Microbiology, B.S.

Visit the Biology Department page for more information on the program and access to advising.

Program Description

Microbiology is the study of microorganisms, the smallest living things on earth, including bacteria, viruses, fungi, protozoa, and algae. While microorganisms are most known for their ability to cause disease, they are actually ubiquitous on earth and central to many of the essential life processes on this planet. The field of microbiology is a major contributor to human, animal, plant, and environmental health as well as central to the food/beverage, biotechnology, bioremediation, and pharmaceutical industries. This curriculum will examine the diverse roles of microorganisms and cover the fundamentals of microbial diversity, physiology, and genetics. Students will examine the roles and interactions of microbial populations in aquatic, terrestrial, human, animal, and plant systems. A degree in microbiology can open the door to a wide variety of careers in different industries. Studying microbiology will prepare students to go to medical, dental, veterinary, or graduate school, and also provides them a highly employable career option in healthcare, industry, or government agencies.

Matriculation Requirements

BIOL 1610 College Biology I or BIOL 1610H College Biology I  with C- or higher and approval of Biology Department advisor.

Program Requirements

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Upper division is suggested to meet upper division requirements

Graduation Requirements

Graduation Requirements

1. Complete the required minimum 120 credit hours.
2. If an AA or AS degree has been earned, a maximum of 64 of these credits may apply toward the BS.
3. At least 30 credit hours in residence at UVU or satellite sites are required, with 10 hours earned during the last 45 hours.
4. A minimum of 40 credits must be upper-division (numbered 3000 or above).
5. A minimum of 40 credits must be in the Biology Department (BIOL, BOT, BTEC, MICR, or ZOOL prefixes), 30 of which must be upper-division. A minimum of nine Department credits must be taken at UVU.
6. Except for 4900R Special Topics courses, a maximum cumulative total of 13 credits in any combination of upper division Departmental courses with an "R" designation may count toward graduation.
7. Complete Biology Department core courses with a grade of "C-" or higher in each course.
8. Achieve a minimum overall GPA of 2.0 with a minimum GPA of 2.25 in biology department courses.
9. Complete the appropriate application for graduation form.
10. Successful completion of at least one Global/Intercultural course.
11. Successful completion of two writing enriched (WE) courses.

12. Complete Departmental Assessment conducted by the Dept. of Biology Assessment Coordinator.

13. Complete an exit survey administered by the Biology Department.

Graduation Plan

This graduation plan is a sample plan and is intended to be a guide. Your specific plan may differ based on your Math and English placement and/or transfer credits applied. You are encouraged to meet with an advisor and set up an individualized graduation plan in Wolverine Track.

An online graduation plan offers students a flexible yet structured approach to their academic journey. While this sample serves as a general guideline, individual plans may differ based on Math and English placement scores. Meeting with an academic advisor is strongly recommended to customize plans and ensure all graduation requirements are met.

Online course options are available at https://www.uvu.edu/online/courses/index.html, and advising support is available through your assigned advisor.

Program Learning Outcomes

1. Apply the process of science through the use of hypothesis testing in the design and completion of scientific experiments
2. Critically evaluate scientific information
3. Quantitatively analyze scientific data through graph interpretation, statistical analysis, and problem solving
4. Effectively communicate scientific information in both written and oral formats.
5. Explain fundamental microbiological concepts including microbial genetics and molecular biology, ecology and environmental microbiology, and physiology and biochemistry