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Department of Biology

Bachelor of Arts in Microbiology

Students on Summer 2019, Fall 2019, or Spring 2020 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. 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.
    2. At least 18 credit hours in the major must be completed at the 300–499 level.
    3. Except for the GPA requirement, a grade of C- or higher is required for a course to count toward a requirement in the major.
    4. 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.
    5. Exceptions to major requirements may be made with the approval of the department's Director of Undergraduate Studies, subject to final approval by the College of Arts and Sciences.