The Bachelor of Science in microbiology and cell science offers a flexible curriculum that develops an excellent knowledge base and an understanding of concepts in microbiology, cell biology and the bio-molecular sciences. Emphasis will be placed on application of the scientific method to gain an understanding of the biological world at the cellular and molecular levels. Students will learn to evaluate hypotheses, interpret experimental data and communicate results effectively.
To graduate with this major, students must complete all university, college, and major requirements.
Critical TrackingModel Semester Plan
Overview
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.
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Coursework for the Major
All majors must take 28-29 credits: 15 credits are core requirements, 10 credits are upper-division department electives and 3-4 credits are the quantitative requirement. A minimum of one credit in an advanced laboratory is required as part of the 10 department-elective credits.
Minimum grades of C, attained 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 2.0 cumulative GPA of also is required.
Required Coursework
- Integrated Principles of Biology 1 and 2 and laboratories (BSC 2010/2010L and BSC 2011/2011L). AGR 3033 may be substituted for BSC 2011 and 2011L
- General Chemistry 1 and laboratory (CHM 2045 and 2045L)
- General Chemistry 2 Qualitative Analysis and laboratory (CHM 2046 and 2046L)
- Analytic Geometry and Calculus 1 (MAC 2311)
- Physics 1 and 2 and laboratories (PHY 2053/2053L and PHY 2054/2054L or PHY 2048/2048L and PHY 2049/2049L)
- Organic Chemistry and laboratory (CHM 2210, 2211 and 2211L)
- All majors must complete the biology and general chemistry sequences and calculus by the end of the sophomore year. CHM 2210 Organic Chemistry must be completed by the end of tracking term five. To continue in the major, students must attain a minimum 2.5 cumulative GPA in these graded courses with no grade lower than a C.
Core Requirements
- BCH 4024 or CHM 3218 Biochemistry or Organic Chemistry/Biochemistry 2
- MCB 3015C Microbiology Lab Skills Boot Camp
- MCB 3023 Principles of Microbiology
- MCB 4203 Pathogens (offered fall) or PCB 4233 Immunology (offered spring)
- MCB 4304 Genetics of Microorganisms (offered fall) or PCB 4522 Molecular Genetics (offered spring)
- MCB 4934 Microbiology Laboratory
Students must take MCB 4203 Pathogens or PCB 4233 Immunology as a core course. If they take both, one will count as a core course and the other will roll over into the 10-credit department elective requirement.
Department Elective Requirements
A total of 10 credits of approved department electives, including one credit in an advanced lab, are required.
- MCB 4034L Advanced Microbiology Lab (1 credit)
Choose 9 credits:
- BSC 2891 Python Programming for Biologists (offered spring)
- MCB 3703 Astrobiology (offered spring)
- MCB 4203 Pathogens (offered fall) or PCB 4233 Immunology (offered spring)
- MCB 4320C The Microbiome (offered spring)
- MCB 4403 Prokaryotic Cell Structure and Function (offered fall)
- MCB 4503 Virology (offered spring)
- MCB 4782 Archaea and Biotechnology
- PCB 3134 Eukaryotic Cell Structure and Function
- ZOO 4232 Parasitology (offered fall)
Quantitative Requirement
- BSC 2891 Python programming for Biologists
- MCB 4320C The Microbiome
- STA 2023 Introduction to Statistics
General Elective Requirement
Students are required to complete 18 credits of general elective coursework at the University of Florida. Any 3000/4000 level course will be accepted.
Course Details
MCB 4911 Supervised Research may be taken for a maximum of three credits per semester and six credits total. This policy applies to all microbiology and cell science majors registered for undergraduate research in other out-of-department undergraduate research courses such as BCH 4905, BMS 4905, ZOO 4905, etc.
MCB 4934 Special Topics is often used for TA lab positions. TA positions may be repeated for two semesters with one lab assignment per semester.
Enrollment in MCB 4911 Supervised Research, MCB 4905 Independent Study and MCB 4934 Special Topics: Teaching Assistantship will not fulfill any credits toward the microbiology department elective requirements; they will count only as general elective credit toward the 120 credits for the B.S. degree.
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Undergraduate Research
A majority of MCS students are actively involved in undergraduate research for credit with mentors throughout the university. The department encourages preprofessional and graduate school bound students to complete a minimum of two semesters of undergraduate research. The department maintains a list of mentors across campus who allow undergraduate students to participate in valuable research under their guidance. More information is available about undergraduate research and faculty mentors who have worked with microbiology and cell science students.
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Combined-Degree Program
A Bachelor of Science and Master of Science (non-thesis) program is offered by the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences. Microbiology majors in both the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences and the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences are eligible for admission to the combined degree program. Students should email for an appointment to determine their eligibility for this program.
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Preparation for Graduate Study
This major prepares students for entry into graduate studies in microbiology, cell biology, biochemistry and other areas.
All students interested in graduate education should develop a strong background in chemistry. Suggested schedules for students who plan to attend graduate school are available on the website. Students planning graduate study in microbiology, biochemistry or molecular biological sciences should consider taking these courses:
- CHM 3218 Organic Chemistry/ Biochemistry 2 (4 credits) for the biochemistry requirement
- MAC 2312 Calculus 2 (4 credits)
- STA 2023 Introduction to Statistics (3 credits)
- MCB 4403 Prokaryotic Cell Structure (3), PCB 3134 Eukaryotic Cell Structure and Function (3) and CHM 3400 Physical Chemistry (3) to fulfill nine credits of required department electives
- MCB 5305L Microbial Genetics Laboratory (2) or
MCB 5136L Techniques of Advanced Microbiology Laboratory (3) to fulfill the microbiology advanced laboratory requirement, and
- PCB 4233 Immunology (3) to fulfill the pathogens or immunology requirement.
