Coursework Track
Coursework Track students gain their knowledge mostly in a classroom setting. With a large selection of courses and supportive advising, students can tailor their education to fit their career goals. Additional milestones, such as the ethics workshop, ensure a well-rounded education.
All requirements can be found on the Bacteriology M.S. page in the UW – Madison Guide.
Courses / Credits
A minimum of 30 credits of graduate-level coursework is required, with courses selected by the student and M.S. program advisor with the following guidelines and in accordance with Graduate School Requirements (see requirements). A cumulative grade point average of 3.00 (on a 4.00 scale) must be maintained for continuation in the program. Coursework option certification form can be found here.
- 15 credits of coursework must be from the pre-approved electives list.
- Research (990), Special Problems (699), and Independent Study (899) credits may constitute up to nine credits of the required 30. If a student enrolls in any of these courses, they will be required to complete 15 credits of additional graduate-level coursework.
- General coursework requirements can be counted towards the 30 credits if taken after entering the program.
- The remaining credits have to be (micro)biology related courses and numbered 300 and above. All 30 credits have to have some connection to microbiology (science content- microbiology, biochemistry, chemistry, math, infectious disease, public health, etc.) or microbiology careers (teaching classes, diagnostics, biotechnology, writing, science communication, etc.). If a student makes a compelling reason for a non-microbiology class being important to their progress, we will consider it. All classes not on the pre-approved electives list must be approved by your advisor prior to the start of the semester.
Coursework Milestones
Orientation Advising Session
During or before orientation, students will meet with their respective advisor. In the orientation session, students discuss options for the first semester of coursework, briefly go over program requirements, and get suggestions on courses to take during their time in the program.
The coursework certification form will be used to facilitate the conversation with the advisor. When complete, this form should be submitted to the program coordinator. This is a requirement for both track options.
Ethics Workshop
The Ethics Workshop has the goal of fostering ethical and professional conduct. This workshop will be incorporated into the Masters Degree Seminar (MICROBIO 812), and will occur every year in the fall semester. This is a requirement for both track options.
Advisor Check In Meetings
Students will check in with the program each semester to discuss progress towards their degree. Students will be required to meet with the Program Manager and Coursework Track Advisor each spring by March 1. During the fall semester, students will check in during their MicroBio 812 course. If not taking the course, students will check in with the Program Manager by November 1. The purpose of these meetings is to evaluate that the coursework completed and planned is aligned with future goals and to ensure the student is on track to graduate. To facilitate this process, the student will complete the Coursework Certification Form and Meeting Form (Year 1, Year 2) and upload it to their box folder at least 1 week before the meeting.
Communications Milestone
The purpose of this milestone is to ensure students can communicate effectively about concepts in microbiology. Students can meet this requirement in a variety of ways by completing one of the following:
- Complete at least one semester as a Teaching Assistant (must be approved by the program) in a science related course with a lecturing component (must write a paragraph describing the position, have it signed by a supervisor, and attach a syllabus).
- Take a Life Science Communication Course (List of approved courses)
- If doing independent research, write a 4-5 page summary of your research (rubric).
- Poster presentation at a National or Regional Conference (must write a one page summary of research and a description of the conference)
- Assemble a communications portfolio which includes at least 5 written or oral science communications. Examples include:
- Presentation in a Grad 50% course
- Outreach (must be a least 1 hour and must write a 1 page summary of the experience)
- Literature review for a Grad 50% course or lab
- Poster presentation at a local conference (must write a one page summary of research and a description of the conference)
- Seminar report
- Please reach out to the program for approval of other communication related activities.
The deadline is March 1 for fall admits and November 1 for spring admits.
*Use of AI is not acceptable.
Independent Research Study (Optional)
Students in the coursework option are encouraged to participate in laboratory experiences as part of their graduate studies, through independent study on campus. Research (990), Independent Study (899), or Special Problems (699) credits may constitute up to nine credits of the 30 required. These credits cannot be used to satisfy the 15 credit requirement from the pre-approved electives list.
Coursework Track Certification Form
The coursework track certification form helps assist the student, advisor, and program organize the student’s progress to degree completion. It is a helpful tool to be used each semester to track progress. Each semester, the form should be completed and sent to the program coordinator.
Sample Two-Year Plan
Coursework Track
This sample two-year plan is a tool to assist students and their advisor(s). Students should use it —along with their current transcript and Course Search & Enroll tools —to make their own plan based on their individual interests, career direction, and research (if applicable). Plans may vary considerably from student to student, depending on their individual preparation and circumstances. Part-time students will have a different plan and should anticipate more time to graduation.
The example plans assumes that student will:
- Have completed their prerequisites prior to matriculating in the program
- Have not completed the required program courses (Micro 303, Micro 470, Micro 526 and Biochem 501) prior to matriculating in the program
- Be enrolling as a full-time student for fall and spring terms during their time in the program
Year 1: Semester 1
Microbiology 303 (3 cr)
Elective* 300+ (2-3 cr)
Elective* Grad50% (3cr)
Year 1: Semester 2
Biochemistry 501 (3 cr)
Microbiology 470 (3 cr)
Elective* Grad50% (2-3 cr)
Year 2: Semester 1
Microbiology 526 (3 cr)
Elective* Grad50% (3 – 5 cr)
Year 2: Semester 2
Elective* Grad50% (3-5 cr)
Elective* 300+ (tbd**)
* Electives should be on the pre-approved list or have been approved by the student’s advisor.
**By Year 2 Spring, a student should know how many credits remain for them to reach 30 total degree credits.