2026-2027 Course Catalog
Source: https://catalog.illinois.edu/graduate/las/evolution-ecology-behavior-phd/ Parent: https://catalog.illinois.edu/graduate/
for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Evolution, Ecology, and Behavior
The Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Behavior administers several graduate degree programs. Areas of training include the broadly defined disciplines of Animal Behavior, Biomechanics, Comparative Anatomy, Conservation Biology, Ecology, Evolution, Genetics/Genomics and Physiology. Students are expected to develop expertise in three of these six areas.
Admission
Acceptance for graduate study in the Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Behavior is based on the applicant's research potential and academic achievement. An undergraduate degree in the life sciences is the usual preparation, but students majoring in mathematics, computer science, or the physical and social sciences are also considered. Students should have taken courses in at least two of the following six areas: evolution, ecology, genetics, behavior, conservation, physiology/morphology. Students lacking one or more of these courses may be admitted with the provision that such deficiencies be completed in addition to the normal graduate course load. A grade point average of at least 3.0 (A = 4.0) for the last two years of undergraduate work in a four-year undergraduate degree program or the last three years of a five-year undergraduate program and for any graduate study is required or the candidate will have to petition for an exception. Considerable emphasis is placed on a student's interest and ability in research as demonstrated by previous work and letters of recommendation. Applications are typically only considered for fall admission unless special arrangements are made with the Department. The deadline for application materials is December 15. A minimum paper-based Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score of 613 (257 on the computer-based version, 103-104 on the internet-based version) is preferred for international applicants.
Financial Aid
Financial aid is available in the form of fellowships and teaching and research assistantships for qualified students.
Master’s degrees are not required for admission, but Master’s level requirements must be met (additional 32 hours). No qualifying exam is required. Successful completion of a preliminary exam is required for candidacy. In addition, a written research proposal, a verbal scientific presentation to the department (in year 3-4), a written dissertation, an exit seminar presenting the dissertation research, and a final dissertation exam are required. Dissertation deposit is also required. Minimum hours for graduation is 64.
Experience in Teaching is required as part of the academic work of all PH.D. candidates in this program. The minimum GPA is 3.0. For additional details and requirements refer to the department and the Graduate College Handbook.
for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Evolution, Ecology, and Behavior
For additional details and requirements refer to the department and the Graduate College Handbook.
Entering with an approved BS/BA degree
Course List
| Code | Title | Hours |
| --- | --- | --- | | EEB Colloquium (to be taken each semester of enrollment; minimum 6 hours) | | 6 | | IB 546 | Topics in Ecology & Evolution | | | Thesis Hours Required (48 hours min, 76 max applied toward degree) | | 48-76 | | EEB 599 | Thesis Research | | | One course chosen from the following list of statistics and/or computational methods courses | | | | IB 476 | Environmental Remote Sensing | | | IB 501 | Programming for Genomics | | | IB 505 | Bioinformatics & Systems Biol | | | IB 506 | Applied Bioinformatics | | | IB 517 | Analysis of Biological Data in R | | | CPSC 440 | Applied Statistical Methods I | | | CPSC 540 | Applied Statistical Methods II | | | NRES 421 | Quantitative Methods in NRES | | | NRES 593 | Statistical Methods in Ecology | | | NRES 595 | Advanced Quantitative Techniques for