Microbiology (MICR)
Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, College of Biological Science
Microbiology programs are designed to give students a good understanding of microorganisms, including diversity, ecology, physiology, molecular genetics, current approaches in bacterial genomics/proteomics, and microbial associations with animal hosts and the environments. Such knowledge will provide the basis for further work with microbes in medicine, agricultural industries (including biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, food and beverage) and the environment (surveillance and bioremediation).
Students can take the B.Sc. program with a Major in Microbiology, or combine the minor with another major. Students should plan their programs in consultation with the microbiology faculty advisor. As course offerings may change during the program, students are strongly encouraged to review their plans at least once a year with their advisors, and to check the departmental website for program news.
Major Requirements (Honours)
This is a major within the degree: Bachelor of Science.
Students may enter this major in Semester 1 or any semester thereafter. A student wishing to declare the major may wish to consult the Faculty Advisor.
Students lacking Grade 12 or 4U Biology, Chemistry or Physics should follow the revised schedule of study for this major found at https://www.uoguelph.ca/bsc/revised_SS/.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Semester 1 | ||
| BIOL*1090 | Introduction to Molecular and Cellular Biology | 0.50 |
| CHEM*1040 | General Chemistry I | 0.50 |
| MATH*1080 | Elements of Calculus I | 0.50 |
| PHYS*1080 | Physics for Life Sciences | 0.50 |
| 0.50 Liberal Education electives | 0.50 | |
| Semester 2 | ||
| BIOL*1070 | Discovering Biodiversity | 0.50 |
| BIOL*1080 | Biological Concepts of Health | 0.50 |
| CHEM*1050 | General Chemistry II | 0.50 |
| PHYS*1070 | Physics for Life Sciences II | 0.50 |
| 0.50 Liberal Education electives | 0.50 | |
| Semester 3 | ||
| BIOC*2580 | Introduction to Biochemistry | 0.50 |
| MBG*2040 | Foundations in Molecular Biology and Genetics | 0.50 |
| MICR*2420 | Introduction to Microbiology | 0.50 |
| STAT*2040 | Statistics I | 0.50 |
| 0.50 Liberal Education electives | 0.50 | |
| Semester 4 | ||
| BIOC*3560 | Structure and Function in Biochemistry | 0.50 |
| MCB*2050 | Molecular Biology of the Cell | 0.50 |
| MICR*2430 | Methods in Microbial Culture and Physiology | 0.50 |
| 0.50 electives | 0.50 | |
| 0.50 Liberal Education electives | 0.50 | |
| Semester 5 | ||
| MICR*3240 | Microbial Physiology and Genetics | 0.50 |
| MICR*3420 | Microbial Diversity and Ecology | 0.50 |
| 1.50 electives or restricted electives | 1.50 | |
| Semester 6 | ||
| MBG*3350 | Laboratory Methods in Molecular Biology | 0.75 |
| MICR*3430 | Advanced Methods in Microbiology | 0.75 |
| A minimum of 1.00 electives or restricted electives | 1.00 | |
| Semester 7 | ||
| MICR*4540 | Microbial Cell Biology | 0.50 |
| 2.00 electives or restricted electives 1 | 2.00 | |
| Semester 8 | ||
| 2.50 electives or restricted electives 2 | 2.50 | |
- 1
Can include MCB*4500 Research Project in Molecular and Cellular Biology I
- 2
Can include MCB*4510 Research Project in Molecular and Cellular Biology
Restricted Electives
- A minimum of 2.00 credits of Liberal Education electives is required. The list of Liberal Education electives for B.Sc. students can be found at: https://www.uoguelph.ca/bsc/
- 3.50 restricted elective credits of which 1.00 credits must be at the 4000 level.
Course List Code Title Credits BIOC*4050 Protein and Nucleic Acid Structure 0.50 BIOC*4520 Metabolic Processes 0.50 BIOC*4540 Enzymology 0.75 BIOC*4580 Membrane Biochemistry 0.50 ENVS*3290 Waterborne Disease Ecology 0.50 FOOD*3230 Food Microbiology 0.75 FOOD*3240 Food Microbiology 0.50 FOOD*3260 Industrial Microbiology 0.50 FOOD*3270 Industrial Microbiology 0.50 FOOD*4400 Dairy Processing 0.50 MBG*3040 Molecular Biology of the Gene 0.50 MBG*3660 Genomics 0.50 MBG*4040 Genetics and Molecular Biology of Development 0.50 MBG*4110 Epigenetics 0.50 MBG*4240 Applied Molecular Genetics in Medicine and Biotechnology 0.50 MCB*3010 Dynamics of Cell Function and Signaling 0.50 MCB*4020 Communication in Molecular and Cellular Biology 0.50 MCB*4500 Research Project in Molecular and Cellular Biology I 1.00 MCB*4510 Research Project in Molecular and Cellular Biology 1.00 MCB*4600 Topics in Molecular and Cellular Biology 0.50 MICR*3090 Mycology 0.50 MICR*3220 Plant Microbiology 0.50 MICR*3230 Immunology 0.50 MICR*3330 World of Viruses 0.50 MICR*4010 Pathogenic Microbiology 0.50 MICR*4250 Microbiome and Immunity 0.50 MICR*4330 Molecular Virology 0.50 MICR*4430 Medical Virology 0.50 PATH*3040 Principles of Parasitology 0.50
Credit Summary
(20.00 Total Credits)
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| First year science core | 4.00 | |
| Required science courses semesters 3 - 8 | 6.50 | |
| Restricted electives (2 in restricted electives list) | 3.50 | |
| Approved Science Electives | 2.00 | |
| Liberal Education Electives (1 in restricted electives list) | 2.00 | |
| Free Electives - any approved electives for B.Sc. students | 2.00 | |
| Total Credits | 20 | |
Of the total credits required, students are required to complete 16.00 credits in science of which a minimum of 2.00 credits must be at the 4000 level and an additional 4.00 credits must be at the 3000 or 4000 level.
