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Microbiology and Immunology

The Department of Microbiology and Immunology offers opportunities for study leading to doctoral, master's, and bachelor's degrees. For information on advanced degrees, see graduate Microbiology and Immunology.

The Department offers versatile major and honours specializations leading to the Bachelor of Science. All students take the same core courses but appropriate choices of selections allow students to develop foundations in diverse areas such as applied microbiology, environmental microbiology, immunology, microbial pathogenesis, microbial physiology, molecular genetics, virology, bioinformatics, computer science and oceanography. Eligible students entering second year wanting to apply to the Joint Degree Biotechnology Honours specialization and all students wanting to enter second year Microbiology and Immunology Major, Honours or second year Combined Computer Science and Microbiology and Immunology Major, Honours or Microbiology and Oceanography Major specializations must apply using the online process administered by the Faculty of Science. Eligible students finishing first year will receive an email communication regarding the process in late May or early June. Due to the similarity between the Major and Honours specializations in second year the Faculty of Science only admits students directly to the Major or the Combined Major.

MICB 322 (Molecular Microbiology Laboratory) is a required course for the Microbiology and Immunology Major and Honour, and Combined Microbiology and Oceanography Major specializations. It is an elective course for students in the Combined Computer Science and Microbiology and Immunology Major and Honour specializations.

The Department offers MICB 322 in term 1 of the Winter session and term 1 of the Summer session. All students entering third-year in good standing in the Microbiology and Immunology Major and Combined Microbiology and Oceanography Major specializations will be placed into MICB 322. Students are required to apply to the Department for placement in the Winter or Summer sessions of MICB 322. Students are given priority based on their academic performance. See here for details.

Students interested in transferring into the Microbiology & Immunology specializations after year 2 can apply to the Department for a seat in MICB 322. Acceptance is contingent on space availability. See here for details.

The applications will open in mid-April. See here for more information.

Qualified students may apply to transfer to an Honours specialization in third year. Enrolment in any Microbiology and Immunology Honours specialization or combined Honours specialization, requires a sustained, annual academic average of at least 75% in second, third, and fourth year of these specializations.

Co-operative Education Option

This option integrates academic study with relevant supervised work experience. The work placements are arranged by mutual agreement between the students and the employing organizations. Enrolment is limited. Admission is by application to the Science Co-op Office in February prior to third year (late applicants may be considered if they contact the Life Sciences Co-op Coordinator). Selection will be based on previous academic performance and general suitability to the work environment as assessed by resumé and interview. Admissibility to a third-year Microbiology and Immunology Bachelor of Science specialization is prerequisite for admission to the Co-op Option but applicants can apply to Co-op before admission to the third-year microbiology specializations. Graduation from the Co-op program requires completion of four work terms, the normal courses required for the specialization. Detailed information is available from Microbiology and Immunology or the Co-operative Education Office.

