COURSEWORK
What You'll Study
-
Required Courses (6 courses, 16 credits)
All six courses are required. MCB 6900 must be completed in the final semester of the program.
| Course # |
Course Title |
Pre-Req |
Credits |
Fall |
Spring |
Summer |
| MCB 5270 |
Antimicrobial Resistance |
Microbiology |
3 |
✔️ |
✔️ |
|
| MCB 6670C |
The Microbiome |
Microbiology |
3 |
|
✔️ |
Sum C** |
| MCB 6424 |
Probiotics |
Microbiology |
3 |
|
✔️ |
|
| MCB 5505 |
Virology |
Microbiology |
3 |
✔️ |
✔️ |
Sum C** |
| BSC 6895C |
AI in Agriculture and LIfe Science |
Microbiology |
3 |
✔️ |
|
|
| MCB 6900 |
Final Assessment - Literature Review |
Must be taken in either of the last two semesters |
1 |
✔️ |
✔️ |
Sum C** |
Students are required to complete 2 of the courses listed below (2 credits).
| Course # |
Course Title |
Pre-Req |
Credits |
Fall |
Spring |
Summer |
| MCB 6937 |
Regulatory Aspects of the Microbiome Research |
MCB 6424 or MCB 4422 |
1 |
|
|
Sum C** |
| MCB 7922 |
Journal Colloquy: Mechanisms of Host/Microbial Interactions |
none |
1 |
✔️ |
✔️ |
|
| MCB 7922 |
Journal Colloquy: Virome/Host Interactions |
none |
1 |
✔️ |
✔️ |
|
| MCB 7922 |
Journal Colloquy: Microbiome-based Clinical Trials |
none |
1 |
|
|
Sum C** |
-
Choose a Track
Students are required to choose one of two available tracks:
- Microbiome/Host Interactions Track (6 credits) or
- Microbiome Quantitative Track (6 credits)
1-Microbiome/Host Interactions Track (6 credits)
Students are required to complete the course listed below (3 credits)
| Course # |
Course Title |
Pre-Req |
Credits |
Fall |
Spring |
Summer |
| PCB 5235 |
Immunology |
Microbiology |
3 |
|
✔️ |
|
Students are required to complete 1 of the course listed below (three credits)
| Course # |
Course Title |
Pre-Req |
Credits |
Fall |
Spring |
Summer |
| MCB 5205 |
Microbiology of Human Pathogens |
Microbiology |
3 |
✔️ |
✔️ |
|
| MCB 6151 |
Prokaryotic Diversity |
Microbiology |
3 |
|
|
Sum C** |
| MCB 6407 |
Prokarylotic Cell |
Microbiology and Biochemistry |
3 |
✔️ |
|
|
2-Mirobiome Quantitative Track (6 credits):
Students are required to complete 2 courses listed below (5 or 6 credits)
| Course # |
Course Title |
Pre-Req |
Credits |
Fall |
Spring |
Summer |
| MCB 6796 |
Microbiological Data Analysis |
Microbiology |
3 |
✔️ |
|
|
| MCB 6326 |
Computational Genomics and Epigenomics |
Microbiology |
3 |
|
✔️ |
|
| BSC 6459 |
Fundamentals in Bioinformatics |
Molecular Biology and Biochemistry |
3 |
✔️ |
|
|
| MCB 6318 |
Comparative Microbial Genomics |
miminum grade of A- in BSC 6459 |
2 |
|
✔️ |
|
Students who take MCB 6318 are required to complete 1 course listed below (1 credit)
| Course # |
Course Title |
Pre-Req |
Credits |
Fall |
Spring |
Summer |
| MCB 6937 |
Regulatory Aspects of Microbiome-based Therapies |
MCB 6424 or MCB 4422 |
1 |
|
|
Sum C** |
| MCB 7922 |
Journal Colloquy: Mechanisms of Host/Microbial Interactions |
none |
1 |
✔️ |
✔️ |
|
| MCB 7922 |
Journal Colloquy: Virome/Host Ineractions |
none |
1 |
✔️ |
✔️ |
|
| MCB 7922 |
Journal Colloquy: Microbiome-based Clinical Trials |
none |
1 |
✔️ |
|
Sum C** |
-
Elective Courses
Students are required to complete 6 elective credits
Note: module courses are offered during shortened periods throughout the semester
| Course # |
Course Title |
Pre-Req |
Credits |
