Microbiology Major, B.S.

Professors Anderson, Carreno, Downing, Hamill, Wolverton

Associate Professors Hankison, Markwardt, Panhuis, Reichard

Assistant Professors Gangloff, Tomcho

Continuing Part-time Professor Tuhela-Reuning

Adjunct Professors Ichida, Roberts, Waterhouse, Watkins-Colwell

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.

Learning Objectives

Students will be exposed to, directly apply, and understand the significance of, a wide range of current research techniques in the discipline of 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 microbes.

Major Requirements

Elective Courses:

(a) One additional course in BIOL

Required Cognate Courses:

CHEM 110 - General Chemistry I
CHEM 111 - General Chemistry II
CHEM 260 - Organic Chemistry I
CHEM 261 - Organic Chemistry II
PHYS 115 - Principles of Physics I or PHYS 110 C - General Physics I
PHYS 116 - Principles of Physics II or PHYS 111 C - General Physics II
1 of the following:
MATH 110 - Calculus I
MATH 105 - Basic Probability and 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.