{"id":150,"date":"2021-07-13T20:45:33","date_gmt":"2021-07-13T20:45:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/units.cals.ncsu.edu\/microbiology-graduate-program\/?page_id=150"},"modified":"2026-04-22T18:11:54","modified_gmt":"2026-04-22T18:11:54","slug":"master-of-science","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/units.cals.ncsu.edu\/microbiology-graduate-program\/degree-programs\/master-of-science\/","title":{"rendered":"M.S. in Microbiology"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n\n\n

Our Master of Science (M.S) in Microbiology degree program provides students with an in-depth understanding of microorganisms, interdisciplinary research training, and opportunities to develop science communication skills. Students graduate prepared for successful careers in research, academic or industrial settings. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/path><\/svg><\/span>

Join the Pack<\/h2>

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Review Our Admissions Requirements and Apply Now!<\/span><\/svg><\/span><\/p><\/a>\n\n\n\n
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Curriculum and Courses<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Microbiology Graduate Programs at NC State are interdisciplinary. Our M.S. students take many courses taught by MGP faculty, as well as elective courses offered in numerous disciplines and departments across campus, including Biochemistry<\/a>, Biotechnology<\/a>, Animal Science<\/a>, Food Science<\/a> and Genetics<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

All microbiology graduate students must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0.<\/strong> The Graduate Student Support Plan<\/a> (GSSP; tuition and health benefits) also requires continuous enrollment, meaning all graduate students must enroll for a minimum of nine credits in each Fall and Spring semester to qualify. After the first year, most of these are Research credits.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In our two-year M.S. program, students need to complete 30 credits total<\/strong>, of which 18 credits must be graded<\/strong>. Completion of all credit requirements and submission of a thesis is required for students to complete the M.S. degree. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Timeline for a M.S. in Microbiology<\/span>\n<\/svg>\n<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Required Course Credits for a M.S. in Microbiology<\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Course Number<\/th>Course Name<\/th>Credits<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
MB 500-800<\/td>Microbiology Courses<\/td>6+<\/td><\/tr>
MB 670<\/td>Laboratory Research Methods<\/td>1<\/td><\/tr>
MB 686<\/td>Teaching Experience<\/td>1<\/td><\/tr>
MB 601<\/td>Seminar in Microbiology<\/td>2<\/td><\/tr>
MB 695<\/td>Master’s Thesis Research<\/td>6<\/td><\/tr>
variable<\/td>Professional Development<\/td>1<\/td><\/tr>
500-800<\/td>Graded Courses
(MB or others)<\/td>		6+<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>
All 500-700 level courses are letter graded. 800 level courses use satisfactory\/unsatisfactory grading policies.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Required Courses<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

As listed above, students are required to register for the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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MB 500s-700s – Microbiology Courses<\/h2><\/a>
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M.S. Students are required to take at least 6 graduate-level, letter-graded microbiology (MB) credits. Courses are 3 credits each.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

MGP students are able to take courses that focus on the various specialized disciplines of microbiology, including bacterial physiology, microbial genomics and metagenomics, microbiomes, environmental microbiology, immunology, host-pathogen interactions, molecular genetics and virology. Prior experience can impact which courses a student can enroll in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Prerequisites in biochemistry are required for many of these courses, so we recommend that all microbiology graduate students have the equivalent of introductory biochemistry (BCH 553: Biochemistry of Gene Expression<\/a>) at NC State early in the curriculum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

An example of courses that fit into two of many different microbiology “tracks” or concentrations:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Environmental\/Industrial<\/th>Host-Pathogen Interactions<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
MB 520 Microbial Cell Bio-transformations<\/td>MB 535 Pathogenic Microbiology<\/td><\/tr>
MB 532 Soil Microbiology<\/td>MB 718 Introductory Virology<\/td><\/tr>
MB 555 Microbial Biotechnology<\/td>MB 751 Immunology<\/td><\/tr>
MB 590 Symbiosis & Microbiomes<\/td>BCH 553 Biochemistry of Gene Expression<\/td><\/tr>
MB 505 Food Microbiology<\/td>BCH 705 Molecular Biology of the Cell<\/td><\/tr>
MB 714 Metabolic Regulation<\/td>BMA 771\/772 Biomathematics<\/td><\/tr>
MB 725 Fermentation Microbiology<\/td>CBS 712 Repro & Domestic Animal Disease<\/td><\/tr>
MB 758 Microbial Gen & Genomics<\/td>ENT 582 Med and Veterinary Entomology<\/td><\/tr>
 <\/td>PP 707 Plant-Microbe Interactions<\/td><\/tr>
 <\/td>ST 511\/512 Exper Statistics for Bio Sciences<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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MB 686 – Teaching Experience<\/h2><\/a>
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As part of the requirements for the M.S. degree, students are required serve as a laboratory teaching assistant for one semester in an NCSU course. This teaching requirement should be fulfilled early in the program, and students receive one credit (MB 686) for each semester they teach. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Example courses approved for fulfilling the teaching requirement are: MB 352, MB 412, MB 452 and BIO 181. Specific tools for enhancing teaching effectiveness are provided for teaching assistants, including workshops and constructive evaluation by the instructor and the students.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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MB 601 – Seminar in Microbiology<\/h2><\/a>
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The MGP requires all its graduate students to attend Microbiology seminars throughout their degree program. All M.S. students must register for at least two semesters (two credits) of Seminar.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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MB 695 – Master’s Thesis Research<\/h2><\/a>
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MB 695 provides credit for research that students perform while in our M.S. program.\u00a0 Students may register for a variable number of MB 695 credits each semester, with a maximum of six credits allowed toward the M.S. degree.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Other Professional Development<\/h2><\/a>
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All our graduate students are required to attend either the Microbiology course in Professional Development and Responsible Conduct of Research, or a similar module offered in related programs (BIT, GN, etc.). One credit hour is required.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Elective Graduate Courses<\/h2><\/a>
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M.S. students can choose to take other courses offered by departments and programs throughout NC State (Biochemistry, Genetics, Statistics, etc.). Selection of elective courses is done by the student with the help of their advisory committee. Letter graded or satisfactory\/unsatisfactory course formats can be used. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Below are examples of elective courses available. The graduate catalog<\/a> provides a current comprehensive listing of offered courses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n