B.S. in Microbiology, Microbiology Option
Program Learning Outcomes
- Read a paper published in a top journal, in the fields that are encompassed in our department that include microbiology, cell biology, and/or immunology; identify the strengths and weaknesses of the study’s approach and develop a coherent, synthetic review of this study’s place in our knowledge.
- Produce a testable hypothesis, or fundamental concept, in microbiology, cell biology, and/or immunology.
- Effectively communicate complex biological concepts in presentations and/or in writing.
- Be able to access and analyze primary data to produce a coherent synthesis of the information.
Students planning a degree in Microbiology can pursue one of three Tracks: General Microbiology Track, Microbiology Pre-Medical Track, or Microbiology Pre-Veterinary Track. This allows flexibility in course choices with guided selections for those with specific career goals.
In order to graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Microbiology, all students must complete Required Microbiology Courses (43 credits minimum), as well as ONE of the other Tracks.
Students must earn a grade of C- or better in all courses required in their degree program. A minimum of 120 credits is required for graduation; 42 of those credits must be in courses numbered 300 and above.
Required Microbiology Courses (for all Tracks)
| Freshman Year | Credits |
|---|---|
| CHMY 141 - College Chemistry I & CHMY 142 - College Chemistry I Lab or CHMY 151 and CHMY 152 | 4 |
| CHMY 143 - College Chemistry II & CHMY 144 - College Chemistry II Lab or CHMY 153 and CHMY 154 | 4 |
| BIOB 160 - Principles of Living Systems or BIOB 260 - Cellular and Molecular Biology | 4 |
| STAT 216Q - Introduction to Statistics*note: BIOB 318 does not count for Q core or BIOB 318 - Biometry or M 161Q - Survey of Calculus or M 171Q - Calculus I | 3 |
| University Core and Electives | 15 |
| Year Total: | 30 |
| Sophomore Year | Credits |
| BIOM 360 - General Microbiology | 5 |
| CHMY 211 - Elements of Organic Chemistry & CHMY 212 - Elements of Organic Chemistry Lab*consult advisor/professional program for appropriate OChem choice or CHMY 321 and CHMY 322 and CHMY 323 and CHMY 324 | 5 |
| Microbiology Track | 3 |
| University Core and Electives | 17 |
| Year Total: | 30 |
| Junior Year | Credits |
| BCH 380 - Biochemistry & BCH 381 - Biochemistry Lab or BCH 441 and BCH 442 | 5 |
| PHSX 205 - College Physics I | 4 |
| PHSX 207 - College Physics II | 4 |
| Microbiology Track | 9 |
| University Core and Electives | 8 |
| Year Total: | 30 |
| Senior Year | Credits |
| BIOM 494 - Seminar/Workshop (take two semesters) or BIOM 499 - Senior Capstone | 2 |
| BIOM 410 - Microbial Genetics*if pre-vet, check with advisor or BIOM 450 - Microbial Physiology or BIOO 412 - Animal Physiology | 3 |
| MicrobiologyTrack | 25 |
| Year Total: | 30 |
| Total Program Credits: | 120 |
General Microbiology Track
In addition to the Required Microbiology Courses, a minimum of 37 credits of additional Microbiology Elective courses are needed for the General Microbiology Track.
General Microbiology Track Electives
| BIOM 101 | Careers in Microbiology | 1 |
| BIOM 244 | Ocean Biomes: Biodiversity, Ecology, and Global Change | 3 |
| BIOM 210IN | Environmental Health Science | 3 |
| BIOM 363 | Eukaryotic Cell Biology | 3 |
| BIOM 365 | Astrobiology | 3 |
| BIOM 404 | Medical Virology | 3 |
| BIOM 405 | Host-Associated Microbiomes | 3 |
| BIOM 410 | Microbial Genetics if not taken as a requirement | 3 |
| BIOM 415 | Microbial Diversity, Ecology, and Evolution | 3 |
| BIOM 419 | Programming for Biologists | 3 |
| BIOM 421 | Concepts of Plant Pathology | 3 |
| BIOM 423 | Mycology | 3 |
| BIOM 425 | Toxicology: Science of Poisons | 3 |
| BIOM 427 | General Parasitology not meant to be taken if BIOM 441 is already completed | 4 |
| BIOM 430 | Applied and Environmental Microbiology | 4 |
| BIOM 431 | Medical Bacteriology | 3 |
| BIOM 432 | Med Bacteriology Lab | 2 |
| BIOM 435 | Virology | 3 |
| BIOM 441 | Eukaryotic Pathogens *not to be taken if BIOM 427 is already completed | 4 |
| BIOM 450 | Microbial Physiology | 3 |
| BIOM 455R | Research Mthds in Microbiology | 4 |
| BIOM 457R | Research Methods in Immunology | 4 |
| BIOM 490R | Undergraduate Research | 1-4 |
| BIOM 497 | Educational Methods: Microbiology | 2 |
| BIOM 498R | Microbiology and Biotechnology Internships | 1-4 |
| BIOB 375 | General Genetics | 3 |
| BIOB 410 | Immunology | 3 |
| BIOB 420 | Evolution | 3 |
| BIOB 424 | Ethical Practice of Science | 3 |
| BIOH 365 | Human Anatomy and Physiology I for Health Professions | 3 |
| BIOH 366 | Human Anatomy and Physiology I for Health Professions Lab | 1 |
| BIOH 370 | Human Anatomy and Physiology II for Health Professions | 3 |
| BIOH 371 | Human Anatomy and Physiology II for Health Professions Lab | 1 |
| BIOH 405 | Hematology | 3 |
| BIOH 406 | Hematology Laboratory | 1 |
| BIOH 445 | Introduction to Pharmacology | 3 |
| BIOH 458 | Human Pathophysiology | 3 |
Microbiology Pre-Medical Track
In addition to the Microbiology Required Courses, students in the Microbiology Pre-Med Track, must complete the Required Pre-Med Track courses (24 credits) and 13 credits of Microbiology Pre-Med Track Electives.
