The Department of Biological, Geological, and Environmental Sciences (BGES) offers programs of course work and research leading to the Master of Science degree in Biology, the Master of Science degree in Environmental Science, and the Doctor of Philosophy in Regulatory Biology. The Doctor of Philosophy may include an optional Cellular and Molecular Medicine Specialization. These programs are open to full-time and part-time students.

Department faculty and staff members of The Lerner Research Institute (LRI) of the Cleveland Clinic (CC) work in cooperation to offer graduate training in a broad range of biological sciences. For example, molecular and cell biologists at both Cleveland State and the LRI study regulation of signal transduction and gene transcription in cell division, programmed cell death, and cell differentiation in the context of normal development and disease states that include cancer, cardiovascular disease, and autoimmune and neurological disorders. Other Cleveland State faculty members participate in several programs focusing on local ecological and environmental issues that provide opportunities for graduate research. These include the Cuyahoga River Watershed Project and the OhioView consortium on remote sensing.

As a joint venture with the Cleveland Clinic's Lerner Research Institute, the doctoral program provides a unique opportunity for students to conduct research at one of the nation's top medical research institutes. The LRI is directly connected to the medical facilities of the CC, enabling basic research scientists to address clinically relevant research questions, collaborate with medical practitioners, and utilize clinical material for research. The optional Cellular and Molecular Medicine Specialization is designed to capitalize on this resource.

Current faculty information can be located on the Cleveland State University Faculty Profile page.

FACILITIES

Departmental facilities include a large animal-care facility, cold rooms, darkrooms, fluorescent and light microscopes, environmental chambers, a greenhouse, and an assortment of computers with Internet access. The department also utilizes space in field stations in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park and in Belize. Most CC faculty are located in the new Research and Education Building of the Lerner Research Institute, with its state-of-the-art facilities, including a vivarium and core facilities for biotechnology, transgenic mice, flow cytometry, microscopy, protein sequencing, and hybridoma work.

CAREER INFORMATION

Graduates are employed in research, teaching, and administrative positions in private industry, hospitals, governmental agencies, environmental action groups, and colleges and universities in the Cleveland area, throughout the United States and abroad. The graduate program also attracts established teachers, research scientists, and management and staff in diverse businesses with a biological, environmental, or biomedical focus. The graduate program is open to full-time and part-time students as well as to non-degree students who are preparing themselves for entry into degree programs or are seeking to keep abreast of new developments in their fields of interest.

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Applicants to the Ph.D. program in Regulatory Biology should meet the minimum requirements established by the College of Graduate Studies and the Ph.D. program faculty:

1. Undergraduate grade point average of 3.3 or higher; master's grade point average or combined undergraduate-master's grade point average of 3.5 or higher.
2. Graduate Record Exam (GRE) scores at the 50th percentile or better in each category.
3. Two letters of recommendation.
4. Statement of purpose, which includes the applicant's research interests.
5. International students and students whose degrees were awarded outside the U.S. (permanent residents) must submit scores from the TOEFL, IELTS, or MLT; a TOEFL speaking score of 25 or better is required for the awarding of a teaching assistantship.

Domestic students are encouraged to apply at least one to two months prior to the start of the semester. International students should apply at least three to four months before the start of the semester to allow for the processing of the visa application. See the academic calendar. Teaching assistantship awards are made on a competitive basis after the admission process is complete.