Major in Biomedical Sciences, Microbiology and Infectious Disease Concentration

Students are no longer being admitted into this concentration. Interested students should visit the Major in Medical Microbiology and Infectious Disease.

Effective Fall 2025

Freshman
		AUCC	Credits
CHEM 111	General Chemistry I (GT-SC2)	3A	4
CHEM 112	General Chemistry Lab I (GT-SC1)	3A	1
CHEM 113	General Chemistry II		3
CHEM 114	General Chemistry Lab II		1
CO 150	College Composition (GT-CO2)	1A	3
LIFE 102	Attributes of Living Systems (GT-SC1)	3A	4
MIP 260	The World of Parasites		3
VMBS 100	Introduction to Biomedical Sciences Major		2
Select a minimum of 3 credits from the following:			3
MATH 118	College Algebra in Context II (GT-MA1)	1B
MATH 124	Logarithmic and Exponential Functions (GT-MA1)	1B
MATH 125	Numerical Trigonometry (GT-MA1)	1B
MATH 126	Analytic Trigonometry (GT-MA1)	1B
MATH 155	Calculus for Biological Scientists I (GT-MA1)	1B
MATH 160	Calculus for Physical Scientists I (GT-MA1)	1B
Electives			5
	Total Credits		29
Sophomore

BC 351	Principles of Biochemistry		4
MIP 250	Eukaryotic Microbiology		3
MIP 300	General Microbiology		3
MIP 302	General Microbiology Laboratory		2
MIP 342	Immunology		4
Select one group from the following:			8
Group A
CHEM 245	Fundamentals of Organic Chemistry
CHEM 246	Fundamentals of Organic Chemistry Laboratory
Concentration Electives (see list below)
Group B
CHEM 341	Modern Organic Chemistry I
CHEM 343¹	Modern Organic Chemistry II
CHEM 344	Modern Organic Chemistry Laboratory
Select one course from the following:			1-2
MIP 292	Early Career Preparation in Microbiology
MIP 372	Graduate School Preparation for Microbiology
Historical Perspectives		3D	3
Social and Behavioral Sciences		3C	3
	Total Credits		31-32
Junior

MIP 443	Microbial Physiology		3
MIP 450	Microbial Genetics		3
Select one course from the following:			5
PH 121	General Physics I (GT-SC1)	3A
PH 141	Physics for Scientists and Engineers I (GT-SC1)	3A
Select one course from the following:			4
BMS 300	Principles of Human Physiology
BMS 360	Fundamentals of Physiology
Concentration Electives (See list below)			5
1C		1C	3
Advanced Writing		2	3
Arts and Humanities		3B	3
	Total Credits		29
Senior

MIP 351	Medical Bacteriology	4B	3
MIP 420	Medical and Molecular Virology	4A	4
Select one course from the following:			2
MIP 400A	Capstone in Microbiology: Medical Microbiology	4C
MIP 400B	Capstone in Microbiology: Biotechnology	4C
MIP 400C	Capstone in Microbiology: Immunology	4C
MIP 400D	Capstone in Microbiology: Microbial Diversity/Ecology	4C
MIP 400E	Capstone in Microbiology: Microbial Genetics	4C
MIP 400F	Capstone in Microbiology: Virology	4C
MIP 400G	Capstone in Microbiology: Service Learning	4C
MIP 400H	Capstone in Microbiology: Prion Biology	4C
MIP 400I	Capstone in Microbiology: Mycobacterial Biology	4C
MIP 400J	Capstone in Microbiology: Big Data Sets in Microbiology	4C
MIP 400K	Capstone in Microbiology: Parasitology	4C
MIP 400L	Capstone in Microbiology: Microbiome Biology	4C
MIP 400M	Capstone in Microbiology: Vector Biology	4C
MIP 400N	Capstone in Microbiology: Environmental Sustainability Health Science	4C
MIP 400O	Capstone in Microbiology: Pathology of Infectious Disease	4C
MIP 400P	Capstone in Microbiology: Veterinary Microbiology	4C
MIP 400Q	Capstone in Microbiology: One Health	4C
MIP 400R	Capstone in Microbiology: Food Microbiology	4C
MIP 400S	Capstone in Microbiology: Biofilm Biology	4C
MIP 498	Research	4C
Select one course from the following:			3
STAT 301	Introduction to Applied Statistical Methods
STAT 307	Introduction to Biostatistics
Arts and Humanities		3B	3
Concentration Electives (See list below)			9
Electives²			6-7
	Total Credits		30-31
	Program Total Credits:		120

