Graduates are prepared for positions in research or commercial laboratories or for further graduate study. Students shall select a major adviser by the end of the first semester in residence. By the end of the first year in residence, the student and major adviser will select a supervisory committee. Students are encouraged to visit with each faculty member and spend time in each laboratory to acquaint themselves with the department's research programs.

The Master's program requires 24 months of full-time study, completing a minimum of 30 semester credits with an overall GPA of 3.0 or better. Students with inadequate undergraduate training in microbiology will be required to complete undergraduate courses in microbiology in addition to the required minimum 30 semester credits.