• Apply specialized microbiology knowledge from multiple fields to critically analyze and evaluate microbiological, environmental, and health-related problems.
• Demonstrate competency in routine and specialized microbiological laboratory skills applicable to microbiological research or clinical methods, including laboratory safety and accurately reporting observations and analysis.
• Communicate scientific concepts, experimental results and analytical arguments clearly and concisely, both verbally and in writing.
• Practice flexible professional skills needed for careers in microbiology and related scientific and professional fields.

Students majoring in Microbiology cannot seek a dual degree or double major in Biochemistry & Biophysics, Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, BioHealth Sciences, Biology or Zoology.

To receive the BS degree in Microbiology, a student must complete all university baccalaureate core requirements plus departmental requirements listed below. All departmental requirements must be taken for a grade, with the exception of CH 324, which may be taken S/U; however, if taken S/U the student will not receive the Chemistry minor.

MB majors must complete the following courses with a grade of C- or better: MTH 227 or MTH 251, CH 231, CH 232, CH 233, CH 261, CH 262, CH 263 and CH 331.

MB majors must have a minimum 2.0 GPA in microbiology classes. This includes courses in the Microbiology Sciences Core, Microbiology Laboratory, and Microbiology Electives.

MB majors planning advanced professional training in medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, etc, should consult an appropriate advisor.

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
Mathematics and Statistics Core (12 credits)
MTH 227 & MTH 228	*CALCULUS AND PROBABILITY FOR THE LIFE SCIENCES I and CALCULUS AND PROBABILTITY FOR THE LIFE SCIENCES II	8
or MTH 251 & MTH 252	*DIFFERENTIAL CALCULUS and INTEGRAL CALCULUS
ST 351	INTRODUCTION TO STATISTICAL METHODS	4
Chemistry and Physics Core (46 credits)
CH 231 & CH 261	GENERAL CHEMISTRY and *LABORATORY FOR CHEMISTRY 231	5
CH 232 & CH 262	GENERAL CHEMISTRY and *LABORATORY FOR CHEMISTRY 232	5
CH 233 & CH 263	GENERAL CHEMISTRY and *LABORATORY FOR CHEMISTRY 233	5
CH 324	QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS (or take an additional 400-level MB lab course from below) 1	4
CH 331 & CH 332	ORGANIC CHEMISTRY and ORGANIC CHEMISTRY	8
CH 337	ORGANIC CHEMISTRY LABORATORY	4
PH 201 & PH 202 & PH 203	*GENERAL PHYSICS and *GENERAL PHYSICS and *GENERAL PHYSICS	15
Biological Sciences Core (23 credits)
BB 314	CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY	4
BB 450 & BB 451	GENERAL BIOCHEMISTRY and GENERAL BIOCHEMISTRY	7
BI 221 & BI 222 & BI 223	*PRINCIPLES OF BIOLOGY: CELLS and *PRINCIPLES OF BIOLOGY: ORGANISMS and *PRINCIPLES OF BIOLOGY: POPULATIONS	12
Microbiological Sciences Core (18 credits)
MB 110	ORIENTATION TO MICROBIOLOGY	1
MB 290	SUCCESS IN MICROBIOLOGY	1
MB 302	GENERAL MICROBIOLOGY	3
MB 303	GENERAL MICROBIOLOGY LABORATORY	2
MB 310	BACTERIAL MOLECULAR GENETICS	3
MB 311	^MOLECULAR MICROBIOLOGY LAB: A WRITING INTENSIVE COURSE	3
MB 312	BACTERIAL PHYSIOLOGY AND METABOLISM	3
MB 490	MICROBIOLOGY CAPSTONE EXPERIENCE	2
Upper-Division Microbiology Laboratory (2 credits)
Select one MB lab from the following or two MB labs if CH 324 is not taken above: 2		2-4
MB 417	IMMUNOLOGY LABORATORY
MB 422	AQUATIC MICROBIOLOGY LABORATORY
MB 435	PATHOGENIC MICROBES LABORATORY
MB 441	FOOD MICROBIOLOGY LABORATORY
MB 496	FISH DISEASES IN CONSERVATION BIOLOGY AND AQUACULTURE LAB
Upper-Division Microbiology Electives (18 credits)
Select 18 credits from the following courses: 3		18
BOT 350	INTRODUCTORY PLANT PATHOLOGY
BOT 461	MYCOLOGY
MB 314	AQUATIC MICROBIOLOGY
MB 401	RESEARCH
MB 403	THESIS
MB 405	READING AND CONFERENCE
MB 406	SPECIAL PROJECTS
MB 410	OCCUPATIONAL INTERNSHIP
MB 416	IMMUNOLOGY
MB 417	IMMUNOLOGY LABORATORY
MB 420	MICROBIAL GENOME EVOLUTION AND BIODIVERSITY
MB 422	AQUATIC MICROBIOLOGY LABORATORY
MB 430	BACTERIAL PATHOGENESIS
MB 434	VIROLOGY
MB 435	PATHOGENIC MICROBES LABORATORY
MB 436	THE HUMAN MICROBIOME
MB 440	FOOD MICROBIOLOGY
MB 441	FOOD MICROBIOLOGY LABORATORY
MB 448	MICROBE-ENVIRONMENT INTERACTIONS
MB 456	MICROBIAL BIOTECHNOLOGY
MB 479/FST 479	FERMENTATION MICROBIOLOGY
MB 480	GENERAL PARASITOLOGY
MB 491/FW 491	FISH DISEASES IN CONSERVATION BIOLOGY AND AQUACULTURE
MB 496/FW 496	FISH DISEASES IN CONSERVATION BIOLOGY AND AQUACULTURE LAB
MB 499	SPECIAL TOPICS
Additional Requirements
Remaining Bacc Core, Option and/or Electives		61-63
Total Credits		180

