Degree requirements

To graduate a student must meet University, College of Arts and Sciences, and Departmental requirements. The University requires a minimum of 180 credit hours with a cumulative GPA of 2.0. Of these 180 credits, 90 credits are required for the Microbiology Major.

At the time of your admission to the Department, Sarah Mears, advisor, will review your file in relationship to the Language Skills (English composition and Foreign language), Reasoning and Writing in Context (Quantitative/Symbolic reasoning and Additional Writing), and Areas of Knowledge (VLPA, I & S, NW) requirements, and help you plan a schedule for meeting the requirements for graduation. You are not required to complete distribution requirements prior to entry into the Department. In fact, you may find it more enjoyable to have a course of study that's not all science. Although computer science is not a requirement, students are encouraged to have a basic understanding of personal computing and information technologies.

Students should consult the University of Washington Bulletin and Bachelor's Degree Plan Book (available from the Undergraduate Gateway Center or in the UW Students Guide) for help in understanding general requirements needed for graduation. For clarification of requirements see the departmental advisor.

The Department offers or participates in 4 undergraduate programs:

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN MICROBIOLOGY:

Prerequisites (39 credits):

Biology (15 credits/1 year sequence)

Biol 180, 200, 220

Chemistry (24 credits)

Inorganic:

Chem 142, 152, 162

Organic:

Chem 223, 224

or

Chem 237, 238, 239

or

Chem 335, 336, 337 (honors)

Departmental Requirements (55 credits)

Microbiology: (36 credits)

Microm 410 Fundamentals of Micro (3)

Microm 411 Gene Action (5)

Microm 412 Prokaryotic Diversity(3)

Microm 402 General Micro Lab (3)

Microm 431 Recombinant DNA Lab (3)

Microm 441 Immunology (4)

Microm 442 Medical Bacteriology (3)

Microm 443 Medical Bacteriology Lab (3)

Microm 496 Library Research (2)

Microm 445 Medical Virology (2) or

Microm 450 Molecular Biology of Viruses (3)

Approved Electives (4-5 credits)

Biochemistry: (6 credits)

Bioc 405, 406 (3,3)

or

Bioc 440, 441, 442 (4, 4, 4)

Physics: (8 credits)

Phys 114, 115 (4,4)

or

Phys 121, 122 (4,4)

Mathematics (5 credits from the following options)

Math 112, 124, 127, 144, Q. Sci 381, Stat 311

Grade Requirement:

All courses taken to fulfill requirements must be taken for a letter (numerical) grade unless offered credit/no credit. Students must maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.25 and a minimum grade of 1.8 in all required Microbiology courses and Microbiology-approved elective courses used towards graduation. Courses for which a grade of 1.7 or less was received must be repeated.

Progress/Dismissal Policy:

Students enrolled in the B.S. degree program in Microbiology must maintain both a cumulative GPA and individual-course grades consistent with the requirements for the degree. A student is placed on departmental academic probation when either of the following occurs:

(1) The student?s cumulative GPA in all core and distribution Microbiology courses falls below 2.25. The student is placed on probation for one quarter. If at the end of the quarter, the GPA has not      improved to at least 2.25, the student is dropped from the major. Students who experience extraordinary circumstances may petition for one or more additional probationary quarters.

(2) In a given quarter, the student receives a grade of less than 1.8 in one or more core or distribution Microbiology courses. The student remains on probation until the course is repeated with a grade      of at least 1.8, or, in the case of a distribution course, another course in the same category is taken with a grade of at least 1.8. A student who receives a grade of less than 1.8 in any core or      distribution Microbiology course while on probation is dropped from the major.

Approved Electives:

Students can select from the following approved elective courses to fulfill graduation requirements. From this list all majors are required to take 4-5 elective credits. Students who have a special area of interest might enjoy and find it beneficial to their career to take a group of related elective courses in one subject area such as: Food Microbiology, Virology, Bioremediation/Environmental, Medical Microbiology Pathogenesis. Approved courses are listed by sponsoring departments.

You may wish to consult with your faculty adviser for more information.

Courses are subject to change, please check the Time Schedule.

500 level courses normally require the instructor's approval

MICROM 435 Microbial Ecology (Offered even yrs.) Sp (3) Staley
MICROM 444 Medical Mycology and Parasitology Sp (4) Anderson, Fulton
MICROM 445 Virology Sp (2) Lagunoff
MICROM 450 Molecular Biology of Viruses W (3) Champoux
MICROM 490 Aquatic Microbiology Sp (3-5) (Optional Lab) Herwig
MICROM 499 Undergraduate Lab Research A,W,Sp,S (Var) Leigh
MICROM 510 Physiology of Bacteria (Offered odd yrs.)W (3) Traxler
MICROM 530 Advanced General Micro. (Offered even yrs) W (4) Leigh, Staley
MICROM 553 Molecular Mechanisms of Bacterial Pathogenesis (Offered odd yrs) A (3) Collins
MICROM 555 Advanced Clinical Microbiology A,W,Sp,S (2.5) Limaye

BIOL 401 Cell Biology A,Sp (5)
BIOL 440 General Mycology W (5) (offered even yrs)
BIOL 446 Phycology Sp (5)

CIVE 461 Biological Problems in Water Pollution W (3/5) (Joint w/Fish 430)
CIVE 462 Effects of Waste Water A (3/5) (Joint w/Fish 434)
CIVE 540 Microbiological Process Fundamentals A (3)

ESC 411 Forest Soil Microbiology A (4) (Offered even yrs.)