Fall |
Spring |
Summer |
| BSC 6459 |
Fundamentals in Bioinformatics |
Molecular Biology & Biochemistry |
3 |
✔️ |
|
|
| MCB 6796 |
Microbiological Data Analysis |
Microbiology |
3 |
✔️ |
|
|
| MCB 6407 |
Prokaryotic Cell |
Microbiology & Biochemistry |
3 |
✔️ |
|
|
| MCB 6937 |
Microbial Applications of Synthetic Biology |
Microbiology |
3 |
✔️ |
|
|
| MCB 6656 |
Environmental Microbiology |
Microbiology |
3 |
✔️ |
|
|
| MCB 6937 |
Fundamentals in Molecular Genetics |
Recommended for those with a limited molecular biology background |
3 |
✔️ |
|
|
| MCB 6417 |
Microbial Metabolism and Energetics (module) |
Biochemistry |
1 |
✔️ |
|
|
| MCB 5666 |
Clinical Laboratory Ethics, Management, Safety and Professional Issues |
Microbiology |
1 |
✔️ |
✔️ |
|
| PCB 5246 |
Clinical Parasitology |
Microbiology |
1 |
✔️ |
✔️ |
|
| MCB 5816 |
Clinical Mycology |
Microbiology |
1 |
✔️ |
✔️ |
Sum A* |
| MCB 5508 |
Clinical Virology |
Microbiology |
1 |
✔️ |
✔️ |
Sum A* |
| MCB 6095 |
Microbiology Careers |
none |
1 |
✔️ |
✔️ |
Sum B*** |
| MCB 5252 |
Microbiology, Immunology, and Immunotherapeutics |
recommended for those with a limited microbiology & immunology backround |
4 |
|
✔️ |
Sum A* |
| MCB 6772 |
Advanced Topics in Cell Biology (module) |
Microbiology |
1 |
|
✔️ |
|
| MCB 6355 |
Microbial/Host Defense (module) |
Microbiology |
1 |
|
✔️ |
|
| MCB 6318 |
Comparative Microbial Genomics (module) |
minimum grade of A- BSC 6469 |
2 |
|
✔️ |
|
| PCB 6667 |
Human Genomics |
Microbiology |
3 |
|
✔️ |
|
| MCB 6326 |
Computational Genomics and Epigenomics |
Microbiology |
3 |
|
✔️ |
|
| PCB 5235 |
Immunology |
Microbiology |
3 |
|
✔️ |
|
| MCB 5705 |
Astrobiology |
Microbiology |
3 |
|
✔️ |
|
| MCB 6937 |
Advanced Molecular Genetics |
Microbiology |
3 |
|
✔️ |
|
| MCB 6937 |
Python Programming |
Microbiology |
3 |
|
✔️ |
|
| MCB 6458 |
Post Translational Modifications in Microbiology |
Microbiology |
2 |
|
|
Sum C** |
| MCB 6151 |
Prokaryotic Diversity |
Microbiology |
3 |
|
|
Sum C** |
| MCB 6937 |
Microbial Multicellularity |
minimum grade of C in MCB 5205 |
2 |
|
|
Sum C** |
-
Introductory Course Track
These two courses are required in addition to the standard 30 credits for students who lack a foundation in microbiology and/or biochemistry. It will be noted in your admission email if you are required to take either of these courses.
| Course # |
Course Title |
Pre-Req |
Credits |
Fall |
Spring |
Summer |
| MCB 6937 |
Biology of Microorganisms |
none |
3 |
✔️ |
✔️ |
Sum A* |
| BCH 5404 |
Fundamentals of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology |
none |
4 |
✔️ |
✔️ |
Sum C** |
-
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
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 microbiome science
- Build deeper knowledge of microbial communities, microbial ecology, genomics and host-microbe interactions
- Develop skills to investigate how the microbiome influences human health and disease
- 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 microbiome research, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, healthcare, diagnostics and academic research
- Build scientific and computational skills for a field increasingly shaped by genomics, sequencing, data analysis 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.
