Microbiology is the study of microorganisms (bacteria, archaea, protists, fungi) and viruses. The Department offers a BS in microbiology with research opportunities to conduct original research and investigate different aspects of microbial structure and function.
Microorganisms were the first living things on earth, and they remain the most abundant and the most diverse of all organisms. They can cause diseases of plants, animals and humans; they play critical roles in biogeochemical cycles and bioremediation; and they are important in the food and biotechnology industries.
As a microbiologist, students will be on the cutting edge of developments in public health, industrial production processes, biotechnology, and drug discovery. The microbiology major prepares students for a variety of careers in the fields of microbiology, virology, molecular biology, biotechnology, and health related professions, for graduate studies in medical microbiology, industrial microbiology, environmental microbiology, microbial biotechnology, and molecular biology, and for professional studies in pharmacy, dentistry, and medicine.
Course of Study – Bachelor of Science Degree
Complete 120 credits including 75 credits in the College of Letters & Science and with 36 of the 75 credits in L&S upper-level (numbered above 300) courses and 30 of those 36 credits in designated L&S Advanced Natural Science courses.
The College requires that students complete in residence at UWM at least 15 credits in upper-division (numbered 300 or above) courses in their major. The College also requires that students complete at least 30 credits overall in residence at UWM. For additional residency and transfer credit limitations, see L&S Undergraduate Policies and Regulations.
Students are also required to complete University-wide General Education Requirements and the specific L&S requirements listed below.
To complete a major, students must satisfy all the requirements of the major as stated in this catalog. Students who declare their majors within five years of entering the UW System as a degree candidate may satisfy the requirements outlined in any catalog issued since the time they entered. Credits used to satisfy the major also may be used to satisfy other degree requirements.
University General Education Requirements (GER)
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Oral and Written Communication | ||
| Part A | ||
| Achieve a grade of C or better in the following course: | ||
| ENGLISH 102 | College Writing and Research (or equivalent) | |
| Part B | ||
| Course designated as OWC-B; may be completed through a major-specific course requirement | ||
| Quantitative Literacy | ||
| Part A | ||
| Earn at least 3 credits with a grade of C or higher in one of the following courses or an equivalent course, or achieve a placement code of at least 30 on the mathematics placement test (or other appropriate test, as determined by the Mathematical Sciences Department) | ||
| Mathematical Literacy for College Students II | ||
| Contemporary Applications of Mathematics | ||
| Introduction to College Algebra | ||
| Algebraic Literacy II | ||
| Introduction to Logic - Critical Reasoning 1 | ||
or PHILOS 111 | Introduction to Logic - Critical Reasoning | |
| College Algebra | ||
Or equivalent course | ||
| Part B | ||
| Course designated as QL-B; may be completed through a major-specific course requirement | ||
| Arts | ||
| Select 3 credits | 3 | |
| Humanities | ||
| Select 6 credits | 6 | |
| Social Sciences | ||
| Select 6 credits | 6 | |
| Natural Sciences | ||
| Select 6 credits (at least two courses including one lab) | 6 | |
| UWM Foreign Language Requirement | ||
| Complete Foreign Language Requirement through: | ||
Two years (high school) of a single foreign language | ||
Two semesters (college) of a single foreign language | ||
Or equivalent | ||
| UWM Cultural Diversity Requirement | ||
| One course from the Arts, Humanities, or Social Sciences must also satisfy UWM's Cultural Diversity requirement | ||
- 1
Math 111 and Philosophy 111 are jointly offered and count as repeats of one another. Students cannot receive credit for both courses.
College of Letters & Science Requirements
The degree requirements in the College of Letters and Science build on the University General Education Requirements to provide a broad base of knowledge as well as an array of skills cited by employers as critical to professional success: critical thinking, problem solving, oral and written communication, ability to work well with others, and adaptability to change.
For the Bachelor of Science (B.S.), you must complete the UWM General Education Requirements as well as these L&S requirements: the International requirement, the Breadth requirement, and the Research requirement. The International requirement develops your potential for cross-cultural understanding in a globalizing world. The Breadth requirement ensures that you take classes in a wide variety of subjects, across humanities, natural sciences, and social sciences. The Research requirement calls for you to build your critical thinking and oral and written communication skills through conducting an independent research project, usually in your major.
