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Why Pursue a PhD in Developmental and Regenerative Sciences

The PhD in Developmental and Regenerative Sciences (DRS) will have you pioneer novel discoveries in rapidly developing disciplines and will provide foundational training to operate the latest medical technology. Conduct innovative research at the intersections of modern subdisciplines and methodologies, which includes the fields of molecular biology, cell biology, and experimental techniques in biology.

Program Highlights

  • A structured curriculum that ensures efficient and productive matriculation through the program
  • Research-intensive, interdisciplinary training experience
  • Diverse laboratories with broad research interests in basic, applied, clinical, academic, biotechnology, and military-health research
  • 6 State-of-the Art Research Core Facilities featuring cutting-edge instrumentation and technologies
  • 32 Research Centers and Institutes
  • Students fully and competitively funded throughout the program
  • A nurturing environment that promotes student success
  • Emphases on excellence, integrity, inclusion, and diversity

Award-Winning Faculty

See what some of our faculty are researching:

  • Dr. Lindsey Macpherson, assistant professor of neuroscience and developmental and regenerative biology, received a three-year, $450,000, Voelcker Fund Young Investigator Award to pursue novel research on why people lose their sense of taste during chemotherapy.
  • Dr. Brian Hermann, professor of stem cell biology, studies the basic biology of spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs), which are adult-tissue stem cells responsible for sperm production in the mammalian testis and which are essential for male fertility.

Admission & Application Requirements

Applications are submitted through the UTSA Graduate Application. Please upload all required documents (listed below) on your UTSA Graduate Application. It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure completion and submission of the application, a nonrefundable application fee, and all required supporting documents are on file with UTSA by the appropriate application deadline.

Developmental and Regenerative Sciences (PhD)
Admission is only available for the Fall semester
  Required Degree Bachelor's Degree from a regionally accredited college or university in the United States or have proof of equivalent training at a foreign institution.
  Minimum GPA 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) Departments may consider GPA of last 60 semester credit hours
  Coursework 18 credit hours in an area related to this graduate degree and at least 12 hours must be at the upper-division level.
  Transcripts* Required from all institutions attended; international transcripts must be recorded/translated to English
  Credential Evaluation Required if you have earned university-level credit from foreign institutions. Submit an evaluation of your transcripts from Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE) directly from the graduate admission application platform
  TOEFL/IELTS Score 550 TOEFL Paper / 79 TOEFL Internet / 6.5 IELTS scores for International applicants (exempt countries).
  Purpose Statement Required
  Letters of Recommendation 3 demonstrating your academic and personal attributes for success in this program (you will request these through the Graduate Admissions Application; let your recommenders know of your deadline to ensure submissions are on time)
*Unofficial transcripts will be taken into consideration for admissions; however, if admitted into the program, you must submit official transcripts to the University.
Apply using 2022-23 Graduate Application

Admission Deadlines

Applicants are encouraged to have their admission file completed as early as possible. All applications, required documents and letters of recommendation, if applicable, must be submitted by 5:00 PM U.S. Central Time on the day of the deadline. Deadlines are subject to change.

Developmental and Regenerative Sciences (PhD)
Completed applications will be reviewed for admission after the deadlines below. Decisions will be made and sent to applicants within a few weeks after the review date.
  Fall Spring Summer
Priority November 1 Not Available Not Available
International December 1 Not Available Not Available
Domestic December 1 Not Available Not Available

Funding Opportunities

Teaching and research assistantships are offered, as well as research fellowships.

Career Options

UTSA prepares you for future careers that are in demand. The possible careers below is data pulled by a third-party tool called Emsi, which pulls information from sources like the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Census Bureau, online job postings, other government databases and more to give you regional and national career outlook related to this academic program.


While in a doctoral program, a student may earn a master’s degree provided the following conditions are satisfied:

  • A student must be admitted to candidacy.
  • A student is eligible to receive a master’s degree upon completion of University-wide requirements and any additional degree requirements specific to the program.
  • The Doctoral Studies Committee, Department Chair, and the Graduate Associate Dean of the College must recommend students for the degree.
  • The student must apply for graduation by the published deadline the semester prior to awarding the doctoral degree.
  • All required coursework in the doctoral program at the time of admission to candidacy must have been taken within the previous six years.
  • If the master’s degree requires a thesis, the degree cannot be awarded on the basis of the doctoral qualifying examination.
  • Students will not be approved for an additional master’s degree in the same field in which an individual has previously received a master’s degree.

The Developmental and Regenerative Sciences PhD curriculum is offered through daytime courses only. Participation in the program is considered a full-time activity.

Graduate Advisor of Record

John McCarrey, PhD

210-458-4507

John.McCarrey@utsa.edu