Microbiology is the study of microscopic forms of life such as bacteria and viruses and the immune response to these microorganisms. It is a broad, multi-disciplinary field using techniques of genetics, chemistry, biochemistry, physiology, ecology, and pathology to study the biology of microorganisms from gene expression at the molecular level to the composition of populations of microorganisms.

Exciting discoveries involving microorganisms have important and far reaching implications for biotechnology, molecular biology, medicine, public health and the environment. AIDS and other important diseases present new and exciting challenges for microbiologists in the public health field; and advances in recombinant DNA technology, immunology, and the ability to manipulate the biology of microbial cells have revolutionized science and thrust microbiology into the center of the rapidly expanding arena of biotechnology.

Requirements for the Bachelor of Science degree in Microbiology at the University of Maine are satisfied with completion of at least 120 degree hours with a cumulative grade point average of at least a 2.0 overall in microbiology courses.

Requirements of the Microbiology Degree Program:

First Year Seminar:
NFA 117 Issues and Opportunities (1 cr)

English:
ENG 101 College Composition (3 cr)
Humanities and Social Sciences:
Elective Courses (foreign Languages encouraged) (18 cr)

Biology:
BIO 100 Basic Biology (4cr)
BIO 200 Biology of Organisms (4 cr)

Mathematics:
MAT 126 Calculus I (4cr)
MAT 232 Principles of Statistical Inference (3 cr)

Physics:
PHY 111 General Physics (4 cr)
PHY 112 General Physics (4 cr)

Chemistry:
CHY 121 Introduction to Chemistry (3cr)
CHY 123 Introduction to Chemistry Laboratory (1cr)
CHY 122 The Molecular Basis of Chemical Change (3cr)
CHY 124 The Molecular Basis of Chemical Change (1cr)
CHY 251 Organic Chemistry Lecture I (3cr)
CHY 252 Organic Chemistry Lecture II (3cr)
CHY 253 Organic Chemistry Laboratory I (2cr)
CHY 254 Organic Chemistry Laboratory II (2cr)

Biochemistry:
BMB 322 Biochemistry (3 cr)
BMB 323 Biochemistry Laboratory (1 cr)
BMB 464 Analytical and Preparative Biochemical Laboratory Methods (4 cr)

Molecular Biology:
BMB 280 Cellular and Molecular Biology (3cr)
BMB 400 Molecular Genetics (3cr)

Microbiology:
BMB 300 General Microbiology (3cr)
BMB 305 Microbiology Laboratory (2cr)
BMB 410 Diversity of Microorganisms (3cr)
BMB 420 Pathogenic Microbiology (3cr)
BMB 420 Pathogenic Microbiology Laboratory (1cr)
BMB 430 Bacterial Physiology (3cr)
BMB 431 Microbial Physiology Laboratory (1cr)
BMB 440 Introductory Immunology (3cr)
BMB 441 Immunology Laboratory (1cr)
BMB 455 Virology (3cr)

BMB 456 Virology Laboratory (1cr)
BMB 471 Cell Culture Laboratory (1cr)