Undergraduate Specialization - Microbiology

Biological sciences majors who complete the following requirements will be recognized as having completed a specialization in microbiology. Students in this specialization are required to complete three quarters of organic chemistry. Students register for three required courses in the specialization (BIOS 25206, 25216, and 25287). Several electives are available to provide additional training in microbiology. With prior approval from the specialization chair, it may be possible to substitute one course from the list of suggested electives for one of the required courses.

• Required Courses
• BIOS 25206.  Fundamentals of Bacterial Physiology (Autumn)
  
• BIOS 25287.  Introduction to Virology (Winter)
• BIOS 25216.  Molecular Basis of Bacterial Diseases (Spring)

• Electives in the Committee on Microbiology
• BIOS 25307. Molecular Genetic Analysis of Bacteriophage (Spring)
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• Course Descriptions
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• 25206.  Fundamentals of Bacterial Physiology. (MICR 30600) This course meets one of the requirements of the microbiology specialization. This course introduces bacterial diversity, physiology, ultra-structure, envelope assembly, metabolism, and genetics. In the discussion section, students discuss recent original experimental work in the field of bacterial physiology.  Missiakas.  Autumn.
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• 25216.  Molecular Basis of Bacterial Diseases. (MICR 31600) This course meets one of the requirements of the microbiology specialization. This lecture/discussion course involves a comprehensive analysis of bacterial pathogens, the diseases that they cause, and the molecular mechanisms involved during pathogenesis. Students discuss recent original experimental work in the field of bacterial pathogenesis.  Martinez.  Winter.
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• 25287.  Introduction to Virology. (GENE 34600, MGCB 34600, MICR 34600) PQ: Consent of instructor.  This course meets one of the requirements of the microbiology specialization.  This class on animal viruses considers the major families of the viral kingdom with an emphasis on the molecular aspects of genome expression and virus-host interactions.  The goal is to provide students with solid appreciation of basic knowledge, as well as instruction on the frontiers of virus research.  Pilipenko.  Winter.
  
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• 25307. Molecular Genetic Analysis of Bacteriophage. (MICR 33000) PQ: BIOS 20200.  This course meets one of the requirements of the microbiology special-ization.  Phage are the most abundant and fastest growing biological entities, and they are involved in many natural microbiological processes. This course examines a series of bacteriophage that have been instrumental in our understanding of genetics and molecular biology, with an emphasis on their properties and the methods for which they are used in current and potential biological studies and in biotechnology.  Casadaban.  Spring.
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Honors Program in the Microbiology Specialization. Students who complete a research thesis have an opportunity to receive rigorous advanced training in microbiology and to receive honors.  To graduate with honors in the biological sciences with a specialization in microbiology, students are required to (1) maintain a GPA of 3.25 or higher both overall and in the major, and (2) meet the lecture and laboratory course requirements of the specialization with a GPA of 3.25 or higher.  They must also register for two research/reading courses (see below) and complete an experimental honors thesis project based on an experimental report covering at least two quarters of work in the laboratory of a faculty member of the Committee on Microbiology.  The honors thesis paper and progress of the honors student in the final (fourth) year of study will be evaluated by a Committee of three faculty members assembled by the Chair of the Committee on Microbiology.  Students interested in a research thesis should discuss their plans with the committee chair and enroll in 00199 (Undergraduate Research, Autumn Quarter), 00299 (Advanced Research in the Biological Sciences, Winter Quarter), and 00298 (Undergraduate Research Seminar, Spring Quarter).

For more information, students should consult with Dominique Missiakas, undergraduate adviser of the Committee on Microbiology (834-8161, dmissiak@bsd.uchicago.edu).