For the doctor of philosophy (Ph.D.) degree, students must complete at least 30
course credits and 30 research credits. Twelve additional credits must also be
taken in either course credits or research credits (minimum 72 total). A
written comprehensive examination and an oral qualifying examination must be
passed before admission to candidacy, followed by completion and successful
public defense of a dissertation.Required courses:
16:682:501 Microbial Life (3)
16:682:502 Microbial Biochemistry (3)
16:682:503 Microbial Physiology (3)
16:682:504 Microbial Genetics and Molecular Biology
(3)
16:682:521 Seminar in Microbial Biology (1)
16:682:522 Seminar in Microbial Biology (total of 3)
16:682:530 Scientific Conduct and Ethics (1)
16:682:611,612,613 Laboratory Rotation in Microbial Biology
(6)
16:682:701,702 Research in Microbial Biology
Elective courses (a minimum of 7 credits from the following
list of courses, or any other appropriate course by program director approval):
16:215:550 Advanced Evolution (1)
16:215:554 Molecular Ecology (3)
16:215:575 Quantitative Ecology and Evolution (3)
16:215:599 Fundamentals of Genomics (3)
16:375:510 Environmental Microbiology (3)
16:375:529 Biodegradation and Bioremediation (3)
16:375:531 Biological Waste Treatment (3)
16:375:563 Geomicrobiology (3)
16:400:535 Beneficial Microbes in Food and Health (3)
16:400:605 Microbial Food Safety (3)
16:681:555 Molecular Virology (3)
16:681:606 Teaching of Microbiology (2)
16:681:608 Teaching Techniques (2)
16:682:524
Applied and Industrial Microbiology (3)
16:682:550,
551, 552, 553 Special Topics in
Microbiology (1-3) (Up to 10 credits can be used toward degree; topics courses
are offered each semester by graduate faculty members on a rotating basis.)
16:682:572 Microbial Ecology and Biodiversity (2)
16:712:525 Molecular Oceanography (3)
16:712:561 Professional Science Writing and Presentation (3)
16:765:518 Topics in Plant Microbe Interactions (2)
16:765:531 Principles of Plant Pathology (3)
16:765:533 Advanced Mycology (3)
16:765:537 Plant Pathogenic Bacteria (3)
16:765:538 Plant Pathogenesis (3)
16:765:685 Bioinformatics (3)
16:960:501 Statistical Theory for Research Workers I (3)
All Ph.D. students in the graduate program in microbial biology will be required to pass two exams during their graduate tenure in addition
to presenting a public Ph.D. thesis defense. The first comprehensive exam is a written programmatic exam testing for core knowledge in microbiology and
is taken by all students at completion of the first year core curriculum.
The second exam (qualifying exam) is an oral examination based on a
written proposal of the student's proposed dissertation research. The oral
qualifying exam will also include questions to test the student's basic
knowledge of microbiology and other fields pertinent to the student's
anticipated area of specialization. The qualifying exam must be taken by the
end of the student's second year. After successful completion of the qualifying
examination the student will advance to Ph.D. candidacy.
After completion of a body of original research the student
will defend his or her Ph.D. dissertation in a final examination and dissertation
defense open to the public.
Programs, Faculty, and Courses 
