Master’s Degree
The online master’s degree in microbiology & cell science with a concentration in medical microbiology and biochemistry prepares students for a future in medical and science-based fields. Students will acquire in-depth knowledge in microbiology and cell science to prepare for professional post-graduate programs like medical, dental, and veterinary schools.
Master’s Degree Benefits
- Completely online, interactive courses
- Earn a degree in as little as one year
- No GRE requirement
- Introductory track that empowers students to transition into the program
- Prepares graduates for careers in government, research, and teaching in microbiology, cell biology, cellular biochemistry, and molecular genetics
Earning a Master’s Degree Online
As a working professional, the program provides flexibility to work within busy schedules at your own pace. Completing a master’s degree in microbiology online is a fast and convenient way to pursue education and career goals. Campus visits and laboratory times are not required.
Graduate Certificate in Environmental Microbiology
The online Graduate Certificate in Environmental Microbiology is ideal for anyone looking to take the next step in their career path by better understanding our environment and using small organisms to solve big issues. This 13-credit certificate program explores how microbes can be harnessed to provide solutions to practical issues on a global scale, such as climate change, rising sea levels, bioremediation, interactions between people and their workplace environments, solar radiation risks to human health and challenges within the space industry.
Microbiome and Health Online Graduate Certificate
The Microbiome and Health Online Graduate Certificate is a 12-credit program designed for anyone who wishes to expand their knowledge in the emerging area of the microbiome and its contributions to human health. Students will build an understanding of key concepts in microbiome, host/microbe interactions and advances in microbiome research. As they complete both foundational and elective courses, students will develop core competency in current technologies to study the microbiome and evaluation strategies, synthesizing key major literature in the field and developing critical thinking and writing skills.
Graduate Certificate in Medical Microbiology
The College of Medicine’s Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology in collaboration with the Department of Microbiology and Cell Science offers an online Graduate Certificate in Medical Microbiology. This 11-credit program provides foundational knowledge of infectious pathogens and diseases, covering such topics as bacteriology, virology, gene therapy and immunotherapy. A springboard for aspiring professionals, this certificate program is ideal for students set on continuing their graduate studies, and all credits earned in this program can be applied to the Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology’s on-campus Master of Science in Medical Science and Biomedical Sciences Ph.D. programs as well as the Microbiology and Cell Science online master’s degree program.
Earning a Graduate Certificate Online
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
- Completely online, interactive courses
- Can be completed in as little as two semesters
- No GRE requirement
- Prepares graduates for STEM careers in government, research and teaching
Non-Degree Seeking Student
Students who are not yet ready to pursue a master’s degree or graduate certificate can enroll in graduate courses as a non-degree seeking student. This is an excellent way to strengthen your skills in a specific topic and ease into 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.
What you should know when enrolling as a non-degree seeking student:
- Students may take up to 7 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 the 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.
