Master of Science (M.S.) Program
The Microbiology MS program combines course work and thesis research. A minimum of 45 graduate credits is required, comprising:
- Coursework: 24-27 credits including 18 credits that are either from MB listings or MB-related courses offered by other programs/departments IF agreed to by the thesis committee; the remaining 6-9 credits may be from any courses relevant to the thesis project. The OSU calendar has three 10-week terms per year, and most courses earn 3 or 4 credits.
- Thesis credits (MB 503): minimum of 6, maximum of 12
- "Blanket" credits: maximum of 9; these credits have X0X course designations (excluding thesis 503), and include MB 501 Research, MB 505 Reading & Conference, MB 507 Seminar/Colloquium.
Full time enrollment is 12 credits per term.
A typical 45-credit program will comprise:
5 required credits during year 1: MB 599 Special Topics: Highlights of Microbiology (1 credit, fall); MB 599 Special Topics: Microbiology Skills (1 credit, winter); MCB 557 Scientific skills and ethics (3 credits; spring).
Coursework: 24 credits
MB 503 Thesis: 12 credits
6 additional credits made up of additional coursework or non-thesis blanket credits.
Note that 23 of the 45 credits must be graduate stand-alone courses (500 or 600 level) that are not derived from the 500 component of 400/500 slash courses. For instance, after the 5 required first year program credits (MB 599 and MCB 557) and typical 12 MB 603 Thesis credits, 6 further credits must be graduate-only.
An MS candidate must file a study program (list of proposed courses/credits) with the Graduate School before completing 18 graduate credits (i.e., during their second term). The program is developed under the guidance of the major professor and committee members, and is intended to provide academic support to facilitate the thesis research activities.
Completion of a written thesis and successful completion of a final oral examination are required for the MS degree. The examining committee of 4 is comprised of the major professor, two professors from the Microbiology Program (one may be a non-OSU affiliate if they bring appropriate expertise), and a Graduate Council Representative (ask for a current list at graduate.school@oregonstate.edu). In special circumstances, an MS can be completed in a non-thesis format.
Students must maintain an overall GPA of 3.0 and will be notified by the Graduate School if their GPA falls below 3.0 for any term. The cumulative GPA must be at or above 3.0 before the final exam can be taken. Grades below C (= 2.0) cannot be used as graduate credit.
It is program policy to require MS and PhD candidates to complete one term of service as a Teaching Assistant before graduation. This is considered a valuable experience and an integral part of training towards a higher degree.
More information about OSU Master's Degree Programs.