Specializations

Major (1153): Microbiology and Immunology

First Year
BIOL 1121 3
One of BIOL 111, 1211 3
CHEM 121 (or 111, 141)2 4
CHEM 1232 4
One of MATH 100, 102, 1043 3
PHYS 100-level4 3
Communication Requirement5 3
DSCI 100 3
Electives6 4
Total Credits 30
Second Year
MICB 211 (or 201), 212 (or 202) 6
BIOL 200, 2017 6
CHEM 233, 2358 4
Electives6 11
Communication Requirement5 3
Total Credits 30
Third Year12
MICB 301, 302, 322, 323 12
At least one of MICB 325, BIOL 3359 3
Third or Fourth Year12
BIOC 30210 3
Additional MICB selections 9
Another MICB selection or a selection from BIOC 402, 410; BIOL 421; CHBE 381; MEDG 421; EOSC 475 3
Electives6 24
Fourth Year12
MICB 471 (or 421 or 447)11 3
MICB 475 (or 401)11 3
Total Credits for Degree 120
1 Students without one of Biology 11 or Biology 12 must take BIOL 111 before taking BIOL 112 or BIOL 121 and students without Chemistry 12 must take CHEM 100 or CHEM 111 before taking BIOL 112 (See Footnote 2). Students with credit for BIOL 200 or sufficient credits of first year biology to enrol in BIOL 200 may skip BIOL 112 if they take an extra 3 credits of upper-level MICB courses in year 3 or 4. Students should be aware that BIOL 180 (or BIOL 140) is a prerequisite for many upper-level BIOL courses at UBC. To maintain flexibility in their ability to study at UBC, students should consider including BIOL 180 (or BIOL 140) in their first year at UBC even though this course is not required in this specialization.
2 Students who do not have BC high school Chemistry 12 (or its equivalent) must write the UBC Chemistry Basic Skills Test and may be required to take CHEM 100. CHEM 110 and CHEM 115 may substitute for CHEM 111. CHEM 120 and CHEM 115 may substitute for CHEM 121. CHEM 130 and CHEM 135 may substitute for CHEM 123.
3 MATH 180 or 184 or 120 may substitute for any of the specified differential calculus courses listed by decreasing the electives by 1 credit. MATH 110 may substitute for any of the specified differential calculus courses listed by decreasing the electives by 3 credits. All of the differential calculus courses are suitable prerequisites for later MATH courses.
4 Chosen from 100-level PHYS courses, excluding PHYS 100. Students lacking Physics 12 must take PHYS 100 before taking any other 100-level PHYS course, using PHYS 100 as an elective. Students requiring PHYS 100 may delay other 100-level PHYS courses until second year.
5 A total of 6 credits of coursework is required to meet the Communication Requirement. For a full list of acceptable courses see Communication Requirement.
6 Elective credits together with required courses must fulfill the Faculty of Science’s:
a) Foundational Requirement;
b) Laboratory Science Requirement;
c) Science Breadth Requirement;
d) Science and Arts Requirements;
e) Upper-level Requirement;
f) General Degree Requirements.
7 Students may substitute BIOC 202 or BIOC 203 for BIOL 201.
8 Students may substitute CHEM 203 for CHEM 233 and 235.  
9 If both courses are taken, MICB 325 counts as an MICB selection.
10 BIOC 303 may be substituted for BIOC 302 by using 3 credits of elective space.
11 Students concerned about taking more than one upper level laboratory course in a single term are encouraged to organize their schedule so each lab is taken in a different term if possible.
12 The normal course load for the specialization is 30 credits in each Winter Session of third or fourth year but that value depends on the combinations of selections and electives.

Honours (1154): Microbiology and Immunology (MBIM)

