Microbiology, the study of microorganisms, helps us understand our world and solve major problems. Microorganisms, or microbes, were the first life forms on earth and influence our lives and our planet in innumerable ways. The field of microbiology is constantly expanding as we learn more about the role of microbes in infectious disease, environmental remediation, bioenergy, food safety, antibiotic resistance, biotechnology and much more. Communities of microbes (or "microbiomes") are critically important in human health, global warming, agricultural yield, criminal justice, economic development and other issues of national concern.
The microbiology major, offered by the Department of Bacteriology, is a rigorous path of study, providing a curriculum packed with deep knowledge on broad aspects of microbiology and emphasizing modern laboratory skills. The core courses focus on the diversity, genetics, biochemistry, and physiology of microorganisms. A variety of elective courses provide the opportunity to study environmental microbiology, food microbiology, microbial pathogenesis, immunology, virology, microbiomes and microbial biotechnology, as well as advanced topics in microbial genetics and physiology. In the instructional laboratory courses, students learn beginning through advanced laboratory techniques - gaining the type of hands-on experiences with modern equipment that employers and graduate schools seek. Additionally, students can conduct mentored and independent research projects in faculty laboratories.
The bachelor's degree provides a strong background in the biological sciences for students planning to enter medical, dental, veterinary or other professional schools, as well as those planning graduate studies in any branch of microbiology or other biological sciences such as biochemistry, pathology, and molecular or cell biology.
Students who end their training with a bachelor's degree are well-prepared for a variety of career opportunities, including laboratory positions in pharmaceutical and biotechnology firms and in university and government laboratories. They also work as specialists in industrial quality testing and control, and as regulatory workers in government agencies and public health laboratories. Exposure to the scientific process as well as training in microbiology allows microbiology graduates to enter fields as diverse as business, technical service, sales, and technical writing.
Incoming or current students in good academic standing may declare the microbiology major at any time.
Schedule an appointment with Katy France to discuss the microbiology major, appropriate coursework, how to declare, and so on.
University General Education Requirements
All undergraduate students at the University of Wisconsin–Madison are required to fulfill a minimum set of common university general education requirements to ensure that every graduate acquires the essential core of an undergraduate education. This core establishes a foundation for living a productive life, being a citizen of the world, appreciating aesthetic values, and engaging in lifelong learning in a continually changing world. Various schools and colleges will have requirements in addition to the requirements listed below. Consult your advisor for assistance, as needed. For additional information, see the university Undergraduate General Education Requirements section of the Guide.
| General Education |
* The mortarboard symbol appears before the title of any course that fulfills one of the Communication Part A or Part B, Ethnic Studies, or Quantitative Reasoning Part A or Part B requirements. |
College of Agricultural and Life Sciences Requirements
In addition to the University General Education Requirements, all undergraduate students in CALS must satisfy a set of college and major requirements. Specific requirements for all majors in the college and other information on academic matters can be obtained from the Office of Academic Affairs, College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, 116 Agricultural Hall, 1450 Linden Drive, Madison, WI 53706; 608-262-3003. Academic departments and advisors also have information on requirements. Courses may not double count within university requirements (General Education and Breadth) or within college requirements (First-Year Seminar, International Studies and Science), but courses counted toward university requirements may also be used to satisfy a college and/or a major requirement; similarly, courses counted toward college requirements may also be used to satisfy a university and/or a major requirement.
