Typical Program of Study:

1st year, Fall:
MIBO8110L (Electronic Exploration of Prokaryotic Biology) (3 CR)
MIBO8150 (Research Interests of Faculty) (1CR)
GRSC7770 (Graduate Teaching Internship) (3 CR)
MIBO8900 (2-3 Rotations in Laboratories) (6 CR)
Total of 12 hrs
1st year, Spring:
Choose Major Professor
MIBO8600 (Advanced Prokaryotic Biology) (3 CR)
MIBO9000 (PhD Research) or MIBO7000 (MS Research) (variable CR)
Other electives (total of 12 CR)
1st year, Summer:
Select Advisory Committee by end of 1st year of residency (PhD and MS)
MIBO8160 (Seminar Presentation, required in Summer of 1st year) (3 CR
MIBO9000 or MIBO7000 (total of 9 CR) 
2nd year, Fall:
Submit research prospectus to committee by end of Sept. (PhD only)
Submit thesis title to committee by end of Sept. (MS only)
MIBO8610 (Advanced Microbial Diversity) (3 CR)
MIBO9000 or MIBO7000
Other electives (total of 12 CR)

2nd year, Spring:
Complete forms/paperwork associated with qualifying exams and admission to candidacy
Pass written proposal at Spring midterm (PhD only)
Pass oral at end of Spring term (PhD only)
MIBO9000 or MIBO7000
Other electives (total of 12 CR)
2nd year, Summer:
Admission to candidacy (PhD)
MIBO9000 or MIBO7000
MIBO7300 (MS thesis preparation)
(total of 9 CR)
3rd year, Fall and Beyond:
MIBO9000
MIBO9300 (PhD dissertation preparation)
MIBO8170 (Research Seminars, Spring of 3rd or 4th year) (2CR)
other electives (total of 12 CR)
The core graduate courses required for all M.S. and Ph.D. students are MIBO8150 (Research Interests of Faculty), MIBO8160 (Seminar Presentation),MIBO8600 (Advanced Prokaryotic Biology), MIBO8610 (Advanced Microbial Diversity), and MIBO8170 (Research Seminar). Other courses taken to fulfill the required 20 hours of 7000-8000 level course work (GRSC7770, MIBO9300 and 9000 do not count toward this total) may include MIBO8110L (Electronic Exploration of Prokaryotic Biology), MIBO8900 (Rotations, max 6 CR), and GENE8920 (Nucleic Acids). Other advanced courses in genetics, biochemistry, cell biology, etc. are decided on by the student, their advisor, and their committee.  Electives courses in microbiology or other fields at the 6000 level may contribute to the required total 30 hours of coursework, which includes the 20 hr of  >7000 level courses described above.  You may want to discuss MIBO 6010 with your advisor for 2 hrs credit for up to 3 semesters of lab meeting review of research. Immediately before graduating, students must be enrolled in three hours of MIBO 7300M or 9300D (writing thesis/dissertation). 
Teaching for two semesters, advanced, or graduate-level microbiology courses is required.  Two classes may be taught during one semester or one class may be taught in two separate semesters. A TA training course (GRSC 7770) is required before the first semester of teaching. Most students serve as teaching assistants during their second or third year. The in-house TA applications deadline is the first of February each year.  The TA application requires written support of your Major Professor.
All graduate students are expected to attend Departmental Seminars and informal gatherings with speakers.

The final step in graduation is passing a thesis/Dissertation Defense: A public seminar followed by oral exam with committee (MS, aim for Year 2 or 3; PhD aim for Year 5).