37 - 53 Credit Hours*
*Students with earned M.S. degree in a related field(s) are required to complete a minimum 37 semester credit hours of program coursework.
The Ph.D. in microbiology curriculum consists of 37 semester hours of graduate coursework, excluding doctoral research credits. Additionally, students admitted to the Ph.D. program with the earned B.S. degree must complete the 16-hour core curriculum of the M.S. in biology program prior to completing the 37 semester-hour doctoral course curriculum. A twelve semester hour core curriculum consists of foundation content courses (microbial genetics and genomics, and microbial physiology and diversity), the foundation track course (environmental microbiology OR microbiology of food/water systems), and a doctoral skills course (scientific communication), through which students learn to develop a functional research proposal, leading ultimately to the formal dissertation proposal. Thirteen semester hours of major-related courses are required, including research skills courses (biostatistics) and a major support course (biochemistry), a predictive risk modeling skills course (microbial risk assessment and research laboratory rotation. Twelve semester hours of major elective courses are completed from a roster of specialty courses. Major electives are planned by the student and his or her advisory committee in a customized manner, based upon criteria such as the student's selected area of concentration, dissertation research and professional interests.
Applicants with the earned B.S. degree will be required to complete a substantial 16 semester credit hour pre-curriculum the 12-hour M.S. in biology core curriculum plus one additional four semester credit hour 500- or 600-level relevant science course, and other courses as recommended upon admission] that will ensure an appropriate and equitable level of didactic training that is comparable to the master's level of biological study. A minimum of 53 hours beyond the baccalaureate degree 16 M.S. semester credit hours and 37 doctoral-level course hours, excluding doctoral research), will be required for completion of the Ph.D. in microbiology at ASU.
Required Core Courses (12 Credit Hours)
| BIO 710 | Scientific Communication | 3 |
| BIO 720 | Microbial Genetics | 3 |
| BIO 730 | Micro Physiol Diversity | 3 |
| | |
BIO 740.01
| | 3 |
| Or | |
BIO 740.02
| | 3 |
| Or | |
BIO 740.03
| | 3 |
Major Support Courses (13 Credit Hours)
Major Elective Courses (12 Credit Hours required)
CHE 705
| | 3 |
| BIO 805 | Microbial Ecology | 3 |
| BIO 815 | Microbial Pathogenesis | 3 |
BIO 825
| | 3 |
BIO 835
| | 3 |
BIO 845
| | 3 |
BIO 855
| | 3 |
BIO 865
| | |
Required Doctoral Research and Dissertation Minimum (4 Semester Hours)
Electives (12 Semester Hours)