COURSEWORK
What You'll Study
-
Required Courses (6 courses, 16 credits)
Students are required to complete at least ONE of the following:
| Course # |
Course Title |
Pre-Req |
Credits |
Semester |
| MCB 5205 |
Microbiology of Human Pathogens |
Microbiology |
3 |
Fall, Spring |
| GMS 6121 |
Infectious Disease |
Biochemistry |
3 |
Fall, Spring, Sum C** |
Note - GMS 6121 and MCB 5205 can both be taken, and one will count as an elective
Students are required to complete at least ONE of the following:
| Course # |
Course Title |
Pre-Req |
Credits |
Semester |
| MCB 5505 |
General Virology |
Microbiology |
3 |
Fall, Spring, Sum C** |
| GMS 7133 |
Advanced Molecular Virology |
minimum grade of C in GMS 6121 |
2 |
Fall, Spring, Sum C** |
Note - GMS 7133 and MCB 5505 can both be taken, and one can count as an elective
Students are required to complete at least ONE of the following:
| Course # |
Course Title |
Pre-Req |
Credits |
Semester |
| MCB 7922 |
Journal Colloquy – (topic announced each semester) |
none |
1 |
Fall, Spring, Sum C** |
| GMS 7192 |
Journal Colloquy – Infectious Disease |
none |
1 |
Fall, Spring, Sum C** |
| GMS 7192 |
Journal Colloquy – Bacteriology |
none |
1 |
Fall, Spring, Sum C** |
| GMS 7192 |
Journal Colloquy – COVID-19 |
none |
1 |
Fall, Spring, Sum C** |
Note - taking up to 2 additional journal courses can count as electives (maximum 3 credits total)
Students are required to complete ALL THREE of the courses listed below
| Course # |
Course Title |
Pre-Req |
Credits |
Semester |
| BSC 6459 |
Fundamentals in Bioinformatics |
Molecular Biology or Biochemistry |
3 |
Fall |
| BCH 5413 |
Mammalian Molecular Biology and Genetics |
Molecular Biology or Biochemistry |
3 |
Fall, Spring, Sum C** |
| MCB 6900 |
Final Assessment - Literature Review |
Must be taken in either of the last two semesters |
1 |
Fall, Spring, Sum C** |
All three courses are required. MCB 6900 must be completed in the final semester of the program
*Sum A refers to the first 6-week summer session, mid-May through late June
** Sum C refers to the 12-week summer session, mid-May through early August
***Sum B refers to the second 6-week summer session, early July to early August.
-
Elective Courses
Remaining credits must come from elective courses (required and elective credits must total 30 to be eligible to graduate). Note: Module courses are offered during shortened periods throughout the semester
| Course # |
Course Title |
Pre-Req |
Credits |
Semester |
| MCB 6796 |
Microbiological Data Analysis |
Microbiology |
3 |
Fall |
| BSC 6895C |
AI in Agriculture and Life Sciences |
Microbiology |
3 |
Fall |
| MCB 6407 |
Prokaryotic Cell |
Microbiology and Biochemistry |
3 |
Fall |
| MCB 6937 |
Microbial Applications in Synthetic Biology |
Microbiology |
3 |
Fall |
| MCB 6656 |
Environmental Microbiology |
Microbiology |
3 |
Fall |
| MCB 6937 |
Fundamentals in Molecular Genetics |
Recommended for those with a limited molecular biology background |
3 |
Fall |
| MCB 6417 |
Microbial Metabolism and Energetics (module) |
Biochemistry |
1 |
Fall |
| MCB 5270 |
Antimicrobial Resistance |
Microbiology |
3 |
Fall, Spring |
| MCB 5666 |
Clinical Research, Assessment, Ed. & Quantitative Methods |
Microbiology |
1 |
Fall, Spring |
| MCB 5546 |
Clinical Parasitology |
Microbiology |
1 |
Fall, Spring |
| MCB 5816 |
Clinical Mycology |
Microbiology |
1 |
Fall, Spring, Summer A* |
| MCB 5508 |
Clinical Virology |
Microbiology |
1 |
Fall, Spring, Summer A* |
| MCB 6095 |
Microbiology Careers |
None |
1 |
Fall, Spring, Summer B*** |
| MCB 6096 |
Innovation Project Management |
None |
1 |
Fall, Spring, Summer B*** |
| GMS 6108* |
Bacterial Physiology, Antibiotics, and Genetics |
Minimum grade of B+ in GMS 6121 |
3 |
Fall, Spring, Summer C** |
| GMS 6109* |
Advanced Bacteriology |
Minimum grade of C in GMS 6121 |
2 |
Fall, Spring, Summer C** |
| GMS 6132 |
Introductory Gene and Immunotherapy |
Minimum grade of C in GMS 6121 |
2 |
Fall, Spring, Summer C** |
| MCB 6937 |
Regulatory Aspects of Microbiome Research |
MCB 6424 or MCB 4422 |
1 |
Summer C** |
| MCB 5252 |
Microbiology, Immunology, and Immunotherapeutics |
Recommended for those with a limited Microbiology and Immunology background |
4 |
Spring, Summer A* |
| MCB 6670C |
The Microbiome |
Microbiology |
3 |
Spring, Summer C** |
| MCB 6772 |