Microbiology Pre-Med Track Required Courses (24 credits)
| BIOM 404 | Medical Virology | 3 |
| BIOM 431 | Medical Bacteriology | 3 |
| BIOB 170IN | Principles of Biological Diversity | 4 |
| BIOB 375 | General Genetics | 3 |
| or BIOH 320 | Biomedical Genetics | |
| BIOB 410 | Immunology | 3 |
| BIOH 365 & BIOH 366 | Human Anatomy and Physiology I for Health Professions and Human Anatomy and Physiology I for Health Professions Lab | 4 |
| BIOH 370 & BIOH 371 | Human Anatomy and Physiology II for Health Professions and Human Anatomy and Physiology II for Health Professions Lab | 4 |
Microbiology Pre-Med Track Electives (13 credits)
| BIOM 363 | Eukaryotic Cell Biology | 3 |
| BIOM 405 | Host-Associated Microbiomes | 3 |
| BIOM 410 | Microbial Genetics if not taken as a requirement | 3 |
| BIOM 450 | Microbial Physiology if not taken as a requirement | 3 |
| BIOM 455R | Research Mthds in Microbiology | 4 |
| BIOM 457R | Research Methods in Immunology | 4 |
| BIOM 490R | Undergraduate Research max. of 4 cr applies to major | 1-4 |
| BIOM 498R | Microbiology and Biotechnology Internships max. of 4 cr applies to major | 1-4 |
| BIOH 405 | Hematology | 3 |
| BIOH 406 | Hematology Laboratory | 1 |
| BIOH 422 | Genes and Cancer | 3 |
| BIOH 445 | Introduction to Pharmacology | 3 |
| BIOH 458 | Human Pathophysiology | 3 |
| BIOM 427 | General Parasitology not meant to be taken if BIOM 441 is already completed | 4 |
| BIOM 432 | Med Bacteriology Lab | 2 |
| BIOM 435 | Virology | 3 |
| BIOM 441 | Eukaryotic Pathogens not meant to be taken if BIOM 427 already completed | 4 |
Microbiology Pre-Veterinary Track
In addition to the Microbiology Required Courses, students in the Microbiology Pre-Vet Track must complete the required Pre-Vet courses (21 credits) and 10 credits of Microbiology Pre-Vet Track Electives, as well as 6 credits of Upper Division Science Electives.
Microbiology Pre-Vet Track Required Courses (21 credits)
| BIOM 427 | General Parasitology | 4 |
| BIOM 475R | Preveterinary Internship | 3 |
| or BIOM 490R | Undergraduate Research | |
| BIOB 170IN | Principles of Biological Diversity | 4 |
| ANSC 100 | Introduction to Animal Science (FR year) | 3 |
| ANSC 265 & ANSC 266 | Anatomy and Physiology of Domestic Animals - Lecture and Anatomy and Physiology of Domestic Animals - Lab (SO year) | 4 |
| BIOB 375 | General Genetics | 3 |
| or BIOM 410 | Microbial Genetics | |
| or ANSC 322 | Principles of Animal Genetics | |
Microbiology Pre-Vet Track Electives (10 credits)
| BIOM 404 | Medical Virology | 3 |
| or BIOM 435 | Virology | |
| BIOM 405 | Host-Associated Microbiomes | 3 |
| BIOM 425 | Toxicology: Science of Poisons | 3 |
| BIOM 431 | Medical Bacteriology | 3 |
| BIOM 432 | Med Bacteriology Lab | 2 |
| BIOB 410 | Immunology | 3 |
| BIOH 445 | Introduction to Pharmacology | 3 |
Upper Division Science Electives (6 credits)
The 6 credits in this block may be selected from any upper division science courses (in any department) which includes, but is not limited to, ANSC, BIOB, BIOH, BIOM, BIOO, EQUS, WILD. This allows pre-veterinary students to explore their unique interests in addition to the required preveterinary microbiology courses.