College: School of Medicine and Public Health
Designation: Department
Major: Medical Microbiology and Immunology
Degrees Offered: M.S.
Other: Ph.D. Minor; for Ph.D. degree, see Microbiology Doctoral Training Program
Faculty: Professors Welch (chair), Bangs, *Brandt, *Keller, *Klein, Malkovsky, *Mansfield, McFall-Ngai, Paulnock, Proctor, Ruby, Schell, Weidanz; Associate Professors *Andes, Dillard, *Huttenlocher, Woods; Assistant Professors Gumperz, Hull, Knoll, Schultz-Cherry, *Striker (*indicates joint appointment in MMI)
The master's program in medical microbiology and immunology (MMI) is a research-intensive program, requiring a research thesis to graduate. This is different from programs that emphasize classroom instruction where students graduate after completing an established curriculum. Thus, potential applicants must be interested in pursuing a master's degree that emphasizes laboratory, rather than classroom, training.
Before applying to the program, the potential student must find an MMI faculty member who is willing and able to accept the individual into his/her lab and act as advisor for the duration of the training. Typically, this is best achieved by contacting the potential advisor and pre-negotiating the scientific and financial conditions specific to each lab involved in the MMI master's program. For information on MMI faculty research interests and faculty contact information, please visit www.medmicro.wisc.edu/graduate/masters.html#advisor . The name of the faculty member who has agreed to advise and train the student must be identified in the application materials. Admission to the program is dependent upon the affirmative recommendations of the faculty advisor, the MMI master's program admissions committee, and the department chair. The recommendation of the faculty advisor does not guarantee admission to the program.
Upon admission, the student will assemble a thesis certification committee consisting of three faculty members (including the previously identified faculty advisor). A minimum of ten graduate course credits selected from the medical microbiology and immunology curriculum are required (410, 460, 504, 528, 529, 554, 575, 603, 655, 696, 720, 740, 750, 773, 900, and 901). Other courses, including technical and management courses, may be substituted with approval of the certification committee. Submission of a satisfactory research thesis and passing an oral examination are required. Finally, a copy of the approved research thesis must be deposited with the UW Memorial Library; thesis format requirements can be found at info.gradsch.wisc.edu/education/completedegree/mdegree.html .
Financial support for students in the master's degree program is not generally available.
To qualify for admission to the MMI master's degree program, an applicant should have a bachelor's degree (minimum GPA 3.0 on a 4.0 scale) with a minimum of: two semesters of biology (can be microbiology); one semester of genetics; four semesters of chemistry, including two semesters of organic chemistry; and two semesters of calculus (or one semester of calculus with an additional semester completed prior to matriculation to the MMI Master's Program). Three letters of reference are required. Graduate Record Exam (GRE) scores must be provided by all applicants (subject test not required). International students must provide evidence of English proficiency by providing test scores from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), or the Michigan English Language Assessment Battery (MELAB). As noted earlier, all applicants must also identify an MMI faculty advisor at the time of application.
GPAs, GRE scores, TOEFL or IELTS or MELAB scores (if applicable), three letters of reference, and the applicant's academic goals statement are the primary criteria used in the admission process. In addition, although not essential, scientific publications (English language journals/books and publications with English abstracts only) will also be considered during the admission process. The academic goals statement should include a description of prior laboratory experience. Because laboratory training is both time and resource intensive, and given that master degree students compete with doctoral trainees for laboratory training spots, the number of master degree students admitted to the program annually is typically very small.
Application should be made via the UW-Madison Graduate School Web site at info.gradsch.wisc.edu/education/admissions/index.html . Printed informational packets and application materials are not available.
The requirements for a Ph.D. minor in medical microbiology and immunology (MMI) include the following:
1. At least 10 credits in MMI graduate courses numbered 400 or higher, excluding directed study (699), journal club (900), seminar (901, 914) and research and thesis (990)
2. At least a B average and no grade lower than C in MMI courses used for the minor requirement
3. Inclusion of an MMI faculty member on the thesis committee, in the role of minor advisor.
For more information: Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, 1550 Linden Drive, Madison, WI 53706-1521; 608/262-7538; medmicro@mail.medmicro.wisc.edu; www.medmicro.wisc.edu.