College Requirements for all CALS B.S. Degree Programs
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Quality of Work: Students must maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.000 to remain in good standing and be eligible for graduation. | ||
| Residency: Students must complete 30 degree credits in residence at UW–Madison after earning 86 credits toward their undergraduate degree. | ||
| First Year Seminar | 1 | |
| International Studies | 3 | |
| Physical Science Fundamentals | 4-5 | |
| General Chemistry I | ||
or CHEM 108 | Chemistry in Our World | |
or CHEM 109 | Advanced General Chemistry | |
| Biological Science | 5 | |
| Additional Science (Biological, Physical, or Natural) | 3 | |
| Science Breadth (Biological, Physical, Natural, or Social) | 3 | |
| CALS Capstone Learning Experience: included in the requirements for each CALS major (see "Major Requirements") | ||
Requirements for the Major
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Mathematics | ||
| Select one of the following: | 5-10 | |
| Calculus with Algebra and Trigonometry I and Calculus with Algebra and Trigonometry II | ||
| Calculus and Analytic Geometry 1 | ||
| Statistics | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Introduction to Statistical Methods | ||
| Introductory Applied Statistics for the Life Sciences | ||
| Introduction to Biostatistics | ||
| General Chemistry | ||
| Select one of the following: 1 | 5-9 | |
| General Chemistry I and General Chemistry II | ||
| Advanced General Chemistry | ||
| Organic Chemistry | ||
| Select ALL of the following: | ||
| CHEM 343 | Introductory Organic Chemistry | 3 |
| CHEM 344 | Introductory Organic Chemistry Laboratory | 2 |
| CHEM 345 | Intermediate Organic Chemistry | 3 |
| Biology Foundation | ||
| Select one of the following: | 10-13 | |
| Introductory Biology and Introductory Biology 2 | ||
| Evolution, Ecology, and Genetics and Evolution, Ecology, and Genetics Laboratory and Cellular Biology and Cellular Biology Laboratory and Principles of Physiology 2 | ||
| Animal Biology and Animal Biology Laboratory and General Botany | ||
| Physics | ||
| Select one of the following: | 8-10 | |
| General Physics and General Physics 3 | ||
| General Physics and General Physics 3 | ||
| General Physics and General Physics | ||
| Biochemistry | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3-6 | |
| Introduction to Biochemistry | ||
| General Biochemistry I and General Biochemistry II | ||
| Microbiology Courses | ||
| Microbiology Core (all required): | ||
Except where noted, all Microbiology Core courses are offered every fall and spring semester. | ||
| MICROBIO 303 | Biology of Microorganisms | 3 |
| MICROBIO 304 | Biology of Microorganisms Laboratory | 2 |
| MICROBIO 305 | Critical Analyses in Microbiology | 1 |
| MICROBIO 450 | Diversity, Ecology and Evolution of Microorganisms | 3 |
| MICROBIO 470 | Microbial Genetics & Molecular Machines | 3 |
| MICROBIO 526 | Physiology of Microorganisms | 3 |
| MICROBIO 527 | Advanced Laboratory Techniques in Microbiology (FALL ONLY) | 2 |
| Microbiology Capstone (required): | ||
| MICROBIO 551 | Capstone Research Project in Microbiology (SPRING ONLY) | 2 |
| Microbiology Electives | ||
| Select at least 6 credits; at least 3 credits must come from Set A. Note that not all elective courses are offered every semester. | ||
| Set A: | 3-6 | |
| Food Microbiology Laboratory | ||
| Food Microbiology | ||
| Host-Parasite Interactions | ||
| Special Topics | ||
| Environmental Microbiology | ||
| Soil Microbiology and Biochemistry | ||
| Immunology | ||
| Topics in Biotechnology (topics vary by semester) | ||
| Advanced Microbial Genetics | ||
| Prokaryotic Molecular Biology | ||
| Plant-Bacterial Interactions | ||
| Industrial Microbiology/Biotechnology | ||
| General Virology-Multiplication of Viruses | ||
| Biology and Genetics of Fungi | ||
| Microbiology at Atomic Resolution | ||
| Set B: | 0-3 | |
| Biology of Viruses | ||
| Protein and Enzyme Structure and Function | ||
| Algae | ||
| Fungi | ||
| Plant-Microbe Interactions: Molecular and Ecological Aspects | ||
| Biophysical Chemistry | ||
| Introduction to Bioinformatics | ||
| Diseases of Wildlife | ||
| Fermented Foods and Beverages | ||
| Pathogenic Bacteriology | ||
| Parasitology | ||
| Medical Mycology | ||
| Emerging Infectious Diseases and Bioterrorism | ||
| Clinical and Public Health Microbiology | ||
| Total Credits | 64-87 | |
| 1 | The completion of CHEM 115 Chemical Principles I and CHEM 116 Chemical Principles II also satisfies the General Chemistry requirement. |
| 2 | ( BIOLOGY/BOTANY/ZOOLOGY 151 Introductory Biology and BIOLOGY/BOTANY/ZOOLOGY 152 Introductory Biology) or (BIOCORE 381 Evolution, Ecology, and Genetics / BIOCORE 382 Evolution, Ecology, and Genetics Laboratory / BIOCORE 383 Cellular Biology / BIOCORE 384 Cellular Biology Laboratory / BIOCORE 485 Principles of Physiology) are recommended. |
| 3 | (PHYSICS 103 / PHYSICS 104) or (PHYSICS 207 / PHYSICS 208) are recommended. |
Honors in the Major
Admission to the Honors Program is not competitive provided students meet the required admission criteria.