Ecology and Conservation | | | Additional electives chosen from the following list to meet the 96-hour minimum | | | | IB 401 | Introduction to Entomology | | | IB 405 | Evolution of Traits and Genomes | | | IB 407 | Plant Diversity and Evolution | | | IB 411 | Bioinspiration | | | IB 416 | Population Genetics | | | IB 420 | Plant Physiology | | | IB 421 | Photosynthesis | | | IB 426 | Env and Evol Physl of Animals | | | IB 431 | Behavioral Ecology | | | IB 432 | Genes and Behavior | | | IB 433 | Insect Physiology | | | IB 435 | Critical Evaluation of Herbal Remedies | | | IB 436 | Evolutionary Neuroscience | | | IB 438 | How Organisms Move | | | IB 439 | Biogeography | | | IB 440 | Plants and Global Change | | | IB 442 | Evolution of Infectious Disease | | | IB 444 | Insect Ecology | | | IB 451 | Conservation Biology | | | IB 452 | Ecosystem Ecology | | | IB 453 | Community Ecology | | | IB 461 | Ornithology | | | IB 462 | Mammalogy | | | IB 463 | Ichthyology | | | IB 464 | Herpetology | | | IB 467 | Principles of Systematics | | | IB 468 | Insect Classification and Evol | | | IB 471 | Fungal Diversity and Ecology | | | IB 476 | Environmental Remote Sensing | | | IB 478 | Advanced Plant Genetics | | | IB 479 | Plant Growth and Development | | | IB 481 | Vector-borne Diseases | | | IB 482 | Insect Pest Management | | | IB 484 | Paleoclimatology | | | IB 490 | Independent Study | | | IB 491 | | | | IB 494 | Theoretical Biology + Models | | | IB 496 | Special Courses | | | IB 497 | Science Communication | | | IB 499 | Discussions in Integrative Biology | | | IB 501 | Programming for Genomics | | | IB 502 | Biological Networks | | | IB 504 | Genomic Analysis of Insects | | | IB 505 | Bioinformatics & Systems Biol | | | IB 506 | Applied Bioinformatics | | | IB 512 | Plant Metabolomics | | | IB 513 | Plant Science Seminar | | | IB 516 | Ecosystem Biogeochemistry | | | IB 517 | Analysis of Biological Data in R | | | IB 524 | | | | IB 526 | Seminar in Entomology | | | IB 542 | Environmental Plant Physiology | | | IB 546 | Topics in Ecology & Evolution | | | IB 590 | Individual Topics | | | IB 592 | Career and Skill Development in Integrative Biology | | | Total Hours | | 96 |
Entering with an approved MS/MA degree
Course List
| Code | Title | Hours |
| --- | --- | --- | | EEB Colloquium (to be taken each semester of enrollment; minimum 6 hours) | | 6 | | IB 546 | Topics in Ecology & Evolution | | | Thesis Hours Required (48 hours min, 55 max applied toward degree) | | 48-55 | | EEB 599 | Thesis Research | | | One course chosen from the following list of statistics and/or computational methods courses | | | | IB 476 | Environmental Remote Sensing | | | IB 501 | Programming for Genomics | | | IB 505 | Bioinformatics & Systems Biol | | | IB 506 | Applied Bioinformatics | | | IB 517 | Analysis of Biological Data in R | | | CPSC 440 | Applied Statistical Methods I | | | CPSC 540 | Applied Statistical Methods II | | | NRES 421 | Quantitative Methods in NRES | | | NRES 593 | Statistical Methods in Ecology | | | NRES 595 | Advanced Quantitative Techniques for Ecology and Conservation | | | Additional electives chosen from the following list to meet the 64-hour minimum | | | | IB 401 | Introduction to Entomology | | | IB 405 | Evolution of Traits and Genomes | | | IB 407 | Plant Diversity and Evolution | | | IB 411 | Bioinspiration | | | IB 416 | Population Genetics | | | IB 420 | Plant Physiology | | | IB 421 | Photosynthesis | | | IB 426 | Env and Evol Physl of Animals | | | IB 431 | Behavioral Ecology | | | IB 432 | Genes and Behavior | | | IB 433 | Insect Physiology | | | IB 435 | Critical Evaluation of Herbal Remedies | | | IB 436 | Evolutionary Neuroscience | | | IB 438 | How Organisms Move | | | IB 439 | Biogeography | | | IB 440 | Plants and Global Change | | | IB 442 | Evolution of Infectious Disease | | | IB 444 | Insect Ecology | | | IB 451 | Conservation Biology | | | IB 452 | Ecosystem Ecology | | | IB 453 | Community Ecology | | | IB 461 | Ornithology | | | IB 462 | Mammalogy | | | IB 463 | Ichthyology | | | IB 