Twin Cities campus

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Twin Cities Campus

Microbiology Minor

Microbiology
College of Biological Sciences
  • Program Type: Undergraduate minor related to major
  • Requirements for this program are current for Fall 2013
  • Required credits in this minor: 14
Microbiologists study the structure, function, and interaction of microbes, which make up 60 percent of the earth's biomass. Regarded by many as the foundation of the biosphere, microbes were likely the first form of life on earth, predating plants and animals by more than three billion years. Microbiologists study the role of microbes, such as bacteria, fungi, and viruses in our world. A key goal of microbiologists today is to find new ways to use microbes to our advantage, such as engineering bacteria to synthesize cancer drugs or clean up toxic waste sites. Students completing the biology minor are not eligible for the microbiology minor.
Program Delivery
This program is available:
  • via classroom (the majority of instruction is face-to-face)
Admission Requirements
A GPA above 2.0 is preferred for the following:
  • 2.50 already admitted to the degree-granting college
  • 2.50 transferring from another University of Minnesota college
  • 2.50 transferring from outside the University
If a student wishes to use VBS 2032 (or a non-majors microbiology course at another institution) to gain admission to the minor, the student should contact the Director of Undergraduate Studies for Microbiology for approval.
For information about University of Minnesota admission requirements, visit the Office of Admissions website.
Required prerequisites
Minor Prerequisite
MICB 3301 - Biology of Microorganisms (5.0 cr)
BIOC 3021 - Biochemistry (3.0 cr)
or BIOC 4331 - Biochemistry I: Structure, Catalysis, and Metabolism in Biological Systems (4.0 cr)
Minor Requirements
Students who wish to declare a minor in microbiology can do so online at the College of Biological Sciences website.
Microbiology Minor
Coursework needs to be completed at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities.
Genetics
BIOL 4003 - Genetics (3.0 cr)
or GCD 3022 - Genetics (3.0 cr)
Microbiology Lecture
Take 2 or more course(s) totaling 6 or more credit(s) from the following:
· PMB 4111 - Microbial Physiology and Diversity (3.0 cr)
· PMB 4121 - Microbial Ecology and Applied Microbiology (3.0 cr)
· MICB 4131 - Immunology (3.0 cr)
· MICB 4151 - Molecular and Genetic Bases for Microbial Diseases (3.0 cr)
· MICB 4161W - Eukaryotic Microbiology [WI] (3.0 cr)
· MICB 4171 - Biology, Genetics, and Pathogenesis of Viruses (3.0 cr)
Microbiology Lab
It is preferred that students pursuing the microbiology minor complete MICB 4215 or MCIB 4225W.
Take 1 or more course(s) totaling 3 or more credit(s) from the following:
· MICB 4215 - Advanced Laboratory: Microbial Physiology and Diversity (3.0 cr)
· MICB 4225W - Advanced Laboratory: Microbial Genetics [WI] (3.0 cr)
· MICB 4235 - Advanced Laboratory: Virology, Immunology, and Microbial Genetics (3.0 cr)
 
