Undergraduate

B.S. in Microbiology

The Microbiology degree includes a broad background and education in the sciences, including chemistry, biology, physics, and mathematics as well as specific, focused training in the field of microbiology. Majors complete 42 credits in microbiology departmental courses. Much of the advanced coursework displays an integrated approach to the study of prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms with a major emphasis in microbial pathogenesis. This includes an analysis of virulence factors, bacterial toxins, lipopolysaccharides, and outer membrane proteins, interactions of pathogens and their products with eukaryotic host cells (cellular microbiology), antigenic variation, contemporary vaccine strategies, bacterial gene regulation (osmoregulation, quorum sensing), bacterial export and secretion, and genetic regulation of bacterial virulence expression.

REQUIREMENTS FOR THE MICROBIOLOGY B.S. DEGREE (MIC)

Prerequisites (State Mandated Common Prerequisites) for Students Transferring from a Florida College System Institution: Students should complete the following prerequisites at the lower level prior to entering the university. If these courses are not taken at the community college, they must be completed before the degree is granted. Unless stated otherwise, a grade of C is the minimum acceptable grade for any prerequisite.

Prerequisites

• B.S.C 1010/1010L Introduction to Biology I-Cellular Processes (with lab)
  Acceptable substitutes: PCB X010, PCB X011, PCB X021, PCB X131, B.S.C X040, B.S.C 2012
• B.S.C 1011/1011L Introduction to Biology II-Diversity (with lab)
  Acceptable substitutes: ZOO X010, BOT X010, B.S.C X041, BOT X013
• CHM 1045/1045L General Chemistry I (with lab)
• CHM 1046/1046L General Chemistry II (with lab)
• CHM 2210/2210L Organic Chemistry I (with lab)
  Acceptable substitutes: PHY 3043/3043L, PHY 3048/3048L, PHY 3049/3049L, or equivalent
• CHM 2211/2211L Organic Chemistry II (with lab)
  Acceptable substitutes: PHY 3053/3053L, PHY 3048/3048L, PHY 3049/3049L, or equivalent
• MAC X311 Calculus I
  Acceptable substitutes: MAC 2233, MAC 2253, MAC X281 MAC X312
• Calculus II
  Acceptable substitutes: STA 2122, 2014, 2023, 2034, 2321 or equivalent; MAC 2234, 2254, 3282

MAJOR COURSES FOR A B.S. IN MICROBIOLOGY

Minimum: 42 credit hours

Foundational courses: (8 hrs)

• B.S.C 2010 Biology I Cellular Processes (3)
• B.S.C 2010L Biology I Cellular Processes Laboratory (1)
• B.S.C 2011 Biology II Diversity (3)
• B.S.C 2011L Biology II Diversity Laboratory (1)

Core courses: (14 hrs)

• PCB 3023 Cell Biology (3)
• PCB 3023L Cell Biology Laboratory (1)
• PCB 3063 General Genetics (3)
• MCB 3410 Cell Metabolism (3)
• MCB 3020 General Microbiology (3)
• MCB 3020L General Microbiology Lab (1)

Advanced courses: (20 hrs)

Requires: (8 hrs)

• MCB 4115 Determinative Bacteriology (3)
• MCB 4115L Determinative Bacteriology Lab (2)
• MCB 3020 General Microbiology (3)
• MCB 3020L General Microbiology Lab (1)

Advanced Electives: (12 hrs)

• BSC 4905 Independent Study* (1)
• BSC 4933 Selected Topics in Biology* (1-4)
• BSC 5931 Selected Topics in Biology* (1-4)
• BOT 4434C Mycology (3)
• MCB 4503 Virology (3)
• MCB 4313 Industrial Microbiology (3)
• MCB 4905 Microbiology Undergraduate Research (1-4)
• MCB 4934 Seminar in Microbiology (1)
• MCB 5206 Public Health and Pathogenic Microbiology (3)
• MCB 5655 Applied and Environmental Biology (3)
• MCB 5815 Medical Mycology (3)
• PCB 4234 Principles of Immunology (3)
• BCH 3023 Introductory Biochemistry (3)
• BCH 3023L Basic Biochemistry Laboratory (2)
• MCB 4404 Microbial Physiology and Genetics (4)
• MCB 4404L Microbial Physiology and Genetics Laboratory (1)

*Please see an Academic Advisor for appropriate selected topics courses.

Supporting Courses in the Natural Sciences (minimum 34 credit hrs):

• CHM 2045 General Chemistry I (3)
• CHM 2045L General Chemistry I Laboratory (1)
• CHM 2046 General Chemistry II (3)
• CHM 2046L General Chemistry II Laboratory (1)
• CHM 2210 Organic Chemistry I (3)
• CHM 2210L Organic Chemistry I Laboratory (2)
• CHM 2211 Organic Chemistry II (3)
• CHM 2211L Organic Chemistry II Laboratory (2)
• MAC 2241 Life Sciences Calculus I AND (4) MAC 2242 Life Sciences Calculus II (4)
  OR
  MAC 2281 Engineering Calculus I AND (4) MAC 2282 Engineering Calculus II (4)
  OR
  MAC 2311 Calculus I AND (4) MAC 2312 Calculus II (4) STA2023 Introductory Statistics I (3) may be substituted for any Calculus II
• PHY 2048 General Physics I (3)
• PHY 2048L General Physics I Laboratory (1)
• PHY 2049 General Physics II (3)
• PHY 2049L General Physics II Laboratory (1)
  OR
• PHY 2053 General Physics I (3)
• PHY 2053L General Physics I Laboratory (1)
• PHY 2054 General Physics II (3)
• PHY 2054L General Physics II Laboratory (1)

• Meet all College and University requirements.
• Minimum Grade for Majors = C
• A maximum of four (4) credit hours of Undergraduate Research (B.S.C4910) may be applied.
• A minimum of 20 hours of Biology courses must be taken in residency and be applicable to the major.