Bachelor of Science in Microbiology
Microbiology
Microbiology is the study of bacteria, viruses, the immune system, and their roles in human health, the environment and beyond. Job prospects for microbiologists with a bachelor's or higher degree continue to be strong. Upper-division courses in immunology, bacterial infectious diseases, virology, and microbial genetics couple laboratory courses with lecture courses to provide students with hands-on practical experience. The B.S. Microbiology major includes all four of the upper-division lecture and laboratory course pairs.
Undergraduate Admission
Admission to KU
All students applying for admission must send high school and college transcripts to the Office of Admissions. Prospective first-year students should be aware that KU has qualified admission requirements that all new first-year students must meet to be admitted. Consult the Office of Admissions for application deadlines and specific admission requirements.
Visit the International Support Services for information about international admissions.
Students considering transferring to KU may see how their college-level course work will transfer on the Office of Admissions website.
First- and Second-Year Preparation
Because biology study requires preparation in other sciences, students should begin meeting major requirements in the first year. It is particularly important to take CHEM 130 and CHEM 135 in the first year and, for several majors, to take CHEM 330, CHEM 331, CHEM 335, and CHEM 336 in the second year. Ideally, most majors should also take BIOL 150 and BIOL 152 during the first year, as well as BIOL 105.
Requirements for the B.S. Degree in Microbiology
In addition to degree and major requirements, all students must complete the KU Core.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| General Science Requirements | ||
| Majors must complete 47-56 hours of the following general science requirements that serve as foundational courses for this major. | ||
| Biology Orientation Seminar. Satisfied by: | ||
| BIOL 105 | Biology Orientation Seminar | 1 |
| Molecular & Cellular Biology. Satisfied by one of the following: | 3 | |
| Principles of Molecular and Cellular Biology | ||
| Principles of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Honors | ||
| Principles of Organismal Biology. Satisfied by one of the following: | 3 | |
| Principles of Organismal Biology | ||
| Principles of Organismal Biology, Honors | ||
| Introductory Biology Lab for STEM Majors. Satisfied by: | 2 | |
| Introductory Biology Lab for STEM Majors | ||
| Principles of Genetics. Satisfied by one of the following: | 4 | |
| Principles of Genetics | ||
| Principles of Genetics, Honors | ||
| Statistics. Satisfied by: | 4 | |
| Introduction to Biostatistics | ||
| Biochemistry. Satisfied by one of the following: | 3-8 | |
| Introductory Biochemistry, Lectures | ||
| Biochemistry I and Biochemistry II | ||
| Chemistry I. Satisfied by one of the following: | 5 | |
| General Chemistry I | ||
| Foundations of Chemistry I, Honors and Foundations of Chemistry I Laboratory, Honors | ||
| Chemistry II. Satisfied by one of the following: | 5 | |
| General Chemistry II | ||
| Foundations of Chemistry II, Honors and Foundations of Chemistry II Laboratory, Honors | ||
| Organic Chemistry I. Satisfied by one of the following: | 3 | |
| Organic Chemistry I | ||
| Organic Chemistry I, Honors | ||
| Organic Chemistry I Laboratory. Satisfied by: | ||
| Organic Chemistry I Laboratory | ||
| Organic Chemistry II. Satisfied by one of the following: | 3 | |
| Organic Chemistry II | ||
| Organic Chemistry II, Honors | ||
| Calculus. Satisfied by one of the following: | 3-4 | |
| Calculus I | ||
| Calculus I | ||
| Calculus I, Honors | ||
| Physics. Satisfied by one of the following: | 8-9 | |
| Option 1: College Physics | ||
| College Physics I and College Physics II | ||
| Option 2: General Physics | ||
| General Physics I and General Physics I Laboratory | ||
or PHSX 213 | General Physics I Honors | |
| General Physics II and General Physics II Laboratory | ||
or PHSX 214 | General Physics II Honors | |
| Microbiology Course Requirements | ||
| Satisfied by completing 34-35 hours from the following courses: | ||
| Fundamentals of Microbiology. Satisfied by one of the following: | 3-4 | |
| Fundamentals of Microbiology | ||
| Fundamentals of Microbiology, Honors | ||
| Fundamentals of Microbiology Laboratory. Satisfied by: | ||
| BIOL 402 | Fundamentals of Microbiology Laboratory | 2 |
