Offered at: San Luis Obispo Campus
Microbiology is the study of bacteria, archaea, viruses, fungi, and protists. Microorganisms are ubiquitous in the environment as important contributors to nutrient cycling, and many have symbiotic relationships with other organisms. Species of medical importance impact human and animal health as pathogens associated with infectious diseases. Additionally, microorganisms are critical research tools in fields such as molecular biology and genetics, and are used for large-scale production of many foods, pharmaceuticals, and industrial chemicals. Cal Poly is one of the few public universities in California offering a laboratory-intensive Bachelor of Science degree in Microbiology.
In the junior and senior years, in addition to microbial genetics, majors can take specialized courses in virology, biotechnology, microbial physiology, medical microbiology, immunology, microbial ecology and computation in microbiology. Students also choose elective courses related to student interests and career goals in close consultation with their faculty advisors. Graduates may also pursue post-baccalaureate employment in applied areas such as industrial microbiology, food and dairy microbiology, biotechnology, public health, epidemiology, or medical laboratory technology. Students may not double major in Biological Science and Microbiology.
Program Learning Objectives
- Explain fundamental concepts and principles in microbiology and general biology (atom to ecosystem).
- Demonstrate proficiency in common lab and field techniques for microbiology.
- Locate, critically evaluate, and integrate scientific literature findings into the practice of microbiology.
- Assess and analyze experimental data with objectivity.
- Integrate statistics, math, physical sciences and technology to answer microbiological questions.
- Communicate microbiology principles and research findings effectively to diverse audiences.
- Relate ethical, social justice or global perspectives to the study and practice of microbiology.
Degree Requirements and Curriculum
In addition to the program requirements listed on this page, students must also satisfy requirements outlined in more detail in the Minimum Requirements for Graduation section of this catalog, including:
- 40 units of upper-division courses
- 2.0 GPA
- Graduation Writing Requirement (GWR)
- U.S. Cultural Pluralism (USCP)
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| MAJOR COURSES | ||
| BIO 1150 | Life: History and Diversity (5B & 5C) 1 | 4 |
| BIO 1151 | Life: Molecules and Cells | 4 |
| MCRO 1100 | Introduction to Microbiology Research | 2 |
| MCRO 2224 | General Microbiology I | 4 |
| MCRO 2227 | General Microbiology II | 4 |
| MCRO 3351 | Microbial Genetics | 3 |
| MCRO 3352 | Microbial Genetics Laboratory | 2 |
| Select from the following: | 2 | |
| Senior Project - Research Proposal | ||
| Senior Project - Research Experience | ||
| Senior Project - Meta-analysis in Biology | ||
| Restricted Electives | ||
| Select from the following: 2 | 15 | |
| Parasitology | ||
| Cell Biology | ||
| Immunology | ||
| Molecular Biology Laboratory | ||
| General Virology | ||
| Medical Microbiology | ||
| Microbial Physiology and Biochemistry | ||
| Microbial Biotechnology | ||
| Microbial Ecology | ||
| Approved Electives | ||
| Select from the following (a minimum of 8 units must be 3000-4000 level): 3,4,5 | 15 | |
| Animal Parasitology | ||
| Zoonoses and Veterinary Public Health Concerns | ||
| Applied Biotechnology in Animal Science | ||
| Special Problems for Undergraduates 6 | ||
| Orientation to Biotechnology | ||
| Principles of Ecology and Evolution | ||
| Research Experience for Undergraduates 6 | ||
| Principles of Animal Physiology | ||
| Principles of Animal Physiology | ||
| Special Problems for Advanced Undergraduates 6 | ||
| Evolutionary Medicine | ||
| Evolution | ||
| Parasitology | ||
| Functional Histology | ||
| Undergraduate Laboratory Assistantship 6 | ||
| Cell Biology | ||
| Immunology | ||
| Molecular Biology Laboratory | ||
| Hematology | ||
| Senior Project - Research Experience 7 | ||
| Senior Project - Meta-analysis in Biology 7 | ||
| Honors Research 6 | ||
| Cooperative Education Experience 6 | ||
| Cooperative Education Experience 6 | ||
| Bioconversion | ||
| Foundations of Chemical Analysis | ||
| Metabolism | ||
| Environmental Chemistry | ||
| Chemical and Biological Warfare | ||
| Fundamentals of Computer Science and Fundamentals of Computer Science Laboratory | ||
