Microbiology - Bachelor of Science
The major in microbiology provides a solid academic base for those planning to enter any of the various fields of microbiology.
Requirements
Students must complete all University degree requirements, which include: General Education requirements, Viewing a Wider World requirements, and elective credits to total at least 120 credits with 48 credits in courses numbered 300 or above. Developmental coursework will not count towards the degree requirements and/or elective credits, but may be needed in order to take the necessary English and Mathematics coursework.
| Prefix | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| General Education | ||
| Area I: Communications | 10 | |
English Composition - Level 1 1 | ||
English Composition - Level 2 1 | ||
Oral Communication 1 | ||
| Area II: Mathematics | ||
| MATH 1511G | Calculus and Analytic Geometry I 2 | 4 |
| Area III/IV: Laboratory Sciences and Social/Behavioral Sciences | 11 | |
| Choose one sequence from the following (4 credits) | ||
| Algebra-Based Physics I and Algebra-Based Physics I Lab | 4 | |
| General Physics for Life Science I and Laboratory to General Physics for Life Science I | 4 | |
| Choose one sequence from the following (4 credits) | ||
| Algebra-Based Physics II and Algebra-Based Physics II Lab | 4 | |
| General Physics for Life Science II and Laboratory to General Physics for Life Science II | 4 | |
Area IV: Social/Behavioral Sciences course (3 credits) 1 | ||
| Area V: Humanities 1 | 3 | |
| Area VI: Creative and Fine Arts 1 | 3 | |
| General Education Elective | ||
| BIOL 2610G & BIOL 2610L | Principles of Biology: Biodiversity, Ecology, and Evolution and Principles of Biology: Biodiversity, Ecology, and Evolution Laboratory (Departmental Requirement) | 4 |
| Viewing A Wider World 3 | 6 | |
| Departmental Requirements | ||
| BIOL 2110G & BIOL 2110L | Principles of Biology: Cellular and Molecular Biology and Principles of Biology: Cellular and Molecular Biology Laboratory | 4 |
| BIOL 305 | Principles of Genetics | 3 |
| BIOL 311 | General Microbiology | 3 |
| BIOL 311 L | General Microbiology Laboratory | 2 |
| BIOL 451 | Physiology of Microorganisms 4 | 3 |
| or BIOL 475 | Virology | |
| BIOL 455 | Biometry | 3 |
| or A ST 311 | Statistical Applications | |
| BIOL 474 | Immunology | 3 |
| BIOL 478 | Molecular Biology of Microorganisms | 3 |
| BIOL 479 | Medical Microbiology | 3 |
| BIOL 479 L | Medical Microbiology Laboratory | 1 |
| Microbiology Electives | 6 | |
| Non-Departmental Requirements (in addition to Gen.Ed/VWW) | ||
| CHEM 1215G | General Chemistry I Lecture and Laboratory for STEM Majors | 4 |
| or CHEM 1216 | General Chemistry I Lecture and Laboratory for CHEM Majors | |
| CHEM 1225G | General Chemistry II Lecture and Laboratory for STEM Majors | 4 |
| or CHEM 1226 | General Chemistry II Lecture and Laboratory for CHEM Majors | |
| CHEM 313 | Organic Chemistry I | 3 |
| CHEM 314 | Organic Chemistry II | 3 |
| CHEM 315 | Organic Chemistry Laboratory | 2 |
| BCHE 395 | Biochemistry I | 3 |
| Second Language Requirement (see below) | 0-8 | |
The number of credits required to satisfy this requirement will vary depending on the option a student choses. | ||
| Electives, to bring the total credits to 120 5 | 18-26 | |
Select sufficient electives to bring total credits to 120 including 48 upper-division credits. | ||
| Total Credits | 120 | |
- 1
See the General Education section of the catalog for a full list of courses.
- 2
MATH 1511G Calculus and Analytic Geometry I is required for the degree but students may need to take prerequisites courses before entering MATH 1511G.
- 3
See the Viewing a Wider World section of the catalog for a full list of courses.
- 4
Students may take both BIOL 451 Physiology of Microorganisms and BIOL 475 Virology; the second course will count as a microbiology elective.
- 5
Elective credit may vary based on prerequisites, dual credit, AP credit, double majors, and/or minor coursework. The elective credits in the requirement list is the amount needed to bring the total to 120 credits and may vary depending on the degree. Students may have to take more or less courses on a case-by-case basis and each student should discuss this with their advisor.
Second Language Requirement
For the Bachelor of Science in Microbiology there is a one year second language requirement, the options to complete this requirement are listed below. The number of credits that a student needs to take may vary depending on what level they come in with. Please speak with an advisor for more information as to which courses you will need to take to fulfill the second language requirement for this degree.
