Introduction 

The M.Sc Microbiology course is organized into four semesters over two academic years. The current curriculum is intended to elevate the M.Sc. microbiology degree at the Institute of Science and Technology, Tribhuvan University to an international level in conformity with contemporary microbiological achievements. The new curriculum promotes research-based teaching and learning practices.

Objective Of M.Sc Microbiology 

• To meet the national and international demand for highly trained microbiologists, molecular biologists, researchers, and scientists.
• To produce graduates who can apply modern molecular biology techniques to both basic and applied research.
• To prepare highly competent graduates to serve as microbiologists and research scientists, investigating the potential uses of microorganisms in the production of antibiotics and other microbial products.
• To prepare graduates to serve as laboratory technicians monitoring, identifying, and managing infectious diseases, as well as qualified researchers and scientists working in food production, crop protection, and soil fertility.

Course structure 

The entire course of M.Sc Microbiology is divided into four semesters within two academic years. 

• The first-semester course covers general/advanced microbiology, immunology, microbial genetics, microbial biochemistry, and biotechnology, as well as practical applications.
• The second semester allows students to specialize in one of four microbiology specialties. Medical Microbiology, Public Health Microbiology, Food and Industrial Microbiology, and Agriculture Microbiology are the four disciplines offered in the second semester, each with its own set of practical courses.
• Students must select one of the four disciplines provided in the second semester and stick with it for the third and fourth semesters. Students cannot change their discipline once they have chosen it. Students are encouraged to participate in excursions after the second semester to gain experience.
• The fourth semester is entirely research-oriented, including an internship based on the selected program and a dissertation.

Syllabus of M.Sc Microbiology 

                                         1st semester 

Subject Code	Subject Name	Credit Hours
MB 501	Advances in Microbiology	3 hrs
MB 502	Immunology	3 hrs
MB 503	Microbial Genetics and Molecular Biology	3 hrs
MB 504	Biochemistry and Biotechnology	3 hrs
MB 505	Practical on (MB 501 + MB 502)	2 hrs
MB 506	Practical on (MB 503 + MB 504)	2 hrs

                                             2nd semester 

Subject Code	Subject Name	Credit Hour
MB 551 (PH)	Human Anatomy & Physiology	3 hrs
MB 552 (PH)	Applied Environmental Microbiology	3 hrs
MB 553 (PH)	Fundamentals of Epidemiology	3 hrs
MB 554 (PH)	Microbial Systematics	3 hrs
MB 555 (PH)	Practical on (MB 551 + MB 552)	2 hrs
MB 556 (PH)	Practical on (MB 553 + MB 554)	2 hrs
MB 551 (Medical)	Human Anatomy & Physiology	3 hrs
MB 557 (Medical)	Systematic & Diagnostic Bacteriology - I	3 hrs
MB 558 (Medical)	Systematic & Diagnostic Virology - I	3 hrs
MB 559 (Medical)	Systematic & Diagnostic   Parasitology	3 hrs
MB 560 (Medical)	Practical on (MB 551 + MB 557)	2 hrs
MB 561 (Medical)	Practical on (MB 558 + MB 559)	2 hrs
MB 562 (Food)	Food Fermentation Technology	3 hrs
MB 563 (Food)	Food Biotechnology & Nutraceuticals	3 hrs
MB 564 (Food)	Advanced Food Microbiology	3 hrs
MB 565 (Food)	Food Safety Management & Toxicology	3 hrs
MB 566 (Food)	Practical on (MB 562 + MB 563)	2 hrs
MB 567 (Food)	Practical on (MB 564 + MB 565)	2 hrs

                                                3RD SEMESTER

Subject Code	Subject Name	Credit Hours
MB 601 (PH)	Research Methods & Biostatistics	3 hrs
MB 602 (PH)	Public Health Microbiology	3 hrs
MB 603 (PH)	Emerging Infectious Diseases	3 hrs
MB 604 (PH)	Public Health Laboratory	3 hrs
MB 605 (PH)	Practical on (MB 602)	2 hrs
MB 606 (PH)	Practical on (MB 603 + MB 604)	2 hrs
MB 601 (Medical)	Research Methods & Biostatistics	3 hrs
MB 607 (Medical)	Systematic & Diagnostic Bacteriology - II	3 hrs
MB 608 (Medical)	Systematic & Diagnostic Virology  - II	3 hrs
MB 609 (Medical)	Systematic & Diagnostic Mycology	3 hrs
MB 610 (Medical)	Practical on (MB 607)	2 hrs
MB 611 (Medical)	Practical on (MB 608 + MB 609)	2 hrs
MB 601 (Food)	Research Methods & Biostatistics	3 hrs
MB 612 (Food)	Food Science & Nutrition	3 hrs
MB 613 (Food)	Food Processing & Preservation Technology	3 hrs
MB 614 (Food)	Total Quality Management & Quality Assurance	3 hrs
MB 615 (Food)	Practical on (MB 612)	2 hrs
MB 616 (Food)	Practical on (MB 613 + MB 614)	2 hrs

                                        4TH SEMESTER

 

Subject Code	Subject Name	Credit Hours
MB 651 (PH)	Hospital / Field Based Internship	8 hrs
MB 652 (PH)	Dissertation	8 hrs
MB 653 (Medical)	Hospital / Field Based Internship	8 hrs
MB 654 (Medical)	Dissertation	8 hrs
MB 655 (Food)	Industry Based Internship	8 hrs
MB 656 (Food)	Dissertation	8 hrs

Scope and Prospects for a Career

Microbiology is more than just one subject; it includes a wide range of specializations, and graduates can work in industries ranging from pharmaceuticals to cosmetics. M.Sc. graduates can teach and perform research in medical, dentistry, and veterinary colleges. Graduates may also work as test and experiment technicians in laboratories. They can also work as researchers, looking into the structure, function, ecology, biotechnology, and genetics of microbes, human, animal, and plant tissues, cells, and other biological systems. Students with this degree have a strong chance of going abroad after graduation because the demand for microbiologists is very high.

Conclusion 

The current curriculum seeks to prepare qualified microbiologists, molecular biologists, researchers, and scientists to meet national and international demand. Master's degree holders will be able to apply new molecular biology techniques in basic science research as well as applied microbiology research.