Program Requirements

Completion of the Microbiology (MIC) Training Area core courses requires satisfactory performance in (i) Core I, (ii) Core II, (iii) MIC Core III, and (iv) at least two laboratory rotations.

Laboratory rotations

Students are required to complete two apprenticeships, preferably in microbiology laboratories, in order to diversify and extend their exposure to research techniques and approaches. Students in the training area should choose a preceptor before completion of their first year so that they may begin their dissertation research as soon as possible.

Microbiology Core III

Students have several options to fulfill the Microbiology Core III course requirement:

• Traditional: Take all modules of Introduction to Microbiology to receive classical microbiology training. 
  
  
• Flexible: Take two modules of Introduction to Microbiology, preferably Bacteriology (Module 1) and Virology (Module 2), and any other module of Core III or Fundamentals of Immunology. 
  
  
• Per case: With approval of the appropriate office or person, take a Core III course from another training area. 

Advanced elective courses

In addition to the core courses, microbiology students must complete six credits of advanced elective course(s) chosen in consultation with their advisory committees. Recommended courses include:  Advanced Virology; Fundamentals of Immunobiology;  Advanced Molecular and Cellular Immunobiology; Advanced Signal Transduction; Advanced Topics in Gene Therapy; and Advanced Topics in Cancer Biology.

Qualifying exam

The microbiology training area qualifying exam has two parts: (i) predoctoral proposal exam and (ii) a thesis proposal exam. Members of the student's first-year advisory committee, with additional faculty as needed, make up the exam committees for both parts of the qualifying exam. The microbiology training area does not have a standing exam committee that tests all students. 

Advisory committee meetings

All microbiology students are expected to meet with their advisory committee at least two times per year. Students should hold these meetings as frequently as possible in order to keep their research projects on track. Progress reports that acknowledge these meetings must be filed with the Graduate School office.

Thesis defense

Students are required to give a public presentation of their thesis. They must also pass a closed thesis defense exam immediately following the thesis presentation.