Concentration Electives

Course List
Code	Title	Credits
Select a minimum of 17 credits from the following not taken elsewhere in the program. CHEM 343 may count as a Concentration Elective for students who select organic chemistry Group B in the Sophomore year.
A minimum of two laboratory courses MUST be selected from the following:
MIP 150	CURE - Introduction to Microbiology Research
MIP 270	CURE--Microbial Sequence Research
MIP 335	Food Microbiology Laboratory
MIP 343	Immunology Laboratory
MIP 352	Medical Bacteriology Laboratory
MIP 355	CURE – Phage Discovery and Genetics
MIP 401	CURE – Advanced Research in Microbiology
MIP 425	Virology and Cell Culture Laboratory
MIP 433/ESS 433	Microbial Ecology Laboratory
MIP 462/BSPM 462/BZ 462	Parasitology and Vector Biology
MIP 550	Microbial and Molecular Genetics Laboratory
Two unique courses (for a maximum of 6 credits) may be selected from the following:
MIP 298	Introductory Research
MIP 384	Supervised College Teaching
MIP 495	Independent Study
MIP 498	Research
ANEQ 460	Meat Safety	2
BC 404	Comprehensive Biochemistry Laboratory	2
BC 463	Molecular Genetics	3
BMS 301	Human Gross Anatomy	5
BMS 302	Laboratory in Principles of Physiology	2
BMS 305	Domestic Animal Gross Anatomy	4
BMS 325	Cellular Neurobiology	3
BMS 330	Microscopic Anatomy	4
BMS 345	Functional Neuroanatomy	4
BMS 401	Laboratory Research in Biomedical Sciences	4
BMS 420	Cardiopulmonary Physiology	3
BMS 450	Pharmacology	3
BMS 460	Essentials of Pathophysiology	3
BSPM 302	Applied and General Entomology	2
BSPM 361	Elements of Plant Pathology	3
BZ 220	Introduction to Evolution	3
BZ 310	Cell Biology	4
BZ 333	Introductory Mycology	4
BZ 350	Molecular and General Genetics	4
BZ 360	Bioinformatics and Genomics	4
BZ 418	Ecology of Infectious Diseases	4
CHEM 334	Quantitative Analysis Laboratory	1
CHEM 335	Introduction to Analytical Chemistry	3
CHEM 343	Modern Organic Chemistry II ¹	3
ERHS 220	Introduction to Environmental Public Health (GT-SC2)	3
ERHS 320	Environmental Health--Water Quality	3
ERHS 332	Principles of Epidemiology	3
ERHS 340	Cancer Biology, Medicine, and Society	2
ERHS 350	Principles of Occupational Safety and Health	3
ERHS 410	Environmental Health-Air and Waste Management	3
ERHS 430	Human Disease and the Environment	3
ERHS 446	Environmental Toxicology	3
ERHS 448	Environmental Contaminants	3
ERHS 502	Fundamentals of Toxicology	3
ERHS 567	Cell and Molecular Toxicology Techniques	3
FTEC 360	Brewing Processes	4
FTEC 460	Brewing Science II	5
FTEC 574	Current Issues in Food Safety	2
LIFE 103	Biology of Organisms-Animals and Plants (GT-SC1)	4
LIFE 201B	Introductory Genetics: Molecular/Immunological/Developmental (GT-SC2)	3
LIFE 203	Introductory Genetics Laboratory	2
LIFE 210	Introductory Eukaryotic Cell Biology	3
LIFE 211	Introductory Cell Biology Honors Recitation	1
LIFE 212	Introductory Cell Biology Laboratory	2
LIFE 320	Ecology	3
MATH 155	Calculus for Biological Scientists I (GT-MA1)	4
MATH 160	Calculus for Physical Scientists I (GT-MA1)	4
MIP 303	General Microbiology--Honors Recitation	1
MIP 315	Pathology of Human and Animal Disease	3
MIP 334	Food Microbiology	3
MIP 400A	Capstone in Microbiology: Medical Microbiology	2
MIP 400B	Capstone in Microbiology: Biotechnology	2
MIP 400C	Capstone in Microbiology: Immunology	2
MIP 400D	Capstone in Microbiology: Microbial Diversity/Ecology	2
MIP 400E	Capstone in Microbiology: Microbial Genetics	2
MIP 400F	Capstone in Microbiology: Virology	2
MIP 400G	Capstone in Microbiology: Service Learning	2
MIP 400H	Capstone in Microbiology: Prion Biology	2
MIP 400I	Capstone in Microbiology: Mycobacterial Biology	2
MIP 400J	Capstone in Microbiology: Big Data Sets in Microbiology	2
MIP 400K	Capstone in Microbiology: Parasitology	2
MIP 400L	Capstone in Microbiology: Microbiome Biology	2
MIP 400M	Capstone in Microbiology: Vector Biology	2
MIP 400N	Capstone in Microbiology: Environmental Sustainability & Health Science	2
MIP 400O	Capstone in Microbiology: Pathology of Infectious Disease	2
MIP 400P	Capstone in Microbiology: Veterinary Microbiology	2
MIP 400Q	Capstone in Microbiology: One Health	2
MIP 400R	Capstone in Microbiology: Food Microbiology	2
MIP 400S	Capstone in Microbiology: Biofilm Biology	2
MIP 410	Foundations of Modern Biotechnology	2
MIP 432/ESS 432	Microbial Ecology	3
MIP 450	Microbial Genetics	3
MIP 496	Group Study	1-3
MIP 530	Advanced Molecular Virology	4
MIP 540	Fundamentals of Biosafety and Biosecurity	2
MIP 555	Principles and Mechanisms of Disease	3
MIP 563	Biology of Disease Vectors	3
MIP 570	Functional Genomics	3
OT 215	Medical Terminology	1
PH 122	General Physics II (GT-SC1)	5
SOCR 330	Principles of Genetics	3
SOCR 455	Microbiomes of Soil Systems	3
SOCR 456	Soil Microbiology Laboratory	1
VS 331	Histology	4
VS 333	Domestic Animal Anatomy	4