Admission Criteria for New Freshmen:
- In the upper 10% of their high school graduating class
- ACT score of 28 or higher
- SAT score of at least 1240
Admission Criteria for Transfer and Continuing UW-Madison Students:
- UW-Madison cumulative GPA of at least 3.25
Highly motivated students can apply for admission to the program in the absence of these requirements by including a letter with their application addressed to the Honors Dean in 116 Agricultural Hall explaining why they should be in the program.
How to Apply
Apply to the program online or pick up an application in the Office of Academic Affairs, 116 Agricultural Hall. Applications are accepted at any time.
New freshmen will automatically be enrolled in Honors in Research. It is possible to switch to Honors in the Major in the student’s first semester on campus after meeting with the advisor for that major by completing the application form and selecting Honors in the Major. Transfer and continuing students may apply directly to Honors in Research or Honors in the Major (after meeting with the major advisor).
How to Cancel Participation
Students who are no longer interested in pursuing Honors should complete the form to cancel their participation. Students may cancel their participation at any time, and this will not be noted on the student’s transcript.
Requirements
To earn Honors in the Major, students are required to take at least 20 honors credits. In addition, students must take MICROBIO 681 Senior Honors Thesis and MICROBIO 682 Senior Honors Thesis when completing their thesis project; please see the Honors in Major Checklist for more information.
University Degree Requirements
| Total Degree | To receive a bachelor's degree from UW–Madison, students must earn a minimum of 120 degree credits. The requirements for some programs may exceed 120 degree credits. Students should consult with their college or department advisor for information on specific credit requirements. |
| Residency | Degree candidates are required to earn a minimum of 30 credits in residence at UW–Madison. "In residence" means on the UW–Madison campus with an undergraduate degree classification. “In residence” credit also includes UW–Madison courses offered in distance or online formats and credits earned in UW–Madison Study Abroad/Study Away programs. |
| Quality of Work | Undergraduate students must maintain the minimum grade point average specified by the school, college, or academic program to remain in good academic standing. Students whose academic performance drops below these minimum thresholds will be placed on academic probation. |
- Develop a fundamental understanding of the principles of microbiology and the necessary skills for a professional career in microbiology
- Apply the scientific method to questions. Formulate a hypothesis, gather data, and analyze that data to assess the degree to which their work supports the hypothesis.
- Demonstrate proficiency in the techniques used in microbiology and an ability to critically analyze data and integrate ideas for problem solving
- Access the primary and secondary literature and, in combination with their own findings, effectively communicate their ideas both orally and in written form.
- Learn about and demonstrate personal and professional ethics.
