BS Requirements and Course Descriptions

B.S. Major requirements - College of Biological Sciences

This program prepares students for work as practicing microbiologists or for graduate study.

The field of microbiology embraces many areas of fundamental and applied research. These include the basic role of microbes, such as bacteria, fungi, and viruses, and basic biological mechanisms involving microorganisms such as DNA replication or regulation of protein synthesis. Microbiologists study fundamental issues of human and animal diseases such as the mechanisms of viral and bacteriological infection, immunity, autoimmune disease, and viral-induced cancer

Areas of agriculural research include fungal and bacterial symbionts essential for maximum growth of organisms required for natural soil fertility. Microbiologists also work in industrial and pharmaceutical fields involving production and discovery of new antibiotics; manufacture of cheese, beer, wine, or other foods; pasteurization in canning and food processing; and even decontamination of space vehicles.

MicB 3301 - Biology of Microorganisms
Semester Prerequisites: =Biol 3301; Biol 1002 or 1009, Chem 2302
Credits: 5
Prof: Chris Mohr
Course Description: Taxonomy, anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, pathogenesis, immunology, ecology of microbes. Molecular structure in relation to bacterial function and disease. Includes lab.

MicB 4111 - Microbial Physiology and Diversity
Semester Prerequisites: MicB/VPB 2022 or Biol/MicB/VPB 2032 or Biol/MicB 3301, Biol/BioC 3021 or BioC 4331, 3 cr genetics
Credits: 3
Prof: Daniel Bond and Jeff Gralnick
Course Description: Structural and functional organization of Bacteria and Archaea. Energy metabolism utlizing light, inorganic and organic chemicals. Cell morphologies, roles and assembly of surface structures. Growth and survival mechanisms in various extreme environments. Adaptation to changing conditions by development of specialized cells and structures, and altering metabolic patterns.

MicB 4121 - Microbial Ecology and Applied Microbiology
Semester Prerequisites: =Soil 4121; Biol/MicB 3301
Credits: 3
Prof: Michael Sadowsky
Course Description: Evolution and structure of microbial communities; population interaction within ecosystems; quantitative and habitat ecology; biogeochemical cycling; molecular microbial ecology, gene transfer in the environment; molecular phylogeny of microorganisms. Application of microbes in agriculture; production of commodity chemicals, drugs, and other high-value products.

MicB 4131 - Immunology
Semester Prerequisites: MicB/VPB 2022 or Biol/MicB/VPB 2032 or Biol/MicB 3301; Biol/BioC 3021 or BioC 4331
Credits: 3
Prof: Ron Jemmerson
Course Description: Molecular, genetic, and cellular bases for humoral and cell-mediated immunity; innate immunity; antigen recognition by B and T lymphocytes; interactions between lymphocytes and other cells of the immune system; cytokines; immunoregulation; key aspects of clinical immunology.

MicB 4141/4171 - Biology, Genetics and Pathogenesis of Viruses
Semester Prerequisites: Biol 4003, Biol 4004 or Biol/MicB 3301
Credits: 3
Prof: Leslie Schiff
Course Description: Structure, composition and properties of bacterial, plant and animal viruses; interaction with cells; effects on host cell metabolism; molecular biology of virus replication and genetics; techniques for studying virus properties; viral pathogenesis and tumorigenesis.

MicB 4151 - Molecular and Genetic Basees for Microbial Diseases
Semester Prerequisites: Biol/MicB 3301 or equiv, Biol/BioC 3021 or BioC 4331, GCB 3022 or Biol 4003 recommended
Credits: 3
Prof: Pat Cleary
Course Description: Genetic basis of microbial pathogenesis. Impact of gene transfer and regulation on the evolution of microbial pathogens and on their capacity to colonize and induce disease. Biochemical and cellular interactions between bacteria and their human hosts.

