Combined Degree Program
Degree Requirements for the B.S.
The 4-1 B.S./M.S. program in Microbiology and Cell Science requires that 12 credits of graduate level courses (5000 level of above) be taken to fulfill requirements of the B.S. degree program. The 12 credits of graduate level courses are courses used to fulfill *6 credits of the 18 credit B.S. core course requirement and a minimum of 6 credits of the 9 credit B.S. elective course requirement. The 12 credits of 5000-level or higher required and elective courses may also be applied to satisfy the M.S. degree requirements.
Microbiology and Cell Science Undergraduate Core Requirements – 18 credits: (F=Fall, S= Spring, SS=Summer). These courses are all required and no substitutions will be made:
- MCB 3023 Basic Biology of Microorganisms (3 credits) F, S
- MCB 3023L (2 credits) F, S
- MCB 4304 Genetics of Microorganisms (3 credits ) F, or PCB 4522 Molecular Genetics (3 credits) S
- *PCB 5235 Immunology (3 credits) S (required for the M.S.)
- BCH 4024 Biochemistry (4 credits) F, S, SS or CHM 3218 Organic/Biochemistry 2 (4 credits) F,S
- *PCB 5136 Techniques in Microbial & Cell Biology (3 credits) F, or MCB 5303L Microbial Genetics Lab (2 credits) S to be taken with 1credit of registration in graduate level reseach approved by Dr. Preston.
Microbiology and Cell Science Undergraduate Elective Requirements - 9 credits:
The following is a listing of available courses that can be utilized to fulfill 9 credits of microbiology elective course requirement. Select 3 credits from the list below or you may opt to take all 9 credits from the 5000 level list.
- MCB 4203 Bacterial/Viral Pathogens (3 credits) F
- MCB 4403 Prokaryotic Cell Structure (3 credits) F
- MCB 4503 General Virology (3 credits) S
- PCB 3134 Eukaryotic Cell Structure (3 credits) F,S
- ZOO 4232 Parasitology (3 credits) F
- MCB 4034L Microbiology Advanced Lab (1 credit) F,S
- MCB 4934 Literature Research in Microbiology (3 credits) SS
5000-level or above courses: Select a minimum of 6 credits from the list below. Do not include any of the courses below already taken to fulfill the core requirement.
- MCB 5303L Microbial Genetics and Biotechnology Lab (2 credits) S (taken with MCB 6937 Special Topics in Genetics, 1 credit)
- PCB 5136 Techniques in Microbial & Cell Biology (3 credits) F
- MCB 5408 Anaerobic Microbiology and Biotechnology (3 credits) S (tentative - even years)
- MCB 5458 Energy Transformation in Microorganisms (3 credits) S (tentatiave - odd years)
- MCB 5505 General Virology (3 credits) S
- MCB 6409 Microbial Cell Structure and Function (3 credits) F
- PCB 5136L Techniques in Microbial & Cell Biology (3 credits) F
- BCH 5413 Mammalian Molecular Biology and Genetics (3 credits) F
- BCH 6415 Advanced Molecular and Cell Biology (3 credits) S
- BCH 6206 Advanced Metabolism (3 credits) F
Total credits required for the B.S. degree = 27 credits (to fulfill the Department B.S. requirements)
A maximum of 12 credits of 5000- level or above credit hours may be substituted for the B.S. degree requirements.
Students applying for the 4-1 program are strongly encouraged to take Physical Chemistry (either CHM 3400 or CHM 4411) as a general course elective during their B.S .program, since these courses provide important conceptual background for Advanced Physical Biochemistry (BCH 6740), which is required for the M.S. degree. This background will be considered a strong credential for admission to the limited positions available in the program.
Degree Requirement for the M.S.
Microbiology and Cell Science M.S. core requirements - 21 credits:
Molecular Genetics, 3 credits from:
- BCH 5413 Mammalian Molecular Biology (3 credits) F
- BCH 6415 Advanced Molecular and Cell Biology (3 credits) S
- 3 modules from IDP genetics core (one credit each)- yeast, mouse, human development (GMS 6010-6013), viral (GMS 6034) or bacterial (GMS 6181)
Metabolism, 3 credits from:
- MCB 5408 Anaerobic Microbiology and Biotechnology (3 credits) S (tentative - even year)
- MCB 5458 Energy Transformation in Microorganisms (3 credits) S (tentative - odd year)
- BCH 6206 Advanced Metabolism (3 credits) F
- Biophysical, 3 credits: BCH 6740 Structural Biology/Advanced Physical Biochemistry (3 credits) S
- PCB 5235 Immunology (3 credits) S
- Two graduate course electives (6 credits)
- MCB 7922 Journal Colloquy (1 credit) F,S
- MCB 6930 Seminar (1 credit) F,S
- MCB 6940 Supervised Teaching (1 credit) F, S
M.S. elective requirements - 9 credits:
9 credits of 5000-level or above courses are required to complete the 30 credits requirement for the M.S. degree. You may include courses from 12 credits of 5000 level courses taken in the B.S. program if not used to fulfill the M.S. core requirements.
Any of the following courses that were not taken during the B.S. program or taken to fulfill a course requirement for the M.S. degree may be taken as an elective course to fulfill the 30 credits required for the M.S. degree.
- MCB 5505 Virology Honors (3 credits) S
- MCB 5303L Microbial Genetics and Biotechnology Lab (2 credits) S
- PCB 5136L Techniques in Microbial and Cell Biology (3 credits) F
- MCB 5408 Anaerobic Microbiology and Biotechnology (3 credits) S (tentative - even year)
- MCB 5458 Energy Transformations in Microorganisms (3 credits) S (tentative - odd year)
- MCB 6409, Microbial Cell Structure and Function (3 credits) F
- MCB 6905 Experimental Microbiology, variable credit (3 credit maximum) F,S
- MCB 6930 Seminar (1 credit, 2 credit maximum) F, S
- MCB 7922 Journal Colloquy (1 credit, 2 credit maximum) F, S
- MCB 6937 Special Topics in Microbiology (1-3 credits, 3 credit maximum) F, S
- PCB 5136L Techniques in Microbial & Cell Biology (3 credits) F
- BCH 5413 Mammalian Molecular Biology and Genetics (3 credits) F
- BCH 6415 Advanced Molecular and Cell Biology (3 credits) S
- BCH 6206 Advanced Metabolism (3 credits) F
- Graduate courses offered by other departments and approved by the Graduate Coordinator