| Introduction to Data Science | ||
| Quality Assurance and Control of Dairy Products | ||
| Food Chemistry | ||
| Food Analysis | ||
| Elements of Food Processing | ||
| Elements of Food Safety | ||
| Fermented Foods | ||
| Linear Algebra | ||
| Wine Microbiology | ||
| Emerging Infectious Diseases | ||
| Public Health Microbiology | ||
| General Virology | ||
| Food Microbiology | ||
| Medical Microbiology | ||
| Microbial Physiology and Biochemistry | ||
| Microbial Biotechnology | ||
| Microbial Ecology | ||
| Marine Science Outreach 6 | ||
| Applied Regression Analysis | ||
or STAT 3530 | Applied Linear Models | |
| Statistics II | ||
| Statistical Methods for Study Design and Analysis | ||
| SUPPORT COURSES | ||
| CHEM 1120 | Fundamentals of Chemical Structure and Properties (5A) 1 | 4 |
| CHEM 1122 | Fundamentals of Chemical Reactivity | 4 |
| CHEM 2240 | Organic Chemistry: Fundamentals and Applications | 4-5 |
| or CHEM 2242 | Organic Chemistry I | |
| CHEM 3350 | Biochemistry: Fundamentals and Applications (Upper-Division 2/5) 1,8 | 4 |
| or CHEM 3352 | Biochemistry | |
| DATA/MATH 1264 | Calculus for Data Science I (2) 1 | 4 |
| PHYS 1121 | College Physics I | 4 |
| STAT 1110 | Applied Statistical Concepts and Methods | 3 |
| GENERAL EDUCATION (GE) | ||
| (See GE program requirements below) | 30 | |
| FREE ELECTIVES | ||
| Free Electives 9 | 8-7 | |
| Total Units | 120 | |
- 1
Required in Major or Support; also satisfies General Education (GE) requirement.
- 2
Excess units will be applied to Approved Electives.
- 3
May be substituted with an advisor approved course.
- 4
Consultation with advisor is recommended prior to selecting electives; bear in mind your selections may impact pursuit of post-baccalaureate studies and/or goals.
- 5
Students planning to attend graduate or professional schools are strongly advised to meet with their advisors to ensure they meet the prerequisites for entry into these programs. Additional classes in math and chemistry may be necessary.
- 6
Maximum of 6 units may be applied toward Approved Electives: BIO 2200, BIO 3300, BIO 4400, BIO 4450, BIO 4466, BIO 4485, BIO 4495, or MSCI 4401.
- 7
If BIO 4462 or BIO 4463 is used to meet the senior project requirement, it cannot also be counted as an Approved Elective.
- 8
CHEM 3352 is suggested for students who plan to pursue graduate school or a health professions career.
- 9
If a General Education (GE) course is used to satisfy a Major or Support requirement, additional units of Free Electives may be needed to complete the total units required for the degree.
General Education (GE) Requirements
- 43 units required, 13 of which are specified in Major and/or Support.
- If any of the remaining 30 Units is used to satisfy a Major or Support requirement, additional units of Free Electives may be needed to complete the total units required for the degree.
- See the complete GE course listing.
- A grade of C- or better is required in one course in each of the following GE Areas: 1A (English Composition), 1B (Critical Thinking), 1C (Oral Communication), and 2 (Mathematics and Quantitative Reasoning).
| Lower-Division General Education | ||
| Area 1 | English Communication and Critical Thinking | |
| 1A | Written Communication | 3 |
| 1B | Critical Thinking | 3 |
| 1C | Oral Communication | 3 |
| Area 2 | Mathematics and Quantitative Reasoning | |
| 2 | Mathematics and Quantitative Reasoning (3 units in Support) 1 | 0 |
| Area 3 | Arts and Humanities | |
| 3A | Arts | 3 |
| 3B | Humanities: Literature, Philosophy, Languages other than English | 3 |
| Area 4 | Social and Behavioral Sciences (Area 4 courses must come from at least two different course prefixes.) | |
| 4A | American Institutions (Title 5, Section 40404 Requirement) | 3 |
| 4B | Social and Behavioral Sciences | 3 |
| Area 5 | Physical and Life Sciences | |
| 5A | Physical Sciences (3 units in Support) 1 | 0 |
| 5B | Life Sciences (3 units in Major) 1 | 0 |
| 5C | Laboratory (may be embedded in a 5A or 5B course) (1 units in Major) 1 | 0 |
| Area 6 | Ethnic Studies | |
| 6 | Ethnic Studies | 3 |
| Upper-Division General Education | ||
| Upper-Division 2/5 | Mathematics and Quantitative Reasoning or Physical and Life Sciences (3 units in Support) | 0 |
| Upper-Division 3 | Arts and Humanities | 3 |
| Upper-Division 4 | Social and Behavioral Sciences (Area 4 courses must come from at least two different course prefixes.) | 3 |
| Total Units | 30 | |
- 1
Required in Major or Support; also satisfies General Education (GE) requirement.