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The Ph.D. program in Microbiology trains students in the foundation of knowledge and the process of inquiry. It breaks with traditional programs by focusing training on eight well-defined learning outcomes that can be attained with or without supporting coursework. We expect that a graduating doctoral student will be able to:

1. Demonstrate professional and ethical behavior consistent with the expectations of the discipline.
2. Use and apply appropriate discipline knowledge, concepts, and theoretical frameworks.
3. Conduct scholarly inquiry relevant to societal challenges and the field of study.
4. Demonstrate proficiency with a variety of classical and modern techniques by collecting and documenting reproducible and publish quality data through completion of experiments.
5. Critically analyze, write high-quality technical documents, and communicate scientific content and research results to chosen audiences. Contribute significantly (first-authorship) to scientific journal articles.
6. Initiate and manage collaboration in ways that enhance the output of the project.
7. Display professional skills in personal effectiveness to be competitive in the job market.
8. Engage and initiate activities that display leadership, citizenship, and inclusiveness.

Required credits are indicated below, with the remaining credits customizable to the student’s training needs. In the absence of didactic course requirements, the program holds students accountable for year-over-year progress toward the learning goals through annual assessments of progress by the mentor and research advisory committee, as well as a qualifying exam to assess knowledge.

Admission and Application Requirements

Graduate College admission and application requirements are found on the Admission Policies page. 

Please see the Microbiology program admissions website for more details on the admissions process and Frequently Asked Questions.