First Year
BIOL 1121 3
One of BIOL 111, 1211 3
CHEM 121 (or 111 or 141)2 4
CHEM 1232 4
One of MATH 100, 102, 1043 3
PHYS 100-level4 3
Communication Requirement5 3
DSCI 100 3
Electives6,7 4
Total Credits 30
Second Year
MICB 211 (or 201), 212 (or 202) 6
BIOL 200, 2018 6
CHEM 233, 2359 4
Communication Requirement5 3
Electives6,7 11
Total Credits 30
Third Year14
MICB 301, 302, 322, 323 12
At least one of MICB 325, BIOL 33510 3
Third or Fourth Year14
BIOC 30211 3
Additional MICB selections 9
Another MICB course or a selection from BIOC 402, 410; BIOL 421; CHBE 381; MEDG 421; EOSC 475 3
Electives6,7 24
Fourth Year14
One of MICB 404, 406, 412, 41313 3
MICB 471 (or 421 or 447)12 3
MICB 475 (or 401)12 3
MICB 430, 44912 9
Total Credits for Degree 132
1 Students without one of Biology 11 or Biology 12 must take BIOL 111 before taking BIOL 112 or BIOL 121 and students without Chemistry 12 must take CHEM 100 or CHEM 111 before taking BIOL 112 (See Footnote 2). Students with credit for BIOL 200 or sufficient credits of first year biology to enrol in BIOL 200 may skip BIOL 112 if they take an extra 3 credits of upper-level MICB courses in year 3 or 4. Students should be aware that BIOL 180 (or BIOL 140) is a prerequisite for many upper-level BIOL courses at UBC. To maintain flexibility in their ability to study at UBC, students should consider including BIOL 180 (or BIOL 140) in their first year at UBC even though this course is not required in this specialization.
2 Students who do not have BC high school Chemistry 12 (or its equivalent) must write the UBC Chemistry Basic Skills Test and may be required to take CHEM 100. CHEM 110 and CHEM 115 may substitute for CHEM 111. CHEM 120 and CHEM 115 may substitute for CHEM 121. CHEM 130 and CHEM 135 may substitute for CHEM 123.
3 MATH 180 or 184 or 120 may substitute for any of the specified differential calculus courses listed by decreasing the electives by 1 credit. MATH 110 may substitute for any of the specified differential calculus courses listed by decreasing the electives by 3 credits. All of the differential calculus courses are suitable prerequisites for later MATH courses.  
4 Chosen from 100-level PHYS courses, excluding PHYS 100. Students lacking Physics 12 must take PHYS 100 before taking any other 100-level PHYS course, using PHYS 100 as an elective. Students requiring PHYS 100 may delay other 100-level PHYS courses until second year.
5 A total of 6 credits of coursework is required to meet the Communication Requirement. For a full list of acceptable courses see Communication Requirement.  
6 Elective credits together with required courses must fulfill the Faculty of Science’s:
a) Foundational Requirement;
b) Laboratory Science Requirement;
c) Science Breadth Requirement;
d) Science and Arts Requirements;
e) Upper-level Requirement;
f) General Degree Requirements.
 
7 In addition to meeting the minimum Upper-level Requirement (footnote 6), students must select an additional 12 credits of upper-level courses.
8 Students may substitute BIOC 202 or BIOC 203 for BIOL 201.  
9 Students may substitute CHEM 203 for CHEM 233 and 235.  
10 If both courses are taken, MICB 325 counts as a MICB selection.  
11 BIOC 303 may be substituted for BIOC 302 by using 3 credits of elective space.  
12 Students concerned about taking more than one upper-level laboratory course in a single term are encouraged to organize their schedule so each lab is taken in a different term if possible.  
13 Extra courses taken from this list count as MICB selections.  
14 Honours students must comply with the Faculty of Science Honours Specialization requirements.  