Co-op Requirements (Honours)
This is a major within the degree: Bachelor of Science.
The Co-op program in Microbiology is a five year program, including four work terms. Students must follow the academic work schedule as outlined below (also found on the Co-operative Education website: https://www.recruitguelph.ca/cecs/).
Academic and Co-op Work Term Schedule
| Year | Fall | Winter | Summer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Academic Semester 1 | Academic Semester 2 | Off |
| 2 | Academic Semester 3 COOP*1100 | Academic Semester 4 | COOP*1000 Work Term I |
| 3 | Academic Semester 5 | Academic Semester 6 | COOP*2000 Work Term II |
| 4 | COOP*3000 Work Term III | COOP*4000 Work Term IV | Off |
| 5 | Academic Semester 7 | Academic Semester 8 | N/A |
Please refer to the Co-operative Education program policy with respect to work term performance grading, work term report grading and program completion requirements.
For additional program information students should consult with their Co-op Co-ordinator and Co-op Faculty Advisor, listed on the Co-operative Education web site.
Credit Summary
(22.00 Total Credits)
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| First year science required | 4.00 | |
| Required science courses semesters 3 - 8 | 6.50 | |
| Restricted electives (2 in restricted electives list) | 3.50 | |
| Approved Science Electives | 2.00 | |
| Liberal Education Electives (1 in restricted electives list) | 2.00 | |
| Free Electives - any approved electives for B.Sc. students | 2.00 | |
| Co-op Work Terms | 2.00 | |
| Total Credits | 22 | |
Of the total credits required, students are required to complete 16.00 credits in science of which a minimum of 2.00 credits must be at the 4000 level and an additional 4.00 credits must be at the 3000 or 4000 level.
Recommended Program Sequence
Students lacking Grade 12 or 4U Biology, Chemistry or Physics should follow the revised schedule of study for this major found at https://www.uoguelph.ca/bsc/revised_SS/.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Semester 1 - Fall | ||
| BIOL*1090 | Introduction to Molecular and Cellular Biology | 0.50 |
| CHEM*1040 | General Chemistry I | 0.50 |
| MATH*1080 | Elements of Calculus I | 0.50 |
| PHYS*1080 | Physics for Life Sciences | 0.50 |
| 0.50 Liberal Education electives | 0.50 | |
| Semester 2 - Winter | ||
| BIOL*1070 | Discovering Biodiversity | 0.50 |
| BIOL*1080 | Biological Concepts of Health | 0.50 |
| CHEM*1050 | General Chemistry II | 0.50 |
| PHYS*1070 | Physics for Life Sciences II | 0.50 |
| 0.50 Liberal Education electives | 0.50 | |
| Summer Semester | ||
| No academic semester or work term | ||
| Semester 3 - Fall | ||
| BIOC*2580 | Introduction to Biochemistry | 0.50 |
| COOP*1100 | Introduction to Co-operative Education | 0.00 |
| MBG*2040 | Foundations in Molecular Biology and Genetics | 0.50 |
| MICR*2420 | Introduction to Microbiology | 0.50 |
| STAT*2040 | Statistics I | 0.50 |
| 0.50 Liberal Education electives | 0.50 | |
| Semester 4 - Winter | ||
| BIOC*3560 | Structure and Function in Biochemistry | 0.50 |
| MCB*2050 | Molecular Biology of the Cell | 0.50 |
| MICR*2430 | Methods in Microbial Culture and Physiology | 0.50 |
| 0.50 electives | 0.50 | |
| 0.50 Liberal Education electives | 0.50 | |
| Summer Semester | ||
| COOP*1000 | Co-op Work Term I | 0.50 |
| Semester 5 - Fall | ||
| MICR*3240 | Microbial Physiology and Genetics | 0.50 |
| MICR*3420 | Microbial Diversity and Ecology | 0.50 |
| 1.50 electives or restricted electives | 1.50 | |
| Semester 6 - Winter | ||
| MBG*3350 | Laboratory Methods in Molecular Biology | 0.75 |
| MICR*3430 | Advanced Methods in Microbiology | 0.75 |
| A minimum of 1.00 electives or restricted electives | 1.00 | |
| Summer Semester | ||
| COOP*2000 | Co-op Work Term II | 0.50 |
| Fall Semester | ||
| COOP*3000 | Co-op Work Term III | 0.50 |
| Winter Semester | ||
| COOP*4000 | Co-op Work Term IV | 0.50 |
| Semester 7 - Fall | ||
| MICR*4540 | Microbial Cell Biology | 0.50 |
| 2.00 electives or restricted electives 1 | 2.00 | |
| Semester 8 - Winter | ||
| 2.50 electives or restricted electives 2 | 2.50 | |
- 1
Can include MCB*4500 Research Project in Molecular and Cellular Biology I
- 2
Can include MCB*4510 Research Project in Molecular and Cellular Biology
Restricted Electives
- A minimum of 2.00 credits of Liberal Education electives is required. The list of Liberal Education electives for B.Sc. students can be found at: https://www.uoguelph.ca/bsc/
- 3.50 restricted elective credits of which 1.00 credits must be at the 4000 level.
