The objective of the Bachelor of Science degree program with a major in microbiology  is to provide a broad foundation in science, with emphasis in microbiology.  In order to assist students in planning a course of study, elective microbiology courses are organized by interest group (cell and molecular biology, immunology and medical microbiology, microbe biology, and microbial biotechnology) and students are advised in personal consultations to select a set of electives according to their interests. Thus, different emphases may be chosen by students intending to acquire technical competence in the field, to pursue graduate education in microbiology or another biological science, or to attain competence in a basic medical science preparatory to or in conjunction with professional study in human or veterinary medicine. On completion of the program, graduates may apply for certification with the National Registry of Microbiologists of the American Society for Microbiology.
In addition to the general degree requirements of the College of Natural Science, the undergraduate program in microbiology encompasses fundamental training in chemistry, mathematics, physics, and biology. This foundation provides the prerequisites for undertaking the basic courses in microbiology.

In order to increase the flexibility of the program, and to provide additional intellectual stimulation, students are encouraged to participate in tutored independent research for at least two, and ideally three or more, semesters. Independent research is available to both Honors College and other students, and often culminates with a report written in manuscript style by the student. This research may fulfill part of the department's capstone course requirement for the bachelor's degree with a major in microbiology.

Requirements for the Bachelor of Science Degree in Microbiology

1. The University requirements for bachelor's degrees as described in the Undergraduate Education section of this catalog; 120 credits, including general elective credits, are required for the Bachelor of Science degree in Microbiology.
   
   The University's Tier II writing requirement for the Microbiology major is met by completing Microbiology 408.  That course is referenced in item 3. b. (1) below.
   
   Students who are enrolled in the College of Natural Science may complete the alternative track to Integrative Studies in Biological and Physical Sciences that is described in item 1. under the heading Graduation Requirements in the College statement.  Certain courses referenced in requirement 3. below may be used to satisfy the alternative track.
2. The requirements of the College of Natural Science for the Bachelor of Science degree.
   
   The credits earned in certain courses referenced in requirement 3. below may be counted toward College requirements as appropriate.
3. The following requirements for the major:

   a.	The following courses outside the Department of Microbiology (43 to 53 credits):
   	(1)	One of the following, either a. or b. (4 or 6 credits):
   		(a)	BMB	461	Advanced Biochemistry I		3
   			BMB	462	Advanced Biochemistry II		3
   		(b)	BMB	401	Comprehensive Biochemistry		4
   	(2)	One of following groups of courses (6 or 9 credits):
   		(a)	BS	161	Cell and Molecular Biology		3
   			BS	162	Organismal and Population Biology		3
   		(b)	LB	144	Biology I: Organismal Biology		4
   			LB	145	Biology II: Cell and Molecular Biology		5
   		(c)	BS	181H	Honors Cell and Molecular Biology		3
   			BS	182H	Honors Organismal and Population Biology		3
   	(3)	One of the following courses (2 credits):
   		BS	171	Cell and Molecular Biology Laboratory			2
   		BS	172	Organismal and Population Biology Laboratory			2
   		BS	191H	Honors Cell and Molecular Biology Laboratory			2
   		BS	192H	Honors Organismal and Population Biology Laboratory			2
   		This requirement is waived for students who selected item (2) (b) above.
   	(4)	One of the following groups of courses (9 or 10 credits):
   		(a)	CEM	141	General Chemistry		4
   			CEM	142	General and Inorganic Chemistry		3
   			CEM	161	Chemistry Laboratory I		1
   			CEM	162	Chemistry Laboratory II		1
   		(b)	LB	171	Principles of Chemistry I		4
   			LB	172	Principles of Chemistry II		4
   			LB	171L	Introductory Chemistry Laboratory I		1
   			LB	172L	Principles of Chemistry II – Reactivity Laboratory		1
   		(c)	CEM	151	General and Descriptive Chemistry		4
   			CEM	152	Principles of Chemistry		3
   			CEM	161	Chemistry Laboratory I		1
   			CEM	162	Chemistry Laboratory II		1
   		(d)	CEM	181H	Honors Chemistry I		4
   			CEM	182H	Honors Chemistry II		4
   			CEM	185H	Honors Chemistry Laboratory I		2
   			CEM	186H	Honors Chemistry Laboratory II		2
   	(5)	One of the following groups of courses (8 credits):
   		(a)	CEM	251	Organic Chemistry I		3
   			CEM	252	Organic Chemistry II		3
   			CEM	255	Organic Chemistry Laboratory		2
   		(b)	CEM	351	Organic Chemistry I		3
   			CEM	352	Organic Chemistry II		3
   			CEM	355	Organic Laboratory I		2
   	(6)	One of the following groups of courses (8 to 10 credits):
   		(a)	PHY	231	Introductory Physics I		3
   			PHY	232	Introductory Physics II		3
   			PHY	251	Introductory Physics Laboratory I		1
   			PHY	252	Introductory Physics Laboratory II		1
   		(b)	LB	273	Physics I		4
   			LB	274	Physics II		4
   		(c)	PHY	183	Physics for Scientists and Engineers I		4
   			PHY	184	Physics for Scientists and Engineers II		4
   			PHY	191	Physics Laboratory for Scientists, I		1
   			PHY	192	Physics Laboratory for Scientists, II		1
   		(d)	PHY	193H	Honors Physics I - Mechanics		4
   			PHY	294H	Honors Physics II - Electromagnetism		4
   			PHY	191	Physics Laboratory for Scientists, I		1
   			PHY	192	Physics Laboratory for Scientists, II		1
   	(7)	Both of the following courses (6 to 8 credits):
   		(a)	One of the following courses (3 or 4 credits):
   			LB	118	Calculus I		4
   			MTH	124	Survey of Calculus I		3
   			MTH	132	Calculus I		3
   			MTH	152H	Honors Calculus I		3
   		(b)	One of the following courses (3 or 4 credits):
   			LB	119	Calculus II		4
   			MTH	126	Survey of Calculus II		3
   			MTH	133	Calculus II		4
   			MTH	153H	Honors Calculus II		4
   			STT	231	Statistics for Scientists		3
   			STT	421	Statistics I		3
   b.	The following courses in the Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics (16 credits):
   	(1)	All of the following courses (13 credits):
   		MMG	301	Introductory Microbiology			3
   		MMG	302	Introductory Laboratory for General and Allied Health Microbiology			1
   		MMG	408	Advanced Microbiology Laboratory (W)			3
   		MMG	421	Prokaryotic Cell Physiology			3
   		MMG	431	Microbial Genetics			3
   	(2)	One of the following, either (a) or (b) (3 credits):
   		(a)	MMG	491	Current Topics in Microbiology and Molecular Genetics		3
   		(b)	MMG	492	Undergraduate Research Seminar		1
   				and
   			One of the following courses:
   			MMG	499	Undergraduate Research		2
   			MMG	499H	Honors Research		2
   			The completion of Microbiology 491, or Microbiology 492  and 499 or 499H, fulfills the department’s capstone  course requirement.
   c.	Complete four of the following courses (12 or 13 credits):
   	EPI	390	Disease in Society: Introduction to Epidemiology and Public Health				4
   	FSC	440	Food Microbiology				3
   	MMG	413	Virology				3
   	MMG	425	Microbial Ecology				3
   	MMG	433	Microbial Genomics				3
   	MMG	445	Microbial Biotechnology (W)				3
   	MMG	451	Immunology				3
   	MMG	461	Molecular Pathogenesis				3
   	MMG	463	Medical Microbiology				3