| Cell Structure & Function. Satisfied by one of the following: | ||
| BIOL 416 | Cell Structure and Function | 3 |
| Immunology. Satisfied by: | ||
| BIOL 503 | Immunology | 3 |
| Immunology Laboratory. Satisfied by: | ||
| BIOL 504 | Immunology Laboratory | 2 |
| Bacterial Infectious Diseases. Satisfied by: | ||
| BIOL 506 | Bacterial Infectious Diseases | 3 |
| General Virology. Satisfied by: | ||
| BIOL 512 | General Virology | 3 |
| Virology Laboratory. Satisfied by: | ||
| BIOL 513 | Virology Laboratory | 2 |
| Microbial Genetics. Satisfied by: | ||
| BIOL 518 | Bacterial Genetics | 3 |
| Microbial Genetics Laboratory. Satisfied by: | ||
| BIOL 519 | Bacterial Genetics Laboratory | 2 |
| Microbiology Required Electives | ||
| Satisfied by completing 6 hours of BIOL courses numbered 400 or higher. | 6 | |
| Capstone Course | ||
| Bacterial Infectious Diseases Laboratory. Satisfied by: | ||
| BIOL 507 | Bacterial Infectious Diseases Laboratory (Capstone) | 3 |
Major Hours & Major GPA
While completing all required courses, majors must also meet each of the following hour and grade-point average minimum standards:
Major Hours
Satisfied by 35-36 hours of major courses.
Major Hours in Residence
Satisfied by a minimum of 15 hours of KU resident credit in the major.
Major Junior/Senior Hours
Satisfied by a minimum of 12 hours from junior/senior courses (300+) in the major.
Major Junior/Senior Graduation GPA
Satisfied by a minimum of a 2.0 KU GPA in junior/senior courses (300+) in the major. GPA calculations include all junior/senior courses in the field of study including F’s and repeated courses. See the Semester/Cumulative GPA Calculator.
Below is a sample 4-year plan for students pursuing the B.S. in Microbiology. To view the list of courses approved to fulfill Core 34, please visit the KU Core 34 page.
This degree plan assumes students will have the equivalent of MATH 101 or MATH 104, or equivalent prior to the freshman year, fall semester.
| Freshman | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| BIOL 150 or 152 (Core 34: Natural and Physical Sciences (SGE), General Science Requirement)040*, 2 | 3 | BIOL 150 or 152 (General Science Requirement)2 | 3 |
| CHEM 1301 | 5 | BIOL 154 (Core 34: Natural and Physical Sciences (SGE), General Science Requirement)040*, 2 | 2 |
| BIOL 105 (General Science Requirement)9 | 1 | CHEM 135 (General Science Requirement) | 5 |
| Core 34: English (SGE)010 | 3 | MATH 115 or 125 (Core 34: Math and Statistics (SGE))030*, 1 | 3-4 |
| Core 34: Social and Behavioral Science (SGE)050 | 3 | Core 34: English (SGE)010 | 3 |
| 15 | 16-17 | ||
| Sophomore | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| CHEM 330 (General Science Requirement) | 3 | BIOL 350 (General Science Requirement) | 4 |
| CHEM 331 (General Science Requirement) | 2 | BIOL 370 (General Science Requirement) | 4 |
| BIOL 400 or 401 (Major Requirement)4 | 3-4 | CHEM 335 (General Science Requirement)3 | 3 |
| BIOL 402 (Major Requirement)4 | 2 | Core 34: US Culture (SGE)070 | 3 |
| Core 34: Global Culture (SGE)070 | 3 | Core 34: Communications (SGE)020 | 3 |
| 13-14 | 17 | ||
| Junior | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| PHSX 114 (or PHSX 211 & 216, General Science Requirement) | 4 | PHSX 115 (or PHSX 212 & 236, General Science Requirement) | 4 |
| BIOL 416 (Major Requirement)7 | 3 | BIOL 512 (Major Requirement)3 | 3 |
| BIOL 518 (Major Requirement)4 | 3 | BIOL 513 (Major Requirement)3 | 2 |
| BIOL 519 (Major Requirement)4 | 2 | BIOL 600 or 636 and 638 (General Science Requirement)6 | 3 |
| Core 34: Arts and Humanities (SGE)060 | 3 | BIOL 400+ Elective (Major Requirement)5 | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Senior | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| BIOL 503 (Major Requirement) | 3 | BIOL 506 (Major Requirement)3 | 3 |
| BIOL 504 (Major Requirement)4 | 2 | BIOL 507 (Major Requirement; Capstone)3 | 3 |
| Second Area of Study/Elective/Degree/Junior-Senior Hours8 | 3 | BIOL 400+ (Major Requirement)5 | 3 |
| Core 34: Arts and Humanities (SGE)060 | 3 | Core 34: Social and Behavioral Science (SGE)050 | 3 |
| Second Area of Study/Elective/Degree/Junior-Senior Hours8 | 3 | Second Area of Study/Elective/Degree/Junior-Senior Hours8 | 3 |
| 14 | 15 | ||
| Total Hours 120-122 | |||
- 1
MATH 115 and CHEM 130 require MATH ACT scores of 26+, a comparable SAT or KU Math Placement Exam score, or credit for a MATH 101 or MATH 104 equivalent course. MATH 125 requires a MATH ACT score of 28+, a comparable SAT or KU Math Placement Exam score, or credit for MATH 104.
