MCY_BS - Microbiology and Cell Science | CLAS

About this Program

• College: Liberal Arts and Sciences
• Degree: Bachelor of Science
• Credits for Degree: 120

To graduate with this major, students must complete all university, college, and major requirements.

This major prepares students for entry into professional programs in medicine, dentistry, and veterinary medicine and provides a strong foundation for graduate studies in microbiology, cell biology, and related cellular and biomedical sciences. The major also provides a background for entry into government, industrial research, and diagnostic laboratories.

The curriculum develops fundamental knowledge of prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells and viruses. Courses include the physiology and genetics of microorganisms, mechanisms of pathogenesis and innate immunity systems, astrobiology, bacterial and genome sequencing and bioinformatics.

requirements for the Major

All majors must complete 28 credits: 18 credits of core requirements, at least 6 credits of department electives, at least 1 credit in an advanced laboratory, and 3 credits for the quantitative requirement. In addition, students must complete 35-38 credits of required foundation coursework.

Minimum grades of C within two attempts, including withdrawals, are required in all critical-tracking courses, major courses, department core requirements, department electives, and the quantitative requirement. Second attempts must be completed the next semester of enrollment. A cumulative 2.0 GPA is also required.

Required Foundation Coursework

All majors must complete the biology and general chemistry sequences and calculus by the end of the sophomore year. Organic Chemistry, CHM 2210, must be completed by the end of tracking term five. To continue in the major, students must attain a cumulative GPA in these graded courses of no less than 2.5 and with no grade lower than a C.

Required Major Coursework

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If students take both "or" courses, one will count as a core course and the other will roll over into the department elective requirement.

Major Electives

A total of 6 credits of approved department electives, and additionally one credit in an advanced lab, are required. The list of approved department electives is available on the department website.

Programming or Biostatistics Courses

A total of 3 credits of approved courses meets this requirement. Select from BSC 2891, MCB 4325C, or an equivalent biostatistics programming class. Several of these courses are also department electives and cannot be used to fulfill both the quantitative and the department elective requirements. No overlap is allowed. STA 2023 will not fulfill this requirement.

Course Details

MCB 4911 may be taken for a maximum of three credits per semester and six credits total. This policy also applies to microbiology and cell science majors registered for undergraduate research in other departments' undergraduate research courses, such as BCH 4905, BMS 4905, ZOO 4911, etc.

MCB 4934 is often used for TA positions as “Supervised Teaching." TA positions may be repeated for a total of two semesters.

Enrollment in MCB 4911, MCB 4905 and MCB 4934 (Supervised Teaching) will not fulfill any credits toward the microbiology major requirements; they will count only as general elective credit toward the 120 credits for the BS degree.

Relevant Minors and Certificates

The Microbiology and Cell Science Department also offers an undergraduate minor in bioinformatics to students majoring in any biology-related subject, including and not limited to microbiology, biology, or biochemistry.

So integrated is bioinformatics with biology that it is difficult to find an active research program that does not rely on bioinformatic analysis to achieve results. Unfortunately, the integration of bioinformatic and traditional methods is not stressed in many undergraduate programs, leaving the next generation of biologists without the skills they need to succeed in tomorrow’s research environment. The undergraduate minor in bioinformatics provides this critical training to future professionals in the biological disciplines.

Research

A majority of majors are actively involved in undergraduate research for credit with mentors throughout the university. Preprofessional and graduate school-bound majors are encouraged to do a minimum of two semesters of undergraduate research. The department has a comprehensive list of mentors across campus who allow undergraduate students to do valuable research under their guidance. Please refer to the department website for more information on undergraduate research, finding a mentor and a contact list of UF faculty who have worked with microbiology and cell science majors.

Enrollment in MCB 4911 will not fulfill any credits toward the microbiology major requirements; they will count only as general elective credit toward the 120 credits for the BS degree.