Microbial Ecology Minor Program, University of Minnesota, 439 Borlaug Hall, 1991 Upper Buford Circle, Saint Paul, MN 55108 (612-624-2706)

This minor is available to master's (M.S.) and doctoral (Ph.D.) students. Microbial ecology is an interdisciplinary research area concerned with the relationships between microorganisms and their natural environment. The microbial ecology minor offers core coursework in microbiology, microbial physiology, microbial genetics, microbial genomics, microbial ecology, ecology, and theoretical ecology. Additional courses and opportunities to interact with others interested in microbial ecology are also part of the minor. The microbial ecology/biotechnology seminar series allows students and faculty to interact with microbial ecologists from other universities. The curriculum encourages interdisciplinary interaction, communication, and synthesis.

Other requirements to be completed before admission:

To be admitted to the minor, a student must be admitted to a master's or doctoral degree-granting program within the Graduate School, should have broad training in the biological sciences, and must be accepted by the director of graduate studies of the microbial ecology minor program. All students are expected to have had the equivalent of introductory microbiology (MICB 3301) and general ecology, but may fulfill deficiencies in these areas by taking these courses while in the program.

The master's minor requires 6 graduate credits, all of which must be outside the student's major department and must include at least one laboratory course in microbiology (e.g., MICB 4215) and one ecology (EEB) course chosen from the list below. The remaining courses also are chosen from this list with the guidance and approval of the director of graduate studies. The doctoral minor requires 12 graduate credits, 9 credits of which must come from the core courses listed below (contact the director of graduate studies for potential alternatives to these courses). The remaining credits must come from at least two courses chosen from this list, but may not be in the student's major. Core courses: EEB 5053 (4 cr) MICB 4111 (3 cr) MICB 4121 (3 cr) MICA 8002 (4 cr) Additional courses CE 8541 CE 8542 CE 8551 EEB 4601 EEB 4609 PLPA 8102 PLPA 8103 SOIL 5515 SOIL 5611