- 2
Concurrent or prior enrollment in CHEM 130 is required. BIOL 151 is the honors equivalent of BIOL 150 and offered in the fall semesters. BIOL 153 is the honors equivalent of BIOL 152 and offered in the spring semesters.
- 3
BIOL 512, BIOL 513, BIOL 506, BIOL 507, and CHEM 335 are offered only in the spring.
- 4
BIOL 401, BIOL 402, BIOL 504, BIOL 518, BIOL 519, and BIOL 636 are offered only in the fall.
- 5
6 hrs of Biol courses numbered 400-level or above.
- 6
BIOL 600 (3 hours) or BIOL 636 and BIOL 638 (8 hours) required. BIOL 636 is offered only in the fall semester, BIOL 638 is offered only in the spring semester, and BIOL 600 is offered in both the fall and spring semesters.
- 7
- 8
Hour requirements (incl. 45 jr/sr hrs) are typically met through Core 34, degree, major, second area of study and/or elective hours. Students completing the BGS with a major must choose a secondary area of study. Individual degree mapping is done in partnership with your advisor.
- 9
BIOL 105 Biology Orientation Seminar (1 hour online course) is required for the major. It can be taken the summer prior to your freshman year.
Please note:
Students may earn degrees in more than one major within biological sciences, or in a biological science and an area outside biology by meeting the requirements of both degree programs and taking at least 15 hours of courses unique to each major.
All students in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences are required to complete 120 total hours of which 45 hours must be at the Jr/Sr (300+) level.
*Courses with a * designate courses that are degree requirements but can also be taken to fulfill the KU Core 34 requirement. If another course if used to fulfill the Core 34 requirement, the course listed is still required as a degree requirement.
Notes:
* - This course is a Required major course and is also part of Core 34: Systemwide General Education. If this course is not taken to fulfill the Core 34:SGE requirement, it must be taken in place of elective hours.
** - This course is a Recommended Core 34: Systemwide General Education course. This specific course is not required but is recommended by the program’s faculty.
*** - This course is a Required Core 34: Systemwide General Education course. This program is approved by the Kansas Board of Regents to require this specific Core 34:Systemwide General Education course. If a student did not take this course it must be taken in addition to other degree requirements.
Departmental Honors
Undergraduate majors are eligible to graduate with honors in biology if they fulfill the following requirements:
- Complete all course work required for the appropriate degree in biology.
- Achieve a minimum grade-point average of 3.5 in the major.
- Complete BIOL 499 Introduction to Honors Research with a grade of B or higher.
- Complete BIOL 699 Biology Honors Research Colloquium with a grade of B or higher.
- Complete an independent research project under the supervision of a faculty member in an area appropriate to the degree sought.
- Submit an honors thesis to the honors committee once the research is complete and present the results of the completed research at the honors research symposium.
Students majoring in Human Biology with Anthropology, Applied Behavioral Science, Psychology, or Speech-Language-Hearing concentrations will follow the honors requirements for their respective concentration department.
Specific guidelines and intent forms are available in the Undergraduate Biology Program office and online. Candidates must declare their intent to graduate with honors at least 2 semesters before graduation.
Study Abroad
Consult an advisor at least 4 months before undertaking study abroad. Consult the Office of Study Abroad, 108 Lippincott Hall, for information about study in one of the many countries (e.g., Scotland, Australia, Switzerland) with special arrangements with KU.