B.S. in Microbiology, 2024-2025 Catalog

Four Year Degree Worksheet for:

This degree worksheet is intended to help you develop a balanced course schedule while completing your degree within 4 years. The same sequence of courses (with fewer courses each semester) is also recommended for students completing their degree in 5 or 6 years.

This worksheet is not intended to replace academic advising with your assigned advisor. Students should consult with their assigned advisor to determine the appropriate sequence of required courses and electives based on their academic goals.

色中色 Enrollment Services prepares the Academic Requirements Report, which is the official graduation verification.

Major-Specific Degree Requirements

Major-Specific Degree Requirements are listed as an "MSDR" in the notes column. These courses must be completed in order to declare your major. All students must have a GPA of 2.5 or higher in the STEM MSDR suite. For more information, please see: Major-Specific Degree Requirements for 色中色 Students.

Pre-Biology first-time freshmen must complete CHEM 111A and MATH 119A or higher within one year of matriculation. Some students may need to take courses during Summer Session to meet these requirements. Students who have not met the requirements by the required semester must either declare another major or meet with an Academic Advisor to determine if the student's performance in the courses merits an additional semester to complete.

Additional Notes

Students should take the Graduate Writing Assessment Requirement Placement Examination (GPE) after Year 1.

The "elective (1)" entries below are placeholders for the extra units needed for graduation if only the listed courses are taken. All students should make sure they take at least 120 units to meet graduation requirements.

Year 1 - Semester 1

Courses to Take in Year 1 - Semester 1
Course #Course Title (Units)PrerequisitesNotes
MATH 119A;
OR
MATH 122
(area B4)
Survey of Calculus I (3);
OR
Calculus I (4)
 
Appropriate placement; MATH 113;
OR
Appropriate placement; MATH 111 and either 112B or 113
MSDR
CHEM 111AGeneral Chemistry (5)CPT score of 24 or higher, Pre/Corequisite: MATH 112A or 112B or higher, CHEM 95 if neededMSDR
GE (area A2)Written Communication (3) MSDR
GE (area C,D,E,F)Other Exploration (3)  
NSCI 190AExperience Success Program I (1) Fall only

   Year 1 - Semester 2

Courses to Take in Year 1 - Semester 2
Course #Course Title (Units)PrerequisitesNotes
BIOL 211Introduction to Evolution and Diversity (5)Pre/Corequisite: CHEM 111AMSDR
CHEM 111BGeneral Chemistry (5)CHEM 111A, MATH 112B or higherMSDR
GE (area A1)Oral Communication (3) MSDR
GE (area A3)Critical Thinking (3) MSDR

Year 2 - Semester 3

Courses to Take in Year 2 - Semester 3
Course #Course Title (Units)PrerequisitesNotes
BIOL 212Introduction to Cell and Molecular Biology (4)BIOL 211, CHEM 111A, Pre/Corequisite: CHEM 111B 
BIOL 260Biostatistics (3)BIOL 211, MATH 111, 113, 119A, or 122 
CHEM 220AOrganic Chemistry I (3)CHEM 111B, Corequisite: CHEM 223A 
CHEM 223AOrganic Chemistry Laboratory I (1)Corequisite: CHEM 220A 
GE (area C,D,E,F)Other Exploration (3)  
ElectiveElective Requirement (1)  

Year 2 - Semester 4

Courses to Take in Year 2 - Semester 4
Course #Course Title (Units)PrerequisitesNotes
BIOL 311General Microbiology (4)BIOL 211 and 212, CHEM 111B 
BIOL 340Molecular Cell Biology (3)BIOL 211 and 212 
CHEM 220BOrganic Chemistry II (3)CHEM 220A, Corequisite: CHEM 223B 
CHEM 223BOrganic Chemistry Laboratory II (1)CHEM 220A and 223A, Corequisite: CHEM 220B 
GE (area C,D,E,F)Other Exploration (3)  

Year 3 - Semester 5

Courses to Take in Year 3 - Semester 5
Course #Course Title (Units)PrerequisitesNotes
BIOL 320Bacterial Pathogenesis (3)BIOL 311, recommended: BIOL 320LFall only
BIOL 371Microbial Genetics (3)BIOL 311Fall only
CHEM 448;
OR
CHEM 441A
Fundamentals of Biological Chemistry (3); 
OR
Biological Chemistry (3)
CHEM 220B;
OR
CHEM 220B and 223B, BIOL 212
 
GE (area C,D,E,F)Other Exploration (3)  
GE Upper Division (area C-UD, D-UD)Upper Division (3)GE Foundation 

Year 3 - Semester 6

Courses to Take in Year 3 - Semester 6
Course #Course Title (Units)PrerequisitesNotes
BIOL 355Microbial Ecology (3)BIOL 260, BIOL 211, 212, and 213 (all) or BIOL 311Spring only
BIOL 471Bacterial Physiology (3)BIOL 320 and either CHEM 441A or 448Spring only
PHYS 100A;
OR
PHYS 151
General Physics (4);
OR
Mechanics and Heat (4)
MATH 109, 111, 112A, 113, 119A or 122;
OR
Pre/Corequisite: MATH 122, 123, or 224
 
Upper Division ElectiveMicrobiology (3)  
GE Upper Division (area C-UD, D-UD)Upper Division (3)GE Foundation 

Year 4 - Semester 7

Courses to Take in Year 4 - Semester 7
Course #Course Title (Units)PrerequisitesNotes
BIOL 372Methods in Microbial Genetics (2)BIOL 311, recommended: BIOL 371Fall only
Upper Division ElectiveMicrobiology (3)  
Upper Division ElectiveMicrobiology (3)  
GE (area C,D,E,F)Other Exploration (3)  
GE (area C,D,E,F)Other Exploration (3)  

 Year 4 - Semester 8

Courses to Take in Year 4 - Semester 8
Course #Course Title (Units)PrerequisitesNotes
BIOL 480Seminars (1)Must take in final semester, department consent required 
PHYS 100B;
OR
PHYS 152
General Physics (4);
OR
Electricity and Magnetism (4)
PHYS 100A or 151, MATH 109, 111, 112A, 113, 119A, or 122;
OR
PHYS 151; Pre/Corequisite: MATH 123
 
Upper Division ElectiveMicrobiology (3)  
GE (area C,D,E,F)Other Exploration (3)  
ElectiveElective (4)