Bachelor of Arts 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.A. Microbiology major includes a choice of three 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 the University Registrar 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.A. Major in Microbiology
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core 34 General Education | 34 | |
| The KU Core 34 is comprised of 34-35 credit hours typically completed during the first two years of study. The Core 34 consists of the following requirements: English (6), Communications (3), Math & Statistics (3), Natural & Physical Sciences with lab (4-5), Social & Behavioral Sciences (6 in two different disciplines), Arts & Humanities (6 in two different disciplines), US Culture (3), and Global Culture (3) | ||
| Bachelor of Arts (BA) Degree Requirements | 16-20 | |
| BA students will demonstrate proficiency in a Non-English Language. (1 credit hour of a Laboratory or Field Experience, 6 credit hours of Writing, and 3 credit hours of Quantitative Literacy are required for all BA students. These requirements will be met through the completion of the KU Core 34.) | ||
| Prerequisite Knowledge | ||
| BIOL 105 | Biology Orientation Seminar | 1 |
| BIOL 150 | Principles of Molecular and Cellular Biology | 3 |
| or BIOL 151 | Principles of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Honors | |
| BIOL 152 | Principles of Organismal Biology | 3 |
| or BIOL 153 | Principles of Organismal Biology, Honors | |
| BIOL 154 | Introductory Biology Lab for STEM Majors | 2 |
| BIOL 350 | Principles of Genetics | 4 |
| or BIOL 360 | Principles of Genetics, Honors | |
| BIOL 370 | Introduction to Biostatistics | 4 |
| BIOL 600 | Introductory Biochemistry, Lectures | 3-8 |
| or BIOL 636 & BIOL 638 | Biochemistry I and Biochemistry II | |
| CHEM 130 | General Chemistry I | 5 |
| or CHEM 190 & CHEM 191 | Foundations of Chemistry I, Honors and Foundations of Chemistry I Laboratory, Honors | |
| CHEM 135 | General Chemistry II | 5 |
| or CHEM 195 & CHEM 196 | Foundations of Chemistry II, Honors and Foundations of Chemistry II Laboratory, Honors | |
| Calculus I | ||
or MATH 125 | Calculus I | |
or MATH 145 | Calculus I, Honors | |
| CHEM 330 | Organic Chemistry I | 3 |
| or CHEM 380 | Organic Chemistry I, Honors | |
| CHEM 331 | Organic Chemistry I Laboratory | 2 |
| PHSX 114 | College Physics I | 4 |
| or PHSX 211 & PHSX 216 | General Physics I and General Physics I Laboratory | |
| or PHSX 213 | General Physics I Honors | |
| PHSX 115 | College Physics II | 4 |
| or PHSX 212 & PHSX 236 | General Physics II and General Physics II Laboratory | |
| or PHSX 214 | General Physics II Honors | |
| Major Requirements | ||
| BIOL 400 | Fundamentals of Microbiology | 3 |
| or BIOL 401 | Fundamentals of Microbiology, Honors | |
| BIOL 402 | Fundamentals of Microbiology Laboratory | 2 |
| BIOL 506 | Bacterial Infectious Diseases | 3 |
| Microbiology Electives and Laboratory Requirements | ||
| Satisfied by completing 10 hours of microbiology courses, including 2 lecture-lab pairings, selected from the following. | 10 | |
| Immunology | ||
or BIOL 543 | Immunology, Honors | |
| Immunology Laboratory | ||
| General Virology | ||
| Virology Laboratory | ||
| Bacterial Genetics | ||
| Bacterial Genetics Laboratory | ||
| Microbiology Elective | 3 | |
| Satisfied by completing 3 additional hours of BIOL courses numbered 400 or higher. NOTE: some courses may require additional prerequisites. | ||
| General Electives | 3-0 | |
| Students will need to complete additional general elective credits to reach the required 120 hours. | ||
| Capstone Course | ||
| BIOL 507 | Bacterial Infectious Diseases Laboratory | 3 |
| Total Hours | 120-126 | |
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 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 BA 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 (General Science Requirement)3 | 3 | BIOL 150 or 152 (General Science Requirement)3 | 3 |
| CHEM 130 (Core 34: Natural and Physical Sciences (SGE))040*, 2 | 5 | BIOL 154 (General Science Requirement) | 2 |
| BIOL 105 (General Science Requirement)1 | 1 | CHEM 135 (General Science Requirement) | 5 |
| Core 34: Social and Behavioral Science (SGE)050 | 3 | MATH 115 or 125 (Core 34: Math and Statistics (SGE))030*,2 | 3-4 |
| Core 34: English (SGE)010 | 3 | Core 34: English (SGE)010 | 3 |
| 15 | 16-17 | ||
| Sophomore | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| 1st Semester Language (BA Second Language) | 5 | 2nd Semester Language (BA Second Language) | 5 |