Advanced Topics in Cell Biology (module) |
Microbiology |
1 |
Spring |
| MCB 6355 |
Microbial/Host Defense (module) |
Immunology |
1 |
Spring |
| MCB 6318 |
Comparative Microbial Genomics (module) |
Minimum grade of A- in BSC 6459 |
2 |
Spring |
| MCB 6326 |
Computational Genomics and Epigenomics |
Microbiology |
3 |
Spring |
| PCB 5235 |
Immunology |
Microbiology |
3 |
Spring |
| PCB 6667 |
Human Genomics |
Molecular Biology or Biochemistry |
3 |
Spring |
| MCB 5705 |
Astrobiology |
Microbiology |
3 |
Spring |
| MCB 6424 |
Probiotics |
Microbiology |
3 |
Spring |
| MCB 6937 |
Advanced Molecular Genetics |
Microbiology |
3 |
Spring |
| MCB 6937 |
Python Programming |
Microbiology |
3 |
Spring |
| MCB 6458 |
Post Translational Modifications in Microbiology |
Microbiology |
2 |
Summer C** |
| MCB 6151 |
Prokaryotic Diversity |
Microbiology |
3 |
Summer C** |
| MCB 6937 |
Microbial Multicellularity |
Microbiology |
2 |
Summer C** |
Students may not take both GMS 6108 and GMS 6109; take either GMS 6108 or GMS 6109
*Sum A refers to the first 6-week summer session, mid-May through late June
** Sum C refers to the 12-week summer session, mid-May through early August
***Sum B refers to the second 6-week summer session, early July to early August.
-
Graduation Requirements
- Students must take at least 3 credits in the final fall/spring (or two credits in the summer) semester to graduate.
- 30 credits are required to complete the degree (up to 37 credits required in the introductory online MS track).
- Only courses completed with a grade of C or higher can be counted towards the degree.
- Students must maintain both a 3.0 overall GPA and a 3.0 major GPA to graduate (a lower GPA will result in academic probation and possible dismissal from the program).
- 15 credits must be completed in major courses with an MCB, PCB, or BSC prefix.
- Satisfactorily complete MCB 6900 Final Assessment - Literature Review in either of the last two semesters of coursework to fulfill the final exam requirement: Graduation Info
PROGRAM BENEFITS
Why Earn a Master's Degree in Medical Microbiology?
The life sciences are growing, and so can your career. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 8% growth in microbiologist employment from 2024 to 2034, compared with 3% growth across all occupations. Median annual pay for microbiologists was $87,330 in May 2024, with opportunities to advance into higher-paying research, biotechnology and federal laboratory roles.
A master’s degree can help you:
- Advance your career with graduate-level expertise in medical microbiology
- Build deeper knowledge in infectious disease, microbial pathogenesis, immunology and related fields
- Strengthen your preparation for doctoral, medical or other professional programs
- Add a graduate credential that can strengthen your resume or professional school application
- Qualify for more advanced roles in research, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, clinical laboratories and government
- Build scientific and computational skills for a field increasingly shaped by data and emerging technologies
The future of microbiology isn’t about AI replacing scientists. It’s about scientists who know how to use AI and computational tools alongside biological expertise. UF’s M.S. gives you the opportunity to build both, with coursework that incorporates genomics, bioinformatics, data analysis and emerging applications of AI in the life sciences.
Explore Microbiology and Cell Science Careers ➜
EXPLORE MORE
M.S. Concentrations
Medical microbiology isn't the only way to specialize. Explore UF'S other Master of Science options in microbiology and cell science.
M.S. + Certificate
Want to specialize further? Add a graduate certificate to your M.S. and build focused expertise without starting another program from scratch. All online certificate courses are part of the M.S. curriculum, so depending on your certificate and concentration, you can add a specialized credential with only a small number of credits beyond the standard 30-credit M.S. The combined program is also eligible for financial aid, subject to eligibility requirements.
The two in-person clinical requirements for the Clinical Laboratory Microbiologist certificate are not part of the M.S. curriculum.
⬇ Explore program details below.
