Academic Programs Catalog

College of Natural Science

Department of Microbiology, Genetics, and Immunology

Undergraduate Programs
Genetics and Genomics

The objective of the Bachelor of Science degree program with a major in genetics and genomics is to provide a broad foundation in science, with emphasis in genetics and genomics. Although the majority of the course work is prescribed, students have an opportunity to tailor their degree program to their own interests within the field by choosing a suitable course combination from a slate of options. 

In addition to the general degree requirements of the College of Natural Science, the undergraduate program in genetics and genomics encompasses fundamental training in chemistry, mathematics, physics, and biology. This foundation provides the prerequisites for undertaking the basic courses in genetics and genomics. In order to increase the flexibility of the program, and to provide additional intellectual stimulation, students are encouraged to participate in mentored 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 or a presentation or seminar by the student. This research may fulfill part of the department’s capstone course requirement for the bachelor’s degree with a major in genetics and genomics.

Requirements for the Bachelor of Science Degree in Genetics and Genomics

  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 Genetics and Genomics.

    The University's Tier II writing requirement for the Genetics and Genomics major is met by completing Microbiology, Genetics, and Immunology 434 or 494L.  Those courses are referenced in item 3. b. (2) 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, Genetics, and Immunology (45 to 55 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 the 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
    (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
    (c) LB 271 Organic Chemistry 3
    CEM 252 Organic Chemistry II 3
    CEM 255 Organic Chemistry Laboratory 2
    (6) The following course (4 credits):
    IBIO 341 Fundamental Genetics 4
    (7) One of the following groups of courses (6 to 8 credits):
    (a) PHY 221 Studio Physics for Life Scientists, I 4
    PHY 222 Studio Physics for Life Scientists, II 4
    (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 191 Physics Laboratory for Scientists, I 1
    PHY 192 Physics Laboratory for Scientists, II 1
    PHY 193H Honors Physics I - Mechanics 4
    PHY 294H Honors Physics II - Electromagnetism 4
    (8) 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, Genetics, and Immunology (20 credits):
    (1) All of the following courses (13 credits):
    MGI 301 Introductory Microbiology 3
    MGI 302 Introductory Laboratory for General and Allied Health Microbiology 1
    MGI 409 Eukaryotic Cell Biology 3
    MGI 431 Microbial Genetics 3
    MGI 433 Genomics (W) 3
    (2) One of the following courses (3 or 4 credits):
    MGI 408 Advanced Microbiology Laboratory (W) 3
    MGI 434 Laboratory in Genetics and Genomics (W) 4
    MGI 494L Summer Undergraduate Research Institute in Genomics (W) 3
    (3) One of the following three options (3 credits):
    (a) MGI 491 Current Topics in Microbiology, Genetics, and Immunology 3
    (b) MGI 492 Undergraduate Research Seminar 1
    One of the following courses:
    MGI 499 Undergraduate Research 2
    MGI 499H Honors Research 2
    (c) MGI 493 Professional Internship in Microbiology, Genetics, and Immunology 3
    The completion of Microbiology, Genetics, and Immunology 491, 493; or Microbiology, Genetics, and Immunology 492 and 499 or 499H, fulfills the department’s capstone  course requirement.
    c. Two of the following courses (6 to 8 credits):
    ANS 314 Genetic Improvement of Domestic Animals (W) 4
    ANS 404 Introduction to Quantitative Genetics 3
    ANS 425 Animal Biotechnology 3
    CMSE 201 Computational Modeling and Data Analysis I 4
    CMSE 202 Computational Modeling and Data Analysis II 4
    CMSE 410 Bioinformatics and Computational Biology 3
    CMSE 411 Computational Medicine 3
    CSE 231 Introduction to Programming I 4
    CSE 232 Introduction to Programming II 4
    CSS 350 Introduction to Plant Genetics 3
    CSS 451 Biotechnology Applications for Plant Breeding and Genetics 3
    IBIO 445 Evolution (W) 3
    MGI 404 Human Genetics 3
    MGI 413 Virology 3