We offer two master's programs in the Department of Microbiology: a non-thesis master's and a thesis master's.
For general information on admissions requirements or being a graduate student at Oregon State University, consult the Graduate School.
Master's in Microbiology Degree Programs
Master's in Microbiology Degree Programs
Graduate student handbook
The graduate student handbook covers everything a graduate student will need to know about life as a graduate student in each of our programs, including learning outcomes, timelines, duties, programs of study, research requirements and more.
Careers opportunities for a Masters in Microbiology
After graduating with a master’s degree, our students find careers as microbiologists in state and federal agencies, quality control technicians and product engineers in the food industry, research associates in academic laboratories and in private industry. Obtaining a master’s degree can also be a prelude to medical school or a Ph.D. program.
Research-based (thesis) master's
As a research-based master's student, you will complete a thesis before graduating. The first step is to form your thesis committee, which consists of four members of the OSU graduate faculty, at least two of whom must be from the microbiology department. The committee also includes a graduate council representative who serves as advocate for appropriate process.
Before the end of your second term in your thesis lab, you will have a program meeting with all the members of your committee to cover two topics: your proposed course of study and your proposed thesis outline. See below for additional details. A program of study form should be completed during this meeting.
For guidelines for the program of study, annual meeting and final examination see Graduate Handbook.
Non-thesis master's
The non-thesis master's (NTM) program aims to train students in critical aspects of microbiology including exposure to modern thinking and techniques in microbiology and virology. The curriculum is based on coursework and the completion of a capstone synthesis project. It does not require the completion of a research-based master's thesis.
We offer two distinct specialty tracks to better prepare individuals for today's in-demand workforce: Microbiome Analytics and BioHealth Sciences. Each track will require that students take our current master's program core course work (10 credits) in addition to 13 additional NTM core credits and 25 credits that are distinct for each option that include electives you can choose based on your interests. The NTM degree includes additional core credits that replace the thesis credits required for our thesis master's degree.
The program is constructed to be completed in one to one-and-a-half academic years with the possibility of adding some course work in the summer before or after, if necessary.
For guidelines for the program of study, annual meeting and final examination see Graduate Handbook.
Non-thesis master's tracks
- MB 599 Quantitative Genomics (4 CR)
- MB 599 Collaborative Problem Solving in Biological Data Sciences (3 CR)
- MB 668 Microbial Bioinformatics and Genome Evolution (4 CR)
- MCB 576 Introduction to Computing in Life Sciences (3 CR)
- BDS 599 Special Topic Courses in Metagenomics, Intro to UNIX, LINUX, PYTHON (3-4 CR)
- ST 511 Methods of Data Analysis (4 CR)
- ST 512 Methods of Data Analysis (4 CR)
- ST 513 Methods of Data Analysis (4 CR)
- ST 591 Introduction to Quantitative Genomics (3 CR)
- ST 592 Statistical Methods for Genomics Research (3 CR)
- MB 516 Immunology (3 CR)
- MB 517 Immunology Lab (2 CR)
- MB 530 Bacterial Pathogenesis (3 CR)
- MB 580 General Parasitology (3 CR)
- MB 599 Mechanisms of Disease (3 CR)
- PHL 544 Biomedical Ethics (3 CR)
- ST 511 Methods of Data Analysis (4 CR)
- ST 512 Methods of Data Analysis (4 CR)
- ST 513 Methods of Data Analysis (4 CR)
- H 511 Community, Culture, and Global Health (3 CR)
- H 520 Health Disparities (3 CR)
- H 524 Introduction to Biostatistics (3 CR)
- H 535 Interpreting Epidemiological Evidence (3 CR)
- H 540 Water and Human Health (3 CR)
- H 543 Exposure Science I (4 CR)
- H 564 Computing Tools and Health Data Analysis (3 CR)
- VMB 521 Animal Models (3 CR)
- VMB 523 Zoonoses (3 CR)
- VMB 621 General Pathology (4 CR)
- VMB 651 Cancer Systems Biology (3 CR)
- VMB 674 Vaccines and New Therapies (3 CR)
Accelerated Master's Program
Get started on a graduate degree while still an undergraduate!
The Accelerated Master’s Platform (AMP) enables highly motivated students to enroll in a graduate master’s program while finishing their undergraduate degree. Students apply to the program in their junior year and take graduate level classes (up to 22 credits) in their senior year. These credits are applied to both the undergraduate and graduate programs, enabling a seamless transition to graduate school and, with careful planning, completion of the master’s program within 4 terms of completing their undergraduate degree. To be admitted to the AMP, a faculty member must agree to serve as your major professor. This is usually a faculty member with whom you have already begun research as an undergraduate.
These credits are applied to both the undergraduate and graduate programs, enabling a seamless transition to graduate school and, with careful planning, completion of the master’s program within 4 terms of completing their undergraduate degree.
The AMP in Microbiology shares a core of study with other students in the program. Students will complete a thesis, and may use this as a starting point for a PhD program. Graduates from this program would be suited for health professions, biotechnology industry, education, and government.
Learn more at the Graduate School
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