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Department of Biology

Bachelor of Arts in Microbiology

Students on Summer 2021, Fall 2021, or Spring 2022 requirements MICRBA

The Bachelor of Arts in Microbiology is designed to provide training for students who do not intend to obtain an advanced degree in microbiology nor attend a medical, dental, or optometry school. The degree is suitable for students who are pursuing double majors as well as those individuals whose career goals include being a laboratory technician or working in an outside field, such as business or environmental studies.

Requirements

The major requires at least 30 credit hours (49 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
    • BIOL-M 380 Microbiology of Infectious Disease
  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. One (1) course:
    • 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. One (1) course:
    • BIOL-M 360 Microbial Physiology Laboratory
    • 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-X 325 ASURE Biology Research Lab 2 (approved topics only; see academic advisor)
    • BIOT-X 325 ASURE Biotechnology Research Lab 2
  7. Advanced Elective Lectures. Four (4) courses:
    • Additional course(s) from Advanced Lecture list
    • BIOL-L 311 Genetics
    • BIOL-L 312 Cell Biology
    • BIOL-M 375 Human Parasitology
    • BIOL-M 416 Biology of AIDS
    • BIOL-S 311 Genetics, Honors
    • 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 Microbiology Lab list
    • 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. Organic Chemistry. One (1) course:
        • CHEM-C 341 Organic Chemistry I Lectures
        • CHEM-S 341 Organic Chemistry I Lectures, Honors
        • CHEM-R 340 Survey of Organic Chemistry
    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. Quantitative Methods. One (1) course:
      • LAMP-L 316 Junior Seminar: Analytical Problem Solving
      • MATH-M 118 Finite Mathematics
      • MATH-M 119 Brief Survey of Calculus I
      • MATH-M 211 Calculus I
      • MATH-M 365 Introduction to Probability and Statistics
      • MATH-V 118 Finite Mathematics with Applications
      • MATH-V 119 Applied Brief Calculus I
      • 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
  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.
    5. College Breadth. At least 58 credit hours must be completed in courses from College of Arts and Sciences disciplines outside of the major area.

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 or the College Breadth requirement:

    • 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 302
    • BIOL-L 330 Biology of the Cell
    • BIOL-L 340 Biology of Sexual Diversity
    • BIOL-L 350 Environmental Biology
    • BIOL-L 360
    • 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 Science in Biology (BIOLBS)
    • Bachelor of Science in Microbiology (MICRBS)
    • Minor in Biology (BIOLMIN)
    • [Name unavailable] (BIOLTSBA)
    • [Name unavailable] (BIOLTSBS)
    • [Name unavailable] (MICRMIN)

    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.