Combined Major (1371): Computer Science & Microbiology and Immunology

First Year
BIOL 1121 3
CHEM 121 (or 111, 141)2 4
CHEM 1232 4
CPSC 110 (or 103 and 107)3 4
CPSC 1214 4
One of MATH 100, 102, 104 (120, 180, 184, 110)5 3
One of MATH 101, 103, 105 (121)5 3
Communication Requirement6 6
Total Credits 31
Second Year7
CPSC 210, 2214 8
MICB 211 (or 201), 212 (or 202) 6
BIOL 200, 2018 6
CHEM 233 3
Second or Third Year7
CPSC 213 4
One of BIOL 300, MATH 200, 221, STAT 200, 201, 2519 3
Electives10,11,12 3
Minimum total credits for second year 30
Third Year7
MICB 301, 302 6
MICB 322 or MICB at 300-level or higher13,14 3
One of MICB 325, BIOL 335 3
CPSC 320 3
Third or Fourth Year7
CPSC 310 4
Two of CPSC 304, 313, 420, 421, 44515 6
MICB 323 (or 475 or 401) or additional MICB at 300-level or higher13,14 3
Additional CPSC at 300-level or higher15,16 6
Additional MICB at 300-level or higher 3
Electives10,11,12 13
Fourth Year7
MICB 405 3
Additional CPSC at 400-level15,16 3
Total Credits for Degree 120
1 Students without one of Biology 11 or Biology 12 must take BIOL 111 before taking BIOL 112 and students without Chemistry 12 must take CHEM 100 or CHEM 111 before taking BIOL 112 (See footnote 2). Students with credit for BIOL 200 or sufficient credits of first year biology to enrol in BIOL 200 may skip BIOL 112 if they take an extra 3 credits of upper-level MICB courses in year 3 or 4.
2 Students who do not have BC high school Chemistry 12 (or its equivalent) must write the UBC Chemistry Basic Skills Test and may be required to take CHEM 100. CHEM 110 and CHEM 115 may substitute for CHEM 111. CHEM 120 and CHEM 115 may substitute for CHEM 121. CHEM 130 and CHEM 135 may substitute for CHEM 123.
3 While CPSC 110 is the recommended route for students pursuing a specialization in Computer Science, CPSC 103, 107 may be taken in its place using 2 credits of electives.
4 Students intending to pursue Co-op may include CPSC 210 in the first year in order to use the CPSC model for Co-op that starts after first year. Alternatively they may use the MICB model for Co-op that starts in third year.  
5 MATH 180 or 184 or 120 may substitute for any of the specified differential calculus courses listed by decreasing the electives by 1 credit. MATH 110 may substitute for any of the specified differential calculus courses listed by decreasing the electives by 3 credits. All of the differential calculus courses are suitable prerequisites for any later MATH courses. MATH 121 may substitute for any of the specified integral calculus courses listed by decreasing the electives by 1 credit.
6 A total of 6 credits of coursework is required to meet the Communication Requirement. For a full list of acceptable courses see Communication Requirement.  
7 The normal course load for the specialization is 30 credits in one Winter Session but that value depends on the combinations of selections and electives.  
8 Students may substitute BIOC 202 or BIOC 203 for BIOL 201.
9 STAT 200 is recommended for students with an interest in further STAT courses. STAT 201 is recommended for students with an interest in the Minor in Data Science.  
10 Elective credits together with required courses must fulfill the Faculty of Science’s:
a) Foundational Requirement;
b) Laboratory Science Requirement;
c) Science Breadth Requirement;
d) Science and Arts Requirements;
e) Upper-level Requirement;
f) General Degree Requirements.
11 BIOL 121 and BIOL 140 are prerequisites for many upper-level BIOL courses. Accessing upper-level BIOC courses may require CHEM 205.
12 There are 16 elective credits in the specialization. Even though they are distributed as 3 credits in second year and 13 in other years, any extra elective credit taken in first or second year can be applied to the later elective credits.
13 Space in MICB 322 is limited. Availability depends on the demand by the other specializations requiring MICB 322.
14 MICB 322, 323 and 401 are laboratory courses. MICB 322 is a prerequisite for MICB 323 and MICB 401. Students wanting a less intensive laboratory experience should consider MICB 203 as an elective at some point in the specialization.
15 Three of the credits used to satisfy the upper-level CPSC requirements of the specialization must be chosen from 400-level CPSC lecture-based courses.  
16 Credits gained from undergraduate Student-Directed Seminars (CPSC 490) cannot be used to fulfill this requirement.  

