College of Arts and Sciences
School of Biomedical Sciences
www.kent.edu/biomedical

About This Program

The Biomedical Sciences - Human Evolutionary Biology Ph.D. program is designed for students who are interested in the study of human evolution, including genetics, anthropology and archaeology. With a focus on research and advanced coursework, you will gain the skills needed to tackle complex questions about human evolution and make a significant contribution to the field. Read more...

Contact Information

• John Johnson | BMS@kent.edu |
  330-672-3849

• Connect with an Admissions Counselor: U.S. Student | International Student

Program Delivery

• Delivery
  • In person
• Location:
  • Kent Campus

For more information about graduate admissions, visit the graduate admission website. For more information on international admissions, visit the international admission website.

Admission Requirements

• Master's degree in anthropology or biological sciences from an accredited college or university¹
• Minimum 3.000 GPA on a 4.000-point scale
• Official transcript(s)
• Résumé or curriculum vitae
• GRE scores
• Goal statement (applicants should describe their research experience and interests along with their goals and fit with the program)
• Three letters of recommendation
• English language proficiency - all international students must provide proof of English language proficiency (unless they meet specific exceptions to waive) by earning one of the following:²
  • Minimum 94 TOEFL iBT score
  • Minimum 7.0 IELTS score
  • Minimum 65 PTE score
  • Minimum 120 DET score

¹

A student with an outstanding academic record may receive a waiver of the master’s degree requirement upon completion of 20 credit hours of graduate work and be admitted directly to the Ph.D. degree program.

²

International applicants who do not meet the above test scores will not be considered for admission.

Application Deadlines

• Fall Semester
  • Application deadline: November 15

All application materials (including applicable fee, transcripts, recommendation letters, etc.) submitted after this deadline will be considered on a space-available basis.

Program Requirements

Major Requirements

¹

Students who select PSYC 71651 and PSYC 71654 as their data/statistical analysis elective must take additional electives to graduate with 60 credit hours.

²

The human gross anatomy requirement may be satisfied by courses taken at Northeast Ohio Medical University (NEOMED) or Kent State's College of Podiatric Medicine. Students should consult with their advisory committee.

³

Upon completion of course requirements and candidacy exam, doctoral students must register for BMS 80199 for two semesters for a total of 30 credit hours. Thereafter, it is expected that a doctoral candidate will continuously register for BMS 80299 each semester until all requirements for the degree have been met. After completion of the candidacy examination, the dissertation committee will be established, consisting of the guidance committee and an outside member. Students will submit their prospectus for the dissertation to this committee. The format of the prospectus will parallel that utilized for NIH grant proposals (without biographical, budget and facilities information). The dissertation committee makes recommendations for reformulation until the proposal is acceptable or may reject it with specific reasons.

Graduation Requirements

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

1. Publish their research in peer-reviewed journals.
2. Demonstrate the ability to teach undergraduate students.
3. Seek employment after graduation in fields that reflect their area of training.

Full Description

The Ph.D. degree in Biomedical Sciences–Human Evolutionary Biology emphasizes a biological approach to research problems focusing on human and non-human anthropology. The program focuses on human anatomy and neuroanatomy, developmental biology, evolutionary genetics, mammalian physiology, paleontology and experimental archaeology. Many graduates use their training and teaching experience to enter anthropology or corporate teaching positions. Most graduates are also prepared to teach both human anatomy and other cognate fields (neuroanatomy, cell biology, physiology, genetics) in demand at most medical schools.

The Ph.D. degree is offered in consortium with Northeast Ohio Medical University (NEOMED). Faculty in the program are drawn from the departments of Anthropology and the Biological Sciences at Kent State and the Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology at NEOMED. This inter-departmental and inter-institutional structure provides significant resources to the doctoral candidates, including the Hammon-Todd human and primate skeletal collection, state-of-the-art laboratories for neuroanatomy, anatomy, genetics, paleontology, biomechanics and experimental archaeology. Additional resources are available to students through the Cleveland Museum of National History, the Cleveland Metroparks zoo and other local, national and international collaborative relationships.

Candidates for the Ph.D. are expected to engage, to the extent possible, in other activities that benefit their professional development. The teaching of laboratory and lecture course, as a appropriate is considered valuable, and each student should have this experience during their graduate career. This includes those students on non-teaching scholarships or research appointments during their tenure. Students should also seek membership in professional organizations, attend meetings to present research results and maintain currency in the relevant literature.