Biology, B.S., Microbiology Concentration

Degree Requirements (120 Hours)

The complete program requirements are included in the Biology, B.S., General Biology Studies section. The following guidance is specific to this concentration.

Core IMPACTS Areas

Students may select any of the course options listed in each Core IMPACTS area. However, specific recommendations for certain areas are listed below. These recommended courses are not required in the core, but some are required for the major. If not taken in the core, then they must be taken in the Field of Study or Additional Courses area.

Institutional Priority

Suggested course (this is not a requirement)

PHIL 1010 - Critical Thinking 2 Credit Hours

Mathematics & Quantitative Skills

MATH 1113 - Precalculus 3 Credit Hours
(or any higher-level mathematics course)

Technology, Mathematics, & Sciences

Recommended courses (required for the major)

CHEM 1211 - Principles of Chemistry I 3 Credit Hours
and
CHEM 1211L - Principles of Chemistry I Laboratory 1 Credit Hours
CHEM 1212K - Principles of Chemistry II 4 Credit Hours
and
CHEM 1212L - Principles of Chemistry II Laboratory 1 Credit Hours

Any mathematics course not taken in the Mathematics & Quantitative Skills Area from the following choices

MATH 1220 - Survey of Calculus 3 Credit Hours
MATH 1401 - Elementary Statistics 3 Credit Hours
MATH 2201 - Calculus for the Life Sciences I 4 Credit Hours
MATH 2202 - Calculus for the Life Sciences II 4 Credit Hours
MATH 2211 - Calculus of One Variable I 4 Credit Hours
MATH 2212 - Calculus of One Variable II 4 Credit Hours
(or any higher-level math)

Field of Study Area

All courses above ending in K may also be offered as separate lecture and lab (L) courses. The combined (K) courses and separate lecture and lab (L) courses cover the same subject matter and are equivalent courses.
Any credit hours exceeding 18 earned to complete the Field of Study Area will count toward elective hours.

BIOL 2260 - Foundations of Microbiology 3 Credit Hours

Required Courses (15 Hours)

BIOL 2107 - Principles of Biology I 3 Credit Hours
BIOL 2107L - Principles of Biology I Laboratory 1 Credit Hours
BIOL 2108 - Principles of Biology II 3 Credit Hours
BIOL 2108L - Principles of Biology II Laboratory 1 Credit Hours
CHEM 2400 - Organic Chemistry I 3 Credit Hours
PHYS 1111K - Introductory Physics I 4 Credit Hours
PHYS 2211K - Principles of Physics I 4 Credit Hours

Field Electives

Select additional elective courses from the following to complete 18 hours in the Field of Study Area:

ANTH 2010 - Introduction to Biological Anthropology 3 Credit Hours
BIOL 2260 - Foundations of Microbiology 3 Credit Hours
BIOL 2251K - Anatomy and Physiology I 4 Credit Hours
CHEM 2400L - Organic Chemistry I Laboratory 1 Credit Hours
CHEM 2410 - Organic Chemistry II 3 Credit Hours
CHEM 2410L - Organic Chemistry II Laboratory 1 Credit Hours
CSC 2510 - Theoretical Foundations of Computer Science 3 Credit Hours
DATA 1501 - Introduction to Data Science 3 Credit Hours
ENVS 1401K - Environmental Science 4 Credit Hours
GEOG 1112 - Introduction to Weather and Climate 3 Credit Hours
GEOG 1112L - Introduction to Weather and Climate Laboratory 1 Credit Hours
GEOL 1121 - Introductory Geology I 3 Credit Hours
GEOL 1121L - Introductory Geology I Lab 1 Credit Hours
NEUR 2000 - Introduction to Neuroscience 3 Credit Hours
PHYS 2212K - Principles of Physics II 4 Credit Hours
PHYS 1112K - Introductory Physics II 4 Credit Hours
PSYC 2050 - Introduction to Drugs and Behavior 3 Credit Hours
RSCH 1203 - Research Strategies and Technology 1 Credit Hours

Any mathematics course not taken in the Mathematics & Quantitative Skills or STEM Area from the following choices

MATH 1401 - Elementary Statistics 3 Credit Hours
MATH 2201 - Calculus for the Life Sciences I 4 Credit Hours
MATH 2202 - Calculus for the Life Sciences II 4 Credit Hours
MATH 2211 - Calculus of One Variable I 4 Credit Hours
MATH 2212 - Calculus of One Variable II 4 Credit Hours

Major Area (37-44 Hours)

Professional Development Requirement (1-2 Hours)

It is recommended that students take their professional development course early in their courses of study for career preparation. Select at least one of the following professional development courses. (Note: Each of these courses may only be taken once for credit toward the major.)

BIOL 2030 - Professional Development in the Biological Sciences 2 Credit Hours
BIOL 4960 - Biology Careers Seminar 1 Credit Hours
BIOL 4970 - Biology Seminar 1 Credit Hours

CTW Requirement (2-4 Hours)

Select one of the following CTW courses:

BIOL 4045K - Ecological Research-CTW 4 Credit Hours
BIOL 4055K - Experimental Methods in Environmental Science-CTW 3 Credit Hours
BIOL 4074 - Developmental Biology-CTW 4 Credit Hours
BIOL 4076 - Evolutionary Developmental Biology-CTW 4 Credit Hours
BIOL 4292 - Leadership in Biology-CTW 2 Credit Hours
BIOL 4448 - Investigations Into the Human Microbiome: Organisms and Impacts-CTW 4 Credit Hours
BIOL 4451 - Aquatic Pollution and Toxicology-CTW 4 Credit Hours
BIOL 4920 - Course-based Undergraduate Research Experience-CTW 3 to 5 Credit Hours
BIOL 4980 - Senior Seminar-CTW 3 Credit Hours