ENVH 430 Methods in Environmental Sampling and Analysis A (3)
ENVH 440 Water and Waste Sanitation A (4)
ENVH 441 Food Protection W (3)
ENVH 442 Vector Control & Housing Sp (3)

EPI 420 Intro to Epidemiology Sp (3)

FISH 490 Aquatic Microbiology Sp (3-5) [Optional Lab]

GENOME 371 Intro Genetics A,W,Sp (5) or
GENOME 372 Gene Structure and Function W,Sp (5)
(Faculty recommend Genome 371 over 372 to minimize content overlap with Micro/Genome 411)

MEDCH 401 Immunizing & Antimicrobial Agents Sp (4)

MHE 401 Disease and Medicine in History (3)
MHE 417 History of Disease (3)

Oceanography

OCEAN 530 Biological Oceanography W (3)

PABIO 550 Diseases of public health importance and strategies for their control A (3)
PABIO 551 The application of basic research to diseases of public health importance W (4)

HONORS PROGRAM: BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN MICROBIOLOGY WITH DISTINCTION

The Departmental Honors Program allows superior students who are notmembers of the College Honors Program to participate in the departmental honors curriculum and receive a bachelor's degree "With Distinction in Microbiology," which is noted on the transcript and diploma. Students interested in the program should contact the Departmental Honors Advisor. An interview may be requested of an applicant prior to formal acceptance.

To qualify for the Departmental Honors Program students must declare Microbiology as a major, and have a 3.3 cumulative grade point average.

Completion of the Honors program requires the student to:

Members of the College of Arts and Sciences Honors Program may be admitted to the Honors Program in Microbiology during their junior year, or any time prior to that, subject to faculty approval, providing they have an overall GPA of 3.3. They must fulfill the requirements of the College of Arts and Sciences Honors Program and complete satisfactorily the Honors requirements of the Microbiology Department. It is advisable that students take 1 or 2 microbiology courses prior to making application to the Honors Program in Microbiology.

DOUBLE DEGREE PROGRAM IN MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY

The Departments of Microbiology and Laboratory Medicine offer a five-year program by which students may obtain a bachelor's degree in Medical Technology and Microbiology.

Microbiology undergraduates who are interested in this program apply to the Department of Laboratory Medicine in the Winter of their junior year. Applicants are notified of the Committee's decision normally by May 15th. Further information can be obtained by contacting either of the following advisors:

Undergraduate Advising Office
171 Mary Gates Hall
University of Washington
Box 352805
Seattle WA 98195-2805
( 206) 543-2550
advice@u.washington.edu

Medical Technology Program
NW 120 University of Washington Medical Center
University of Washington
Box 357110
Seattle, WA 98195-7110
(206) 548-6131
medtech@u.washington.edu

MINOR IN MICROBIOLOGY

The Microbiology Minor requires students to complete 15 credits in background science courses and 15 credits in microbiology courses with a minimum GPA of 2.0 in each of these two areas:

Background Science Courses

15 credits consisting of Biology (Biology 200, or Biol 161 and 162, or their equivalent) and Chemistry (Inorganic Chemistry 142 or 145 or 155 or 162) and (Chemistry 237, or Chemistry 220 and 221, or their equivalent) courses.

Microbiology Courses

15 credits in 400-level graded Microbiology courses with at least one laboratory course (Microm 402 or 302, 431, 443), Microm 410 and Microm 496M (Thesis for Micro Minors) are also required.

Students are encouraged to choose their own course of study; however, we have outlined several program options for students who wish to have a focus to their Minor. These include, but are not limited to:

Molecular Microbiology

Micro 410 (3 credits, Fall)

Micro 402 (3 credits, Fall/Spring)

Micro 411 (5 credits, Winter)

Micro 431 (3 credits, Winter)

Micro 450 (3 credits, Winter)

Micro 496 M (2 credits, F,W,SP,S)

Medical Microbiology

Micro 410 (3 credits, Fall)

Micro 441 (4 credits, Fall)

Micro 442 (3 credits, Winter)

Micro 443 (3 credits, Fall/Winter)

Micro 444 (4 credits, Spring) and/or

Micro 445 (2 credits, Spring)

Micro 496 M (2 credits, F,W,SP,S)

Environmental Microbiology

Micro 410 (3 credits, Fall)

Micro 402 (3 credits, Fall/Spring)

Micro 412 (3 credits, Spring)

Micro 435 (3 credits, Spring, Even years)

Micro 496 M (2 credits, F,W,SP,S)

Virology

Micro 410 (3 credits, Fall))

Micro 443 (3 credits, Fall/Winter) or

Micro 302 (2 credits, F,SP,S)

Micro 450 (3 credits, Winter)

Micro 445 (2 credits, Spring)

Micro 442 (3 credits, Winter)

Micro 496 M (2 credits, F,W,SP,S)