| BIOL 400 or 401 (Major Requirement)5 | 3-4 | BIOL 370 (General Science Requirement) | 4 |
| BIOL 402 (Major Requirement)5 | 2 | PHSX 114 (or PHSX 211 & 216 (General Science Requirement)) | 4 |
| CHEM 330 (General Science Requirement)6 | 3 | Core 34: Communications (SGE)020 | 3 |
| CHEM 331 (General Science Requirement) | 2 | ||
| 15-16 | 16 | ||
| Junior | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| 3rd Semester Language (BA Second Language) | 3 | 4th Semester Language, or 1st semester of Another Language (BA Second Language) | 3 |
| BIOL 350 or 360 (Major Requirement) | 4 | Microbiology Elective 400+ (Major Requirement)4,5,7 | 3 |
| PHSX 115 (or PHSX 212 & 236 (General Science Requirement)) | 4 | Microbiology Lab Elective 400+ (Major Requirement)4,5,7 | 2 |
| Core 34: US Culture (SGE)070 | 3 | BIOL 600 or 636 and 638 (General Science Requirement)8 | 3 |
| Core 34: Global Culture (SGE)070 | 3 | Core 34: Social and Behavioral Science (SGE)050 | 3 |
| 17 | 14 | ||
| Senior | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| BIOL Elective 400+ (Major Requirement) | 3 | BIOL 506 (Major Requirement)4 | 3 |
| Microbiology Elective 400+ (Major Requirement)4,5,7 | 3 | BIOL 507 (Major Requirement, Capstone)4 | 3 |
| Microbiology Lab Elective 400+ (Major Requirement)4,5,7 | 2 | Core 34: Arts and Humanities (SGE)060 | 3 |
| Core 34: Arts and Humanities (SGE)060 | 3 | Second Area of Study/Elective/Degree/Junior-Senior Hours9 | 1 |
| Second Area of Study/Elective/Degree/Junior-Senior Hours (300+)9 | 3 | Second Area of Study/Elective/Degree/Junior-Senior Hours (300+)9 | 3 |
| 14 | 13 | ||
| Total Hours 120-122 | |||
- 1
BIOL 105 (1 hour online course) is required for the major. It can be taken the summer prior to your freshman year.
- 2
MATH 115 and CHEM 130 require a Math ACT score of 26+, a comparable SAT or KU Math Placement Exam score, or credit for MATH 101 or MATH 104. MATH 125 requires a MATH ACT score of 28+, a comparable SAT or KU Math Placement Exam score, or credit for MATH 104.
- 3
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.
- 4
BIOL 506, BIOL 507, BIOL 512, and BIOL 513 are offered only in the spring.
- 5
BIOL 401, BIOL 402, BIOL 504, BIOL 518, and BIOL 519 are offered only in the fall.
- 6
Most medical schools require the full CHEM 330, CHEM 331, and CHEM 335.
- 7
10 hours of Microbiology courses, including 2 lecture-lab pairings, selected from BIOL 503, BIOL 504, BIOL 512, BIOL 513, BIOL 518, and BIOL 519.
- 8
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.
- 9
Hour requirements (incl. 45 jr/sr hrs) are typically met through Core, 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.
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.
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.
At the completion of this program, students will be able to:
- Explain the sources of genetic variation within populations, how variation is maintained or lost in populations and mechanisms of evolutionary change operating in populations and how these may lead to the formation of biological species. Use the principles of evolution to explain the diversity of life on Earth; describe evidence that supports the conclusion that evolution explains the diversity of life on Earth.
- Describe how organisms inherit genetic information that influences the location, timing, and intensity of gene expression. Explain that cells/organs/organisms have multiple mechanisms to perceive and respond to changing environmental conditions.
- Describe how complex networks are formed by interactions at many biological scales (i.e., molecules, genes, cells, tissues, organs, individuals and ecosystems), and that organisms integrate internal and external information to respond to environmental changes.
- Explain that biological structures exist at all levels of organization, from molecules to ecosystems, and the physical and chemical characteristics of a structure influence its function.
- Apply the scientific method and communicate scientific arguments, ideas, and results clearly and explicitly through writing and speech. Demonstrate a knowledge of the ethical considerations related to scientific research.
- Apply quantitative reasoning, mathematical, statistical, and/or informatics tools to explain, evaluate, and effectively interpret claims, theories, and assumptions in the biological sciences.
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 489 Introduction to Honors Research with a grade of B or higher, or complete one credit of BIOL 423 or BIOL 424 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.
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.