Typical Program of Study:

1st year, Fall:
MIBO6650 (Microbial Genetics & Genomics) (3 CR)
MIBO8150 (Research Interests of Faculty) (1CR)
GRSC7770 (Graduate Teaching & Career Development) (3 CR)
MIBO8900 (2-3 Rotations in Laboratories) (6 CR))
MIBO9000 (PhD Research) or MIBO7000 (MS Research) (variable CR)
Total of 15 hrs

1st year, Spring:
Choose Major Professor
MIBO8600 (Advanced Prokaryotic Biology) (3 CR)
MIBO9000 (PhD Research) or MIBO7000 (MS Research) (variable CR)
Other electives

Total of 15 hrs

1st year, Summer:
Select Advisory Committee by end of 1^st year of residency (PhD and MS)
MIBO8160 (Seminar Presentation, required in Summer of 1st year) (3 CR)
MIBO9000 (PhD Research) or MIBO7000 (MS Research) (variable CR)

Total of 12 hrs

2nd year, Fall:
Submit research prospectus to committee by end of Sept. (PhD only)
Submit thesis title to committee by end of Sept. (MS only)
MIBO8610 (Advanced Microbial Diversity) (3 CR)
MIBO9000 (PhD Research) or MIBO7000 (MS Research) (variable CR)
Other electives

Total of 15 hrs

2nd year, Spring:
Complete forms/paperwork associated with qualifying exams and admission to candidacy
Pass written proposal at Spring midterm (PhD only)
Pass oral at end of Spring term (PhD only)
MIBO9000 or MIBO7000
Other electives

Total of 15 hrs

2nd year, Summer:
Admission to candidacy (PhD)
MIBO9000 (PhD Research) or MIBO7000 (MS Research) (variable CR)
MIBO7300 (MS thesis preparation) (3 CR)
Total of 12 hrs

3rd year, Fall and Beyond:
MIBO9000 (PhD Research) (variable CR)
MIBO9300 (PhD dissertation preparation) (3 CR)
MIBO8170 (Research Seminars, Spring of 3rd or 4^th year) (2CR)
Total of 15 hrs

Required Courses:
1. The core graduate courses required for all M.S. and Ph.D. students are:
• MIBO8150 (Research Interests of Faculty)
• MIBO8160 (Seminar Presentation)
• MIBO8600 (Advanced Prokaryotic Biology)
• MIBO8610 (Advanced Microbial Diversity)
• MIBO8170 (Research Seminar)

2. A graduate teaching and career development course (GRSC 7770) is required before the first semester of teaching. Teaching for two semesters in introductory, advanced, or graduate-level microbiology courses is required. Most students serve as teaching assistants during their second or third year.

3. Immediately before graduating, students must be enrolled in three hours of MIBO 7300M or 9300D (writing thesis/dissertation).

Other Courses:

- MIBO6650 (Microbial Genetics & Genomics) and GENE8650 (Responsible Science) are strongly recommended.

- Other courses taken to fulfill the required 20 hours of 7000-8000 level course work include MIBO8900 (Rotations, max 6 CR) and other advanced courses in genetics, biochemistry, cell biology, etc. (decided on by the student, their advisor, and their committee). Electives courses in microbiology or other fields at the 6000 level contribute to the required 30 hours of total coursework.

Defense requirement:
The final step in graduation is passing a thesis/dissertation defense: a public seminar followed by oral exam with committee (MS, aim for Year 2 or 3; PhD aim for Year 5).