Combined Honours (1373): Computer Science & Microbiology and Immunology

First Year
BIOL 1121 3
CHEM 121 (or 111)2 4
CHEM 1232 4
CPSC 110 (or 103 and 107)3 4
CPSC 1214 4
One of MATH 100, 102, 104 (120, 180, 184, 110)5 3
One of MATH 101, 103, 105 (121)5 3
Communication Requirement6 6
Total Credits 31
Second Year7
CPSC 210, 2214 8
MICB 211 (or 201), 212 (or 202) 6
BIOL 200, 2018 6
CHEM 233, 2359 4
MATH 200 3
Second or Third Year7
CPSC 213 4
Electives10,11 3
Minimum Total Credits for Second Year 30
Third Year7
CPSC 320 3
MICB 301, 302 6
MICB 322 or MICB at 300-level or higher12,13 3
One of MICB 325, BIOL 335 3
One of STAT 200, STAT 201, BIOL 30014 3
Third or Fourth Year7
CPSC 310 4
Two of CPSC 304, 313, 420, 421, 44515 6
CPSC courses numbered 300 or higher15,16 3
MICB 323 (or 475 or 401) or additional MICB at 300-level or higher13 3
MICB courses numbered 300 or higher 3
One of MATH 302, STAT 302 3
Electives10,11 18
Fourth Year7
MICB 405 3
One of CPSC 449, MICB 44917 6
Minimum Credits for Degree 132
1 Students without one of Biology 11 or Biology 12 must take BIOL 111 before taking BIOL 112 and students without Chemistry 12 must take CHEM 100 or CHEM 111 before taking BIOL 112 (See Footnote 2). Students with credit for BIOL 200 or sufficient credits of first year biology to enrol in BIOL 200 may skip BIOL 112 if they take an extra 3 credits of upper-level MICB courses in year 3 or 4.
2 Students who do not have BC high school Chemistry 12 (or its equivalent) must write the UBC Chemistry Basic Skills Test and may be required to take CHEM 100. CHEM 110 and CHEM 115 may substitute for CHEM 111. CHEM 120 and CHEM 115 may substitute for CHEM 121. CHEM 130 and CHEM 135 may substitute for CHEM 123.
3 While CPSC 110 is the recommended route for students pursuing a specialization in Computer Science, CPSC 103, 107 may be taken in its place using 2 credits of electives.  
4 Students intending to pursue Co-op may include CPSC 210 in the first year in order to use the CPSC model for Co-op that starts after first year. Alternatively they may use the MICB model for Co-op that starts in third year.  
5 MATH 180 or 184 or 120 may substitute for any of the specified differential calculus courses listed by decreasing the later electives by 1 credit. MATH 110 may substitute for any of the specified differential calculus courses listed by decreasing the later electives by 3 credits. All of the differential calculus courses are suitable prerequisites for later MATH courses. MATH 121 may substitute for any of the specified integral calculus courses listed by decreasing the electives by 1 credit.
6 A total of 6 credits of coursework is required to meet the Communication Requirement. For a full list of acceptable courses see Communication Requirement.  
7 To continue in the specialization students must maintain at least 75% average in the second, third and fourth year, and comply with the Faculty of Science Honours Specialization.
8 Students may substitute BIOC 202 or BIOC 203 for BIOL 201.
9 Transfer students with credit for CHEM 203 and either CHEM 204 or 213 are exempted from the requirement for CHEM 233 and 235.
10 Elective credits together with required courses must fulfill the Faculty of Science’s:
a) Foundational Requirement;
b) Laboratory Science Requirement;
c) Science Breadth Requirement;
d) Science and Arts Requirements;
e) Upper-level Requirement;
f) General Degree Requirements.
 
11 There are 21 elective credits in the specialization. Even though they are distributed as 3 credits in second year and 18 in other years, any extra elective credit taken in first or second year can be applied to the later elective credits.
12 Space in MICB 322 is limited. Availability depends on the demand by the other specializations requiring MICB 322.
13 MICB 322, 323 and 401 are laboratory courses. MICB 322 is a prerequisite for MICB 323 and MICB 401. Students wanting a less intensive laboratory experience should consider MICB 203 as an elective at some point in the specialization.
14 STAT 200 is recommended for students with an interest in further STAT courses. STAT 201 is recommended for students with an interest in the Minor in Data Science.
15 Three of the credits used to satisfy the upper-level CPSC requirements of the specialization must be chosen from 400-level CPSC lecture-based courses.  
16 Credits gained from undergraduate Student-Directed Seminars (CPSC 490) cannot be used to fulfill this requirement.  
17 The thesis topic must be related to bioinformatics. Students intending to take CPSC 449 should take CPSC 349 in their third year.  

