Ph.D. Degree | M.A. Degree | Literature Degree
Both the Ph.D. and M.A. degrees are offered by the Microbiology Program. A special M.A. program is available for individuals seeking post-baccalaureate training without a laboratory research component.
Ph.D. degree requirements (top)
During the Fall of the first year, each student takes a common Core Program. The Fall Core includes M500 Research Rotations, B501 Integrated Biochemistry, L585 Genetics and Bioinformatics, and L523 Critical Analysis of Scientific Literature. In the Spring of the first year, students continue Research Rotations. In addition, graduate courses are available in virology, physiology, and biochemistry. Other courses offered within the Department of Biology and Chemistry may be taken to satisfy individual student’s interests. In each case, an individual’s curriculum is arranged by the student in consultation with the Microbiology Graduate Advisor.
Through M500 each student participates in research projects in at least 3 different laboratories prior to selecting a permanent research advisor and laboratory at the end of the first year. At the end of the first year, each student selects a research advisor and laboratory. Together with his/her advisor, the student also selects the other members of an advisory committee of 3-4 faculty appropriate to the student's intended degree. This advisory committee guides and monitors the student's research and course work.
The Microbiology program requires a total of 90 credit hours, including the Core Program, and at least 4.5 credit hours of Advanced Course work. The Advanced Course offerings change from year to year, to provide breadth in topics covered. Most Advanced Courses are half-semester 1.5-credit hour courses in areas requested by students. Each student must also take Grant Writing (Z620) during year 2, and Research Ethics and Career Development (Z620) during year 3. Each student must teach during at least 2 semesters.
Grades: Every student must maintain a minimum GPA of 3.2 in order to remain in good standing and retain a merit-based fellowship or award. Courses to be counted toward the Ph.D. degree must be passed with a grade of B- (2.7) or better.
Students take a Preliminary Examination at the end of the fourth semester. Students who pass this examination are admitted to formal candidacy for the Ph.D. The final requirement of each program is a Ph.D. thesis, which must be defended in a public research seminar and in a meeting of the research advisory committee.
Throughout their graduate career, students participate in the Microbiology Seminar Program, a weekly seminar series in which students analyze, present and discuss recent data from the literature.
Masters degree requirements (top)
The Masters degree requires that the student take a total of 30 credit hours in courses approved for graduate credit. Most of these credits will be in M800, which is credit for performing research. Masters students are expected to take 12 credits of coursework in microbiology and areas relevant to their research. The choice of courses depends on the background of individual students and courses are chosen in consultation with the Microbiology Program Director.
Microbiology Masters students participate in the Microbiology Seminar (M850), a weekly seminar series in which students analyze, present and discuss recent data from the literature.
Students must maintain a minimum GPA of B (3.0) in order to remain in good standing. Courses to be counted toward the Masters degree must be passed with a grade of B- (2.7) or better.
Through M500, each student participates in research projects in 2-3 different laboratories prior to selecting a permanent research advisor and laboratory at the end of the first year. At the end of the first year, each student selects a research advisor and laboratory. Together with his/her advisor, the student also selects the other members of an advisory committee of 3-4 faculty appropriate to the student's intended degree. This advisory committee guides and monitors the student's research and course work.
Students are required to write a thesis based on their research results that is approved by their thesis committee. The research thesis must be defended in a public research seminar and in a meeting of the research advisory committee.
Literature Degree: The department also offers a program in microbiology leading to a master's degree that does not require a laboratory research project. Enrolment in this program requires authorization by the program director. A student enrolled in this program will write a thesis critically evaluating and reviewing some aspect of microbiology reported in the literature. All other requirements for the degree are identical to those stated above for the research-based Master of Arts.
