Graduate Programs

Programs of course work and the department in microbiology or cell and molecular biology offers research leading to the degrees of Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy. Students may elect either microbiology or cell and molecular biology within the M.S. and Ph.D. program.

Prerequisites. Applicants for admission must have received the baccalaureate degree from an accredited college and must have completed a minimum of 30 semester credit hours in biological and physical sciences. The Aptitude Test portion of the Graduate Record Examination is required of all applicants. An applicant will not be accepted unless at least one member of the departmental graduate faculty agrees to act as the applicant's adviser at the M.S. level. A majority of the departmental graduate faculty must approve an applicant at eh Ph.D. level.

The Master of Science Degree. In addition to the general requirements for the degree, the following departmental requirements must be met in attaining 30 credit hours with thesis. The plan of study must include six credit hours in MICR 5000 and one credit hour in MICR 5160.

All candidates for the M.S. degree are expected to attend and participate in all departmental seminars. The advisory committee administers a final oral examination covering the thesis.

The Doctor of Philosophy Degree. The study plan of a student entering the program with a bachelor's degree must include 30 credit hours in courses other than MICR 5000 and MICR 6000. Those entering with a master's degree must include 15 hours in courses other than MICR 6000, which were not included in the master's study plan. Three hours of MICR 5160 must be included.

Candidates for the Ph.D. degree must pass both a written and an oral qualifying examination. The final examination covering the dissertation research is given promptly after the candidate has been given a public seminar on his or her research work.