The graduate program in Developmental Biology leads to the PhD degree. The department also participates in the Medical Scientists Training Program (MSTP) in which individuals are candidates for both the MD and PhD degrees.

Students are required to complete at least five courses, including DBIO 210 Developmental Biology; DBIO 215 Frontiers in Biological Sciences; an advanced graduate course in genetics or genomics; an advanced graduate course in cell biology of biochemistry; and a course in quantitative or computational biology. Students are expected to attend Developmental Biology seminars and journal clubs.

Completion of a qualifying examination is required for admission to PhD candidacy. The examination consists an "off-topic" proposal on a subject different from the dissertation research. The final requirements of the program include presentation of a PhD dissertation as the result of independent investigation and constituting a contribution to knowledge in the area of developmental biology. The student must pass the University oral examination, taken only after the student has substantially completed research. The examination is preceded by a public seminar in which the research is presented by the candidate. The oral examination is conducted by a dissertation reading committee.