464 | Herpetology | | | IB 467 | Principles of Systematics | | | IB 468 | Insect Classification and Evol | | | IB 471 | Fungal Diversity and Ecology | | | IB 476 | Environmental Remote Sensing | | | IB 478 | Advanced Plant Genetics | | | IB 479 | Plant Growth and Development | | | IB 481 | Vector-borne Diseases | | | IB 482 | Insect Pest Management | | | IB 484 | Paleoclimatology | | | IB 490 | Independent Study | | | IB 491 | | | | IB 494 | Theoretical Biology + Models | | | IB 496 | Special Courses | | | IB 497 | Science Communication | | | IB 499 | Discussions in Integrative Biology | | | IB 501 | Programming for Genomics | | | IB 502 | Biological Networks | | | IB 504 | Genomic Analysis of Insects | | | IB 505 | Bioinformatics & Systems Biol | | | IB 506 | Applied Bioinformatics | | | IB 512 | Plant Metabolomics | | | IB 513 | Plant Science Seminar | | | IB 516 | Ecosystem Biogeochemistry | | | IB 517 | Analysis of Biological Data in R | | | IB 524 | | | | IB 526 | Seminar in Entomology | | | IB 542 | Environmental Plant Physiology | | | IB 546 | Topics in Ecology & Evolution | | | IB 590 | Individual Topics | | | IB 592 | Career and Skill Development in Integrative Biology | | | Total Hours | | 64 |
Other Requirements
Course List
| Code | Title | Hours |
| --- | --- | --- | | Minimum hours required at the 500-level in IB or EEB | | 12 | | Other requirements may overlap | | | | Minimum GPA | | 3.0 | | Masters Degree Required for Admission to PhD? | | No | | Qualifying Exam Required? | | No | | Preliminary Exam Required? | | Yes | | Verbal scientific presentation to Department Required? | | Yes | | Dissertation Presentation to Department (i.e., Exit Seminar) Required? | | Yes | | Written Dissertation Deposit and Exam Required? | | Yes | | Teaching required? | | Yes (2 semesters minimum) | | Must submit 1 paper for publication prior to graduating | | | | Research Proposal? | | Yes |
for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Evolution, Ecology, and Behavior
- Design and implement independent research which integrates and applies core knowledge of evolution, ecology and/or behavior. PhD students take course work that is relevant to their studies and design/execute multiple experiments in those areas.
- Learn the rigorous statistical/analytical methods that typify their area of study. PhD students are required to take a course in statistics and/or computational methods and apply those skills to multiple scientific studies.
- Write and publish research. PhD students are required to submit at least one manuscript to a journal for peer review before defending. A typical PhD thesis involves at least three publishable studies.
- Develop professional skills typical for researchers. PhD students gain skills in the areas of data management, citation management, mentoring, ethical conduct of research, and Networking.
- Teach others (usually undergraduates) in the fields of evolution, ecology, and behavior. PhD students lead discussions/lab activities, present information/lecture, provide meaningful feedback to students, show concern for all students.
- Apply for grants to support their independent research. PhD students apply for (and often receive) grants from both internal and external sources.
- Present research verbally at internal venues and at scientific conferences. PhD students are required to give two verbal presentations to the department; one presentation is their public exit seminar; another is a presentation of work given at the EEB Colloquium or similar venue.
for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Evolution, Ecology, and Behavior
Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Behavior
Head of Department: Dr. Becky Fuller\ Director of Graduate Studies: Dr. Phil Anderson\ Director of Admissions Committee: Dr. Phil Anderson\ Evolution, Ecology, and Behavior News website\ Evolution, Ecology, and Behavior News faculty\ 515 Morrill Hall, 505 South Goodwin Avenue Urbana, IL 61801\ (217) 333-7801\ eeb@life.illinois.edu
Admissions
Overview of Grad College Admissions & Requirements