Foundational Courses (11 Hours)

BIOL 3800 - Molecular Cell Biology 3 Credit Hours
BIOL 3880 - Microbiology 3 Credit Hours
BIOL 3890 - Microbiology Laboratory 2 Credit Hours
BIOL 3900 - Genetics 3 Credit Hours

Lab Options (2 Hours)

Choose one from the following:

BIOL 3910 - Genetics Laboratory 2 Credit Hours
BIOL 3805 - Molecular Cell Biology Laboratory 2 Credit Hours

Additional Major Courses

Microbiology Options (8 Hours)

Choose two of the following:

BIOL 4428 - Medical Microbiology 4 Credit Hours
BIOL 4458 - Microbial Ecology and Metabolism 4 Credit Hours
BIOL 4575 - Virology 4 Credit Hours

Choose one Signature Experience Course from the Following (2-4 Hours)

BIOL 4448 - Investigations Into the Human Microbiome: Organisms and Impacts-CTW 4 Credit Hours
(if not taken as CTW requirement)
BIOL 4905 - Theme-Based Biology Laboratory 2 to 4 Credit Hours
(on a subject related to microbiology)
BIOL 4910 - Undergraduate Research in Biology 1 to 5 Credit Hours
BIOL 4915 - Collaborative Internships in Biology 1-3 Credit Hours
BIOL 4916 - Internships in Biology 2 Credit Hours
BIOL 4920 - Course-based Undergraduate Research Experience-CTW 3 to 5 Credit Hours
BIOL 4696 - Laboratory in Molecular Biological Techniques 4 Credit Hours

Concentration Electives (3-4 Hours)

Choose from the following:

BIOL 3021 - Infectious Disease and Society 3 Credit Hours
BIOL 4278 - Immunology 4 Credit Hours
BIOL 4438 - Applied Microbiology 4 Credit Hours
BIOL 4448 - Investigations Into the Human Microbiome: Organisms and Impacts-CTW 4 Credit Hours
(if not taken above)
BIOL 4576 - Neurovirology 4 Credit Hours
BIOL 4580 - Microbial Pathogenesis 4 Credit Hours
BIOL 4930 - Topics in Biology 3 to 4 Credit Hours
Any course not already taken from the additional major course or provided lab options above.

Biology-Related Electives (8-9 Hours)

Additional BIOL courses at the 3000-4000 level or courses from the following list of approved Biology/STEM-related courses may be used to complete this section.

ANTH 4300 - Human Evolution 3 Credit Hours
ANTH 4310 - Human Biology 4 Credit Hours
ANTH 4330 - Primate Behavioral Ecology 3 Credit Hours
BIOL 2251K - Anatomy and Physiology I 4 Credit Hours
BIOL 2252K - Anatomy and Physiology II 4 Credit Hours
BMSC 3701 - Global Regulatory and Legal Requirements of Quality 3 Credit Hours
CHEM 3110 - Intermediate Organic Chemistry Laboratory II 2 Credit Hours
CHEM 3400 - Structure and Reactivity of Biomolecules 3 Credit Hours
CHEM 4420 - Drug Discovery: Theory and Practice 3 Credit Hours
CHEM 4460 - Medicinal Chemistry 3 Credit Hours
CHEM 4600 - Biochemistry I 5 Credit Hours
CHEM 2100 - Intermediate Organic Chemistry Laboratory I 2 Credit Hours
CHEM 2400L - Organic Chemistry I Laboratory 1 Credit Hours
CHEM 2410 - Organic Chemistry II 3 Credit Hours
GEOG 4030 - Computational Epidemiology I 4 Credit Hours
GEOG 4784 - Global Climate Change-CTW 3 Credit Hours
GEOG 4648 - Biogeography 3 Credit Hours
GEOL 4011 - Principles of Paleontology 4 Credit Hours
GEOL 4235 - Water, Wastewater, and the Environment 3 Credit Hours
MATH 4544 - Biostatistics 3 Credit Hours
MATH 4010 - Mathematical Biology 3 Credit Hours
NEUR 4100 - Developmental Neurobiology 4 Credit Hours
NEUR 4200 - Neuroscience of Memory 3 Credit Hours
NEUR 4250 - Neuroscience of Motivation and Emotion 3 Credit Hours
NEUR 4340 - Neurophysics 3 Credit Hours
NEUR 4010 - Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience 4 Credit Hours
NEUR 4020 - Cognitive Neuroscience 4 Credit Hours
NEUR 4040 - Neuroethology 4 Credit Hours
NEUR 4070 - Sensory Neuroscience 3 Credit Hours
NEUR 4080 - Clinical Neuroscience 4 Credit Hours
NEUR 3000 - Principles of Neuroscience I 4 Credit Hours
NEUR 3930 - Experience in Science Outreach 3 Credit Hours
NUTR 4100 - Energy, Metabolism and Obesity 3 Credit Hours
PHIL 4740 - Advanced Biomedical Ethics 3 Credit Hours
PHIL 3740 - Biomedical Ethics 3 Credit Hours
PHYS 2212K - Principles of Physics II 4 Credit Hours
PHYS 1112K - Introductory Physics II 4 Credit Hours
PHYS 4710 - Functional Neuroimaging 3 Credit Hours
SCOM 4700 - Health Communication in Interpersonal Contexts 3 Credit Hours
Any BIOL course at the 3000 level and above

Additional Courses Area

Students majoring in biology must take additional courses as electives to complete a minimum of 120 hours to complete their degree.

If chemistry was not taken in the Core IMPACTS Mathematics & Quantitative Skills area, then students should include one two-course chemistry sequence in this area (CHEM 1211K and CHEM 1212K). Two semesters of chemistry are required for biology majors.