This page is to be used as a planning tool. Your degree audit is the official record of degree requirements. Updated August 2023.

Microbiology is the branch of biology dealing with the smallest things: bacteria, fungi, algae, protozoa, and viruses.

Major courses may fulfill the following General Education Requirements: Natural Science with lab; Quantitative or Formal Reasoning.

Microbiology: Pre-Medicine Track Requirements

Microbiology & Immunology Courses 18 Supporting Coursework 42-43
Advanced Elective Coursework 3    
    Total Hours 63-64

 

Complete all of these: Supporting Coursework     31 sh
CHEM:1110-1120 Principles of Chemistry I-II 8 BIOL:1411-1412 Foundations of Biology;
Diversity of Form and Function
8
CHEM:2210-2220 Organic Chemistry I-II 6 CHEM:2410 Organic Chemistry Laboratory 3
BMB:3120-3130 Biochemistry & Molecular Biology I-II 6    
Complete one of these: Supporting Coursework2     3-4 sh
BIOS:4120 Introduction to Biostatistics 3 MATH:1460 Calculus for the Biological Sciences 4
STAT:3510/IGPI:3510 Biostatistics 3 MATH:1850 Calculus I 4
    MATH:1550 Engineering Math I 4
Complete one of these Sequences: Supporting Coursework     8 sh
PHYS:1511-1512 College Physics I-II 8 PHYS:1611-1612 Introductory Physics I-II 8
Microbiology & Immunology Required Coursework     5 sh
MICR:2157 General Microbiology 3 MICR:2158 General Microbiology Laboratory 2
MICR:3145 Honors in Microbiology Thesis Preparation1 1    
Microbiology & Immunology Courses3     13 sh
MICR:3147 Immunology and Human Disease 3 MICR:3177 Virology Discussion 2
MICR:3150 Eukaryotic Pathogens and Human Disease 2 MICR:3178 Virology Laboratory 2
MICR:3159 Bacteria and Human Disease 3 MICR:4161 Undergraduate Research in Microboiology arr.
MICR:3165 Genetics of Bacterial Pathogens Laboratory
and Discussion
3 MIR:4171 Honors Undergraduate Research in Microbiology arr.
MICR:3168 Viruses and Human Disease 3 MICR:5218 Microscopy for Biomedical Research arr.
MICR:3170 Microbial Genetics & Physiology 3 MICR:5264 Directed Study in Microbiology arr.
Advanced Elective Coursework     3 sh
BIOL:2512 Fundamental Genetics 3 BMB/CBIO/MMED:3310 Practical Data Science and
Bioinformatics
2
BIOL:2723 Cell Biology 3 CPH:2230 Finding Patient Zero 2
BIOL:3172 Evolution 4 GHS:2000/ANTH:2103 Introduction to Global Health Studies 3
BIOL/IGPI:3314 Genomics 3 GHS/ANTH:2320 Origins of Human Infectious Disease 3
BIOL:3626 Cell Biology Lab 4 PCOL:3101 Pharmacology I: Drug's Fantastic Journey 3
BIOL/GENE/IGPI:4213 Bioinformatics 2, 4 Additional microbiology and immunology courses(prefix MICR)
number MICR:3147 or above, excluding MICR:3164
3

 

 

1 Required for honors in microbiology.

2 Department prefers BIOS:4120 or STAT:3510 to a calculus option

3 A maximum of 4 s.h. earned in either MICR:4161 Undergraduate Research in Microbiology or MICR:3171 Honors Undergraduate Research in Microbiology may be counted toward the major. However, students earning honors in the major must complete 6 s.h. in MICR:4171 Honors Undergraduate Research in Microbiology.

4 Up to 3 s.h. can be earned in MICR:5264. Approval required.

The Pre-Medicine track is designed for students interested in microbiology who plan to apply to medical school. The supporting coursework for chemistry, organic chemistry, physics, biology, and math or statistics fulfill the prerequisite science requirements for the Carver College of Medicine. The General Education requirements of the major can fulfill the writing, social science, and humanities prerequisites for the Carver College of Medicine as well.

Pre-Medicine track Microbiology majors are not required to take an additional microbiology or research course (after MICR:2157&2158) to fulfill the additional microbiology and immunology semester hour requirement.

Microbiology: Scholar Track

Microbiology & Immunology Courses 19 Supporting Coursework 35-36
Advanced Elective Coursework 6    
    Total Hours 60-61

 

