The Bachelor of Science in Microbiology

Student Learning Outcomes

All candidates for the BS in Microbiology will demonstrate mastery in the following Student Learning Outcomes:

1. Students can demonstrate knowledge of cell structure and metabolism.

2. Students can demonstrate knowledge of evolutionary forces and their consequences.

3. Students can demonstrate knowledge as to how microorganisms interact with their environment.

4. Students can demonstrate knowledge of the interaction between humans and miroorganisms.

5. Students can describe and use new and existing methods and technologies in and out of the laboratory setting.

6. Students can formally communicate the results of biological investigations using both oral and written communication skills.

7. Students can demonstrate an understanding, and ability to use, the scientific method including observation, hypotheses testing, data collection, and analysis.

Total Course Requirements for the Bachelor's Degree: 120 units

See "Requirements for the Bachelor's Degree" in the University Catalog for complete details on general degree requirements. A minimum of 40 units, including those required for the major, must be upper division.

A suggested Major Academic Plan (MAP) has been prepared to help students meet all graduation requirements within four years. Please request a plan from your major advisor or view it and other current advising information on the CSU, Chico Web.

Please see the General Education, Cultural Diversity, and U.S. Government requirements outlined under the BS in Biological Sciences.

For Microbiology majors, the following courses are to be double-counted toward General Education and a microbiology major: Breadth Area B2 requirement may be fulfilled by BIOL 151.

Majors may count HIST 130 for a Breadth Area C requirement or POLS 155 for a Breadth Area D requirement (3 units maximum).

Literacy Requirement:

See "Mathematics and Writing Requirements" in the University Catalog. Writing proficiency in the major is a graduation requirement and may be demonstrated through satisfactory completion of a course in your major which has been designated as the Writing Proficiency (WP) course for the semester in which you take the course. Students who earn below a C- are required to repeat the course and earn a C- or better to receive WP credit. See the Class Schedule for the designated WP courses for each semester. You must pass ENGL 130 (or its equivalent) with a C- or better before you may register for a WP course.

Course Requirements for the Major: 78 units

The following courses, or their approved transfer equivalents, are required of all candidates for this degree. Additional required courses, depending upon the selected option or advising pattern, are outlined following the degree core program requirements.

Major Core Program: 56 units

Lower-Division Requirements: 39 units

10 courses required:

BIOL 151 Prin of Cell and Molec Biology 4.0 FS
Prerequisites: Recommend CHEM 111 or concurrent enrollment.
BIOL 152 Prin Ecol, Evol, Org Biology 4.0 FS
Prerequisites: BIOL 151; recommend CHEM 112 or concurrent enrollment.
BIOL 153 Prin of Physiology & Developmt 4.0 FA
Prerequisites: BIOL 151; CHEM 112 or concurrent enrollment recommended.
CHEM 111 General Chemistry 4.0 FS *
Prerequisites: Second-year high school algebra; one year high school chemistry. (One year of high school physics and one year of high school mathematics past Algebra II are recommended.)
CHEM 112 General Chemistry 4.0 FS
Prerequisites: CHEM 111.
CHEM 270 Organic Chemistry 4.0 FS
Prerequisites: CHEM 112.
ENVL 105 Environmental Literacy 3.0 FS *
MATH 120 Analytic Geometry and Calculus 4.0 FS *
Prerequisites: Completion of ELM requirement; both MATH 118 and MATH 119 (or high school equivalent); a score that meets department guidelines on a department administered calculus readiness exam.
PHYS 202A General Physics 4.0 FS *
Prerequisites: High school physics or faculty permission. High school trigonometry and second-year high school algebra or equivalent (MATH 051 and MATH 118 at CSU, Chico).
PHYS 202B General Physics 4.0 FS
Prerequisites: PHYS 202A.

Upper-Division Requirements: 17 units

Microbiology majors are expected to have completed BIOL 151, BIOL 152, BIOL 153, CHEM 111, and CHEM 112 before beginning their upper-division requirments.

6 courses required:

BIOL 321 Microbiology 4.0 FS
Prerequisites: BIOL 151, BIOL 152, BIOL 153, or faculty permission.
BIOL 360 Genetics 4.0 FS
Prerequisites: BIOL 153 or permission of instructor.
CHEM 370 Organic Chemistry 3.0 FS
Prerequisites: CHEM 270.
CHEM 370L Organic Chem Laboratory 1.0 FS
Prerequisites: CHEM 370 may be taken as a prerequisite or concurrently with CHEM 370L.
CHEM 451 Biochemistry 3.0 FS
Prerequisites: CHEM 370.
CHEM 455L Biochemistry Laboratory 2.0 FS
Prerequisites: CHEM 320, CHEM 451; CHEM 370L or CHEM 370M; or faculty permission.

Major Option Course Requirements: 22 units

The following courses, or their approved transfer equivalents, are required dependent upon the option chosen. Students must select one of the following options for completion of the major course requirements.

The Option in General Microbiology: 22 units

2 courses required:

BIOL 402 Microbial Ecology 4.0 SP
Prerequisites: BIOL 152. Recommended: BIOL 321.
BIOL 412 Bacterial Physiology 4.0 SP
Prerequisites: BIOL 321, BIOL 360, CHEM 270. CHEM 451 is recommended.

14 units selected from:

1 course selected from:

CHEM 320 Quantitative Analysis 4.0 FS
Prerequisites: CHEM 112.
MATH 315 Biometrics 3.0 FA
Prerequisites: Completion of ELM requirement.

2 courses selected from:

BIOL 466 Immunology 4.0 SP
Prerequisites: BIOL 153.
BIOL 470 Medical Bacteriology 5.0 FA WP
Prerequisites: BIOL 321, BIOL 466, CHEM 270. Immunization against tetanus and diphtheria required.
BIOL 472 Microbial Genetics 4.0 FA
Prerequisites: BIOL 360. BIOL 321 is recommended.
BIOL 474 Food and Industrial Microbio 3.0 SP
Prerequisites: BIOL 321, CHEM 270.
BIOL 476 General Virology 4.0 F2
Prerequisites: BIOL 153. Recommended: BIOL 321.

1-4 units selected from:

BIOL 399 Special Problems 1.0 -3.0 FS

Note: A maximum of 3 units of BIOL 399 may be applied to the major.

Or any 400-level biology (BIOL) courses.

The Option in Clinical Laboratory Science: 22 units

5 courses required:

BIOL 416 Vertebrate Physiology 4.0 FS
Prerequisites: BIOL 152, BIOL 153; CHEM 108 or CHEM 270.
BIOL 462 Hematology 3.0 S1
Prerequisites: BIOL 153. Recommended: BIOL 424 and CHEM 270.
BIOL 466 Immunology 4.0 SP
Prerequisites: BIOL 153.
BIOL 470 Medical Bacteriology 5.0 FA WP
Prerequisites: BIOL 321, BIOL 466, CHEM 270. Immunization against tetanus and diphtheria required.
CHEM 320 Quantitative Analysis 4.0 FS
Prerequisites: CHEM 112.

2 units selected from:

BIOL 399 Special Problems 1.0 -3.0 FS

Or any 400-level biology (BIOL) course.

Please see the Grading, Literacy, and Advising Requirements outlined under the BS in Biological Sciences above.