For the Bachelor of Science (B.S.) you will complete additional coursework in L&S Advanced Natural Science courses.
I. Total Credits and Upper-Division Courses Requirement
Students must complete 120 credits including 75 credits in the College of Letters & Science and with 36 of the 75 credits in L&S upper-level (numbered above 300) courses.
II. L&S Advanced Natural Sciences Requirement
For the Bachelor of Science, students must complete 30 credits of the 36 credits in upper-division courses in designated L&S Advanced Natural Science courses.
III. International Requirement
To meet the International Requirement, students must successfully complete some three course (minimum 9 credits) combination of
- language other than English (not including American Sign Language) at 3rd semester level or above, and/or
- non-language courses with L&S approved international content (see Courses Approved for the L&S International Requirement for course options).
IV. Breadth Requirement
In addition to completing the University General Education Requirements, L&S students must complete the Breadth requirement.
The L&S Breadth requirement calls for 6 credits each in L&S courses designated L&S Humanities, L&S Natural Sciences, and L&S Social Sciences breadth. One of the L&S Natural Science breadth courses must be a laboratory or fieldwork course. These courses must be beyond and in addition to courses in those areas used to satisfy General Education Requirements.
Please refer to the list of Courses Approved for the L&S Breadth Requirement.
V. The Major
The College requires that students attain at least a 2.0 GPA in all credits in the major attempted at UWM. In addition, students must attain a 2.0 GPA on all major credits attempted, including any transfer work. Individual departments or programs may require higher GPAs for graduation. Some departmental majors require courses from other departments. Contact your major department for information on whether those credits will count as part of the major GPA. The College requires that students must complete in residence at UWM at least 15 credits in upper-division (numbered 300 or above) courses in their major.
Research Requirement
Within their majors, students must complete a research experience approved by the L&S faculty. A list of courses satisfying the research requirement in each major can be found here.
VI. The Minor
Students are encouraged to consider completing a minor, but it is not required. To complete a minor, the College of Letters and Science requires that students attain at least a 2.0 GPA in all credits in the minor attempted at UWM. In addition, students must attain a 2.0 GPA on all minor credits attempted, including any transfer work. The minor must contain at least 9 credits in upper-division (numbered 300 and above) courses.
Microbiology Major Requirements
Microbiology is the study of microorganisms such as bacteria, archaea, protists, fungi, and viruses. Prospective Microbiology majors should consult with a faculty advisor as early as possible, preferably before the beginning of the junior year, in order to outline an appropriate course of study. Students should consult their advisor at least once each semester.
At least 15 credits of advanced (300 and above) Microbiology courses must be taken in residence at UWM. Students must attain an average GPA of 2.0 in Microbiology courses attempted at UWM. In addition, students must attain a 2.0 GPA on all major credits attempted, including any transfer work.
