Programs of study leading to an MS. degree are offered in different fields of microbiology including genetics, ecology, pathogenesis, cell biology, physiology, anaerobic microbiology, biotechnology and bioinformatics. Faculty interests are diverse, including marine science, parasitology, and biochemistry: http://www.uga.edu/mib/people/index.htm#faculty
Students with a B.S. degree may apply for either the M.S. or Ph.D. program. If your goal is a terminal Masters degree, you may consider applying for admission into our M.S. in Microbiology. However, if you ultimately plan to pursue a Ph.D., it is strongly recommended that you apply directly to the Ph.D. program. Our Ph.D. students are admitted through the Integrated Life Sciences Department (ILS) and choose their research/thesis advisors after completing three research rotations in different laboratories. Please check the following website for more information about admission through ILS (https://ils.uga.edu/). In order to apply for the M.S. program, prospective students must first identify a faculty member in the microbiology department who is willing to serve as their thesis advisor. This is not required for students applying to the ILS Ph.D. program.
There is a connecting thread to all the research in the Microbiology Graduate Program: the study of diverse microorganisms from the molecular level to the organismal and community levels in order to develop a complete picture of the role of microbial life in our biosphere. Our faculty participate in several interdepartmental and multi-institutional research programs, including the Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases, the Complex Carbohydrate Research Center, and the Institute of Bioinformatics. Research in the department is well supported by external funding from the National Institutes of Health, the National Science Foundation, the Department of Energy, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and a number of private foundations and corporations.
Degree requirements include the successful completion of course work and comprehensive exams, and submission of a thesis or dissertation consisting of original, scholarly research in the field of microbiology. In the first three semesters, students take a core curriculum covering microbial physiology, genetics, and diversity, as well as biostatistics, quantitative macromolecule analysis, and proposal writing. Advanced courses in specialized areas are also available through the Department of Microbiology and the Division of Biological Sciences. The program of study is designed by the student and his or her advisory committee to provide a broad foundation in microbiology, preparing the student for a career in research and/or teaching in academia, industry, or the government. https://grad.uga.edu/degree/ms-microbiology/
This major is part of a Double Dawgs pathway: Microbiology BS/Microbiology MS Microbiology BS/Microbiology MS(non-thesis) For more information, go to doubledawgs.uga.edu
Graduate Coordinator for Recruitment/Admissions: Xiaorong Lin, Professor mibgrdrec@uga.edu Graduate Coordinator for Advising: Elizabeth Ottesen, Associate Professor mibgrdadv@uga.edu Graduate Program Administrator: Janice Stuart mibcoord@uga.edu