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microcell.ufl.edu

The curriculum develops fundamental knowledge of prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells and viruses. Courses include the physiology and genetics of microorganisms, mechanisms of pathogenesis and innate immunity systems.

This major prepares students for entry into graduate studies in microbiology, cell biology, biochemistry and other areas. It also provides a background for entry into government, industrial research, diagnostic laboratories, and medical, dental and veterinary medical professional programs.

The major requires:

• Integrated Principles of Biology 1 and 2 and labs (BSC 2010/2010L and BSC 2011/2011L). AGR 3033 may be substituted for BSC 2011 and 2011L.
• General Chemistry 1 and lab (CHM 2045 and 2045L) .
• General Chemistry 2and lab (CHM 2046 and 2046L).
• Analytical Geometry and Calculus 1 (MAC 2311).
• Physics 1 and 2 and labs (PHY 2053/ 2053L and PHY 2054/2054L).
• Organic Chemistry and lab (CHM 2210, 2211 and 2211L).
• Analytical Chemistry and lab (CHM 3120 and 3120L).
• All majors must complete the biology sequence, general chemistry sequence, and calculus by the end of the sophomore year. Organic Chemistry, CHM 2210, must be completed by the end of track term five.
• Students must attain a cumulative GPA in these graded courses of no less than 2.5 and with no grade lower than a C to continue in the major.
• A grade of C must be attained within two attempts (including withdrawals) in all critical-tracking courses, major courses, department core requirements and department electives.
• Major department core requirements: MCB 3020 and 3020L,
  MCB 4203 or PCB 5235,
  MCB 4304 or PCB 4522, and
  BCH 4024 or CHM 4207 for a total of 15 credits of required courses and at least 10 credits of upper-division department electives.
• A minimum of one credit in an advanced lab is required as part of the 10 department electives, totaling 25 credits. A grade of C or better (within two attempts) and a cumulative GPA of 2.0 are required.
• If MCB 4203 and PCB 5235 are completed satisfactorily, students can use PCB 5235 to fulfill a core requirement; MCB 4203 will fulfill a department elective. MCB 4905, 4909 and 4934 cannot be used to fulfill any of these 25 credits.

Students interested in graduate education should develop a strength in chemistry. They should set up an appointment with an adviser to effectively plan their schedule. Students who plan to attend graduate school in microbiology, biochemistry or molecular biological sciences should include the following courses:

• MAC 2312 Calculus 2 (4 cr),
• MAC 2313 Calculus 3 (4 cr),
• CHM 4207 Biochemistry (4 cr) for the biochemistry requirement,
• MCB 4304 Genetics of Microorganisms (3 cr) to fulfill the genetics requirement,
• PCB 5235 Immunology (3 cr) to fulfill the pathogens or immunology requirement,
• MCB 5136L Techniques of Advanced Lab (3 cr) to fulfill the microbiology advanced lab requirement, and
• MCB 4403 Prokaryotic Cell Structure (3 cr), MCB 5303L Microbial Genetics Lab (2 cr) and CHM 3400 Physical Chemistry (3 cr) to fulfill the remaining microbiology required elective.
• In addition, MCB 4905 will provide valuable lab research experience.

Academic advising is available in the department office located on Museum Road. Call for an appointment to meet with an adviser or visit microcell.ufl.edu for microbiology core requirements, department electives and sample schedules of preprofessional and pregraduate tracks.

Honors: To qualify for graduation with cum laude, magna cum laude or summa cum laude recognition, a student must have an upper-division GPA of 3.50, 3.75 or 3.85 respectively. The upper-division GPA includes grades for all courses taken after 60 earned credits.

In addition to the GPA requirement, a candidate for magna cum laude or summa cum laude distinctions must obtain grades of B or better in at least four credits of MCB 4905 or MCB 4909 and in one of the following courses: PCB 5235, MCB 5303L, MCB 5505, MCB 5458 or PCB 5136L.

The research will be supervised by a faculty member in the department or approved faculty outside the department. The project will be in microbiology and cell- or a related-area of science. A one-page description of the proposed research must be submitted to the department’s academic advising office before registering for MCB 4905 and initiating the research project.

Students who are candidates for magna cum laude or summa cum laude recognition in the college must submit a copy of the honors thesis to the undergraduate coordinator and the college dean’s office. Contact that office for deadline information. The final decision on the honors distinction will be determined by the upper-division GPA at the end of the previous semester, performance in MCB 4905 and an evaluation of the thesis.

This plan is a suggested preprofessional track for majors who plan to pursue medical, dental, veterinary medicine or other professional schools after graduation. A sample schedule for graduate school is located at microcell.ufl.edu/. Students should follow the links to the specific college in which they are enrolled.

Students must maintain an overall 2.0 UF GPA beginning semester 1, and a 2.5 math/science GPA in all critical-tracking courses beginning semester 2. All critical-tracking courses require a grade of C or higher within two attempts.

To remain ‘on track’ for this major, a student must meet the following critical-tracking criteria. Critical-tracking courses appear in bold.

• Complete CHM 1025 or CHM 2045 and CHM 2045L

• Complete CHM 2045, CHM 2045L and MAC 2311
• 2.5 GPA for all critical-tracking courses

• Complete CHM 2046, CHM 2046L, BSC 2010 and BSC 2010L.
• 2.5 GPA for all critical-tracking courses

• Complete BSC 2011 and BSC 201lL.
• 2.5 GPA for all critical-tracking courses

• Complete CHM 2210
• Complete all critical-tracking courses – including labs – with a 2.5 GPA for all critical-tracking courses

** Choose course to satisfy GE-H, I and the writing and math requirement (6,000 words).

* If MCB 4203 and PCB 5235 are completed successfully, one will fulfill three credits of required department electives and the other fulfills three credits of required department core.

This major can be administered by the Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation or by the School of Forest Resources and Conservation. Programs of study range from the focused and specific to the broad and multidisciplinary. Interested students should contact the undergraduate coordinators of either unit.