertation — total of 12 units

Table 3. Sample Program of Study (Straight Ph.D. Program)

 

Year	First Semester	No. of Units	Second Semester	No. of Units
First	Core Course 1	3	Core Course 5	3
	Core Course 2	3	Specialty Course 1	3
	Core Course 3	3	Specialty Course 2	3
	Core Course 4	3	Specialty Course 3	3
		––––		––––
	Total	12	Total	12
		====		====

Summer (Dissertation*)

Second	Specialty Course 4	3	Dissertation*
	Specialty Course 5	3	Seminar	1
	Specialty Elective 1	3
	Specialty Elective 2	3
		––––		––––
	Total	12	Total	1
		====		====

Summer (Dissertation*)

Third	Dissertation*		Dissertation*
Fourth	Dissertation		Dissertation (residency)
	(residency)
* Dissertation — total of 12 units

ARTICLE VI

Learning Resources and Support

SECTION 7. Program Administration. —

7.1. Administration

The HEI shall create a Graduate Committee (GC), which will perform the following functions:

1. Formulate policies and guidelines for the proper implementation of the program;

2. Oversee the implementation of the program; and

3. Review and monitor the program regularly.

7.2. Institution's Responsibility

There shall be a minimum of five (5) full-time Ph.D. degree holders in the field of biology who have published works in international refereed journals in the discipline. aHTCIc

The HEI shall provide the required faculty (Ph.D. holders at a ratio of one (1) graduate faculty for every five (5) graduate students), equipment and facilities for the implementation and strengthening of the program.

SECTION 8. Advisory/Dissertation Committee. —

A student on regular status, in consultation with the chair/graduate program coordinator of the department in which he/she wishes to do his/her specialty/major fields selects his/her major professor who shall serve as chair of the advisory committee. Membership in the advisory committee shall be limited to graduate faculty members with Ph.D.

New students should consult with the department chair/graduate coordinator. By the second term, the student should have his/her advisory committee approved by the Graduate Committee.

The dissertation committee (adviser, reader, critic) shall conform with HEI policies. The defense panel (with an external examiner) shall conform to the HEI policies.

SECTION 9. Qualifying Examination. —

The qualifying examination aims to assess the ability of the student to continue with the program and to evaluate his/her preparedness to proceed with a particular area of specialization. This examination must be taken after the first term of enrollment. This examination can either be in written or oral form.

SECTION 10. Comprehensive Examination. —

The comprehensive examination will assess the ability of the student to carry out independent research. This examination is taken after passing all courses in the program of study prior to official enrollment in the dissertation.

Application for the comprehensive examination shall be duly recommended by the advisory committee and noted by the chair of the major department/institute director, and shall be submitted to the dean of the college or the Graduate School for approval.

A student who fails the comprehensive examination may apply for one (1) re-examination not earlier than one (1) month but not later than one (1) year after the first examination. If the student fails the reexamination, he/she shall be permanently disqualified from earning the Ph.D. Biology degree. CHaDIT

SECTION 11. Dissertation. —

The dissertation shall carry a numerical grade when completed.

SECTION 12. Oral Defense of Dissertation. —

The final oral defense has two objectives (1) to test the candidate's ability to defend his/her dissertation; and (2) to provide the advisory committee with the opportunity to suggest revisions in the dissertation work and manuscript.

Upon completion of his/her dissertation, the candidate may apply for oral defense. The application for the final examination must be duly recommended by the dissertation committee and noted by the chair of the major department or institute director. The final draft of the dissertation shall be submitted to the dean of the college or the Graduate School and to the members of the advisory committee not later than two (2) weeks before the examination.

To pass the examination, the candidate must not receive more than one (1) negative vote from the committee.

Upon the unanimous approval of the advisory committee, a candidate who fails in his/her examination may apply for re-examination, which shall take place not earlier than one (1) month but not later than one (1) year after the final examination. If the student fails the reexamination, he/she shall be permanently disqualified from the program offered by the institution.

The chair of the advisory committee shall report the result of the examination to the dean of the college or the Graduate School not later than three (3) days after examination.

Interested members of the Graduate Faculty may attend and participate. However they are without any voting power in the final examination.

SECTION 13. Publication Requirement. —

Prior to the conferment of the degree, the student must have proof of acceptance for publication of a paper related to any work done during his/her doctoral study. The paper should have been accepted in a refereed and internationally abstracted publication with the student as the primary author. caCTHI

SECTION 14. Monitoring of Ph.D. Biology Program. —

A periodic review shall be conducted by the CHED on the faculty profile, courses and projects of the HEIs.

Admission and Retention Requirements

SECTION 15. Admission and Retention. —

15.1.  Readmission

M.S. graduates in biology or in any of the allied fields are qualified to apply in the regular Ph.D. program. Master of Biology graduates may also qualify subject to compliance with the thesis requirement of the M.S. Biology program or its research equivalent (e.g., scientific publications).

A Master of Science student who has completed eighteen (18) units of the graduate courses in two consecutive terms during his first year in the graduate program with an average GPA of 1.25 or its equivalent may be admitted to the straight Ph.D. program. Graduates of the B.S. Biology program who obtained academic honors may also qualify for admission.

SECTION 16. Grade and Residency Requirement. —

The minimum residency for the regular Ph.D. Biology Program is three (3) years. Grade and other residency requirements for the program shall be determined by the respective institutions.

The minimum residency for the straight Ph.D. Biology Program is four (4) years. Other residency requirements for the program shall be determined by the respective institutions.

ARTICLE VII

Transitory, Repealing and Effectivity Provisions

SECTION 17. Transitory Provision. —

HEIs that have been granted permit or recognition for the Ph.D. Biology program are required to fully comply with all the requirements in this CMO, within a period of three (3) years after the date of its effectivity. State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) and Local Colleges and Universities (LCUs) shall also comply with the requirements set forth herein. THacES

SECTION 18. Repealing Clause. —

All CHED issuances, rules and regulations or parts thereof, which are inconsistent with the provisions of this CMO, are hereby repealed.

SECTION 19. Effectivity Clause. —

This CMO shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the Official Gazette, or in two (2) newspapers of national circulation. This CMO shall be implemented beginning Academic Year 2012-2013.

For strict compliance.

Quezon City, Philippines, May 12, 2011.

For the Commission,

(SGD.) PATRICIA B. LICUANAN, Ph.D.ChairpersonCommission on Higher Education

Attachments available upon request.