¹: CHEM 343 may count as a Concentration Elective for students who select organic chemistry Group B in the Sophomore year.
²: Select enough elective credits to bring the program total to a minimum of 120 credits, of which at least 42 must be upper-division (300- to 400-level).

Distinctive Requirements for Degree Program:
To Declare Major: competitive entry controls required and capped enrollment in place. Please contact Director of Student Success in the CVMBS Student Success Center for more information.

To prepare for first semester: The curriculum for the microbiology and infectious disease concentration assumes students enter college prepared to take MATH 124. Entering students who are not prepared to take MATH 124 will need to prerequisite requirements in the first semester. Those requirements are listed as benchmark courses in Freshman Semester 1 below. LIFE 102 requires high school chemistry as a prerequisite; CHEM 111 requires Algebra II as a prerequisite (this prerequisite is met by having Algebra II by test credit, transfer credit, or placement out of MATH 117 and MATH 118 on Math Placement Exam).

*Freshman*
Semester 1		Critical	Recommended	AUCC	Credits
CHEM 111	General Chemistry I (GT-SC2)	X		3A	4
CHEM 112	General Chemistry Lab I (GT-SC1)	X		3A	1
CO 150	College Composition (GT-CO2)			1A	3
VMBS 100	Introduction to Biomedical Sciences Major				2
Select a minimum of 3 credits from the following:					3
MATH 118	College Algebra in Context II (GT-MA1)			1B
MATH 124	Logarithmic and Exponential Functions (GT-MA1)		X	1B
MATH 125	Numerical Trigonometry (GT-MA1)			1B
MATH 126	Analytic Trigonometry (GT-MA1)			1B
MATH 155	Calculus for Biological Scientists I (GT-MA1)			1B
MATH 160	Calculus for Physical Scientists I (GT-MA1)			1B
MATH 124 must be completed by the end of Semester 1, if necessary.		X
	Total Credits				13
Semester 2		Critical	Recommended	AUCC	Credits
CHEM 113	General Chemistry II	X			3
CHEM 114	General Chemistry Lab II	X			1
LIFE 102	Attributes of Living Systems (GT-SC1)	X		3A	4
MIP 260	The World of Parasites	X			3
Elective					5
CO 150 must be completed by the end of semester 2.		X
	Total Credits				16
*Sophomore*
Semester 3		Critical	Recommended	AUCC	Credits
MIP 250	Eukaryotic Microbiology	X			3
MIP 300	General Microbiology	X			3
MIP 302	General Microbiology Laboratory	X			2
Select one group from the following:					3-5
Group A: (5 credits)
CHEM 245	Fundamentals of Organic Chemistry	X
CHEM 246	Fundamentals of Organic Chemistry Laboratory	X
Group B: (3 credits)
CHEM 341	Modern Organic Chemistry I
Social and Behavioral Sciences				3C	3
	Total Credits				14-16
Semester 4		Critical	Recommended	AUCC	Credits
BC 351	Principles of Biochemistry		X		4
MIP 342	Immunology	X			4
Select the same Group (A or B) as selected Semester 3:					3-5
Group A: (3 credits)
Concentration Electives (see list below)
Group B: (5 credits)