- In addition, MCB 4905 will provide valuable laboratory research experience.
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Relevant Minors and/or Certificates
The Department of Microbiology and Cell Science also offers a minor in bioinformatics to students majoring in any life sciences subject, including and not limited to microbiology, biology or biochemistry.
So integrated is bioinformatics with the life sciences that it is difficult to find an active research program that does not rely on bioinformatic analysis to achieve results. By integrating bioinformatic and traditional methods, the minor in bioinformatics provides critical training to future professionals in the life science disciplines.
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Critical Tracking
Critical Tracking records each student’s progress in courses that are required for entry to each major. Please note the critical-tracking requirements below on a per-semester basis.
Equivalent critical-tracking courses as determined by the State of Florida Common Course Prerequisites may be used for transfer students.
Semester 1
- Complete CHM 1025 or CHM 2045/2045L
- 2.5 GPA required for all critical-tracking courses
- 2.0 UF GPA required
Semester 2
- Complete CHM 2045/2045L and BSC 2010/2010L
- 2.5 GPA required for all critical-tracking courses
- 2.0 UF GPA required
Semester 3
- Complete CHM 2046/2046L and MAC 2311
- 2.5 GPA required for all critical-tracking courses
- 2.0 UF GPA required
Semester 4
- Complete BSC 2011/2011L
- 2.5 GPA required for all critical-tracking courses
- 2.0 UF GPA required
Semester 5
- Complete CHM 2210
- 2.5 GPA required for all critical-tracking courses
- 2.0 UF GPA required
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Model Semester Plan
To remain on track, students must complete the appropriate critical-tracking courses, which appear in bold.
This semester plan represents an example progression through the major. Actual courses and course order may be different depending on the student's academic record and scheduling availability of courses. Prerequisites still apply.
| Semester 1 |
Credits |
|---|
BSC 2010 Integrated Principles of Biology 1, 3 credits, and
BSC 2010L Integrated Principles of Biology Laboratory 1, 1 credit
GE-B |
4 |
CHM 2045 and General Chemistry 1, 3 credits, and
CHM 2045L Chemistry 1 Laboratory, 1 credit
State Core GE-B/P |
4 |
IUF 1000 What is the Good Life
GE-H |
3 |
Composition
State Core GE-C; WR; ENC 1101 recommended |
3 |
| Total |
14 |
| Semester 2 |
Credits |
|---|
AEB 2014 Economic Issues, Food and You, 3 credits, or
ECO 2013 Principles of Macroeconomics, 4 credits, or
ECO 2023 Principles of Microeconomics, 4 credits, (GE-S) |
3-4 |
BSC 2011 Integrated Principles of Biology 2, 3 credits, and
BSC 2011L Integrated Principles of Biology Laboratory 2, 1 credit
GE-B |
4 |
CHM 2046 General Chemistry 2, 3 credits, and
CHM 2046L General Chemistry 2 Laboratory, 1 credit
GE-P |
4 |
Humanities
State Core GE-H |
3 |
| Total |
14-15 |
| Semester 3 |
Credits |
|---|
| CHM 2210 Organic Chemistry 1 |
3 |
MAC 2311 Analytic Geometry and Calculus 1
State Core GE-M |
4 |
PHY 2053 Physics 1, 4 credits, and
PHY 2053L Laboratory for Physics 1, 1 credit
OR
PHY 2048 and Physics with Calculus 1, 3 credits, and
PHY 2048L Laboratory for Physics with Calculus 1, 1 credit
|
4-5 |
Social and Behavioral Sciences
State Core GE-S |
3 |
| Total |
14-15 |
| Semester 4 |
Credits |
|---|
AEC 3033C Research and Business Writing in Agricultural and Life Sciences or
ENC 2210 Technical Writing
WR |
3 |
CHM 2211 Organic Chemistry 2, 3 credits, and
CHM 2211L Organic Chemistry Laboratory, 2 credits, and
MCB 4934 Microbiology Laboratory, i credit |
5 |
MCB 3015C Microbiology Laboratory Skills Boot Camp, 1 credit, and
MCB 3023 Principles of Microbiology, 3 credits, and
MCB 4934 Microbiology Laboratory, 1 credit |
5 |
Composition
GE-C; WR |
3 |
| Total |
16 |
A 2.5 GPA with minimum grades of C in the bolded science and math courses listed above is required to continue in the major.
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| Semester 5 |
Credits |
|---|
BCH 4024 Biochemistry or
CHM 3218 Organic Chemistry/Biochemistry 2 |
4 |
PHY 2054 Physics 2, 4 credits, and
PHY 2054L Laboratory for Physics 2, 1 credit
OR
PHY 2049 Physics with Calculus 2, 3 credits, and
PHY 2049L Laboratory for Physics with Calculus 2, 1 credit
|
4-5 |
| SPC 2608 Introduction to Public Speaking |
3 |
Diversity elective
GE-D |
3 |
| Total |
14-15 |
| Semester 6 |
Credits |
|---|
PCB 4522 Molecular Genetics
|
3 |
STA 2023 Introduction to Statistics 1
GE-M |
3 |
| Department elective |
3 |
| Electives |
4
|
| International elective |
3 |
| Total |
16 |
| Semester 7 |
Credits |
|---|
| MCB 4203 Bacterial and Viral Pathogens |
3 |
| Department electives |
6 |
| Elective |
1 |
Elective
3000 level or above |
3 |
Writing elective
WR |
3 |
| Total |
16 |
| Semester 8 |
Credits |
|---|
| MCB 4034L Advanced Microbiology Laboratory |
1 |
Electives
3000 level or above |
15 |
| Total |
16 |
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Related Microbiology and Cell Science Programs
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