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This is a typical question for many students looking into pursuing a graduate degree.  Students are generally familiar with only their undergraduate curriculum and do not know how it compares with life in graduate school.  Graduate school is definitely different, and the experience can vary greatly from school to school and also from department to department.  Please keep this variability in mind when reading the following descriptions. Hopefully this information will give you a good idea of what to expect. Other ways you can get information of what to expect is to read the program’s brochure, visit the school, and e-mail or talk to current students in the program.

<b>Masters (M.S. Degree) Programs:</b>
Many graduate departments have a Masters program.  Some have a distinct Masters program and others are in combination with a Ph.D. program.  Some Ph.D. programs give a Masters degree to students after their second year, however this practice has decreased since programs would lose their investment by providing Ph.D. stipends to students receiving only a Masters degree.

The typical Masters program usually requires approximately nine graduate courses during two academic years.  About half of these courses will be formal courses related to the program of study. These courses will be required of all students in the program.  Testing in these classes can be very challenging and require essay questions.  There are also slots open for elective courses, during which students can focus on specific subjects of interest.

Graduate school classes are much smaller than undergraduate courses and often less structured.  Classes tend not to be based off textbooks, but scientific journal articles.  Students are often required to attend departmental seminars. Student may also have to attend a journal club for a couple of terms.  During the duration of the program, students must maintain an average grade of a B.  Not meeting this requirement leads to either probation or failing the program.

Programs also take an approach where students will be required to experience public speaking. This may take the form of a journal club, seminar, or teaching a class.  In addition, students are required to be a teaching assistant for at least one quarter (or semester).  Teaching assistantships vary greatly and can range from grading papers to running an undergraduate lab alone.   Depending on the requirements, this may take a lot of time.  Whatever the situation, it is best to make the most of it.  Even if you do not go into a teaching job, you will have teaching responsibilities in any career.  Another perk of the assistantships is they provide some income (or offset tuition), which helps a lot during this difficult financial period.

Masters students need to choose a lab in which to do their masters thesis work.  This may include an interview where the professor of the lab decides whether they want to take a student into their lab.  Once accepted into a lab, the student will work with the professor to devise a research plan that will be their thesis work.  Much of the last year is devoted to working on their research project and writing their thesis based on the work.  After writing the thesis, students have to defend their thesis work in front of a thesis committee.

Much of the last year in a masters program is spent with one's own research project and the writing of a thesis based on this work. At the end of this road is an oral defense of the thesis work.  The thesis committee judges the oral defense based on whether the student understands the material, has discovered something new, and whether the student become an expert in the field.  A student’s thesis work may also lead to publishing a scientific paper but is not a requirement.

<b>Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) Programs:</b>
The Ph.D. degree has traditionally been considered the most prestigious formal academic achievement. Students can enter a Ph.D. program from either an undergraduate or Masters Program.  Students coming from a Masters program or another program may be asked to take a few courses to match the requirements of the program.

Everyone attempting the Ph.D. program is likely to be required to take an oral preliminary examination, to determine competency for beginning doctoral research. At some schools the topics covered during this exam are directly related to the student's proposed research topic. At other schools students may have to present a topic that is different from their own research topic.  During the oral examination faculty members may ask a much wider range of questions to ascertain whether the student has the skills to tackle original research topics of any kind.

After formal admission to doctoral candidacy, most of a student's time is spent on their research topic.  Research in graduate school is typically done independently.  It is up to the student to decide how to proceed and to get the work done. One does not have to clock in and out, and the principle investigator (PI) rarely tracks how many hours one puts in.  However, progress toward completing ones thesis is required.  The student is their own boss, having to manage their time and getting the job done.

Students are also provided their own lab space, which generally will include a lab bench for research and a desk for reading articles and writing.  Depending on the labs resources, students may have the freedom to order instruments and reagents. Students will also have access to departmental instruments and other resources to help in their research.  The end goal of your research is determined through discussions between yourself and the principle investigator.

The typical program ranges from 4 to 7 years.  This broad range is dependent on a number of factors: 
1) Research progress has a high variability (failed experiments, hypothesis not panning out, etc.) 
2) Certain fields require a more detailed story to be submitted for publication then others. 
3) Variability in agreements between student and professor as to what is required to finish the degree. 
4) Length of experiments may vary depending on model organism used.

During the research process a student may succeed in writing several publications in scientific journals.  However, the sum of all their research is described in the book-length dissertation.  The actual process of writing the dissertation may take several months, depending on the percentage of time devoted to it.  The complete piece is submitted to the PI and the thesis committee.  They review the dissertation and make comments during the thesis defense.

The thesis defense is an oral examination usually consisting of what the student has accomplished during their thesis research. They typically examine the dissertation and ask many probing questions.  This is the moment for the student to shine.  At this moment the student should be the expert in his/her field; most times knowing more then the PI.  The committee typically asks what type of future experiments one would do.  It is highly unlikely for the student to fail this examination, since the student and PI should have an understanding of the progress before pursuing the thesis defense.

After the thesis defense, most programs require a public defense where the student gives a presentation of their research.  Family and friends are welcome to attend and there is usually a party afterwards to celebrate the achievement.

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