Microbiology Graduate Major (MA, MS, PhD)
This program is available at the following location:
- Corvallis
Administered by the Department of Microbiology under the School of Life Sciences in the College of Science
The Department of Microbiology offers graduate degrees leading to the Doctor of Philosophy, Master of Science (thesis) and Master of Science (non-thesis) degrees. Major fields of study are diverse, and include Basic and Applied Virology, Bacteriology and Immunology; Pathogenic Microbiology; Aquatic, Ecological and Environmental Microbiology; Microbial Evolution; and Microbiome Sciences. Students may minor in a variety of related disciplines in the Life Sciences, such as Biological Data Sciences, Biochemistry and Biophysics, Chemistry, or obtain certificates in areas such as College and University Teaching (CERT). The principal objective of the Doctoral Program in Microbiology is the completion of a comprehensive research project and preparation of a dissertation. Student programs and research projects are developed with the major professor and are subject to approval by a committee of graduate faculty members. Example of research areas may include, but are not limited to, Human Gut Microbiome/Gut-Brain Axis, Bioinformatics Applied to Microbiome Data, Microbial Interactions, Microbial Drug Resistance and Food Safety, and Aquatic Microbiology. Microbiology research facilities are excellent, well-equipped, well-funded and employ state of the art technology. The Master Program in Microbiology can be pursued as thesis or through two non-thesis tracks, Microbiome Analytics or BioHealth Sciences.
Contact Information
For more information, contact the Department of Microbiology, 226 Nash Hall, OSU, Corvallis OR 97331-3804 or email microbiology@oregonstate.edu
Major Code: 5700
Upon successful completion of the program, students will meet the following learning outcomes:
MA
- Conduct research or produce some other form of creative work.
- Demonstrate mastery of subject material.
- Conduct scholarly or professional activities in an ethical manner.
MS
- Conduct research or produce some other form of creative work.
- Demonstrate mastery of subject material.
- Conduct scholarly or professional activities in an ethical manner.
- Acquire skills and experience in communication. This is considered a valuable experience and an integral part of training towards a higher degree.
PhD
- Produce and defend an original significant contribution to knowledge.
- Demonstrate mastery of subject material.
- Conduct scholarly activities in an ethical manner.
- Communicate research findings to a scientific audience.
- Exhibit basic skills in teaching microbiology to undergraduate students.
The Department of Microbiology offers the following graduate degrees: Ph.D., M.S. (thesis), and M.S. (non-thesis). The Ph.D. and M.S. (thesis) degrees contain a rigorous research component, in addition to coursework. The M.S. (non-thesis) degree is comprised of coursework and allows specialization through two tracks: 1) Microbiome Analytics, and 2) BioHealth Sciences. M.A. (Master of Arts) degree is not offered at this time.
All students in the Microbiology Graduate Program are required to take the following seven credit core sequence of four courses during their first year of enrollment in the program:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| GRAD 520 | RESPONSIBLE CONDUCT OF RESEARCH | 2 |
| MB 511 | SCIENTIFIC SKILLS | 1 |
| MB 512 | HIGHLIGHTS OF MICROBIOLOGY | 1 |
| MB 513 | MICROBIAL SYSTEMS | 3 |
| Total Credits | 7 | |
In addition to the seven credit core sequence of four courses, the requirements for each degree are as follows:
PhD
- 108 total graduate credits consisting of at least 27 coursework credits and at least 36 thesis credits.
- A comprehensive preliminary examination consisting of a written non-thesis proposal and an oral exam.
- An initial program of study meeting and subsequent annual progress meetings with a graduate committee.
- An overall GPA of 3.0 at the graduate level, and a 3.0 GPA in program of study courses.
- Completion of one term as a graduate teaching assistant.
- A written Doctoral thesis that is orally defended at the end of the degree program.
- Two public presentations of their original research, including the final oral defense
MS (Thesis)
- 45 total graduate credits consisting of at least 24 coursework credits and 6 to 12 thesis credits.
- An initial program of study meeting and subsequent annual progress meetings with a graduate committee.
- An overall GPA of 3.0 at the graduate level, and a 3.0 GPA in program of study courses.
- Completion of one term as a graduate teaching assistant.
- A written Masters thesis that is orally defended at the end of the degree program.
MS (Non-thesis)
- 45 total graduate course credits.
- An initial program of study meeting and subsequent annual progress meetings with a graduate committee.
- An overall GPA of 3.0 at the graduate level, and a 3.0 GPA in program of study courses.
- Completion of an additional 13 core credits to replace the thesis credits:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| MB 520 | MICROBIAL GENOME EVOLUTION AND BIODIVERSITY | 3 |
| MB 534 | VIROLOGY | 3 |
| MB 556 | MICROBIAL BIOTECHNOLOGY | 3 |
| MB 506 | SPECIAL PROJECTS (Capstone/Professional Skills) | 3 |
| MB 507 | SEMINAR | 1 |
- Completion of an additional 25 credits of course electives specific to either the Microbiome Analytics or BioHealth Sciences non-thesis track:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Microbiome Analytics (Non-thesis Track) | ||
| MB 599 | SELECTED TOPICS (Quantitative Genomics) | 4 |
| MB 599 | SELECTED TOPICS (Collaborative Problem Solving in Biological Data Sciences) | 3 |
| MB 668 | MICROBIAL BIOINFORMATICS AND GENOME EVOLUTION | 4 |
| MCB 576 | 3 | |
| BDS 599 | SPECIAL TOPICS (Metagenomics, Intro to UNIX, LINUX, PYTHON) | 3-4 |
| ST 511 | METHODS OF DATA ANALYSIS | 4 |
| ST 512 | METHODS OF DATA ANALYSIS | 4 |
| ST 513 | METHODS OF DATA ANALYSIS | 4 |
| ST 591 | INTRODUCTION TO QUANTITATIVE GENOMICS | 3 |
| ST 592 | STATISTICAL METHODS FOR GENOMICS RESEARCH | 3 |
| BioHealth Sciences (Non-thesis Track) | ||
| MB 516 | IMMUNOLOGY | 3 |
| MB 517 | IMMUNOLOGY LABORATORY | 2 |
| MB 530 | BACTERIAL PATHOGENESIS | 3 |
| MB 580 | GENERAL PARASITOLOGY | 3 |
| MB 599 | SELECTED TOPICS (Mechanisms of Disease) | 3 |
| PHL 544 | BIOMEDICAL ETHICS | 4 |
| ST 511 | METHODS OF DATA ANALYSIS | 4 |
| ST 512 | METHODS OF DATA ANALYSIS | 4 |
| ST 513 | METHODS OF DATA ANALYSIS | 4 |
| H 511 | COMMUNITY, CULTURE, AND GLOBAL HEALTH | 3 |
| H 520 | HEALTH DISPARITIES | 3 |
| H 524 | INTRODUCTION TO BIOSTATISTICS | 4 |
| H 535 | INTERPRETING EPIDEMIOLOGIC EVIDENCE | 3 |
| H 540 | WATER AND HUMAN HEALTH | 3 |
| H 543 | EXPOSURE SCIENCE I | 4 |
| H 564 | COMPUTING TOOLS AND HEALTH DATA ANALYSIS | 3 |
| VMB 523 | ZOONOSES | 3 |
| VMB 621 | GENERAL PATHOLOGY | 4 |
| VMB 651 | SELECTED TOPICS IN VETERINARY MEDICINE | 3 |
| VMB 674 | VACCINES AND NEW THERAPIES | 3 |
Major Code: 5700