Course List Code Title Credits BIOC*4050 Protein and Nucleic Acid Structure 0.50 BIOC*4520 Metabolic Processes 0.50 BIOC*4540 Enzymology 0.75 BIOC*4580 Membrane Biochemistry 0.50 ENVS*3290 Waterborne Disease Ecology 0.50 FOOD*3230 Food Microbiology 0.75 FOOD*3240 Food Microbiology 0.50 FOOD*3260 Industrial Microbiology 0.50 FOOD*3270 Industrial Microbiology 0.50 FOOD*4400 Dairy Processing 0.50 MBG*3040 Molecular Biology of the Gene 0.50 MBG*3660 Genomics 0.50 MBG*4040 Genetics and Molecular Biology of Development 0.50 MBG*4110 Epigenetics 0.50 MBG*4240 Applied Molecular Genetics in Medicine and Biotechnology 0.50 MCB*3010 Dynamics of Cell Function and Signaling 0.50 MCB*4020 Communication in Molecular and Cellular Biology 0.50 MCB*4500 Research Project in Molecular and Cellular Biology I 1.00 MCB*4510 Research Project in Molecular and Cellular Biology 1.00 MCB*4600 Topics in Molecular and Cellular Biology 0.50 MICR*3090 Mycology 0.50 MICR*3220 Plant Microbiology 0.50 MICR*3230 Immunology 0.50 MICR*3330 World of Viruses 0.50 MICR*4010 Pathogenic Microbiology 0.50 MICR*4250 Microbiome and Immunity 0.50 MICR*4330 Molecular Virology 0.50 MICR*4430 Medical Virology 0.50 PATH*3040 Principles of Parasitology 0.50
Minor Requirements (Honours)
This minor cannot be combined with a major in Microbiology.
The minor in Microbiology consists of the following 5.00 credits including:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| BIOC*3560 | Structure and Function in Biochemistry | 0.50 |
| MICR*2420 | Introduction to Microbiology | 0.50 |
| MICR*2430 | Methods in Microbial Culture and Physiology | 0.50 |
| Select a minimum of 2.50 credits from the following: | ||
| FOOD*3230 | Food Microbiology | 0.75 |
| FOOD*3240 | Food Microbiology | 0.50 |
| FOOD*3260 | Industrial Microbiology | 0.50 |
| FOOD*3270 | Industrial Microbiology | 0.50 |
| MBG*2040 | Foundations in Molecular Biology and Genetics | 0.50 |
| MBG*3040 | Molecular Biology of the Gene | 0.50 |
| MBG*3350 | Laboratory Methods in Molecular Biology | 0.75 |
| MBG*4040 | Genetics and Molecular Biology of Development | 0.50 |
| MBG*4110 | Epigenetics | 0.50 |
| MBG*4240 | Applied Molecular Genetics in Medicine and Biotechnology | 0.50 |
| MICR*3090 | Mycology | 0.50 |
| MICR*3220 | Plant Microbiology | 0.50 |
| MICR*3230 | Immunology | 0.50 |
| MICR*3240 | Microbial Physiology and Genetics | 0.50 |
| MICR*3330 | World of Viruses | 0.50 |
| MICR*3420 | Microbial Diversity and Ecology | 0.50 |
| MICR*3430 | Advanced Methods in Microbiology | 0.75 |
| Select 1.00 credits from the following: | ||
| MCB*4600 | Topics in Molecular and Cellular Biology | 0.50 |
| MICR*4010 | Pathogenic Microbiology | 0.50 |
| MICR*4330 | Molecular Virology | 0.50 |
| MICR*4430 | Medical Virology | 0.50 |
| MICR*4250 | Microbiome and Immunity | 0.50 |
| MICR*4540 | Microbial Cell Biology | 0.50 |