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Department of Biology

Bachelor of Science in Microbiology

Students on Summer 2022, Fall 2022, or Spring 2023 requirements MICRBS

The Bachelor of Science in Microbiology trains students who wish to pursue careers as professional microbiologists in health, environmental, governmental, or industrial laboratories, and provides the foundation for professional or graduate training in microbiology and related fields.

Requirements

The major requires at least 35 credit hours (65 with the Addenda requirements), including the requirements listed below.
  1. Foundations of Biology: Biological Mechanisms. One (1) course:
    • BIOL-E 112 Basic Biology by Examination II
    • BIOL-H 111 Integrated Freshman Learning Experience I
    • BIOL-L 112 Foundations of Biology: Biological Mechanisms
  2. Molecular Biology. One (1) course:
    • BIOL-L 211 Molecular Biology
    • BIOL-S 211 Molecular Biology, Honors
  3. Microbiology. One (1) course:
    • BIOL-M 250 Microbiology
  4. Microbiology Lab. One (1) course:
    • BIOL-M 255
    • BIOL-M 315 Microbiology Laboratory
    • BIOL-M 316 Molecular Microbiology Laboratory
    • BIOL-X 150 ASURE Biology Research Lab 1 (approved topics only; see academic advisor) when taken prior to Summer 2024
    • BIOL-X 150 ASURE Biology Research Lab 1 (Approved topics: "GENOME ENGINEERING" (TPC 1); "PHAGE HUNTERS" (TPC 5)) when taken Summer 2024 or later
    • BIOT-X 150 ASURE Biotechnology Research Lab 1
  5. Advanced Lecture. Three (3) courses:
    • BIOL-L 321 Human Immunology
    • BIOL-L 472 Microbiomes: Host and Environmental Health
    • BIOL-M 350 Microbial Physiology and Biochemistry
    • BIOL-M 430 Virology Lecture
    • BIOL-M 440 Medical Microbiology: Lecture
    • BIOL-M 460 Microbial Evolution
    • BIOL-M 480 Microbial and Molecular Genetics
  6. Advanced Lab. Two (2) courses:
    • BIOL-L 323 Molecular Biology Laboratory
    • BIOL-M 360 Microbial Physiology Laboratory
    • BIOL-M 375 Human Parasitology
    • BIOL-M 435 Viral Tissue Culture Laboratory
    • BIOL-M 445 Medical Microbiology: Laboratory
    • BIOL-M 465 Environmental Microbiology Laboratory
    • BIOL-M 485 Microbial and Molecular Genetics Laboratory
    • BIOL-S 211 Molecular Biology, Honors when taken Summer 2024 or later
    • BIOL-X 325 ASURE Biology Research Lab 2 (With approval of Director of Undergraduate Studies) when taken prior to Summer 2024
    • BIOL-X 325 ASURE Biology Research Lab 2 (Approved topics: "GENOME ENGINEERING" (TPC 1); "PHAGE HUNTERS (LAB II)" (TPC 5)) when taken Summer 2024 or later
    • BIOT-T 315 Biotechnology Laboratory
    • BIOT-T 425 Laboratory in Macromolecular Production, Purification, and Characterization
    • BIOT-X 325 ASURE Biotechnology Research Lab 2
    • MSCI-M 375 PARASITOLOGY
  7. Advanced Elective Lectures. Two (2) courses:
    • Additional course(s) from Advanced Lecture list
    • BIOL-L 312 Cell Biology
    • BIOL-M 375 Human Parasitology
    • BIOL-M 416 Biology of AIDS
    • BIOT-T 310 Biotechnology Lecture
    • BIOT-T 322 Biotechnology Writing and Communication
    • CHEM-C 483 Biological Chemistry
    • CHEM-C 484 Biomolecules and Catabolism
    • MSCI-M 375 PARASITOLOGY
  8. Advanced Elective Lab. One (1) course:
    • Additional course from the Advanced Lab List above
    • BIOL-M 375 Human Parasitology
    • BIOT-T 315 Biotechnology Laboratory
    • MSCI-M 375 PARASITOLOGY
  9. Addenda Requirements*.
    1. Chemistry.
      1. Principles of Chemistry and Biochemistry I. One (1) course:
        • CHEM-C 117 Principles of Chemistry and Biochemistry I
        • CHEM-H 117 Principles of Chemistry and Biochemistry I, Honors
        • CHEM-J 117 Principles of Chemistry and Biochemistry for Science Majors
      2. Principles of Chemistry and Biochemistry I Laboratory. One (1) course:
        • CHEM-C 127 Principles of Chemistry and Biochemistry I Laboratory
        • CHEM-H 127 Principles of Chemistry and Biochemistry I Laboratory, Honors
        • CHEM-X 150 ASURE Chemistry Research Lab I
      3. Organic Chemistry I Lectures. One (1) course:
        • CHEM-C 341 Organic Chemistry I Lectures
        • CHEM-J 341 Principles of Organic Chemistry I when taken Summer 2024 or later
        • CHEM-S 341 Organic Chemistry I Lectures, Honors
      4. Organic Chemistry II Lectures. One (1) course:
        • CHEM-C 342 Organic Chemistry II Lectures
        • CHEM-J 342 Principles of Organic Chemistry II when taken Summer 2024 or later
        • CHEM-S 342 Organic Chemistry II Lectures, Honors
      5. Organic Chemistry I Laboratory. One (1) course:
        • CHEM-C 343 Organic Chemistry I Laboratory
        • CHEM-J 343 Organic Chemistry Laboratory I for Majors
        • CHEM-X 325 ASURE Chemistry Research Lab II
    2. Physics.
      1. Physics I. One (1) course:
        • PHYS-P 201 General Physics I
        • PHYS-P 221 Physics I
        • PHYS-H 221 Honors Physics I
      2. Physics II. One (1) course:
        • PHYS-P 202 General Physics II
        • PHYS-P 222 Physics II
        • PHYS-H 222 Honors Physics II
    3. Statistics. One (1) course:
      • EAS-E 314 Data Analysis for Earth Science
      • LAMP-L 316 Junior Seminar: Analytical Problem Solving
      • MATH-M 365 Introduction to Probability and Statistics
      • PSY-K 300 Statistical Techniques
      • PSY-K 310 Statistical Techniques
      • SOC-S 371 Statistics in Sociology
      • STAT-S 300 Introduction to Applied Statistical Methods
      • STAT-S 303 Applied Statistical Methods for the Life Sciences
      • SPEA-K 300 STATISTICAL TECHNIQUES (fulfills the statistics requirement, it does not count toward the College of Arts and Sciences credit hour requirement)
      • SPH-Q 381 INTRODUCTION TO BIOSTATISTICS
    4. Mathematics. One (1) of the following options:
      • Calculus I. One (1) course:
        • MATH-M 211 Calculus I
        • MATH-S 211 Honors Calculus I
      • Brief Survey of Calculus. Both of the following:
        1. One (1) course:
          • MATH-M 119 Brief Survey of Calculus I
          • MATH-V 119 Applied Brief Calculus I
        2. One (1) course:
          • MATH-M 120 Brief Survey of Calculus II
  10. Major GPA, Hours, and Minimum Grade Requirements.
    1. Major GPA. A GPA of at least 2.000 for all courses taken in the major—including those where a grade lower than C- is earned—is required.
    2. Major Minimum Grade. Except for the GPA requirement, a grade of C- or higher is required for a course to count toward a requirement in the major.
    3. Major Upper Division Credit Hours. At least 18 credit hours in the major must be completed at the 300–499 level.
    4. Major Residency. At least 18 credit hours in the major must be completed in courses taken through the Indiana University Bloomington campus or an IU-administered or IU co-sponsored Overseas Study program.

