Undergraduate Degree Requirements
Refer to the Undergraduate Catalog for general education requirements. General Education requirements for mathematics, physical and biological sciences will ordinarily be fulfilled with the appropriate departmental required science foundation course work from the Mathematics, Chemistry and Biological Sciences departments. (Note: only 4 credits of MAC 2311,Calculus I are required for the microbiology degree, however, 6 credits of mathematics course work is required for general education purposes. Students can fulfill the remaining 2 credits of this requirement with enrollment in any of the following courses: college trigonometry; college algebra; pre calculus; calculus II or statistics)
The Baccalaureate of Science degree in Microbiology and Cell Science may be obtained through either the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences or the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. There is no difference in the major program for students enrolled in either College. The only difference in the degree are the individual requirements of the colleges.
The information below outlines the departmental requirements in the foundation sciences. Transfer credits from other institutions (e.g. community colleges) are acceptable to substitute for courses listed in this table must be done on an individual basis. For example, the general chemistry sequence at the University of Florida is a 2000 series course level. Many general chemistry courses at the community college are a 1000 level series and are acceptable substitutions. The same applies to other foundation courses. Students must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 in the courses listed in these courses in order to be eligible to enter the microbiology upper division curriculum. All attempts in these courses are included in the computation of this GPA requirement.
Once you have familiarized yourself with the core and department elective requirements, you can use the student schedule form to plan our your overall schedule to receive the B.S. degree.
PREREQUISITE COURSES
Mathematics
*MAC 2311, Analytical Geometry and Calculus, 4 credits
(* MAC 2233, Survey of Calculus is unacceptable for fulfillment of this requirement.)
General Chemistry
CHM 2045, General Chemistry with Lab, 4 credits
CHM 2046 with Lab, General Chemistry and Qualitative Analysis with Lab, 4 credits
General Biology
BSC 2010 with Lab, Integrated Principles of Biology I with Lab, 4 credits
**BSC 2011 with Lab, Integrated Principles of Biology II with Lab, 4 credits
( **AGR3303 (Genetics) is a permitted substitute for the BSC2011/2011L sequence. However, it is not recommended for students who intend to apply to medical, dental, pharmacy or other professional program. (The course does however fulfill a genetics requirement for the UF College of Veterinary Medicine but should be taken in addition to the BSC2011 / 2011L sequence not as a substitution for the sequence). Other suitable substitutions for the core biology sequences are ZOO1010C or BOT1010C. Students with these courses in their background should consult with an academic adviser to ensure that they are properly denoted on their records as fulfillment of the required biology sequence.)
A student fulfilling the basic science foundation course work with the minimum GPA requirement is eligible to major in microbiology and cell science. The following additional course work requirements are required in addition to the microbiology core and microbiology elective course requirements.
Additional Requirements
Physics
PHY2053/2053L Physics 1 and Lab, 5 credits and PHY 2054/2054L, Physics 2 and Lab, 5 credits
OR
PHY2048/ 2048L Physics 1 and Lab With Calculus (requires coreq. or prereq. of MAC 2312), 4 credits, and PHY2049/2049L Physics 2 and Lab With Calculus(requires coreq. or prereq. of MAC 2313), 4 credits
Students are permitted to enroll in Physics I with calculus and then Physics II without Calculus or any other combination desired. The degree program simply requires fulfillment of Physics I /Lab and Physics II / Lab, and either can be taken with or without Calculus. Note: PHY2004 /2005 are not acceptable physics courses to fulfill this requirement.
Organic Chemistry
CHM 2210, Organic Chemistry, 3 credits, CHM 2211, Organic Chemistry, 3 credits and
CHM 2211L, Organic Chemistry Lab, 2 credits
OR
* CHM 3217, One Semester Organic Chemistry, 4 credits, CHM 3218, Bioorganic Chemistry, 4 credits, and CHM 2211L, Organic Chemistry Laboratory, 2 credits.
*NOTE:
The Chemistry Department requires students who have enrolled in this course (CHM 3217) to enroll in the second course of this sequence; CHM 3218, Bioorganic Chemistry, 4 credits. Students choosing this course progression will be permitted to utilize the CHM 3218 as fulfillment of the Microbiology core Biochemistry requirement. CHM 3217-3218 covers Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry at an accelerated pace.
