Microbiology Major, B.S.

The Bachelor of Sciences in Microbiology (B.S. degree) provides strong background in Microbiology with more diverse training in the natural sciences by requiring additional courses in Chemistry, Physics and Math. It is primarily intended for students planning to pursue graduate school (Ph.D. or Masters) or medical school (M.D. or D.O.), as most of these programs require these cognate courses for entry.

Courses taught by faculty in Botany and Microbiology are designated with a BOMI prefix, courses taught by faculty in Zoology are designated with a ZOOL prefix. Courses taught by faculty from both departments are designated with a BIOL prefix. The B.S. in Microbiology must be declared through the BOMI department.

Learning Objectives

Students will be exposed to, directly apply, and understand the significance of, a wide range of current research techniques in the disciplines of botany and microbiology.
Students will be able to critically interpret complex data, i.e., they can use the data to draw a meaningful conclusion while articulating the limitations of the data set.
Students will be able to find and use primary literature to investigate a problem.
Students will be able to design sound experiments, including proper controls and appropriate statistical analyses.
Students will have a strong factual foundation in the structure, function, evolution, diversity, and ecology of plants and microbes.

Major Requirements

Core Biology courses:

BIOL 120: Intro to Cell Biology (with lab)

BIOL 125: Intro to Microbiology (with lab)

BIOL 271: Genetics

BOMI 280: Medical Microbiology (with lab)

BOMI 328: Bacterial Physiology (with lab)

BOMI 353: Molecular Genetics (with lab)

BOMI 357: Molecular Biology of Viruses (with lab)

ZOOL 351: Cell & Molecular Biology (with lab)

Elective courses:

(a) One additional course in BOMI or ZOOL

(b) Two semesters of BOMI 499 (Seminars)

Required Cognate courses:

CHEM 110: General Chemistry I (with lab)

CHEM 111: General Chemistry II (with lab)

CHEM 260: Organic Chemistry I (with lab)

CHEM 261: General Chemistry II (with lab)

PHYS 115 or 110 : Principles of Physics I (with lab)

PHYS 116 or 111 : Principles of Physics II (with lab)

1 of the following :

MATH 110 (Calculus I)
MATH 105 (Basic Probability & Statistics)
MATH 230 (Applied Statistics)
MATH 200.3 (Biostatistics)
PSYC 210 (Quantitative Methods)

Recommended courses:

Students are encouraged to take both a Calculus course and a Statistics course.
CHEM 340: Biochemistry I (with lab)