MCB Program Requirements

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 Probation 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 Last day of Summer Quarter
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 +
Download the MCB requirement grid

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
Download the MSTP requirement grid