Requirements
The Microbiology major requires a minimum of 34 credits in Microbiology. The required and elective courses in Biological Sciences, CHEM 501, and BMS 534, BMS 535, BMS 539, and BMS 540 count as "Microbiology" courses for this purpose. A combined limit of 6 credits in BIO SCI 290, BIO SCI 695, BIO SCI 697, BIO SCI 698, and BIO SCI 699 counts toward the major.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required | ||
| BIO SCI 150 | Foundations of Biological Sciences I | 4 |
| BIO SCI 152 | Foundations of Biological Sciences II | 4 |
| BIO SCI 325 | Genetics | 4 |
| BIO SCI 383 | General Microbiology | 4 |
| Select two of the following: | 6 | |
| Molecular Biology of Microorganisms | ||
| Bacterial Pathogenesis | ||
| Microbial Diversity and Physiology | ||
| Research Requirement | ||
| Select credits in the following: | ||
| Internship in Biotechnology, Upper Division | ||
| Undergraduate Seminar in Microbiology | ||
| Independent Study in Microbiology | ||
| Independent Study 1 | ||
| Research in Honors 1 | ||
| Senior Honors Project 1 | ||
| Senior Honors Thesis 1 | ||
| Microbiology Electives | ||
| BIO SCI 315 | Cell Biology | 3 |
| or CHEM 501 | Introduction to Biochemistry | |
| Select one of the following: | 4 | |
| Laboratory Techniques in Molecular Biology | ||
| Experimental Microbiology | ||
| Select additional elective credits (see below) | ||
| Other Requirements | ||
| CHEM 102 | General Chemistry | 5 |
| CHEM 104 | General Chemistry and Qualitative Analysis | 5 |
| CHEM 343 | Organic Chemistry | 3 |
| CHEM 344 | Organic Chemistry Laboratory | 2 |
| CHEM 345 | Organic Chemistry | 3 |
| Select one of the following: | 4-5 | |
| Survey in Calculus and Analytic Geometry I | ||
| Calculus with Life Sciences Applications | ||
| Honors Calculus I | ||
| Calculus and Analytic Geometry I | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3-5 | |
| Elementary Statistical Analysis | ||
| Honors Calculus II | ||
| Calculus and Analytic Geometry II | ||
| Biostatistics | ||
| Select one of the following options: | 9-10 | |
| Option 1: | ||
| General Physics I (Non-Calculus Treatment) | ||
| General Physics II (Non-Calculus Treatment) | ||
| General Physics Laboratory II (Non-Calculus Treatment) | ||
| Option 2: | ||
| Physics I (Calculus Treatment) | ||
| Physics II (Calculus Treatment) | ||
| Lab Physics II (Calculus Treatment) | ||
| Option 3: | ||
| Physics I: Calculus-Based, Studio Format | ||
| Physics II: Calculus-Based, Studio Format | ||
| Total Credits | 63-67 | |
- 1
When determined by the student's Microbiology faculty advisor to have Microbiology content.
Additional Electives
Students choose courses from this list to complete their 26 credits of upper-level (300 or above) microbiology courses.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| BIO SCI 315 | Cell Biology | 3 |
| BIO SCI 316 | Laboratory in Genetics and Cell Biology | 2 |
| BIO SCI 401 | Immunology | 3 |
| BIO SCI 405 | General Virology | 3 |
| BIO SCI 465 | Biostatistics | 3 |
| BIO SCI 469 | Genomic Data Analysis | 2 |
| BIO SCI 490 | Molecular Genetics | 3 |
| BIO SCI 529 | Molecular Biology of Microorganisms (if not selected above) | 3 |
| BIO SCI 535 | Bacterial Pathogenesis (if not selected above) | 3 |
| BIO SCI 539 | Laboratory Techniques in Molecular Biology (if not selected above) | 4 |
| BIO SCI 540 | Microbial Diversity and Physiology (if not selected above) | 3 |
| BIO SCI 542 | Biological Electron Microscopy | 3 |
| BIO SCI 544 | Transmission Electron Microscopy Laboratory | 3 |
| BIO SCI 572 | Functional Genomics | 3 |
| BIO SCI 580 | Experimental Microbiology | 4 |
| CHEM 501 | Introduction to Biochemistry | 3 |
| CHEM 601 | Biochemistry: Protein Structure and Function | 3 |
| BMS 534 | Medical Microbiology 2 | 3 |
| BMS 535 | Medical Microbiology Laboratory 2 | 2 |
| BMS 539 | Public Health Microbiology 2 | 2 |
| BMS 540 | Public Health Microbiology Lab 2 | 2 |
- 1
Only BIO SCI 699 or HONORS 686, HONORS 687, or HONORS 689 projects that are determined by the student's microbiology faculty advisor to have microbiology content count toward the major.
- 2
Students may elect to take these BMS courses to earn credit toward the Microbiology major option provided that they earn 30 advanced credits in Natural Sciences within the College of Letters and Science, as required for the BS degree.
Microbiology BS Learning Outcomes
Students graduating from the Microbiology BS Program will be able to:
- Use the scientific method to test hypotheses about biological questions.
