Program Overview

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
• 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

Course List

The following courses are required:

• General Education:
  • Area I: Communications (10 credits)
    • English Composition - Level 1
    • English Composition - Level 2
    • Oral Communication
  • Area II: Mathematics (4 credits)
    • MATH 1511G: Calculus and Analytic Geometry I
  • Area III/IV: Laboratory Sciences and Social/Behavioral Sciences (11 credits)
    • Choose one sequence from the following (4 credits)
      • PHYS 1230G & PHYS 1230L: Algebra-Based Physics I and Algebra-Based Physics I Lab
      • PHYS 2230G & PHYS 2230L: General Physics for Life Science I and Laboratory to General Physics for Life Science I
    • Choose one sequence from the following (4 credits)
      • PHYS 1240G & PHYS 1240L: Algebra-Based Physics II and Algebra-Based Physics II Lab
      • PHYS 2240G & PHYS 2240L: General Physics for Life Science II and Laboratory to General Physics for Life Science II
    • Area IV: Social/Behavioral Sciences course (3 credits)
    • Area V: Humanities (3 credits)
    • Area VI: Creative and Fine Arts (3 credits)
• Departmental Requirements:
  • BIOL 2110G & BIOL 2110L: Principles of Biology: Cellular and Molecular Biology and Principles of Biology: Cellular and Molecular Biology Laboratory
  • BIOL 2610G & BIOL 2610L: Principles of Biology: Biodiversity, Ecology, and Evolution and Principles of Biology: Biodiversity, Ecology, and Evolution Laboratory
  • BIOL 305: Principles of Genetics
  • BIOL 311 & BIOL 311L: General Microbiology and General Microbiology Laboratory
  • BIOL 451: Physiology of Microorganisms or BIOL 475: Virology
  • BIOL 455: Biometry or A ST 311: Statistical Applications
  • BIOL 474: Immunology
  • BIOL 478: Molecular Biology of Microorganisms
  • BIOL 479 & BIOL 479L: Medical Microbiology and Medical Microbiology Laboratory
• Microbiology Electives (6 credits)
  • Select six additional credits from the following list to bring total upper-division credits in microbiology to 24: BIOL 412, BIOL 427, BIOL 451, BIOL 469, BIOL 473, BIOL 475, BIOL 476, BIOL 477
• Non-Departmental Requirements:
  • CHEM 1215G: General Chemistry I Lecture and Laboratory for STEM Majors
  • CHEM 1225G: General Chemistry II Lecture and Laboratory for STEM Majors
  • CHEM 313: Organic Chemistry I
  • CHEM 314: Organic Chemistry II
  • CHEM 315: Organic Chemistry Laboratory
  • BCHE 395: Biochemistry I
• Second Language Requirement (0-8 credits)
• Electives (18-26 credits)
  • Select sufficient electives to bring total credits to 120 including 48 upper-division credits

Second Language Requirement

The Bachelor of Science in Microbiology has a one-year second language requirement. The options to complete this requirement are:

1. Complete one of the following sequences:
   • CHIN 1110 & CHIN 1120: Mandarin Chinese I and Mandarin Chinese II
   • FREN 1110 & FREN 1120: French I and French II
   • GRMN 1110 & GRMN 1120: German I and German II
   • JAPN 1110 & JAPN 1120: Japanese I and Japanese II
   • SPAN 1110 & SPAN 1120: Spanish I and Spanish II
   • PORT 1110 & PORT 1120: Portuguese I and Portuguese II
   • For Heritage Speakers: SPAN 1210 & SPAN 1220: Elementary Spanish for Heritage Learners I and Spanish for Heritage Learners II
2. Complete the following sequence for American Sign Language (with a C- or better):
   • SIGN 1110: American Sign Language I
   • SIGN 1120: American Sign Language II
3. Challenge the 1120 level for the following courses:
   • CHIN 1120: Mandarin Chinese II
   • FREN 1120: French II
   • GRMN 1120: German II
   • JAPN 1120: Japanese II
   • SPAN 1120: Spanish II
   • OR challenge the 1120/1220/2210 level for the following courses:
     • PORT 1120: Portuguese II
     • SPAN 1220: Spanish for Heritage Learners II
     • SPAN 2210: Spanish for Heritage Learners III
4. Pass a three-credit, upper-division course (numbered 300 or above) taught in a second language by the department of Languages and Linguistics
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
6. Obtain certification of a working knowledge of a Native American language from the American Indian program director
7. Obtain, 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
8. In the case of a foreign student who is required to take the TOEFL exam for 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.

First Year

• Semester 1:
  • ENGL 1110G: Composition I
  • MATH 1220G: College Algebra
  • BIOL 2610G & BIOL 2610L: Principles of Biology: Biodiversity, Ecology, and Evolution and Principles of Biology: Biodiversity, Ecology, and Evolution Laboratory
  • Area IV: Social and Behavioral Science Course
  • Elective Course
• Semester 2:
  • MATH 1250G: Trigonometry & Pre-Calculus
  • CHEM 1215G: General Chemistry I Lecture and Laboratory for STEM Majors
  • BIOL 2110G & BIOL 2110L: Principles of Biology: Cellular and Molecular Biology and Principles of Biology: Cellular and Molecular Biology Laboratory
  • Choose from one of the following:
    • COMM 1115G: Introduction to Communication
    • HNRS 2175G: Introduction to Communication Honors
    • AXED 2120G: Effective Leadership and Communication in Agriculture

Second Year

• Semester 1:
  • Choose from one of the following:
    • ENGL 2210G: Professional & Technical Communication
    • ENGL 2215G: Advanced Technical and Professional Communication
  • MATH 1511G: Calculus and Analytic Geometry I
  • CHEM 1225G: General Chemistry II Lecture and Laboratory for STEM Majors
  • BIOL 311 & 311L: General Microbiology and General Microbiology Laboratory
• Semester 2:
  • BIOL 305: Principles of Genetics
  • CHEM 313: Organic Chemistry I
  • Area V: Humanities Course
  • Choose from one of the following:
    • BIOL 455: Biometry
    • A ST 311: Statistical Applications
  • Initial Second Language Course in series

Third Year

• Semester 1:
  • CHEM 314: Organic Chemistry II
  • CHEM 315: Organic Chemistry Laboratory
  • PHYS 2230G & PHYS 2230L: General Physics for Life Science I and Laboratory to General Physics for Life Science I
  • BIOL 474: Immunology
  • Next Second Language Course in series
• Semester 2:
  • PHYS 2240G & PHYS 2240L: General Physics for Life Science II and Laboratory to General Physics for Life Science II
  • BCHE 395: Biochemistry I
  • Upper-division Biology Elective (Microbiology)
  • Area V: Creative and Fine Arts Course
  • VWW: Viewing a Wider World Course

Fourth Year

• Semester 1:
  • BIOL 478: Molecular Biology of Microorganisms
  • Upper-division Biology Elective (Microbiology)
  • VWW: Viewing a Wider World Course
  • Upper-division Elective Course
  • Elective Course
• Semester 2:
  • BIOL 479 & 479L: Medical Microbiology and Medical Microbiology Laboratory
  • Choose from one of the following:
    • BIOL 451: Physiology of Microorganisms
    • BIOL 475: Virology
  • Upper-division Elective Course
  • Elective Course

Total Credits: 120