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Microbiology

Major in Microbiology

Note: The UBC Okanagan campus also offers Majors in Biology, Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation Biology, and Zoology.

Designed to provide graduates with a breadth of knowledge in microbiology as it applies to the environment, health, and industry. Students graduating from the UBC Okanagan campus with a B.Sc. in Microbiology will have developed a wide range of lab, communication, and critical thinking skills. This program prepares students for careers in microbiology (e.g., food and beverage industries, health sciences, and environmental sciences), graduate school, and professional programs.

Electives to satisfy B.Sc. Degree Requirements should include a minimum of 12 credits of Arts electives (in addition to 6 credits in English) and 12 credits of other courses (chosen, if needed, to ensure prerequisites are met for third- and fourth-year elective courses).

A minimum of 42 upper-level credits are required, which include at least 36 credits of Science courses (including at least 30 credits of Biology courses).

 

First Year Credits
BIOL 116, 1251 6
CHEM 111 or CHEM 121 3
CHEM 113 or CHEM 123 3
ENGL 109, or two of ENGL 1122,3, 113, 1143, 150, 151, 153, 154, 155, or 156 6
MATH 1001 3
MATH 101 or 1031 3
PHYS 111 or 112 3
PHYS 121 or 122 3
Total credits 30

 

Second Year  
BIOL 200, 201 6
BIOL 202, 265 6
One of BIOL 204, 205, 209, 210 3
BIOL 228 3
CHEM 203, 204; or CHEM 213, 2142 6
Electives 6
Total Credits 30

 

Third and Fourth Years  
BIOL 311 3
One of BIOL 354, BIOL 382 3
BIOL 393 3
Microbiology electives from the following: a) strongly recommended electives: BIOL 318, 319, 354 or 382, 366, or BIOC 494 or 4955; b) other electives: BIOL 312, 314, 380, 381, 410, 4204, 4524, 480 21
Science electives numbered 300 or higher 6
Other electives numbered 300 or higher 6
Electives to satisfy B.Sc. credit requirements 18
Total credits 60
Minimum credits for degree 120

1BIOL 116, 125; CHEM 111, 113 or 121, 123; and MATH 100, 101 or 103 should be taken in the first year to ensure students have the prerequisites for second year.

2Strongly recommended.

3Credit will only be granted for one of ENGL 112 or 114.

4If approved by the program advisor as appropriate to Microbiology.

5BIOC 494 and BIOC 495 may both be used toward the requirement to take 30 credits of upper level BIOL courses in the Major in Microbiology.

Note: credit will be granted for only one of BIOC 393 or BIOL 393, and one of BIOC 493 and either BIOC 494 or BIOC 495.

Microbiology Honours Program

The Honours in Microbiology is an intensive program of study based on coursework and research experience. Students who complete this program will have the ability to work independently with a high level of competency.

The course requirements are the same as in the Major in Microbiology, except that students must complete 6 credits of BIOL 440.

Admission Requirements

  • Fourth-year standing;
  • A minimum grade average of 75% from all courses completed; and
  • Enrolment in BIOL 440 with a research project and research supervisor approved by the department head as appropriate to Microbiology.

Graduation Requirements

  • Completion of the course requirements for the Major in Microbiology;
  • A 75% overall grade average; and
  • BIOL 440 (6 credits), with a minimum grade of 75%. A written thesis is required, with a public presentation in the form of a poster session or a seminar.

 


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