The Department of MMBB adheres to the standards set forth by the College of Graduate Studies for admission of new students. Departmental recommendations are forwarded to the College of Graduate Studies for final review and decision. The number of qualified applicants actually recommended for admission to the graduate program varies from year to year. The number of students entering the program each year is determined by the amount of laboratory space in the department, financial resources of the department and grants awarded to individual faculty members. A permanent adviser is selected upon mutual agreement between the student and the faculty adviser after student rotation through three different laboratories.
Most students enroll in twelve credit hours during the fall and spring semesters.
The number of credit hours may exceed, but should not be less than, the minimum requirements set by the College of Graduate Studies. On the average, M.S. degrees require about two years for completion, and the Ph.D. degree requires about four years. Individual degrees may take more time due to the nature of the research project. After passing the written qualifying examination, a doctoral candidate must be continuously enrolled, including summer sessions, until all degree requirements are completed. Beginning with the fall 1994 semester, all degree candidates in the Department of Microbiology, Molecular Biology and Biochemistry who have completed the required course work for their degrees must be continuously enrolled until all requirements of the degree are completed.