The M.S. in Microbiology is administered by the Department of Molecular Biosciences. The mission of the Department of Molecular Biosciences (MB) is to prepare graduate students for various professional careers in academia, government or industry in the areas of Cell Biology, Microbiology, and Molecular Biology. We pursue excellence in the following programmatic research areas: genome integrity and mechanisms of aging, bacterial pathogenesis and resistance, structural and computational biology.
Due to the interdisciplinary aspect of most research projects, faculty and graduate students often work together on broad ranging research projects that bring together many of the traditionally separate areas of biology.
Major Research Areas: Applied Microbiology, Pathogenic Microbiology, Cellular Microbiology, Molecular Microbiology, Ecological Microbiology
Admission Information
Must meet University Admission and English Proficiency requirements as well as requirements for admission to the major, listed below.
- Submission of GRE scores is not required, but is strongly recommended for international applicants.
- It is expected that candidates for the M.S. degrees will have completed courses equivalent to those required for the B.S. in Microbiology at U.S.F.
- Three letters of recommendation from faculty in sealed envelopes (on their university letterhead) with the envelope seal signed by the recommender. Students shall complete a Student Recommendation Form that can be found on the Department website and submit it to the recommenders.
- A brief essay stating your intended field of research and professional goals. Please indicate your specific research interests, in order that the application may be referred to appropriate faculty members. In the essay please list 2-3 CMMB faculty members that you would like to have review your file.
- Applicants must complete the Application for Teaching Assistantship (TA) Form that can be found on the Department website if they wish to be considered for a TA position. Applicants who do not return this form will not be consider for a teaching position. Applicants should attach a resume to the Application for Teaching Assistantship (TA) Form that highlights any previous teaching experience.
Applying to the Department of Molecular Biosciences (MB)
Students interested in attending graduate studies within the MB Department should visit the MB website that can be accessed from the main USF site and review the current MB faculty. It is recommended that potential students consider at least two to three (2-3 MB faculty that they would be interested in working with and communicate this information in their letter of application. It is also recommended that potential students contact the MB Graduate Director as well as the individual faculty members they are interested in working with via email. Such communication will facilitate the assignment of the laboratory rotations that MB students will participate in during their first semester of residency and allow the applicant to determine whether the desired faculty member has positions available in the laboratory.
General Information - All students admitted to the Masters in Microbiology must establish a supervisory committee. The supervisory committee shall constitute the major professor and at least two additional credentialed faculty. (Refer to the Academic Policies section for more information on composition requirements). Supervisory committee must be formed within two semesters after matriculation. The MB Graduate Director and MB Chair must approve the Supervisory Committee. Once a major professor has been assigned and/or a student occupies or utilizes significant space or facilities for research or analogous scholarly activity directly pertinent to the generation of a thesis, the student shall enroll for a minimum of two (2) hours of research credit each semester (other than summer semester), until eligible to enroll in thesis credits.
Because of the many undergraduate courses that require hands-on experimental laboratories, MB support many graduate students as Teaching Assistants. MB values high quality teaching at all levels of support. Research Assistant positions may also be available to support research with specific faculty members depending on an individual faculty members funding. Numerous scholarship opportunities are also offered on a competitive basis through the USF Office of Graduate Studies.