CHEM 343	Modern Organic Chemistry II
CHEM 344	Modern Organic Chemistry Laboratory
Select one course from the following:		X			1-2
MIP 292	Early Career Preparation in Microbiology
MIP 372	Graduate School Preparation for Microbiology
Historical Perspectives				3D	3
Select MIP 292 in semester 4 if MIP 372 is not taken in semester 5
	Total Credits				15-18
*Junior*
Semester 5		Critical	Recommended	AUCC	Credits
MIP 450	Microbial Genetics		X		3
Select one course from the following:					5
PH 121	General Physics I (GT-SC1)		X	3A
PH 141	Physics for Scientists and Engineers I (GT-SC1)			3A
Concentration Electives (See list on Requirements Tab)					5
1C				1C	3
Select MIP 372 in semester 5 if MIP 292 is not taken in Semester 4
	Total Credits				16
Semester 6		Critical	Recommended	AUCC	Credits
MIP 443	Microbial Physiology				3
Select one course from the following:					4
BMS 300	Principles of Human Physiology
BMS 360	Fundamentals of Physiology
Advanced Writing				2	3
Arts and Humanities				3B	3
	Total Credits				13
*Senior*
Semester 7		Critical	Recommended	AUCC	Credits
MIP 420	Medical and Molecular Virology	X		4A	4
Select one AUCC 4C course from the following:		X			2
MIP 400A	Capstone in Microbiology: Medical Microbiology			4C
MIP 400B	Capstone in Microbiology: Biotechnology			4C
MIP 400C	Capstone in Microbiology: Immunology			4C
MIP 400D	Capstone in Microbiology: Microbial Diversity/Ecology			4C
MIP 400E	Capstone in Microbiology: Microbial Genetics			4C
MIP 400F	Capstone in Microbiology: Virology			4C
MIP 400G	Capstone in Microbiology: Service Learning			4C
MIP 400H	Capstone in Microbiology: Prion Biology			4C
MIP 400I	Capstone in Microbiology: Mycobacterial Biology			4C
MIP 400J	Capstone in Microbiology: Big Data Sets in Microbiology			4C
MIP 400K	Capstone in Microbiology: Parasitology			4C
MIP 400L	Capstone in Microbiology: Microbiome Biology			4C
MIP 400M	Capstone in Microbiology: Vector Biology			4C
MIP 400N	Capstone in Microbiology: Environmental Sustainability Health Science			4C
MIP 400O	Capstone in Microbiology: Pathology of Infectious Disease			4C
MIP 400P	Capstone in Microbiology: Veterinary Microbiology			4C
MIP 400Q	Capstone in Microbiology: One Health			4C
MIP 400R	Capstone in Microbiology: Food Microbiology			4C
MIP 400S	Capstone in Microbiology: Biofilm Biology			4C
MIP 498	Research			4C
Select one from the following:					3
STAT 301	Introduction to Applied Statistical Methods
STAT 307	Introduction to Biostatistics
Concentration Elective (See list on Requirements Tab)					3
Elective					3-4
	Total Credits				15-16
Semester 8		Critical	Recommended	AUCC	Credits
MIP 351	Medical Bacteriology	X		4B	3
Concentration Electives (See list on Requirements Tab)		X			6
Arts and Humanities		X		3B	3
Elective					3
The benchmark courses for the 8th semester are the remaining courses in the entire program of study.		X
	Total Credits				15
	Program Total Credits:				120