MicB 4161 - Eukaryotic Microbiology
Semester Prerequisites: MicB 3301, GCD 3022
Credits: 3
Prof: Dana Davis
Course Description: Eukaryotic Microbiology will cover topics in eukaryotic microbiology that provide insights into the cell biology of higher eukaryotes, animal and plant pathogenesis, evolution, and industrial microbiology. Model eukaryotic organisms include: Tetrahymena, Chlamydomons, Paramecium, Toxoplasma, Aspergillus, and Neurospora.

MicB4225 - Advancd Laboratory: Microbial Genetics
Semester Prerequisites: BIOL 4003; [BIOL 2002 or BIOL 2003 or BIOL 2004 or 3301] recommended)
Credits: 3
Prof: Kirsten Nielsen
Course Description: This course is designed as an introduction to the power of microbial genetics using the baker?s yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae as a model organism.

MicB 4215 - Advanced Laboratorty: Microbial Physiology and Diversity
Semester Prerequisites: 4111 or &4111
Credits: 3
Prof: Sandra Armstrong
Course Description: Isolation and cultivation of a wide variety of bacteria. Physiological experiments on selected groups.

MicB 4235 - Advanced Laboratory: Virology, Immunology and Microbial Genetics
Semester Prerequisites: Biol/BioC 3021 or equiv, Biol/MicB 3301, two of the following MicB 4131, 4141, 4151
Credits: 3
Prof: Wade Bresnahan
Course Description: Techniques and experimental methods in microbial genetics, immunology and virology used to study microbes and their interactions with a host.

MicB 4994 - Directed Research
Semester Prerequisites:  Biol/MicB 3301; 7 cr max of MicB 4993 and/or 4994 may count toward major requirements
Credits: 1-7
Course Description: Lab or field investigation of selected areas of research.

BioC 5352 - Applied Microbial Biochemistry
BioC 5353 - Microbial Biochemistry & Biotechnology II

New: Undergraduate Microbiology Minor

Microbiology is a fascinating and important discipline that integrates information from many majors in the biological sciences. Beginning in the Fall semester of 2011, CBS will offer a 14 credit microbiology minor. Students must have a cumulative GPA of 2.5 in order to declare the minor. This minor is available to both CBS and non-CBS students. If you have taken VBS 2032 and wish to pursue this minor, please contact Dr. Leslie Schiff by email (schif002@umn.edu) for additional details.

To declare the minor, please complete the Add/Drop a CBS minor form. It will be added to the records of students with a 2.5 cumulative GPA effective for Fall 2011.

Transfer credit will only be accepted for the General Microbiology component of the minor. All upper division coursework needs to be completed at the University of Minnesota.

Microbiology Requirements
Students should take MicB 3301 and two courses from the following list: MicB 4111, MicB 4121, MicB 4131, MicB 4151, MicB 4161 or MicB 4171. In addition, one of the advanced lab options MicB 4215, MicB 4225 or MicB 4235 is required.

MICB 3301 – Biology of Microorganisms (5.0 cr)
Take 2 or more course(s) totaling 6 or more credit(s) from the following:
MICB 4111 – Microbial Physiology and Diversity(3.0 cr)
MICB 4121 – Microbial Ecolology and Applied Microbiology (3.0 cr)
MICB 4131 – Immunology (3.0 cr)
MICB 4151 – Molecular and Genetic Basis for Microbial Diseases (3.0 cr)
MICB 4161 – Eukaryotic Microbiology (3.0 cr)
MICB 4171 – Biology, Genetics, and Pathogenesis of Viruses (3.0 cr)
Take 1 or more course(s) totaling 3 or more credit(s) from the following:
MICB 4215 – Advanced Laboratory: Microbial Physiology and Diversity (3.0 cr)
MICB 4225 – Advanced Laboratory: Microbial Genetics (3.0 cr)
MICB 4235 – Advanced Laboratory: Virology, Immunology, and Microbial Genetics (3.0 cr)