Students who have completed CHM 2210 must complete CHM 2211 and CHM2211L to fulfill the organic chemistry requirement. They may not take CHM 2210 and CHM 3218.
Students intending to apply to a Masters or Ph.D. program are encouraged to take the CHM3217 , CHM3218, and CHM 2211 Lab sequence. Students interested in professional program admission should check with their respective schools about their chemistry and biochemistry requirements.
The CHM 2211L, Organic Chemistry Lab is required regardless of the manner in which a student chooses to fulfill their Organic Chemistry course requirement.
Additional Chemistry Requirement
Analytical Chemistry and Analytical Chemistry Lab, 4 credits
Course Number |
Credits |
Course Title |
Instructor |
Semester Offered |
CHM 3120 |
3 |
Analytical Chemistry |
Staff |
F,S,SSC |
CHM 3120L |
1 |
Analytical Chemistry Lab |
Williams |
F,S,SSC |
Core Requirements
The following is a listing of the five Microbiology and Cell Science core course requirements. All microbiology majors must fulfill the core course requirements. There are multiple course availability's for the satisfaction of three of the five core course requirements.
| Course | Credits | Title |
Instructor | Semester Offered |
MCB 3023
|
3 |
Principles of Microbiology |
F, DeCrecy S, Lorca & Gonzalez |
F,S |
MCB 3023L
|
2 |
Principles of Microbiology Lab |
F, S, SS Munro |
F, S, SSC |
MCB4304 or PCB 4522 |
3 |
Genetics of Microorganisms
Molecular Genetics |
F, Keyhani
S, Gurley
|
F
S |
MCB 4203
or PCB 5235 |
3 |
Pathogens
Immunology |
F, Staff
S, Larkin |
F
S |
BCH 4024
or CHM 3218 |
4
|
Intro to Biochemistry
Bioorganic Chemistry |
F,S,SS Allison
Staff |
F,S,SSC
|
Total Credits |
15 |
|
|
|
Department Elective Requirement
The following is a listing of available courses which can be utilized to fulfill 10 credits of microbiology elective course requirement. At least 1 credit of the 10 credit requirement must include an advanced lab. Several courses listed below will fulfill the advanced lab requirement. Students intending to apply to a Masters or Ph.D. program should take either MCB5303L of PCB5136L to fulfill their advanced lab requirement
Course |
Credits | Title |
Instructor | Semester Offered |
*MCB 4203 |
3 |
Bacterial/Viral Pathogens | TBA | F |
MCB 4304L |
1 |
Advanced Microbiology Lab | Asghari, Farrah | F,S |
MCB 4403 |
3 |
Prokaryotic Cell Structure and Function | Maupin | S |
MCB 4503 |
3 |
General Virology | Maruniak | S |
MCB 4934 |
3 |
Sequencing Genomes, Special Topics | Triplett | SSA, 2007 only |
MCB 4934 |
3 |
Astrobiology, Special Topics | Foster | S |
MCB 5505 |
3 |
Virology - Honors | Maruniak | S |
MCB 5408 |
3 |
Anaerobic Microbiology and Biotechnology | Maupin | S |
PCB 3134 |
3 |
Eukaryotic Cell Structure | Mou Davis |
F S |
*PCB 5235 |
3 |
Immunology | Larkin | S |
ZOO 4232 |
3 |
Parasitology | Kima | F |
MCB 5303L |
2 |
Microbial Genetics Lab | Shanmugam | S |
PCB 5136L |
3 |
Techniques in Microbiology Lab | Preston | F |
* Students satisfactorily completing both MCB 4203 and PCB 5235 will have the PCB 5235 utilized to fulfill a core requirement and MCB 4203 utilized to fulfill a department elective course requirement.
NOTE: One advanced lab course is required in partial fulfillment of the10 credit elective requirement.
Please be sure to check the catalog for the prerequisites for all labs listed below. Several require courses as prerequisites that Microbiology and Cell Science students typically do not take. It is the students responsibility to make sure they are eligible for a course by fulfilling the required prerequisites.