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· Microbiology Minor
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MICB 3301 - Biology of Microorganisms
Credits: 5.0 [max 5.0]
Course Equivalencies: Biol 2032/MicB 3301/VBS 2032
Grading Basis: A-F only
Typically offered: Every Fall, Spring & Summer
Taxonomy, anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, pathogenesis, immunology, ecology of microbes. Molecular structure in relation to bacterial function/disease. Includes lab. prereq: [Biol 1961 and Biol 2003] or Biol 1009 or instructor permission
BIOC 3021 - Biochemistry
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Course Equivalencies: BioC 3021/BioC 3022/BioC 4331/
Typically offered: Every Fall, Spring & Summer
Fundamentals of biochemistry. Structure/function of nucleic acids, proteins, lipids, carbohydrates. Enzymes. Metabolism. DNA replication and repair, transcription, protein synthesis. Recommended prerequisites: Introductory biology (BIOL 1009 or BIOL 2003 or equivalent), organic chemistry (CHEM 2301 or CHEM 2081/2085 or equivalent). Note: CBS students should take BIOC 3022 not 3021.
BIOC 4331 - Biochemistry I: Structure, Catalysis, and Metabolism in Biological Systems
Credits: 4.0 [max 4.0]
Course Equivalencies: BioC 3021/BioC 3022/BioC 4331/
Typically offered: Every Fall & Spring
Advanced survey of structure/catalysis, metabolism/bioenergetics. prereq: (BIOL 1009 or 2003 or equiv) AND (Chem 2302 or CHEM 2081/2085 or equiv)
BIOL 4003 - Genetics
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Course Equivalencies: Biol 4003/GCD 3022
Typically offered: Every Fall, Spring & Summer
Genetic information, its transmission from parents to offspring, its expression in cells/organisms, and its course in populations. prereq: Biol 2003/2003H or BioC 3021 or BioC 4331 or grad
GCD 3022 - Genetics
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Course Equivalencies: Biol 4003/GCD 3022
Typically offered: Every Fall, Spring & Summer
Mechanisms of heredity, implications for biological populations. Applications to practical problems. prereq: Introductory biology course such as Biol 1009
PMB 4111 - Microbial Physiology and Diversity
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Course Equivalencies: PMB 4111/PMB 5111
Typically offered: Every Fall
Structural/functional organization of bacteria/archaea. Energy metabolism utilizing light, inorganic/organic chemicals. Cell morphologies, roles/assembly of surface structures. Growth/survival mechanisms in various extreme environments. Adaptation to changing conditions by development of specialized cells/structures, altering metabolic patterns. prereq: MicB 3301 required; BioC 3021 or BioC 4331 recommended
PMB 4121 - Microbial Ecology and Applied Microbiology
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Grading Basis: A-F or Aud
Typically offered: Every Spring
Evolution/structure of microbial communities. Population interaction within ecosystems. Quantitative/habitat ecology. Biogeochemical cycling. Molecular microbial ecology, gene transfer in the environment. Molecular phylogeny of microorganisms. Application of microbes in agriculture. Production of commodity chemicals, drugs, and other high-value products. prereq: 3301
MICB 4131 - Immunology
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Course Equivalencies: MicB 4131/VPM 4131
Typically offered: Every Fall
Molecular, genetic and cellular basis for innate and adaptive immune responses. The immune systems role in; transplantation, autoimmune disease, cancer immunotherapy, vaccinololgy, acquired and genetic immunodeficiencies. Prereq: Biol 2003 or Biol 1009 and [Junior or senior]
MICB 4151 - Molecular and Genetic Bases for Microbial Diseases
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Typically offered: Every Spring
Genetic basis of microbial pathogenesis. Effect of gene transfer and regulation on evolution of microbial pathogens and capacity to colonize, induce disease. Biochemical and cellular interactions between bacteria and human hosts. prereq: MICB 3301 AND [BIOL4003 OR PMB4131 OR Molecular Biology (BIOL 3020 or BIOL 3025 or BIOL 3015)]
MICB 4161W - Eukaryotic Microbiology (WI)
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Grading Basis: A-F only
Typically offered: Every Fall
Cell biology of higher eukaryotes, animal/plant pathogenesis, evolution, industrial microbiology. Tetrahymena/Chlamydomons/Paramecium/Toxoplasma/Aspergillus/ Neurospora. prereq: Biol 4003
MICB 4171 - Biology, Genetics, and Pathogenesis of Viruses
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Course Equivalencies: MicB 4141W/4171
Grading Basis: A-F only
Typically offered: Every Spring
Structure, attachment, entry. Genome replication/mRNA production by RNA viruses. Reverse transcription. DNA virus templates. Replication of DNA virus genomes. Processing of viral pre-mRNA. Translational control. Assembly, host defense, tumor viruses, pathogenesis, HIV, antivirals. prereq: Biol 2003 and Biol 4003 and [MicB 4131 or instructor permission]
MICB 4215 - Advanced Laboratory: Microbial Physiology and Diversity
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Grading Basis: A-F or Aud
Typically offered: Every Fall
Isolation/cultivation of wide variety of bacteria. Physiological experiments illustrate characteristic features of microorganisms. prereq: MICB 3301 AND Microbiology major or minor; priority for seats from waitlist to graduating Microbiology majors
MICB 4225W - Advanced Laboratory: Microbial Genetics (WI)
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Course Equivalencies: GCD 4015/Micb 4225
Grading Basis: A-F only
Typically offered: Every Fall
Yeast is used as a model organism for microbial molecular genetic principles and methods such as ultraviolet mutagenesis, isolation and creation of mutant strains, plasmid design and construction, PCR, Sanger sequencing, gene replacement, and bioinformatics. Students will design and execute their own independent research project using hands-on experimentation with advanced molecular methods prereq: MicB 3301 and [Biol 4003 or permission]; priority for seats from waitlist to graduating Microbiology majors
MICB 4235 - Advanced Laboratory: Virology, Immunology, and Microbial Genetics
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Typically offered: Every Spring
Techniques, experimental methods in microbial genetics, immunology. Virology used to study microbes/interactions with host. prereq: Micb 3301 and [Bioc 3022 or Bioc 4331] and [MicB 4171 prereq or concurrent registration or permission]