*

Baccalaureate Core Course (BCC)

^

Writing Intensive Course (WIC)

1

If a student elects to take CH 324 for an A-F grade, they will meet all the requirements for the Chemistry minor as part of their MB program

2

Additional upper-division MB lab credits may count towards the Upper-division Microbiology Electives credits

3

No more than 3 credits may come from the following courses: MB 401, MB 403, MB 405, MB 410. No more than 3 credits may come from MB 406

Degree plans are subject to change and the following is only an example of how students may complete their degree in four years. Students should consult their advisor to determine the best degree plan for them. Contact details for advisors can be found on the Academic Advising page.

Plan of Study Grid

First Year
FALL		CREDITS
CH 231 & CH 261	GENERAL CHEMISTRY and *LABORATORY FOR CHEMISTRY 231	5
MB 110	ORIENTATION TO MICROBIOLOGY	1
MTH 251 or MTH 227	*DIFFERENTIAL CALCULUS or *CALCULUS AND PROBABILITY FOR THE LIFE SCIENCES I	4
WR 121	*ENGLISH COMPOSITION	4
	Credits	14
WINTER
CH 232 & CH 262	GENERAL CHEMISTRY and *LABORATORY FOR CHEMISTRY 232	5
COMM 111 or COMM 114 or COMM 211 or COMM 218	*PUBLIC SPEAKING or *ARGUMENT AND CRITICAL DISCOURSE or *COMMUNICATING ONLINE or *INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION	3
HHS 231	*LIFETIME FITNESS FOR HEALTH	2
HHS 241	*LIFETIME FITNESS (or any PAC course)	1
MTH 252 or MTH 228	INTEGRAL CALCULUS or CALCULUS AND PROBABILTITY FOR THE LIFE SCIENCES II	4
	Credits	15
SPRING
CH 233 & CH 263	GENERAL CHEMISTRY and *LABORATORY FOR CHEMISTRY 233	5
Bacc Core or Electives		10
	Credits	15
Second Year
FALL
BI 221	*PRINCIPLES OF BIOLOGY: CELLS	4
CH 331	ORGANIC CHEMISTRY	4
Bacc Core or Electives		7
	Credits	15
WINTER
BI 222	*PRINCIPLES OF BIOLOGY: ORGANISMS	4
CH 332	ORGANIC CHEMISTRY	4
ST 351	INTRODUCTION TO STATISTICAL METHODS	4
Bacc Core or Electives		3
	Credits	15
SPRING
BI 223	*PRINCIPLES OF BIOLOGY: POPULATIONS	4
CH 337	ORGANIC CHEMISTRY LABORATORY	4
MB 290	SUCCESS IN MICROBIOLOGY	1
Bacc Core or Electives		6
	Credits	15
Third Year
FALL
BB 450	GENERAL BIOCHEMISTRY	4
MB 302	GENERAL MICROBIOLOGY	3
PH 201	*GENERAL PHYSICS	5
Bacc Core or Elective		3
	Credits	15
WINTER
BB 451	GENERAL BIOCHEMISTRY	3
MB 303	GENERAL MICROBIOLOGY LABORATORY	2
PH 202	*GENERAL PHYSICS	5
Bacc Core or Electives		5
	Credits	15
SPRING
BB 314	CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY	4
CH 324	QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS (or MB lab)	4
PH 203	*GENERAL PHYSICS	5
Bacc Core or Elective		3
	Credits	16
Fourth Year
FALL
MB 490	MICROBIOLOGY CAPSTONE EXPERIENCE	2
MB Lab Course		2
Upper-Division MB Course		3
Upper-Division MB Course		3
Bacc Core or Electives		5
	Credits	15
WINTER
MB 310	BACTERIAL MOLECULAR GENETICS	3
MB 311	^MOLECULAR MICROBIOLOGY LAB: A WRITING INTENSIVE COURSE	3
Upper-Division MB Course		4
Bacc Core or Electives		5
	Credits	15
SPRING
MB 312	BACTERIAL PHYSIOLOGY AND METABOLISM	3
Upper-Division MB Course		4
Upper-Division MB Course		4
Bacc Core or Elective		4
	Credits	15
	Total Credits	180

*

Baccalaureate Core Course (BCC)

^

Writing Intensive Course (WIC)