Accelerated Master's Program: How to Apply

Requirements for Admission

Students should apply for admission into the Accelerated Master’s Degree Program in Microbiology and Molecular Genetics with a minimum of 75 credits and before the start of their first semester Senior Year.  Admission into this program requires the following:

  • A minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.00.
  • Enrollment in an undergraduate bachelor’s degree program and completion of at least one year of Introductory Chemistry, one year of Organic Chemistry, one year of Calculus, MMG 101, MMG 104, BCOR 101, and BCOR 103 or MMG 196C.  
  • GRE/GMAT scores are NOT an admission requirement for the Accelerated Master’s Degree Program in Microbiology and Molecular Genetics.
  • Students must identify a research mentor within the Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics in whose laboratory they will conduct their master’s degree research. 
  • Students MUST be admitted through the Graduate College before taking any courses that will be applied to the master’s degree. 
  • Courses taken as an undergraduate that will then count towards the master’s degree must be graded with letter grades (A-F, not P/F, S/U, SP/UP). Independent study, internship or practicum and research credits are not allowed to count towards the master’s degree. 
  • If more than 9 credits of graduate level coursework are taken prior to receipt of the bachelor’s, ONLY 9 credits will count towards the master’s. There are no exceptions. 
  • Students are expected to initiate master's degree research in the summer following their undergraduate graduation. Students who graduate in January may initiate master's research in the spring semester and are expected to continue the research in the summer.

Application Process

• Completion of application to the Graduate College, meeting all Graduate College application requirements.
• Include at least three letters of recommendation. One MUST be from your identified research mentor in MMG.
• Include the Accelerated Masters Form. This document must be signed by the indicated parties before being uploaded to your application. 

Contact Us

Have questions about this program? Contact MMG Vice Chair of Undergraduate Education Dr. Janet Murray. 802-656-8255 Email

For more information about the Graduate College, please visit: The Graduate College