Colleges offering an Associate's Degree in microbiology normally requires graduation from high school or passing the General Education Development examination or any of its equivalents. The student should also be at least 16 years old, with a GPA of 2.0 or higher. For foreign students, a minimum score in English proficiency exams, such as TOEFL, is required.
Usually offered as a four-year curriculum, this program equips the student with required units to get into graduate studies in microbiology and affiliated bio-molecular and cellular specialties. The program includes courses in general and organic chemistry, algebra and calculus, as well as social and behavioral sciences. The last year often covers on-the-job training, as most jobs in microbiology require a student to gain some work experience even while studying. Like the Associate's Degree requirements, an applicant should be at least a high school graduate or have equivalent certification.
Often a two-year course of study, a Master's Degree in microbiology incorporates graduate education systems and advanced research. Classes resemble undergraduate programs, but entail more research and seminar-like sessions. The program also requires the completion of a master's thesis and a written comprehensive exam or project. To qualify for the program, a candidate must have a bachelor's degree from an officially recognized institution, with many schools requiring an acceptable Graduate Record Exam score.
Higher level positions in microbiology require a Ph.D. or M.D. To earn this degree, the candidate must come out with a satisfactory defense of a dissertation and perform innovative experimental research. The candidate also needs to undergo an extensive oral and written exam. The usual requirements for entry into the program are: General Test and Subject Test of the GRE; a Bachelor's Degree from an accredited U.S. institution; a GPA of at least 3.0 or higher; sufficient experience in an undergraduate discipline; letters of recommendation; and an acceptable statement of purpose. The candidate must also pass the qualifying exam and submit to a departmental review by the institution he is applying with. Program duration is five or six years, depending on individual goals and the university's regulations.