Program Overview

Microbiology, M.Sc.

Overview

The Department of Microbiology offers a Master of Science program in Microbiology. The program provides students with advanced knowledge and skills in the field of microbiology, including microbial physiology, environmental microbiology, virology, pathogenicity, genetics, molecular biology, biochemistry, biotechnology, and cell culture.

Admission Information

Admission to the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies

Application and admission procedures are outlined in the Academic Guide. Admission requirements for Master's students are found in the Master's Degrees General Regulations section of the Guide.

Microbiology M.Sc. Admission Requirements

Admission requirements are those of the Faculty of Graduate Studies.

Pre-Master's Option

The department offers a Pre-Master's program of study, intended to bring a student's background up to the equivalent of the required 4-year degree in the major department/unit, and to provide the student with any necessary prerequisites for courses to be taken in the Master's program. Completing the Pre-Master's program does not guarantee acceptance to the Master's program.

Degree Requirements

• A minimum of 6 credit hours of course work plus a thesis are required.
• These are minimal requirements; students may be directed to take additional courses by their Advisor or Advisory Committee.
• Expected time to graduate: 2-3 years

Progression Chart

Registration Information

• Students should familiarize themselves with the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies 'GRAD' courses applicable to their program.
• All new and returning graduate students in the Department of Microbiology must have their programs approved by their advisor and the department head prior to registration.

Regulations

• Students must meet the requirements as outlined in both Supplementary Regulation and BFAR documents as approved by Senate.
• Individual units may require specific requirements above and beyond those of the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies, and students should consult unit supplementary regulations for these specific regulations.

Bona Fide Academic Requirements (BFAR)

• Bona Fide Academic Requirements (BFAR) represent the core academic requirements a graduate student must acquire in order to gain, and demonstrate acquisition of, essential knowledge and skills.
• All students must successfully complete:
  • GRAD 7300 prior to applying to any ethics boards which are appropriate to the student's research or within the student's first year, whichever comes first;
  • GRAD 7500 within the first term of registration;
  • unless these courses have been completed previously, as per Mandatory Academic Integrity Course and Mandatory Research Integrity Online Course.

General Regulations

• All students must:
  • maintain a minimum degree grade point average of 3.0 with no grade below C+;
  • meet the minimum and not exceed the maximum course requirements;
  • meet the minimum and not exceed the maximum time requirements (in terms of time in program and lapse or expiration of credit of courses).

Courses

Microbiology

• MBIO 7010: Graduate Seminar in Microbiology 1 (3 cr): Seminars covering areas of interest to the faculty and students in the graduate Microbiology program, and current developments in the broad field of microbiology.
• MBIO 7020: Graduate Seminar in Microbiology 2 (3 cr): Seminars covering areas of interest to the faculty and students in the graduate Microbiology program, and current developments in the broad field of microbiology.
• MBIO 7030: Graduate Seminar in Microbiology 3 (3 cr): Seminars covering areas of interest to the faculty and students in the graduate Microbiology program, and current developments in the broad field of microbiology.
• MBIO 7040: Graduate Microbiology (3 cr): Topics and current developments in the field of microbiology will be covered.
• MBIO 7050: Environmental Microbiology (3 cr): Topics and current developments in the field of environmental microbiology will be covered.
• MBIO 7060: Microbial Interactions (3 cr): Topics and current developments in the field of microbial interactions will be covered.
• MBIO 7070: Bioprocessing (3 cr): This course allows students with a background in either biological sciences or engineering to gain an understanding of biochemical engineering processes used to enable important chemical conversions by biological systems.
• MBIO 7100: Advanced Concepts in Molecular Biology (3 cr): Recent advances in the molecular basis and control of gene activity; information transfer and molecular evolution.
• MBIO 7160: Special Problems in Microbiology (3 cr): An assignment and conference course to be taken only through consultation with the head of the department.
• MBIO 7200: Macromolecular Structure Analysis (3 cr): This course introduces the principles of X-ray crystallography as applied to the study of protein and nucleic acid structure.