Prior to the creation of the new CSB graduate program, which current  graduate students are strongly encouraged to transfer into if they are not enrolled already, two programs were previously available in Cell and Systems Biology – Plant and Microbial Biology, and Zoology – and students were registered for either MSc or PhD studies in both programs. For most students the choice of program was automatic once they chose a thesis supervisor since CSB professors are typically affiliated with only one of the programs. There are exceptions, however, and students should clarify their graduate program with their thesis supervisor.

The new graduate program in Cell and Systems Biology has been approved by the University of Toronto and the Ontario Council on Graduate Studies.  Consequently, entry into the Plant and Microbial Biology or Zoology graduate programs is no longer possible and the two programs eventually will be phased out.  The cohort of graduate students who will begin in September 2008 will all register in the new CSB graduate program.  Continuing students in the “old” programs will have to choose whether they wish to switch to the new program or complete their degree in the old program.   Students in one of the two "old" graduate programs are strongly encouraged to transfer to the new CSB program.  For information on transferring from either of the "old" programs to the new CSB program, contact the graduate office in Cell and Systems Biology (sue [dot] taylor (at)utoronto [dot] ca).

A copy of the slides from a presentation on the CSB graduate program can be found here.