Complete all of these: Supporting Coursework     29 sh
CHEM:1110-1120 Principles of Chemistry I-II 8 BIOL:1411-1412 Foundations of Biology;
Diversity of Form and Function
8
CHEM:2210-2220 Organic Chemistry I 3 BMB:3120-3130 Biochemistry & Molecular Biology I-II 6
PHYS1400 Basic Physics with Lab 4    
Complete one of these: Supporting Coursework2     3-4 sh
BIOS:4120 Introduction to Biostatistics 3 MATH:1460 Calculus for the Biological Sciences 4
STAT:3510/IGPI:3510 Biostatistics 3 MATH:1850 Calculus I 4
    MATH:1550 Engineering Math I 4
Complete one of these: Supporting Coursework     3 sh
GHS:2000/ANTH:2103 Introduction to Global Health Studies 3 GHS/ANTH:2320 Origins of Human Infectious Disease 3
Microbiology & Immunology Required Coursework     5-6 sh
MICR:2157 General Microbiology 3 MICR:2158 General Microbiology Laboratory 2
MICR:3145 Honors in Microbiology Thesis Preparation1 1    
Microbiology & Immunology Advance laboratory or
Research Course (one of these)
    12 sh
MICR:3165 Genetics of Bacterial Pathogens Laboratory
& Discussion
3 MICR:3178 Virology Laboratory 2
MICR:4161 Undergraduate Research in Microbiology
(must be taken for at least 2 s.h.)
arr. MICR:4171 Honors Undergraduate Research in
Microbiology (must be taken for at least 2 s.h.)
arr.
Microbiology & Immunology Courses3     12 sh
MICR:3147 Immunology and Human Disease 3 MICR:3177 Virology Discussion 2
MICR:3150 Eukaryotic Pathogens and Human Disease 2 MICR:3178 Virology Laboratory 2
MICR:3159 Bacteria and Human Disease 3 MICR:4161 Undergraduate Research in Microboiology
(if not used above)
arr.
MICR:3160 Bacterial Physiology and Cell Biology 2 MIR:4171 Honors Undergraduate Research in Microbiology arr.
MICR:3165 Genetics of Bacterial Pathogens Laboratory
and Discussion
3 MICR:5218 Microscopy for Biomedical Research arr.
MICR:3168 Viruses and Human Disease 3 MICR:5264 Directed Study in Microbiology4 arr.
MICR:3170 Microbial Genetics and Physiology 3    
Advanced Elective Coursework     6 sh
BIOL/IGPI:3314 Genomics 3 BMB/CBIO/MMED:3310 Practical Data Science and
Bioinformatics
2,4
BIOL:3626 Cell Biology Laboratory 4 BIOL/GENE/IGPI:4213 Bioinformatics 2
BIOL:3212 Bioinformatics for Beginners 3 PCOL:3101 Pharmacology I: Drug's Fantastic Journey 3
BIOL:3172 Evolution 4 Additional microbiology and immunology courses(prefix MICR)
number MICR:3147 or above, excluding MICR:3164
3
May include one of these      
BIOL:2512 Fundamental Genetics 3 GHS:2000/ANTH:2103 Introduction to Global Health Studies
(if not taken as Supporting Coursework option)
3
BIOL:2723 Cell Biology 3 GHS/ANTH:2320 Origins of Human Infectious Disease
(if not taken as Supporting Coursework option)
3
CPH:2230 Finding Patient Zero 3    

 

1 Required for honors in microbiology.

2 Department prefers BIOS:4120 or STAT:3510 to a calculus option

3 A maximum of 4 s.h. earned in either MICR:4161 Undergraduate Research in Microbiology or MICR:3171 Honors Undergraduate Research in Microbiology may be counted toward the major. However, students earning honors in the major must complete 6 s.h. in MICR:4171 Honors Undergraduate Research in Microbiology.

4 Up to 3 s.h. can be earned in MICR:5264. Approval required.

Honors in Microbiology

A maximum of 4 s.h. earned in MICR:4164 Undergraduate Research in Microbiology may be counted toward the major. However, honors students must complete 23 s.h. of microbiology and immunology courses (prefix MICR) for the major and may count 6 s.h. earned in MICR:4171 Honors Undergraduate Research in Microbiology.

Notes on Microbiology Tracks

The Pre-medicine and Scholar tracks of Microbiology share a common path for the supporting science sequences of CHEM:1110, CHEM:1120, CHEM:2210, BIOL:1411, and BIOL:1412. It is after completing CHEM:2210 Organic Chemistry I that majors split into distinct tracks. Students unsure on their track can begin in either track and for two-three semesters (beginning on Chemistry starting course) explore which path may be better for their interests and career aspirations.

Advising

The Microbiology department will advise declared majors in either track once students have earned 30 s.h. Students will initially be advised by the Director of Undergraduate Studies. The Director of Undergraduate Studies will meet with new majors and then assign them to faculty advisors.

Fast Track PhD

Students with strong academic performance who are interested in a career in research are eligible for a fast-track PhD admission program in Microbiology. In this program, the last year of undergraduate study and the first year of graduate study for a PhD are merged, allowing the students to complete a PhD earlier than they would by following the usual path.

To be eligible to apply, students at the end of their fifth semester must:

  • have a GPA ≥ 3.5
  • have ≥ 88 total s.h. completed toward their degree
  • have at least three semesters of research experience completed
  • be a Microbiology major
  • have completed MICR:2157 General Microbiology and MICR:2158 General Microbiology Laboratory

Anyone with an interest in this program should contact Dr. Al Klingelhutz (al-klingelhutz@uiowa.edu) for more information.