Major Area Courses

Unless otherwise noted below, the following courses are considered in the academic program and will count toward academic program requirements as appropriate:

  • Any course at the 100–499 level with the BIOL subject area prefix—as well as any other subject areas that are deemed functionally equivalent
  • Any course contained on the course lists for the academic program requirements at the time the course is taken—as well as any other courses that are deemed functionally equivalent—except for those listed only under Addenda Requirements
  • Any course directed to a non-Addenda requirement through an approved exception
    Exclusions

    The following courses cannot be applied toward major requirements:

    • BIOL-B 101
    • BIOL-L 100 Humans and the Biological World
    • BIOL-L 104 Introductory Biology Lectures
    • BIOL-L 203
    • BIOL-L 212
    • BIOL-L 222 The City as Ecosystem
    • BIOL-L 300
    • BIOL-L 360
    • BIOL-L 350 Environmental Biology
    • BIOL-L 340 Biology of Sexual Diversity
    • BIOL-L 330 Biology of the Cell
    • BIOL-L 302
    • BIOL-L 369 Heredity, Evolution, and Society
    • BIOL-L 370
    • BIOL-M 200 Microorganisms in Nature and Disease
    • BIOL-M 215 Microorganism Laboratory
    • BIOL-M 300
    • BIOL-Z 103

    This program of study cannot be combined with the following:

    • Bachelor of Arts in Biology (BIOLBA)
    • Bachelor of Arts in Microbiology (MICRBA)
    • Bachelor of Science in Biology (BIOLBS)
    • Minor in Biology (BIOLMIN)
    • Minor in Microbiology (MICRMIN)
    • [Name unavailable] (BIOLTSBA)
    • [Name unavailable] (BIOLTSBS)

    Exceptions to and substitutions for major requirements may be made with the approval of the unit's Director of Undergraduate Studies, subject to final approval by the College of Arts and Sciences.