PhD in Biology Syllabus and Subjects

Lisha Gupta

Updated on - Jan 4, 2023

The structure of a PhD in Biology program is a mix of classes and research work. Research work and preparation of the thesis take up most of the coursework. The PhD in Biology syllabus is designed to give the students a deeper understanding of the course and specialization they choose to pursue.

Semester Wise PhD in Biology Syllabus

The PhD in Biology subjects are designed to provide students with advanced knowledge of research in the areas of Cell and Molecular Biology, Ecology and Evolution, and Computational Biology.  The PhD in Biology 1st year syllabus primarily focuses on the foundational subjects related to the field of microbiology.

Due to this reason, the PhD in Biology first-year syllabus doesn’t change all that much. The PhD in Biology course introduces students to all the vital information they need. Listed below is the syllabus for PhD in Biology according to the semester which is a core subject and therefore, tends to be the same across the board.

PhD in Biology First Year Syllabus

The table below contains the list of PhD in Biology subjects in the first year:

PhD in Biology Second Year Syllabus

The table below contains the list of PhD in Biology subjects in the second year:

PhD in Biology Third Year Syllabus

The table below contains the list of PhD in Biology subjects in the third year:

PhD in Biology Subjects

PhD in Biology subjects are decided based on the core topics in microbiology, as well as the topics in the specialization. PhD in Biology subjects are divided into core subjects. The elective subjects are optional subjects that make the course flexible and diverse.

PhD in Biology Core Subjects

The core PhD in Biology subjects list contains essential subjects that all PhD in Biology students study irrespective of their specialization, which is as follows:

• Genetics
• Immunology
• Cell Biology
• Molecular Biology

PhD in Biology Course Structure

The PhD in Biology course structure consists of core subjects. The course is a minimum of a three-year-long doctorate course, divided into six semesters. The course structure is:

• VI Semesters
• Core Subjects
• Doctorate Course
• Research Project
• Practical Project

PhD in Biology Teaching Methodology and Techniques

PhD in Biology teaching methodology and techniques encompass traditional lecture-based training. The traditional classroom teaching methods allow the students to ask the queries they might have and get answers to them. 

The course has teaching methodologies and techniques designed to ensure that the students pursuing this course have access to all the infrastructure and facilities available. Listed below are the teaching methodology and strategies in general:

• Lectures
• Practical Sessions
• Research Papers
• Seminars
• Group Discussions
• Traditional Classroom-Based Teaching

PhD in Biology Course Projects

When pursuing a PhD in Biology course, research projects are an integral part of the studies. These projects are assessed by the professors to judge the student's understanding of the subjects. Students can choose their project topics based on the specialization they choose to pursue. Some of the popular research projects are listed below:

• Microbiology
• Biochemistry
• Genetics
• Immunology
• Cell Biology
• Molecular Biology

PhD in Biology Course Books

When pursuing a PhD in Biology, books can be a great investment for the students as they can really help them learn about their specialization in great detail. Books can be a source of information for the students whereby they can further learn about topics of their interest. Students can rent out reference books from libraries, download them online or purchase them. 

Listed below are some of the popular PhD in Biology course books that the students can invest in: