Microbiology Minor

A minor in microbiology is an outstanding way to add to your toolkit of skills and prepare you to pursue opportunities in the workforce or in graduate or professional schools. Many students earn advanced degrees in medicine or biology, while others seek employment in the health, pharmaceutical or biotechnological professions.

Coursework & Duration

Prerequisite Courses

One of the following Biology Sequences:

Sequence 1

• BS 109 - General Biology I Credits: 3
• BS 110 - General Biology I Laboratory Credits: 1
• BS 119 - General Biology II Credits: 3
• BS 120 - General Biology II Laboratory Credits: 1

Sequence 2

• BS 132 - Introductory Biology I Credits: 3
• BS 134 - Introductory Biology I Laboratory Credits: 1 OR
• BS 136 - Phage Hunters I Credits: 2

AND

• BS 133 - Introductory Biology II Credits: 3
• BS 135 - Introductory Biology II Laboratory Credits: 1 OR
• BS 137 - Phage Hunters II Credits: 2

Required Courses

Course Number	Course Name	Credits
BS 243	Microbial Science	3 credits
BS 244	Microbial Science Laboratory	1 credit
BS 343	Microbial Genetics	4 credits
BS 348 or BS 453	Clinical Microbiology or Microbial Physiology	4 credits

Elective Courses

Students must take at least 6 credits of microbial science electives. 

Course Number	Course Name	Credits
BI 425	Bioinformatic Computing	3 credits
BI 450	Bioinformatics I: Genomics	3 credits
BS 308	Human Parasitology	3 credits
BS 348	Clinical Microbiology (cross-listed at MT 348)	4 credits
BS 350	Trends in Applied Microbiology	3 credits
BS 355	Clinical Immunology	3 credits
BS 358*	Principles and Applications of Immunology	3 credits
BS 375	Environmental Microbiology	3 credits
BS 399**	Independent Study in Biological Sciences	1-3 credits
BS 415	Modern Issues of Vaccinology	3 credits
BS 441	No Microbe is an Island: The Social Life of Microbes	3 credits
BS 450	Virology	3 credits
BS 453	Microbial Physiology	4 credits
BS 455*	Infection and Immunity	3 credits
BS 456*	Immunobiology	4 credits
BS 475	Molecular Biology	3 credits
BS 476	Molecular Biology Laboratory	2 credits
BS 499**	Directed Research in Biological Sciences	1-3 credits
BS 773	Microbiology of Beer	2 credits

*Students may receive credit towards the micro minor for only one of BS 358 (Principles and Applications of Immunology), BS 455 (Infection and Immunity), or BS 456 (Immunobiology). Microbiology students are strongly encouraged to consider BS 456 for this option.

**Only 2 credits of BS 399 or BS 499 may count towards the micro minor. In addition, the microbiology program director must approve the faculty mentor for the BS 399 or BS 499 project to ensure the project fits within the scope of microbiology.

Requirements & Expectations

You must complete a minimum of 18 credits above the introductory level. Of these 18 credits, a minimum of 12 credits of minor coursework must be completed in addition to any courses (required courses or program electives) included in the major curriculum.

Interested students should apply to the minor program early in their academic career, usually by the fifth semester of college work, but no later than the end of the drop/add period of the first semester of their last year of didactic work.