Combined Major (3144): Microbiology and Oceanography

First Year
Communication Requirement1 3
PHYS 100-level2 3
CHEM 121 (or 111)3 4
CHEM 1233 4
EOSC 1124 3
BIOL 1125 3
One of MATH 100, 102, 1046 3
One of MATH 101, 103, 1056 3
Electives7,8 4
Total Credits 30
Second Year
Communication Requirement1 3
BIOL 200, 2019 6
MICB 211 (or 201), 212 (or 202) 6
EOSC 211, 270 6
CHEM 233 3
Electives7,8 6
Total Credits 30
Second or Third Year10
EOSC 372, 373 6
Third Year10
MICB 301 3
MICB 322 3
Electives7,8 12
Third or Fourth Year10
MICB 306 3
One of MICB 325, BIOL 335 3
Fourth Year10
MICB 425, MICB 475 (or 401) 6
Two of MICB 405, 418, 448 6
EOSC 472, 475 6
One of EOSC 470, 478, 426 3
One of EOSC 448, 473 3
Electives7,8 6
Total credits for degree 120
1 A total of 6 credits of coursework is required to meet the Communication Requirement. For a full list of acceptable courses see Communication Requirement.
2 Chosen from 100-level PHYS courses, excluding PHYS 100 and PHYS 170. Students lacking Physics 12 must take PHYS 100 before taking any other 100-level PHYS course, using PHYS 100 as an elective. Students requiring PHYS 100 or MATH 110 may delay other 100-level PHYS courses until second year. Qualified students are encouraged to take PHYS 106.
3 Students who do not have BC high school Chemistry 12 (or its equivalent) must write the UBC Chemistry Basic Skills Test and may be required to take CHEM 100. CHEM 110 and CHEM 115 may substitute for CHEM 111. CHEM 120 and CHEM 115 may substitute for CHEM 121. CHEM 130 and CHEM 135 may substitute for CHEM 123.
4 Students who enter the specialization after second year may substitute EOSC 340.
5 Students without one of Biology 11 or Biology 12 must take BIOL 111 before taking BIOL 112 and students without Chemistry 12 must take CHEM 100 or CHEM 111 before taking BIOL 112 (See footnote 3). Students with credit for BIOL 200 or sufficient credits of first year biology to enrol in BIOL 200 may skip BIOL 112 if they take an extra 3 credits of upper-level MICB courses in year 3 or 4.
6 MATH 180 or 184 or 120 may substitute for any of the specified differential calculus courses listed by decreasing the electives by 1 credit. MATH 110 may substitute for any of the specified differential calculus courses listed by decreasing the electives by 3 credits. MATH 121 may substitute for any of the specified integral calculus courses listed by decreasing the electives by 1 credit.
7 Suggested electives are EOSC 111 (1 credit) or BIOL 180 (or BIOL 140) (2 credits). The combination of BIOL 121 and BIOL 180 (or BIOL 140) provides the prerequisites to have the flexibility to take upper-level BIOL courses.
8 Elective credits together with required courses must fulfill the Faculty of Science’s:
a) Foundational Requirement;
b) Laboratory Science Requirement;
c) Science Breadth Requirement;
d) Science and Arts Requirements;
e) Upper-level Requirement;
f) General Degree Requirements.
9 Students may substitute BIOC 202 or BIOC 203 for BIOL 201.
10 The normal course load for the specialization is 30 credits in one Winter Session but that value depends on the combinations of selections and electives. Be careful to plan out choices to have the prerequisites for desired courses at the appropriate time.

Specialization Objectives:

Students completing this specialization will be able to:

  1. demonstrate mastery in microbiology/oceanography that will qualify them for graduate school in either microbiology or oceanography or environmental science (given a sufficient level of accomplishment)
  2. demonstrate basic laboratory skills useful for technician-level jobs in environmental sciences

Learning Goals:

Students completing this specialization will be able to:

  1. demonstrate basic knowledge about the chemical and physical ocean environment with emphasis on microbiological processes and chemical processes
  2. use mathematical knowledge including calculus and statistical techniques for experimental set-up and data analysis
  3. use numerical problem solving (using computer programming skills) both with models and with real data
  4. use basic field/laboratory skills for observation and experimentation in microbiological oceanography
  5. illustrate the distinction between data, experiment, theory, and model
  6. integrate concepts across multiple levels of microbiological complexity
  7. conduct independent study on a topic of their choosing
  8. write reports and communicate through oral presentations

 


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