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MCRO Ph.D. Requirements

Educational Goals

Our goal is to train MCRO PhD students to become first-rate scientists.  The skills that we aim to impart include:

  • Acquisition of broad background knowledge in modern microbiology and immunology.
  • Demonstrate ability to critically evaluate the scientific literature.
  • Demonstrate strong written and oral communication skills.
  • Demonstrate facility in experimental design and execution, from concept through interpretation of results to publication.
  • Foster collaboration and comfort with interdisciplinary science.
  • Demonstrate teaching experience.
  • Demonstrate appropriate professional conduct, including the responsible conduct of research.

Our department has collectively developed and fine-tuned a coherent and comprehensive plan for graduate education.  Each aspect of our curriculum is designed to foster one or more of the skills listed above.

Graduate School Requirements

The Graduate School sets general policies and requirements for all Ph.D. programs at UNC Chapel Hill, while leaving details of implementation to each program.

  • Residence Credit. D. students must earn at least four full semesters of residence credit.  This is generally achieved by enrolling in at least 9 credit hours each semester for the first two years of graduate school, but may also be accumulated by enrolling for a lower number of credits per semester over a longer time period.  For details see the Graduate School Handbook (https://handbook.unc.edu).
  • Dissertation Committee. MCRO guidelines for committee composition are described in a separate document.  Must be chosen by the first day of fall semester classes in the first year in MCRO.  Committee Chair must be different than the research advisor.
  • Doctoral Written Comprehensive Exam. The format of the MCRO written preliminary exam is an original research proposal, typically composed in the spring semester of the first year in MCRO.  Described in detail in separate documents.
  • Doctoral Oral Comprehensive Exam. The format of the MCRO oral preliminary exam is based on the dissertation research project and typically undertaken in the fall semester of the second year in MCRO.  Described in detail in separate documents.
  • Approval of Dissertation Project. Approval is considered in the same meeting as the oral preliminary exam.
  • Dissertation Defense. For MCRO, there is a private defense followed at least two weeks later by a public seminar.  Described in detail in a separate document.
  • Approval of Dissertation. Follows private defense.  Advice on dissertation composition is provided in a separate document.  Dissertations must comply with formatting requirements imposed by The Graduate School (https://gradschool.unc.edu/academics/thesis-diss/guide/).
  • Exit Survey. Conducted by The Graduate School.

Department Requirements

Required Courses

  • MCRO795 Research Concepts (development and writing of research proposals) is required in fall of the first year in MCRO.
  • MCRO710 or MCRO711 or MCRO712 literature-based course. Guidelines for MCRO71X courses are described in a separate document.
  • Another literature-based course, which can be MCRO710 or MCRO711 or MCRO712, or a different course approved by the Director of Graduate Studies. The topics discussed in MCRO71X courses change each semester, so the same course number can be taken more than once for credit.  If you would like to enroll in a literature-based course in another department, then first consult with the DGS to make sure it will fulfill the MCRO requirement.

Elective Courses

In addition to the three required courses, must complete at least three graduate level (600 or above) semester-long elective courses in topics plausibly relevant to the scientific or research goals of the student.  Courses are counted by length, not credits, i.e., a 1 credit class and a 4 credit class count equally toward our requirement.  To get credit for modular courses (i.e., courses less than a semester in length), sufficient modules (typically three) must be completed to equal one semester long course.  Modular courses do not need to be taken in the same semester.  BBSP710 counts as two modules toward the MCRO PhD degree.  BBSP705 does not count toward the MCRO degree.

Additional Requirements

  • MCRO701 Seminar is required every fall and spring semester while enrolled in the program, unless waived by the Director of Graduate Studies (typically waived only in the final semester). Described in a separate document.
  • Meet with dissertation committee at least once per year, starting in the third year, and more frequently if directed.
  • Serve as a teaching assistant for two semesters as assigned, typically once in the second year and once in the third year, and usually for MCRO251 Introductory Medical Microbiology laboratory. Described in a separate document.
  • Give a public seminar about dissertation results after successful private dissertation defense.
  • Meet minimum publication requirement. Described in detail in a separate document.

Additional Expectations (not requirements)

  • Our expectation since at least 1990 has been that to earn a MCRO Ph.D. degree, students should perform research sufficient to publish at least two first-author research papers.
  • Take MCRO721 Refresher Training in the Responsible Conduct of Research in the fifth year unless have completed degree. Described in a separate document.

Modifications for M.D./Ph.D. Students

  • A minimum of only three graduate level semester-long courses are required, which must include MCRO795 and MCRO710 or MCRO711 or MCRO712.
  • Serve as a Teaching Assistant only once.
  • The Medical Scientist Training Program imposes additional requirements and expectations on M.D./Ph.D. students during their Ph.D. studies.
  • All other Ph.D. degree requirements are the same for all MCRO students.

Last updated 2/3/2025.