Four-year plan
Sample MICROBIOLOGY Four-Year Plan
| Freshman | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| General Chemistry1 | 4-5 | Gen Chem or Electives1 | 5 |
| Math2 | 3 | Math2 | 3-5 |
| COMM-A | 3 | Electives3 | 6 |
| First-Year Seminar | 1 | ||
| Elective3 | 3 | ||
| 14-15 | 14-16 | ||
| Sophomore | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| CHEM 343 | 3 | CHEM 344 | 2 |
| Math2 | 3-5 | CHEM 345 | 3 |
| Intro Biology, Semester 14 | 5 | Intro Biology, Semester 24 | 5 |
| Elective3 | 3 | Electives3 | 6 |
| 14-16 | 16 | ||
| Junior | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| General Physics, Semester 15 | 4-5 | General Physics, Semester 25 | 4-5 |
| MICROBIO 303 | 3 | MICROBIO 470 | 3 |
| MICROBIO 304 | 2 | BIOCHEM 501 or BMOLCHEM 5037 | 3 |
| MICROBIO 305 | 1 | Research6 | 1-4 |
| Research6 | 1-4 | Electives (for major or other)3 | 0-4 |
| Electives (to reach 15 crs)3 | 0-4 | ||
| 11-19 | 11-19 | ||
| Senior | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| MICROBIO 526 | 3 | MICROBIO 450 | 3 |
| MICROBIO 527 | 2 | MICROBIO 551 | 2 |
| Research6 | 1-4 | Research6 | 1-4 |
| Electives (for major or other)3 | 6-9 | Electives (for major or other)3 | 7-10 |
| 12-18 | 13-19 | ||
| Total Credits 105-138 | |||
| * | Students planning to pursue graduate studies in a biological science are encouraged to take MATH 221 Calculus and Analytic Geometry 1, MATH 222 Calculus and Analytic Geometry 2, PHYSICS 201 General Physics and PHYSICS 202 General Physics or PHYSICS 207 General Physics and PHYSICS 208 General Physics, and BIOCHEM 507 General Biochemistry I and BIOCHEM 508 General Biochemistry II (see Note 7). Also recommended: CHEM 565 Biophysical Chemistry and MICROBIO/BIOCHEM/GENETICS 612 Prokaryotic Molecular Biology. |
| 1 | Choose 1 of 2 sequences: CHEM 103 General Chemistry I and CHEM 104 General Chemistry II or CHEM 109 Advanced General Chemistry. Students who take CHEM 109 Advanced General Chemistry and plan to attend medical or other professional schools are advised to take one additional inorganic course (CHEM 311 Chemistry Across the Periodic Table or CHEM 327 Fundamentals of Analytical Science). |
| 2 | Math course determined by placement scores. Microbio majors must complete math through calculus (choose from MATH 171 Calculus with Algebra and Trigonometry I & MATH 217 Calculus with Algebra and Trigonometry II or MATH 221 Calculus and Analytic Geometry 1), and statistics (choose from STAT 301 Introduction to Statistical Methods, STAT 371 Introductory Applied Statistics for the Life Sciences, or STAT/B M I 541 Introduction to Biostatistics). |
| 3 | Electives can be scheduled according to the student's preference. Consult your advisor and the Requirements tab. |
| 4 | The three choices are 1) ZOOLOGY/BIOLOGY/BOTANY 151 Introductory Biology and ZOOLOGY/BIOLOGY/BOTANY 152 Introductory Biology; 2) ZOOLOGY/BIOLOGY 101 Animal Biology, ZOOLOGY/BIOLOGY 102 Animal Biology Laboratory and BOTANY/BIOLOGY 130 General Botany; or 3) Biocore. Biocore is a 3 to 4 semester sequence. Students must complete the first three lectures and the first two labs. The Biocore courses are BIOCORE 381 Evolution, Ecology, and Genetics, BIOCORE 382 Evolution, Ecology, and Genetics Laboratory, BIOCORE 383 Cellular Biology, BIOCORE 384 Cellular Biology Laboratory, BIOCORE 485 Principles of Physiology, BIOCORE 587 Biological Interactions. |
| 5 | Physics may be taken in year 1, 2, 3, or 4 depending on the student's schedule. |
| 6 | Undergraduate research courses include 299, 699, 681‐682 (Honors Thesis), 691‐692 (Thesis). Both semesters are required for thesis credit. Students are encouraged to take several semesters of research (internship opportunities, 399, are also encouraged). |
| 7 | If BIOCHEM 507 General Biochemistry I and BIOCHEM 508 General Biochemistry II are taken, both semesters must be completed (take BIOCHEM 507 General Biochemistry I in fall semester of year 3 and BIOCHEM 508 General Biochemistry II in spring semester of year 3). |
Current UW–Madison students can schedule initial advising in the microbiology major with Katy France.
Prospective/future UW–Madison students should send an email to Katy France, katy.france@wisc.edu, to set up an appointment, which can be conducted in person or via phone call.
Read about and explore possible microbiology careers at the American Society for Microbiology website.
Learn more about health-related careers through the ExploreHealthCareers.org website.