Most MCB students complete their degree and studies within 5.5 years. The MCB Program has a seven-year limit on the time to receive a degree. All MCB students must:
- Stay above a 3.0 average to stay in good standing with MCB and the Graduate School
- Complete 18 graded course credits that are 500-level or above
- Maintain a minimum grad of 2.7 to receive credit for a course
Students may petition the MCB co-directors to receive credit for lower level courses.
In the rare instances that an MCB course is canceled, all enrolled students will be emailed by the instructor or MCB staff before the course is scheduled to begin. In addition, the Time Schedule is updated accordingly.
The MCB Program has a seven-year limit on the time to receive a degree. Students are encouraged to graduate within 5.5 years. The process to graduate in Year Seven is as follows:
1.) Year Six, Summer Quarter – Student sent a reminder of seven-year limit
2.) Year Seven, Winter Quarter, 5th week – Student must submit one of the following:
~ Petition with declaration of intent to graduate by end of Summer Quarter of Year 7 including:
> Letter to MCB co-directors stating intent to graduate by end of Summer Quarter of Year 7
> Email of support from each member of Supervisory Committee
OR
~ Request for extension beyond Year 7 with evidence of project towards degree
3.) Year Seven, Spring Quarter
~ Student receives petition decision from co-directors
~ If petition is denied, student has until end of quarter to graduate or will be placed on Final Academic Alert for Summer Quarter
4.) Year Seven, Summer Quarter – If all requirements for graduation are not completed by the end of Summer Quarter, the UW Graduate School will automatically remove the student from UW enrollment.
MCB Student Milestones
To help students keep track of their progress and plan their next steps, these are the key required program milestones of an MCB student.
| Milestone | Program Year | Deadline |
| Select a permanent lab | 1st | June 1 |
| Form a Supervisory Committee | 2nd | Last day of Winter Quarter |
| Hold first Supervisory Committee meeting | 2nd | Last day of Spring Quarter |
| Complete 18 graded course credits | 2nd | Last day of Spring Quarter |
| Complete Teaching Assistantships | 2nd | Last day of Spring Quarter |
| Formulate Individual Development Plan (IDP) with faculty advisor | 2nd | During Winter Quarter |
| Pass General Examination | 3rd | Last day of Autumn Quarter |
| ~ Hold Annual Supervisory Committee meetings ~ Submit Annual Committee Report and IDP to MCB |
3rd, 4th, 5th | By the last day of Spring Quarter each year |
| ~ Schedule Final Exam/Dissertation Defense ~ Establish Reading Committee |
5th + | At least 3 months before defense |
| Submit thesis to Reading Committee | 5th + | At least 5 weeks before defense |
| Receive Final Exam Committee Signature Form | 5th + | At least 3 weeks before defense |
| Final Exam/Dissertation Defense | 5th + |
MSTP Student Milestones
To help students keep track of their progress and plan their next steps, these are the key required program milestones of an MSTP student in the MCB program.
| Milestone | Program Year | Deadline |
| ~ Join permanent lab ~ Begin graded elective courses ~ Register for MCB 600 (variable research credits) |
0.5 | Before Autumn Quarter of Year 1 |
| Participate in MCB First-Year course | 1st | Autumn, Winter, Spring Quarter |
| Present one Rotation Talk | 1st | Finals week of Autumn OR Winter Quarter |
| Form Supervisory Committee | 1st | Last day of Winter Quarter |
| Present at Spring Poster Session | 1st | Tuesday of Finals Week during Spring Quarter |
| Complete 18 graded credit requirement | 1st | Last day of Spring Quarter |
| Select TAship | 1st | Last day of Spring Quarter |
| Hold Annual Supervisory Committee meetings and submit Annual Committee Report and IDP to MCB | 1st-5th | By the last day of Spring Quarter each year |
| Schedule General Exam | 1st | By last day of Summer Quarter |
| Complete General Exam | 2nd | By last day of Autumn Quarter |
| Complete TAship | 2nd | By last day of Spring Quarter |
| Register for MCB 800 (variable research credits) | 2nd-5th | Autumn, Winter, and Spring Quarters of each year |
| Final Exam/Dissertation Defense | 5th |