Microbiology Major (B.S.)
The B.S. in Microbiology program provides a comprehensive scientific education in the study of microorganism. Students will explore the diversity microorganisms, along with their genetics, physiology, and interactions with humans and animals, and the environment. The curriculum is rich with hands-on laboratory experiences, and covers topics such as bacterial pathogenesis, microbial ecology, molecular biology, immunology and virology. Graduates are well prepared for careers in biotechnology, public health, healthcare, food safety, and biological research, as well as for advanced degrees in the biological sciences, medicine and other allied health fields.
Degree Requirements
All Major, Option and Elective Requirements as indicated.
*Major GPA requirements as indicated.
Major Requirements
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| Foundation Courses | ||
| CHEM 403 | General Chemistry I | 4 |
| CHEM 404 | General Chemistry II | 4 |
| CHEM 545 & CHEM 546 | Organic Chemistry and Organic Chemistry Laboratory | 5 |
| MATH 424B | Calculus for Life Sciences | 4 |
| PHYS 401 | Introduction to Physics I | 4 |
| PHYS 402 | Introduction to Physics II | 4 |
| Bioscience Core Courses | ||
| BIOL 411 | Introductory Biology: Molecular and Cellular | 4 |
| BIOL 412 | Introductory Biology: Evolution, Biodiversity and Ecology | 4 |
| BIOL 528 | Applied Biostatistics I | 4 |
| BMCB 605 | Principles of Cell Biology | 4 |
| BMCB 658 & BMCB 659 | General Biochemistry and General Biochemistry Lab | 5 |
| GEN 604 | Principles of Genetics | 4 |
| Microbiology Core Courses | ||
| MCBS 401 | Professional Perspectives in Molecular, Cellular, and Biomedical Sciences | 1 |
| BMS 503 & BMS 504 | General Microbiology and General Microbiology Laboratory | 5 |
| BMS 602 & BMS 603 | Pathogenic Microbiology and Pathogenic Microbiology Laboratory | 5 |
| BMS 616 | Microbial Ecology | 3 |
| Major Electives | ||
| Select six major electives from the below list of courses. 1 | ||
Three electives must include a laboratory (L). | ||
Three electives must be at the 700-level. | ||
| BMS 623 | Histology: Microscopic Cellular Structure and Function | 4 |
| BMS 650 | Molecular Diagnostics | 4 |
| BMS 655 | Human and Animal Parasites | 3 |
| BMS 703 | Infectious Disease and Health | 4 |
| BMS 704 | Pathologic Basis of Disease | 4 |
| BMS 705 & BMS 715 | Immunology and Immunology Laboratory (L) | 5 |
| BMS 706 & BMS 708 | Virology and Virology Laboratory (L) | 5 |
| BMS 719 | Host-Microbe Interactions (C) | 4 |
| BMS 720 | Mycology, Parasitology, and Virology | 3 |
| BMS 725 | Cell Phenotyping and Tissue Engineering Laboratory (C, L) | 4 |
| BMS 730 | Ethical Issues in Biomedical Science (C) | 4 |
| BMS 735 | Molecular and Cellular Parasitology (C) | 4 |
| BMS 740 | Human Microbiome (C, L) | 4 |
| BMCB 754 | Molecular Biology Research Methods (C, L) | 4 |
| BMCB 763 | Biochemistry of Cancer | 4 |
| GEN 704 | Microbial Genetics and Genomics (C, L) | 5 |
| GEN 705 | Population Genetics | 3 |
| GEN 711 | Genomics and Bioinformatics | 4 |
| GEN 713 | Microbial Ecology and Evolution (C) | 4 |
| GEN 717 | Molecular Microbiology (C, L) | 5 |
| GEN 721 | Comparative Genomics | 4 |
| ANTH 685 | Gender, Sexuality and HIV/AIDS in Africa | 4 |
| BIOL 510 | Mushrooms, Molds, and Mildews: Introduction to the Fungal Kingdom | 4 |
| BIOL 633 | Data Analysis for Life Science | 4 |
| BIOL 704 | Plant-Microbe Interactions | 3 |
| BIOL 706 | Data Science with R for the Life Sciences | 4 |
| CEE 724 | Environmental Engineering Microbiology (C, L) | 4 |
| HMP 501 | Epidemiology and Community Medicine | 4 |
| MEFB 506 | Marine Parasitology and Disease (Shoals Lab) | 4 |
| MEFB 717 | Lake Ecology | 4 |
| MEFB 755 | Biological Oceanography | 3 |
| NR 641 | Wildlife Disease Ecology | 4 |
| NR 706 | Soil Ecology (C, L) | 4 |
| NR 782 | Forest Health in a Changing World | 4 |
| SOC 635W | Medical Sociology | 4 |
- 1
Undergraduate laboratory research taken for 4 credits as BMS 795 Investigations in Biomedical Science, BMS 795W Investigations in Biomedical Science, BMS 799 Senior Thesis, BMS 799H Senior Honors Thesis, INCO 790 Advanced Research Experience or equivalent, may count towards 1 major elective with lab requirements. Students should discuss the experience with their academic advisor to ensure it is appropriate.
