Graduate
M.S. in Microbiology
Thesis MS Microbiology Program Requirements
- Minimum of 30 credits required (approved by MBS)
- 15 of the 30 credit hours must be in courses of a microbiological nature. Approval of such courses will be made by the MBS Graduate Director.
- Core Requirements - 6 credit hours
- MCB 6205 Bacterial Pathogenesis Credit Hours: 3
- MCB 6305 Advanced Bacterial Genetics Credit Hours: 3
- Additional Required Courses - 7 credit hours
- BSC 6930 Lectures in Contemporary Biology Credit Hours: 1 (Taken three times)
- PCB 6920 Advances in Cell and Molecular Biology during Fall Semester of first year Credit Hours: 1
- BSC 6956 Scientific Grant Writing during Spring Semester of first year* Credit Hours: 3
- Electives - 8 credit hours minimum
- Select from the following or other graduate courses approved by the supervisory committee.
**Please see Graduate Program Specialist for List of Approved Microbiology Classes
- PCB 6930 Current Topics in Cancer Biology Credit Hours: 2 Principles of Immunology Credit(s): 3 (Proposed as PCB 5335)
- PCB 6236 Advanced Immunology Credit Hours: 4
- MCB 5815 Medical Mycology Credit Hours: 3
- PCB 5616 Molecular Phylogenetics Credit Hours: 3
- PCB 6525 Molecular Genetics Credit Hours: 3
- BSC 5425 Genetic Engineering and Recombinant DNA Technology Credit Hours: 3
- Select from the following or other graduate courses approved by the supervisory committee.
**Please see Graduate Program Specialist for List of Approved Microbiology Classes
- Thesis (Research and Defense) - 9 credit hours minimum
- BSC 6971 Thesis: Master's Credit Hours: (8 credit hours minimum)
- BSC 6935 Graduate Seminar in Biology Credit Hours: 1
- Submission and Approval of Thesis Proposal
- Successful Completion of an Oral Qualifying Examination
- Presentation Requirement (1 presentation at national/regional professional meetings)
- Submission of acceptable thesis
M.S. Microbiology Typical Progress Timeline
Projected tracking through program in 2 years*
*based on successful completion of written and oral qualifying exams in the time specified, good academic standing and continuation of research during summer sessions
Semester 1 (fall)
- BSC 6910 Directed Research or Laboratory Rotations if required
- PCB 6920 Advances in Cellular & Molecular Biology
- MCB 6205 Advanced Bacterial Genetics OR MCB 6305 Bacterial Pathogenesis (Each course offered in alternate Fall Semesters)
- (1st Core Course)
- BSC 6930 Lectures in Contemporary Biology (1 of 3)
- Submit Annual Progress Report by December 15th
- Establish MS Laboratory and Major Advisor
Semester 2 (spring)
- BSC 6910 Directed Research
- BSC 6956 Scientific Grant Writing (optional as of Fall 2024 / elective)
- GMS 6103 Foundations of Medical Microbiology and Immunology (elective example)
- BSC 6930 Lectures in Contemporary Biology (2 of 3)
- Form thesis committee (file paperwork)
Summer 1
- BSC 6910 Directed Research
- Work on thesis proposal
Semester 3 (fall)
- BSC 6910 Directed Research
- BSC 6930 Lectures in Contemporary Biology (3 of 3)
- MCB 6205 Advanced Bacterial Genetics OR MCB 6305 Bacterial Pathogenisis (Each course offered in alternate Fall Semesters)
- (2nd Core Course)
- Submit Thesis Proposal to Thesis Committee
- Complete Oral Qualifier by November 15th
- Submit Annual Progress Report by December 15th
Semester 4 (spring)
- BSC/MCB 6971 Thesis: Masters (9 credits)
Summer 2
- BSC/MCB 6971 Thesis: Masters (6 credits)
Semester 5 (fall)
- BSC/MCB 6971 Thesis: Masters (8 credits)
- BSC 6935 Thesis Seminar
- Defend thesis and graduate
- National meeting presentation