How do organisms adapt? What is the history of our species? Dobzhansky famously wrote "Nothing in Biology Makes Sense Except in the Light of Evolution." In this program, you will learn about fundamental processes that govern the history and dynamics of living systems, from molecules to cells to societies to ecosystems.
Degree Awarded: PHD
Evolutionary Biology
The evolutionary biology PhD is a transdisciplinary graduate degree program that provides doctorate-level training in the historical, conceptual, empirical and quantitative aspects of biological evolution. Evolution is a fundamental scientific concept underlying all aspects of modern biological, environmental and health-related research. It cuts across biological sciences in ways that few other foci do and informs the theoretical foundations of subfields like population genetics and ecosystem ecology. It allows integration of information and patterns across levels of organization, informs the theoretical foundations of subfields ranging from population genetics to systematics to ecosystem ecology, and provides bridges between temporal and spatial scales. Forgoing emphases on particular taxa or methods, the program focuses on understanding the patterns and processes that have shaped life on Earth and continue to do so, training the next generation of scientists to use this knowledge to meet present and future challenges to the biosphere and human health in the face of increasing environmental perturbation.
September 2025
Arizona State University
Tempe Campus,
1151 S. Forest Ave.,
TEMPE,
Arizona,
85281, United States
To be admitted to ASU, you must have earned a bachelor鈥檚 degree or higher from a regionally accredited institution in the U.S. or the equivalent of a U.S. bachelor鈥檚 degree from an international institution that is officially recognized by that country.
Competitive applicants typically have a 鈥淏鈥 (3.00 on a 4.00 scale) grade point average in the last 60 semester hours or 90 quarter hours of undergraduate coursework. If you do not meet the minimum GPA requirements, your application may still be considered by the department.
English language proficiency requirements
Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL): Score of at least 80 on the TOEFL iBT
International English Language Testing System (IELTS): Overall band score of the academic test of at least 6.5
Pearson Test of English (PTE): Score of at least 60
Duolingo English test: Graduate minimum score of 105