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Program director
Program director
Dr. Heather Bean
Dr. Heather Bean
Email: Heather.D.Bean@asu.edu
Program description
Program description
The MS program in microbiology is designed to prepare students for careers in bacteriology, virology, mycology, immunology and oncology in academic institutions, government agencies or commercial entities.
Students receive advanced training in the study of microbes and their impact on humankind, disease and the environment. They use tools ranging from nanotechnologies and genomics to mathematical models and satellite-based imaging. Students receive training in both teaching and basic, translational and use-inspired research with world-class faculty and collaborative research partners. Faculty members are associated with the School of Life Sciences, The Biodesign Institute, The Translational Genomics Institute, Barrow Neurological Institute, and other area hospitals and research centers.
Degree requirements
Degree requirements
The current degree requirements are below. Remember you are required to fulfill the requirements from the academic year you were admitted. Please refer to the handbook from your year of admission as needed.
Total: 30 credit hours, including a thesis
Required Core Section (3 credit hours)
(3) MIC 501 - Foundations of Microbiology
Electives/Research Section (21 credit hours)
(1) BIO 610 - Introduction to Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) in Life Sciences
(6 minimum) MIC 592 - Research
AND
(14 minimum) Graduate-Level Life Sciences Elective Courses
*Students should discuss elective course selection with their faculty advisor(s) to best support your research project.
SOLS course prefixes to choose from: ANB, BIO, ELS, EVO, HPS, MCB, MIC, NEU, & PLB - 500-level or above
*Up to 6 credits maximum can be 400-level
Refer to the MIC MS Course Offering Guide below for an extensive list of approved elective options
Culminating Experience (6 credit hours)
(6 exactly) MIC 599 - Thesis
*Note: it is very important you do exactly 6 thesis credit hours. These 6 can be divided and taken over multiple semesters, but they must sum 6 credits exactly (no more, no less) to avoid issues when graduating. If you need to enroll in thesis or equivalent hours after meeting your 6 total, please take BIO 592 Research hours instead, which has no maximum limit.
*According to Graduate College policy beginning for new students in Fall 2025, no more than 15 of the total 30 required credits can be graded on a Z/Y scale (typically research and thesis). Please plan your coursework accordingly.
Course offering guide
Course offering guide
Use the live Google Sheet below to narrow down your course search each semester and ensure that the courses you are selecting align with the appropriate degree requirements.
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