MGM M.S. in Medical Sciences


Program Overview

Note that there are numerous master’s degrees offered by different departments in the U.F. College of Medicine. This page is only for the M.S. in Medical Science offered by the Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology. By the fall semester of 2024, our program will be the Concentration in Molecular Genetics and Microbiology in the Medical Science major.

Research. This is a thesis research degree. It is aimed at students who have interest in learning how to conduct scientific research. It could prepare students for pursuing research-based Ph.D. studies or performing research in a variety of other venues such as industry or government. This program does not prepare students for medical school or other professional schools.

Students will perform research and learn concepts in molecular and cell biology, genetics, and/or virology under the direction of a skilled mentor, with supervision by a committee composed of members of the University’s Graduate Research Faculty. The research project will depend upon the expertise and interests of the faculty member and will vary from year to year depending on which faculty members have openings in their research group for master’s students. General topics include genetics, RNA biology, gene therapy, bacterial and viral pathogenesis, protein structure, toxicology, and congenital eye diseases. A list of faculty seeking master’s students for the fall of 2024 can be found here. Potential applicants should read the information about the faculty members with openings for students before applying for admission to ensure that their interests align with the current research offerings. An initial evaluation of academic qualifications of applicants will be conducted, and admission to the program will depend upon a faculty member with an opening accepting the student into their research group for training. Students must have at least a 3.0 undergraduate GPA. Research experience is preferred, but is not mandatory.

Timeline. This is a contiguous four semester program, typically with entry in the fall semester, and enrollment in the following spring, summer, and fall semesters. The thesis is defended and graduation occurs in the fourth semester. The coursework is intentionally flexible, enabling students to pursue courses relevant to their research topic.

A master’s thesis project involves learning and mastering a technique, using the technique independently in a research project, and analyzing and reporting the results. The preparation of a written thesis that documents this process and oral defense of the thesis are requirements of this degree.

Financial support. Admitted students will receive financial support from their mentor. The stipend is $17,500 for 12 months, so the total for four semesters is about $21,900. This is a non-benefitted stipend, and students are responsible for tuition and other fees (details about these costs can be found here). Full-time UF students are also required to have health insurance (click here for the policy).  Details on the costs and regulations associated with non-benefited student positions can be found here.

Application. The deadline for applications is March 31 of the current year for fall admission. To begin the application process, visit https://admissions.ufl.edu/apply/graduate/.

There is no GRE requirement. The application fee is $30, should you apply to more than one program you will be charged per application.

Information regarding international students can be found in the link: https://admissions.ufl.edu/apply/graduate/international

If you have any questions about the program or admissions, contact Paul A. Gulig, Ph.D., Professor and Associate Chair for Education, gulig@ufl.edu.

Credit Requirements

This is a full-time program. To be considered full time, students must enroll in 9 credits each fall and spring semester and 6 credits in the summer semester. This master’s degree requires a total of 33 credits; 12 credits must be GMS, BCH, or PCB letter-graded courses. Nine hours must be research, including three hours of GMS 6971​ Master’s Research taken during the semester the student plans to graduate.  The remaining 12 research credits are part of the individualized plan of study for each student.