Master of Science in Microbiology

The Microbiology Graduate Group offers interdisciplinary, interdepartmental training and combines academic and experimental training in modern molecular approaches to microbiological problems. Areas of research span fundamental, applied, and pathogenic microbiology, including bacterial and viral pathogenesis, eukaryotic microbiology, microbial genomics and genetics, microbial physiology and development, microbial ecology and environmental microbiology, cancer biology, and bioengineering and bioremediation. Current faculty members utilize molecular genetics to study the biology of individual microbes and also use microbial and non-microbial models for the study of specific cellular processes, including recombination, stress responses, aging, cancer, DNA repair, and mutagenesis.

Students who apply for admission in the M.S. program in Microbiology must meet the following criteria: the applicant is to identify a lab they will be directly admitted to and are self-funded. Once a major professor has been identified for direct admit, the major professor must provide a letter of support for the applicant to the MGG admission committee. M.S. students are admitted directly to a lab and are self-funded, meaning that our M.S. program in the Microbiology Graduate Group, including its faculty members and/or affiliates, will not be providing financial support for the duration of the master's program. All costs associated with the M.S. program in Microbiology Graduate Program are the responsibility of the applicant.

Students are accepted into the M.S. program in Microbiology by two routes. The first is by directly applying for admission under the supervision of a specific mentor.

The second route occurs when a Ph.D. student\u2019s plans or circumstances change so that an M.S. degree is desirable. To initiate this change, the student must file a Petition For Change of Degree Objective.

Admission requires an undergraduate degree (B.S. or B.A.) in a biological science, which should include adequate course work in most of the following areas: calculus, general physics, general chemistry, quantitative analysis, organic chemistry, biochemistry with a laboratory, general genetics, general biology with a laboratory, and general bacteriology or microbiology with a laboratory. Upper division courses in cell biology, microbiology, microbial physiology and genetics, and immunology are also encouraged.

A GPA of 3.0 or greater (on a 4.0 scale) for undergraduate courses is generally required.

TOEFL iBT - Minimum Score: 80

IELTS - Minimum Score: 7.0 on a 9-point scale

Duolingo English Test - Minimum Score: 115

Admission Deadlines
General: Dec 15
Space Available: Jun 1