Option 1:
| Prefix | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Complete one of the following sequences: | ||
| FREN 1110 & FREN 1120 | French I and French II | 4-8 |
| GRMN 1110 & GRMN 1120 | German I and German II | 4-8 |
| JAPN 1110 & JAPN 1120 | Japanese I and Japanese II | 4-8 |
| SPAN 1110 & SPAN 1120 | Spanish I and Spanish II | 4-8 |
| PORT 1110 & PORT 1120 | Portuguese I and Portuguese II | 3-6 |
| For Heritage Speakers: | ||
| SPAN 1210 & SPAN 1220 | Elementary Spanish for Heritage Learners I and Spanish for Heritage Learners II | 3-6 |
| or SPAN 2210 | Spanish for Heritage Learners III | |
Option 2:
| Prefix | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Complete the following sequence for American Sign Language (with a C- or better): | ||
| SIGN 1110 | American Sign Language I | 3 |
| SIGN 1120 | American Sign Language II | 3 |
Option 3:
| Prefix | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Challenge the 1120 level for the following courses: | ||
| FREN 1120 | French II | 4 |
| or GRMN 1120 | German II | |
| or JAPN 1120 | Japanese II | |
| or SPAN 1120 | Spanish II | |
| PORT 1120 | Portuguese II | 3 |
| or SPAN 1220 | Spanish for Heritage Learners II | |
| or SPAN 2210 | Spanish for Heritage Learners III | |
Option 4:
Pass a three-credit, upper-division course (numbered 300 or above) taught in a second language by the department of Languages and Linguistics.
Option 5:
Obtain college certification of completion of three years of a second language at the high school level with a grade of C- or higher in the second-year level.
Option 6:
By obtaining certification of a working knowledge of a Native American language from the American Indian program director.
Option 7:
By obtaining, from the head of the Department of Languages and Linguistics, certification of a working knowledge of a second language if such language is not taught at NMSU.
Option 8:
In the case of a foreign student who is required to take the TOEFL exam admission, the dean will automatically waive the second language requirement.
A Suggested Plan of Study for Students
This roadmap assumes student placement in MATH 1220G College Algebra and ENGL 1110G Composition I. The contents and order of this roadmap may vary depending on initial student placement in mathematics and English. It is only a suggested plan of study for students and is not intended as a contract. Course availability may vary from fall to spring semester and may be subject to modification or change.
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Semester 1 | Credits | |
| ENGL 1110G | Composition I 1 | 4 |
| MATH 1220G | College Algebra 1 | 3 |
| BIOL 2610G & BIOL 2610L | Principles of Biology: Biodiversity, Ecology, and Evolution and Principles of Biology: Biodiversity, Ecology, and Evolution Laboratory 1 | 4 |
| Area IV: Social and Behavioral Science Course 2 | 3 | |
| Elective Course | 1 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Semester 2 | ||
| MATH 1250G | Trigonometry & Pre-Calculus 1 | 4 |
| CHEM 1215G | General Chemistry I Lecture and Laboratory for STEM Majors 1 | 4 |
| BIOL 2110G & BIOL 2110L | Principles of Biology: Cellular and Molecular Biology and Principles of Biology: Cellular and Molecular Biology Laboratory | 4 |
| Choose from one of the following: | 3 | |
| Introduction to Communication | ||
| Introduction to Communication Honors | ||
| Effective Leadership and Communication in Agriculture | ||
| Credits | 15 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Semester 1 | ||
| Choose from one of the following: | 3 | |
| Professional and Technical Communication Honors | ||
| Advanced Technical and Professional Communication | ||
| MATH 1511G | Calculus and Analytic Geometry I 1 | 4 |
| CHEM 1225G | General Chemistry II Lecture and Laboratory for STEM Majors 1 | 4 |
| BIOL 311 & 311 L | General Microbiology and General Microbiology Laboratory 1 | 5 |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Semester 2 | ||
| BIOL 305 | Principles of Genetics 1 | 3 |
| CHEM 313 | Organic Chemistry I 1 | 3 |
| Area V: Humanities Course 2 | 3 | |
| Choose from one of the following: | 3 | |
| Biometry 1 | ||
| Statistical Applications 1 | ||
| Initial Second Language Course in series | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Semester 1 | ||
| CHEM 314 | Organic Chemistry II 1 | 3 |
| CHEM 315 | Organic Chemistry Laboratory 1 | 2 |
| PHYS 2230G & PHYS 2230L | General Physics for Life Science I and Laboratory to General Physics for Life Science I 1 | 4 |
| BIOL 474 | Immunology | 3 |
| Next Second Language Course in series 1 | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Semester 2 | ||
| PHYS 2240G & PHYS 2240L | General Physics for Life Science II and Laboratory to General Physics for Life Science II 1 | 4 |
| BCHE 395 | Biochemistry I 1 | 3 |
| Upper-division Biology Elective (Microbiology) 1 | 3 | |
| Area V: Creative and Fine Arts Course 2 | 3 | |
| VWW: Viewing a Wider World Course 3 | 3 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Semester 1 | ||
| BIOL 478 | Molecular Biology of Microorganisms | 3 |
| Upper-division Biology Elective (Microbiology) 1 | 3 | |
| VWW: Viewing a Wider World Course 3 | 3 | |
| Upper-division Elective Course 1 | 3 | |
| Elective Course | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Semester 2 | ||
| BIOL 479 & 479 L | Medical Microbiology and Medical Microbiology Laboratory 1 | 4 |
| Choose from one of the following: | 3 | |
| Physiology of Microorganisms 1 | ||
| Virology 1 | ||
| Upper-division Elective Course 1 | 3 | |
| Elective Course | 3 | |
| Credits | 13 | |
| Total Credits | 120 | |
- 1
These courses have prerequisites and/or co-requisites and it is the students responsibility for checking and fulfilling all requirements for these courses.
- 2
See the General Education section of the catalog for a full list of courses.
- 3
See the Viewing a Wider World section of the catalog for a full list of courses.