- Use diverse field and laboratory skills to investigate scientific biological problems.
- Search peer-reviewed literature to obtain scientific information.
- Synthesize and integrate scientific information.
- Communicate scientific information to other scientists, students, and the general public.
- Explain evolution as the cause of the diversity of life forms, patterns and processes.
- Relate biological information and concepts to societal and ethical questions.
Letters & Science Advising
During your time at UWM, you may have multiple members of your success team, including advisors, peer mentors and success coaches. Letters & Science students typically work with at least two different types of advisors as they pursue their degrees: professional college advisors and faculty advisors. L&S college advisors advise across your entire degree program while departmental faculty advisors focus on the major.
College advisors are located in Holton Hall (or virtually for online students) and serve as your primary advisor. They are your point person for your questions about navigating college and completing your degree. College advisors will:
- Assist you in defining your academic and life goals.
- Help you create an educational plan that is consistent with those goals.
- Assist you in understanding curriculum, major and degree requirements for graduation, as well as university policies and procedures.
- Provide you with information about campus and community resources and refer you to those resources as appropriate.
- Monitor your progress toward graduation and completion of requirements.
Faculty advisors mentor students in the major and assist them in maximizing their development in the program. You will begin working with a faculty advisor when you declare your major. Faculty advisors are an important partner and will:
- Help you understand major requirements and course offerings in the department.
- Explain opportunities for internships and undergraduate research and guide you in obtaining those experiences.
- Serve as an excellent resource as you consider potential graduate programs and career paths in your field.
Students are encouraged to meet with both their college advisor and faculty advisor at least once each semester. Appointments are available in-person, by phone or by video.
Currently enrolled students should use the Navigate360 website to make an appointment with your assigned advisor or call (414) 229-4654 if you do not currently have an assigned Letters & Science advisor. Prospective students who haven't enrolled in classes yet should call (414) 229-7711 or email let-sci@uwm.edu.
Department Advising
Students should contact an advisor (uwm.edu/biology/undergraduate/advising/) as soon as possible in their freshman year about required courses and the recommended course sequence within Biological Sciences programs. The student should attend fall or spring departmental Open Advising or contact a Department of Biological Sciences faculty advisor (uwm.edu/biology/undergraduate/advising/) who will then guide the student in planning his/her course choices to accomplish his/her goals. Students should consult their College academic advisors in Holton Hall and their faculty advisors in the Department of Biological Sciences prior to each registration period.
Major or Minor Declaration
Students can declare a major or minor by contacting a faculty advisor in Biological Sciences or attending fall or spring departmental Open Advising. Students can declare more than one major or a combination of major and minors.
Failure to complete a declaration of major may result in a delay in graduation.
Honors in the Major
Students in biological sciences who meet all of the following criteria are awarded honors in the major upon graduation:
- 3.500 cumulative GPA in all UWM graded credits attempted;
- 3.750 GPA in UWM courses counting toward the major;
- 3.500 GPA in all advanced credits that count toward the major; and
- Complete a laboratory or field research independent study (BIO SCI 697, BIO SCI 698, or BIO SCI 699) or internship (BIO SCI 489 or CES 489).
Students who believe they may qualify for honors in biological sciences should apply to the Department during their last semester of study.
College of Letters and Science Dean's Honor List
GPA of 3.750 or above, earned on a full-time student's GPA on 12 or more graded credits in a given semester.
Honors College Degree and Honors College Degree with Distinction
Granted to graduating seniors who complete Honors College requirements, as listed in the Honors College section of this site.
Commencement Honors
Students with a cumulative GPA of 3.500 or above, based on a minimum of 40 graded UWM credits earned prior to the final semester, will receive all-university commencement honors and be awarded the traditional gold cord at the December or May Honors Convocation. Please note that for honors calculation, the GPA is not rounded and is truncated at the third decimal (e.g., 3.499).
Final Honors
Earned on a minimum of 60 graded UWM credits: Cum Laude - 3.500 or above; Magna Cum Laude - 3.650 or above; Summa Cum Laude - 3.800 or above.