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 453	Microbial Physiology	4 credits

Elective Courses

Students must take at least 6 credits of microbial science electives. At least one elective course must have a laboratory component.

Course Number	Course Name	Credits
BS 308	Human Parasitology	3 credits
BS 348	Clinical Microbiology (cross-listed at MT 348)	4 credits
BS 350	Trends in Microbiology	3 credits
BS 355	Clinical Immunology	3 credits
BS 372	Aquatic Biology	4 credits
BS 375	Environmental Microbiology	3 credits (lecture only, no laboratory)
BS 377	Ecology	4 credits
BS 415	Modern Issues of Vaccinology	3 credits
BS 450	Virology	3 credits (lecture only, no laboratory)
BS 453	Microbial Physiology	4 credits
BS 456	Immunobiology	4 credits (lecture only, no laboratory)
BS 461	Cell Biology	4 credits
BS 476	Molecular Biology Laboratory	2 credits
BS 499	Directed Research in Biological Sciences	1-3 credits (2 credits maximum)
BS 770	Fundamentals of Brewing Science	3 credits
BS 771	Brewing Engineering	3 credits
BS 773	Microbiology of Beer	2 credits
BS 774	Quality Control Lab	2 credits

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.