Sample Degree Plan
This sample degree plan serves as a general guide; students collaborate with their academic advisor to develop a personalized degree plan to meet their academic goals and program requirements.
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | |
| MCBS 401 | Professional Perspectives in Molecular, Cellular, and Biomedical Sciences | 1 |
| BIOL 411 | Introductory Biology: Molecular and Cellular | 4 |
| ENGL 401 | First-Year Writing 1 | 4 |
| CHEM 403 | General Chemistry I | 4 |
| Discovery Course | 4 | |
| Credits | 17 | |
| Spring | ||
| BIOL 412 | Introductory Biology: Evolution, Biodiversity and Ecology | 4 |
| MATH 424B | Calculus for Life Sciences | 4 |
| CHEM 404 | General Chemistry II | 4 |
| Discovery Course | 4 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| BMS 503 & BMS 504 | General Microbiology and General Microbiology Laboratory | 5 |
| GEN 604 | Principles of Genetics | 4 |
| CHEM 545 & CHEM 546 | Organic Chemistry and Organic Chemistry Laboratory 2 | 5 |
| Discovery Course | 4 | |
| Credits | 18 | |
| Spring | ||
| BMS 602 & BMS 603 | Pathogenic Microbiology and Pathogenic Microbiology Laboratory | 5 |
| BMS 616 | Microbial Ecology | 3 |
| BIOL 528 | Applied Biostatistics I | 4 |
| Discovery Course | 4 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| BMCB 605 | Principles of Cell Biology | 4 |
| PHYS 401 | Introduction to Physics I | 4 |
| BMCB 658 & BMCB 659 | General Biochemistry and General Biochemistry Lab | 5 |
| Discovery Course | 4 | |
| Credits | 17 | |
| Spring | ||
| PHYS 402 | Introduction to Physics II | 4 |
| Major Elective | 3-4 | |
| Major Elective | 3-4 | |
| Discovery Course | 4 | |
| Credits | 14-16 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| Major Elective/Capstone | 3-4 | |
| Major Elective | 3-4 | |
| General Elective | 4 | |
| General Elective | 4 | |
| Credits | 14-16 | |
| Spring | ||
| Major Elective | 3-4 | |
| Major Elective | 3-4 | |
| General Elective | 4 | |
| General Elective | 4 | |
| Credits | 14-16 | |
| Total Credits | 126-132 | |
- 1
Students applying to health profession schools need a full year of English. ENGL 415C, ENGL 419, ENGL 501, ENGL 502, or ENGL 503 is suggested in addition to ENGL 401. The second course may be taken any semester.
- 2
Students applying to health profession schools need a full year of Organic Chemistry CHEM 651/CHEM 653 and CHEM 652/CHEM 654 should be taken in place of CHEM 545/CHEM 546.
Program Learning Outcomes
Critical Thinking & Problem Solving- Apply the scientific method to form hypotheses, examine experimental evidence, and draw informed conclusions.
- Apply core knowledge and statistical methods to critically interpret scientific data, and troubleshoot unexpected outcomes.
- Utilize graphs, charts, and tables to represent scientific data.
- Demonstrate proficiency in the written, oral, and visual communication skills required to convey scientific information.
- Compare and contrast cellular and non-cellular microorganisms.
- Explain the basic structure-function relationships of microorganism components, and how specific microbial components contribute to a microorganism’s growth and survival.
- Describe how genetic information is maintained and transferred, how mutation can affect viability and contribute to evolution, and how gene expression is regulated.
- Detail how microorganisms interact and influence each other, other organisms, and their environment.
- Understand the principles of microbial pathogenesis and the immune response to infection.
- Analyze and evaluate the complex interactions between microbial communities and their hosts by applying the principles of microbial pathogenesis and microbial ecology.