Combined Degree Program

Admissions Requirements

This program is only offered for Microbiology and Cell Science majors in the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences.

Bachelor of Science (B.S.) Master of Science  (M.S.) (non-thesis):

The combined B.S./M.S. program allows qualified students to earn both the Bachelor's and Master's degrees with 12 credit hours of jointly counted course work.  This program is considered a “4/1” because students may be awarded both degrees within a five-year period.

Students must electronically submit the Department Statement of Purpose to Dr. James Preston (jpreston@ufl.edu) prior to submission of the  final application packet.  Dr. Preston will provide feedback to the applicant after reviewing the Statement of Purpose document. 

Additional application material for the final packet must include  the Combined Bachelor's and Master's Degree Request form, three letters of recommendation, a hard copy of the Department Statement of Purpose,  and the printed version of the graduate application with appropriate GRE scores no later than April 15th during the second semester (semester 6) of the junior year.  With an approved application, a student will begin the Master's level course work in their first semester of the senior year.

Students admitted to the combined program will be classified as 7 MCB after the completion of the senior year and conferring of the Bachelor of Science. 

Preliminary admission application steps:

  • Be on track to complete all lower division course work (see sample schedule).
  • Meet with a department advisor to verify  "on track" status on the way to application and completion of the GRE.

Admission Requirements for the B.S./M.S. program in Microbiology and Cell Science:

  • Attain 3 MCB status to apply.
  • Submit the entire application by the April 15th deadline of the junior year, semester 6.
  • Satisfy Graduate School and Department admission requirements for acceptance.
  • Attain 4 MCB (Microbiology major in the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences) status to begin Master's level course work.
  • Attain a minimum score of 1100 on the combined verbal and quantitative portions of the GRE by the end of semester 5.  The score must be submitted by the April 15th application deadline.
  • University of Florida transcript must show a cumulative GPA of at least a 3.2 in undergraduate upper division course work.

Submit the application packet to the Department by the April 15th deadline.  The packet must contain the following materials:

  • Department Statement of Purpose:  submit an initial copy (prior to the final application packet) to Dr. James Preston via email and include a paper copy in the application packet. 
  • Combined Bachelors and Masters Degree Department Application
  • Graduate Application: On the Graduate Application, the anticipated term/year of enrollment for the Application for Admission to Graduate School should include the following fall semester after admission into the Combined Degree Program. For example, if you plan to begin the program in your senior year Fall 2008, your anticipated term/year of enrollment for the Graduate Application should indicate Fall 2009.
  • Three letters of recommendation


Top