Microbiology & Cell Science

UNLOCK YOUR POTENTIAL WITH A GRADUATE DEGREE IN MICROBIOLOGY

Study with Leading Experts in Microbiology and Cell Science

Open up new career paths and opportunities with a master’s degree in Microbiology and Cell Science from the University of Florida. With over 35 elective courses to choose from, you can study emerging and in-demand topics such as the microbiome and probiotics, molecular genetics, astrobiology and more. Built for working professionals, this program can be completed entirely online with no campus visits.

Promising Career Outlook

Over the next 10 years, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that the career outlook for microbiologists will increase by 7%.² The median earning for a microbiologist was $85,470 per year, which is 33% higher than the national median for a bachelor's degree.^³

Additionally, the training in Bioinformatics and Microbial Data Analysis is great preparation for future data scientists, teaching students to extract meaning and patterns from large data sets. Demand for data scientists is predicted to grow 36% over the next 10 years and has a median pay of $108,020 per year.⁴

Take advantage of this growing demand for advanced microbiology and data analysis skills and earn your master’s degree online.

In a survey of M.S. graduates from 2020–2022, 85% of graduates are working in or pursuing an advanced degree in STEM and 49% were employed in a job related to microbiology.¹
Improve your application to Ph.D. programs, medical, dental, or veterinary schools by earning a master’s degree.
Grow your network and become one of the 1000+ alumni from the online Microbiology and Cell Science master’s degree program.

Graduates Employed or Pursuing Ph.D. in STEM

Graduates Employed in Microbiology

Online and On Your Schedule

To make graduate-level microbiology education more accessible, the University of Florida Department of Microbiology has integrated online education into our teaching philosophy. Our faculty are experienced with developing online courses and adapting to emerging technology. Module courses are the same classes that Ph.D. students take and you will be learning alongside them.

Online classes are taught by the same renowned faculty that teach on-campus.
The master’s program is 30 credit hours and can be completed in as little as a year.
Graduates obtain in-depth knowledge of microbiology, immunology, molecular biology, genetics, virology and bioinformatics.
Graduate certificate programs in Medical Microbiology, Microbiome and Health, and Environmental Microbiology available.

Customize Your Degree with UF’s Expansive Curriculum

As the largest microbiology program in the USA, we are able to offer a more comprehensive course list that sets our online program apart from other institutions. This allows you to tailor your degree to meet your educational and professional goals.

30 credits required
5 required courses
Final literature review
Choose from 35+ elective classes

A Uniquely Interdisciplinary Degree

The University of Florida Microbiology and Cell Science online graduate program from the Department of Microbiology and Cell Science is a well-established collaboration between the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and the College of Medicine. By sharing faculty and resources from both colleges, we are able to offer our students a more comprehensive view of microbiology and how it intersects with medicine, agriculture, and other fields.

Upon completion of your studies, you will earn a master’s degree from the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences in Microbiology with a Concentration in Medical Microbiology and Biochemistry.

Invest in Your Future and Start Your Application

With a straightforward online application, you can apply with unofficial transcripts and send official transcripts upon acceptance. Students are accepted all semesters with rolling admissions.

Admissions Requirements

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution with a 3.0 GPA and 3.0 upper division GPA. See full admission requirements here.

Application Deadlines

Deadline	Fall 2025	Spring 2026
Priority Application Deadline: M.S. and Graduate Certificate*	May 20, 2025	October 2, 2025
Application Deadline: M.S. and Graduate Certificate	July 22, 2025	November 13, 2025
Application Deadline: Non-Degree	August 7, 2025	TBA

*Applying by the priority deadline enables prospective students to receive their application decision sooner and makes them eligible to enroll in classes earlier. It is not required, nor does it impact admissions decisions. Applications will continue to be accepted until the application deadline.

Sources

^{¹ Internal survey of self-reported data from graduates from 2020–2022.}

^{² Lightcast™. (2023). Occupation Table: Microbiologists in United States. Lightcast Q3 2023 Data Set. Retrieved from URL.}

^{³ U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2023b, September 6). Microbiologists : Occupational outlook handbook. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. https://www.bls.gov/ooh/life-physical-and-social-science/microbiologists.htm}

^{⁴ U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2023, September 6). Data Scientists : Occupational outlook handbook. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. https://www.bls.gov/ooh/math/data-scientists.htm}