X. Degree Programs

Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.)

Microbiology (Co-op) (MICR:C)

Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, College of Biological Science

Microbiology programs are designed to give students a good understanding of microorganisms, including diversity, ecology, physiology, molecular genetics, current approaches in bacterial genomics/proteomics, and microbial associations with animal hosts and the environments. Such knowledge will provide the basis for further work with microbes in medicine, agricultural industries (including biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, food and beverage) and the environment (surveillance and bioremediation).

Program Requirements

The Co-op program in Microbiology is a five year program, including four work terms. Students must complete a Fall, Winter and Summer work term and must follow the academic work schedule as outlined below (also found on the Co-operative Education website: https://www.recruitguelph.ca/cecs/). Please refer to the Co-operative Education program policy with respect to adjusting this schedule.

Microbiology Academic and Co-op Work Term Schedule
Year Fall Winter Summer
1 Academic Semester 1 Academic Semester 2 Off
2 Academic Semester 3

COOP*1100

Academic Semester 4

COOP*1000 Work Term I

3 Academic Semester 5 Academic Semester 6 COOP*2000 Work Term II
4 COOP*3000 Work Term III COOP*4000 Work Term IV Off
5 Academic Semester 7 Academic Semester 8 N/A

To be eligible to continue in the Co-op program, students must meet a minimum 70% cumulative average requirement after second semester, as well as meet all work term requirements. Please refer to the Co-operative Education program policy with respect to work term performance grading, work term report grading and program completion requirements.

For additional program information students should consult with their Co-op Co-ordinator and Co-op Faculty Advisor, listed on the Co-operative Education web site.

Credit Summary (21.50 Total Credits)*

4.00 - First year science required

6.50 - Required science courses semesters 3 - 8

3.50 - Restricted electives (# 2 in restricted electives list)

2.00 - Approved Science electives

2.00 - Liberal Education electives (#1 in restricted electives)

2.00 - Free electives - any approved electives for B.Sc. students.

1.50 - Co-op Work Terms

Of the total credits required, students are required to complete 16.00 credits in science of which a minimum of 2.00 credits must be at the 4000 level and an additional 4.00 credits must be at the 3000 or 4000 level.

Note: A minimum of three Co-op work terms including a Summer, Fall, and Winter are necessary to complete the Co-op requirement. *A fourth Co-op work term is optional and if completed, the total number of credits will equal 22.00.

The recommended program sequence is outlined below.

Major (Honours Program)

Semester 1 - Fall
BIOL*1090 [0.50] Introduction to Molecular and Cellular Biology
CHEM*1040 [0.50] General Chemistry I
MATH*1080 [0.50] Elements of Calculus I
PHYS*1080 [0.50] Physics for Life Sciences
0.50 Liberal Education electives

Students lacking Grade 12 or 4U Biology, Chemistry or Physics should follow the revised schedule of study for this major found at https://www.uoguelph.ca/bsc/revised_SS

Semester 2 - Winter
BIOL*1070 [0.50] Discovering Biodiversity
BIOL*1080 [0.50] Biological Concepts of Health
CHEM*1050 [0.50] General Chemistry II
PHYS*1070 [0.50] Physics for Life Sciences II
0.50 Liberal Education electives
Summer Semester

No academic semester or work term

Semester 3 - Fall
BIOC*2580 [0.50] Introduction to Biochemistry
COOP*1100 [0.00] Introduction to Co-operative Education
MBG*2040 [0.50] Foundations in Molecular Biology and Genetics
MICR*2420 [0.50] Introduction to Microbiology
STAT*2040 [0.50] Statistics I
0.50 Liberal Education electives
Semester 4 - Winter
BIOC*3560 [0.50] Structure and Function in Biochemistry
MCB*2050 [0.50] Molecular Biology of the Cell
MICR*2430 [0.50] Methods in Microbial Culture and Physiology
0.50 electives
0.50 Liberal Education electives
Summer Semester
COOP*1000 [0.50] Co-op Work Term I
Semester 5 - Fall
MBG*3080 [0.50] Bacterial Genetics
MICR*3420 [0.50] Microbial Diversity and Ecology
1.50 electives or restricted electives
Semester 6 - Winter
MBG*3350 [0.75] Laboratory Methods in Molecular Biology
MICR*3260 [0.50] Microbial Adaptation
MICR*3430 [0.75] Advanced Methods in Microbiology
A minimum of 0.50 electives or restricted electives
Summer - Semester
COOP*2000 [0.50] Co-op Work Term II
Fall Semester
COOP*3000 [0.50] Co-op Work Term III
Winter Semester
COOP*4000 [0.50] Co-op Work Term IV
Semester 7 - Fall
2.50 electives or restricted electives which can include MCB*4500
Semester 8 - Winter
2.50 electives or restricted electives which can include MCB*4510

Restricted Electives

  1. A minimum of 2.00 credits of Liberal Education electives is required. The list of Liberal Education electives for B.Sc. students can be found at: https://www.uoguelph.ca/bsc/

  2. 3.50 restricted elective credits of which 1.00 credits must be at the 4000 level.

    BIOC*4540 [0.75] Enzymology
    BIOC*4580 [0.50] Membrane Biochemistry
    ENVS*3290 [0.50] Waterborne Disease Ecology
    FOOD*3230 [0.75] Food Microbiology
    FOOD*3240 [0.50] Food Microbiology
    FOOD*3260 [0.50] Industrial Microbiology
    FOOD*3270 [0.50] Industrial Microbiology
    FOOD*4400 [0.50] Dairy Processing
    MCB*3010 [0.50] Dynamics of Cell Function and Signaling
    MCB*4500 [1.00] Research Project in Molecular & Cellular Biology I
    MCB*4510 [1.00] Research Project in Molecular & Cellular Biology
    MCB*4600 [0.50] Topics in Molecular and Cellular Biology
    MICR*3090 [0.50] Mycology
    MICR*3220 [0.50] Plant Microbiology
    MICR*3230 [0.50] Immunology
    MICR*3330 [0.50] World of Viruses
    MICR*4010 [0.50] Pathogenic Microbiology
    MICR*4330 [0.50] Molecular Virology
    MICR*4430 [0.50] Medical Virology
    MICR*4520 [0.50] Microbial Cell Biology
    MICR*4530 [0.50] Immunology II
    PATH*3040 [0.50] Principles of Parasitology
University of Guelph
50 Stone Road East
Guelph, Ontario, N1G 2W1
Canada
519-824-4120