Advanced Laboratory Department Electives
Majors are required to take a minimum of one credit in an approved advanced lab. Listed are courses which can be utilized to fulfill the Advanced Laboratory requirement. Credits taken in CHM,EES,FOS,HOS, SOS laboratories will count toward the maximum or 4 credits allowed for fulfillment of the 10 credit hour requirement by out of department courses (see below).
Course |
Credits | Title |
Instructor | Semester Offered |
MCB 4034L |
1 |
Advanced Microbiology Lab | Asghari, Farrah | F,S |
MCB 5303L |
2 |
Microbial Genetics Lab | Shanmugam | S |
MCB 5136L |
3 |
Techniques in Microbiology Lab | Preston | F |
CHM 4302L |
2 |
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Lab | Hornstein | F,S |
CHM 4411L |
2 |
Physical Chemistry Lab | Staff | F,S |
CHM 4413L |
2 |
BioPhysical Chemistry Lab | Staff | F,S |
EES 4102L |
1 |
Environmental Biology Lab | Staff | F, S |
FOS 4222L |
2 |
Food Microbiology Lab | Sylvia | S |
HOS 4313C |
3 |
Plant Methods in Plant Molecular Biology | Staff |
F |
SOS 4303L |
3 |
Soil Microbial Ecology Lab | Staff | F |
Approved Out of Department Electives
Students may choose from the following list of course work they would like to utilize toward fulfillment of the 10 credit hours of microbiology electives. Students may use no more than a total of 4 credits (CHM,SOS,HOS,FOS) toward fulfillment of the 10 credit hour requirement. Students will be permitted to enroll in CHM 4411 and CHM 4411L (4 credits and 1 credit respectively) and allow both the lecture and lab to fulfill micro elective course work but only up to the maximum of 4 credits. Students intending to apply to a Masters or Ph.D. program should seriously consider enrollment in either the CHM 3400 or CHM 4411 course work and labs as well as any of the Microbiology and Cell Science Department 2 and 3 credit advanced labs. Be sure to check the UF catalog for prerequisite requirements for these courses if you plan to take them.
Course |
Credits | Title |
Instructor | Semester Offered |
CHM 3400 |
3 |
Physical Chemistry Biology Based | Staff Pre-req. is MAC 2312 |
F,S |
CHM 4411 |
4 |
Physical Chemistry Chemistry Based |
Staff Pre-req. is MAC 2313 |
F,S |
CHM 4411L |
1 |
Physical Chemistry Lab |
Staff | F,S |
CHM 4302L |
2 |
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Lab |
Hornstein | F,S |
CHM 4413L |
2 |
BioPhysical Chemistry Lab |
Staff | F,S |
EES 4102L |
1 |
Environmental Biology Lab |
Staff |
F, S |
FOS 4222 |
3 |
Food Microbiology |
Rodrick |
S |
FOS 4222L |
2 |
Food Microbiology Lab |
Sylvia |
S |
| HOS 3305 | 3 | Introduction to Plant Molecular Biology |
Clark |
F |
HOS 4313C |
3 |
Plant Methods in Plant Molecular Biology |
Staff |
F |
SOS 4303L |
3 |
Soil Microbial Ecology Lab |
Staff |
F |
SOS 5303C |
3 |
Soil Microbial Ecology |
Sylvia |
F |
CAP 5510 |
3 |
Bioformatics |
Chen |
F |
PCB 5065 |
4 |
Advanced Genetics |
Chase |
F |
Additional Course Offerings (not required)
The Microbiology and Cell Science department also offers the following course enrollment opportunities. Enrollment in any of these courses will not fulfill any credits toward the microbiology elective course requirements. To enroll in any of the following courses, please seek additional information from the academic advising staff in the microbiology department.
Course |
Credits | Title |
Instructor | Semester Offered |
*MCB 4905 |
Varies |
Undergraduate Research | Staff |
F,S,SS |
MCB 4934 TA |
Varies |
Special Topics in Microbiology - TA for Labs |
Munro |
F,S,SS |
*You must be a Microbiology Major to register in MCB 4905 and are restricted to a maximum of 10 credits total over all undergraduate semesters. One credit hour requires a minimum of 4 hours work in an approved lab and it not recommended to do more than 2 credits per semester.