Master’s Degree
Whether you aspire to work as a surgeon, an award-winning researcher or in another science-based profession, our online master’s degree in microbiology & cell science will provide the tools for you to acquire in-depth knowledge in topics including (but not limited to):
- Bioinformatics
- Molecular biology
- Virology
- Immunology
With the assistance of our experienced professors and their rigorous and relevant lesson plans, you’ll leave feeling prepared for professional post-graduate programs like medical, dental and veterinary school.
Master’s Degree Benefits
Our online MS in microbiology & cell science offers valuable benefits for students:
- Completely online courses.
- The ability to earn a degree in as little as one year.
- No GRE requirement.
- An introductory track that empowers students to transition into the program.
Earning a Master’s Degree Online
As a working professional, it can be intimidating to wonder when you’ll find time to complete your coursework and still fulfill all your personal and work duties. Our master’s degree was designed with you in mind.
Completing your master’s degree in microbiology online is a fast and convenient way to reach your career goals while receiving an education from dedicated educators who are just as passionate about microbiology as you. In addition, campus visits and laboratory times are not required. Have more questions? Check out our FAQ page or chat with our student outreach and engagement specialists through the “chat now” box below to receive answers to all your burning questions.
Graduate Certificate in Environmental Microbiology
If you ask the average person if they believe tiny organisms like bacteria and fungi can help with global issues like cleaning oil spills, breaking down organic matter and creating life-saving antibiotics, they’d probably say no — but you know they’re capable of all that and more. With our 13-credit online Graduate Certificate in Environmental Microbiology, you’ll investigate the wide world of tiny organisms and explore topics like how microbes can be harnessed to provide practical solutions for other global problems, including:
- climate change
- rising sea levels
- the cleanup of pollutants (bioremediation)
- solar radiation risks to human health
- challenges in the space industry
Microbiome and Health Online Graduate Certificate
With the 12-credit online Microbiome and Health Graduate Certificate, you’ll be one of the pioneers in the emerging field of the microbiome and its contributions to human health. You can build an understanding of key concepts related to the microbiome, including:
- The relationship between host/microbe interactions.
- The recent advancements in microbe research.
- The current technologies used to study the microbiome.
- The strategies for evaluating the microbiome’s impact on humans and the world at large.
Through a combination of foundational and elective courses, you’ll also learn how to analyze and synthesize key literature in the field. Our online program cultivates critical thinking and writing skills that will prove useful later in your career while you’re conducting thought-provoking research and publishing your findings.
Graduate Certificate in Medical Microbiology
Since COVID-19 made its extensive impact on the world, interest in the field of infectious diseases has grown immensely. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the need for epidemiologists will grow exponentially in the next 5 to 10 years, growing approximately 26% through the year 2031.
With our 11-credit online Graduate Certificate in Medical Microbiology, you can be at the forefront of this industry’s recent boom. The courses in this program provide foundational knowledge of infectious pathogens and diseases, covering an array of topics:
- Bacteriology
- Virology
- Gene therapy
- Immunotherapy
This program is ideal for aspiring professionals who plan to continue their graduate studies after obtaining their graduate certificate. All credits earned in this program can be applied to the following degrees:
- The Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology’s on-campus Master of Science in Medical Science program
- The Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology’s on-campus Biomedical Sciences Ph.D. program
- The Microbiology & Cell Science online master’s degree program
Completing an online graduate certificate in medical microbiology, environmental microbiology or microbiome and health is a fast and convenient way to advance your education and bolster your skill set. Campus visits and laboratory times are not required, affording you the flexibility to complete your program at your own pace.
Graduate Certificate Benefits
If you’re on the fence, consider some of the benefits of our online graduate certificates:
- Entirely online (and interactive) courses.
- Time to completion: as little as two semesters.
- No GRE requirement.
- Offered by UF: one of U.S. News’ top 50 national universities and home to the largest microbiology department in the United States.
- Classes offered year-round.
Non-Degree Seeking Student
Maybe you’re not sure what to expect from graduate-level courses, or you wonder if earning a graduate degree is right for you. If you’d rather take one of our courses for a spin before committing to an online graduate program, consider enrolling as a non-degree seeking student. You can slowly ease yourself into the microbe-filled waters by strengthening your skills in a specific topic and getting a feel for the online graduate learning experience. Non-degree-seeking students will also have the option of transferring credits to the master’s degree or graduate certificate program later (if admitted and if a grade of “B” or higher is earned).
Here are a few important aspects to consider when enrolling as a non-degree seeking student:
- Students may take up to 15 credit hours from courses within the microbiology master’s degree program in non-degree status.
- Students may take up to 6 credit hours from courses within the environmental microbiology graduate certificate or microbiome and health graduate certificate program in non-degree status.
- Students may take up to 5 credit hours from courses within the medical microbiology graduate certificate program in non-degree status.
- Courses are conducted entirely online and can be completed at your own pace.
- Non-degree seeking students can choose from courses in a variety of topics, including fundamentals in bioinformatics, microbiology and immunology, infectious diseases and more.
- Enrolling as a non-degree seeking student does not guarantee acceptance into our master’s degree or graduate certificate programs.
Admissions
Master’s Degree Admission Requirements
The minimum requirements to apply to the program as a master’s degree student are:
- Bachelor’s degree from one of the institutional accreditors (or international equivalent) found at https://admissions.ufl.edu/apply/graduate/accreditation (recommended major in the sciences)
- An upper-division GPA of 3.0 or higher
- If your GPA is below this requirement but is at least 2.7, we recommend applying for a microbiology graduate certificate program. If you are accepted and maintain a 3.5 GPA, you may become eligible for the master’s degree program.
- A resume/CV
- Pursuant to Florida Statute, your application requires inclusion of all post-high school education and employment, as well as information about ongoing international affiliations and research funding. Please ensure this information is included on your curriculum vitae (CV) or résumé.
Graduate Certificate Admission Requirements
The minimum requirements to apply to the program as a graduate certificate student are:
- Bachelor’s degree from one of the institutional accreditors (or international equivalent) found at https://admissions.ufl.edu/apply/graduate/accreditation (recommended major in the sciences)
- A minimum overall and upper-division GPA of:
- 3.0 for the Medical Microbiology Graduate Certificate
- 2.7 for the Environmental Microbiology Graduate Certificate
- 2.7 for the Microbiome and Health Graduate Certificate
Non-Degree Admission Requirements
The minimum requirements to apply to the program as a non-degree seeking student are:
- Bachelor’s degree from one of the institutional accreditors (or international equivalent) found at https://admissions.ufl.edu/apply/graduate/accreditation (recommended major in the sciences)
- 2.0 upper-division GPA
For more information about requirements, exceptions and applying with a non-U.S. degree, visit the admissions page.
