Microbial Sciences Minor

The Microbial Sciences

Microorganisms are ubiquitous components of natural and human engineered ecosystems, where they drive important processes like elemental cycling and pathogenic disease. The study of microbial biology encompasses techniques from microscopy and cultivation to high throughput genetics and computation, and in environments ranging from the human body to the entire ocean, and conditions from soils in upstate New York to liquids of the International Space Station. Microbiologists have a common interest in understanding the genomic and regulatory adaptations of microorganisms to the habitats in which they live (from within host cells to free-living bacteria in extreme environments), and the impacts of microorganisms on their surroundings. At the same time, because most elemental cycling on the planet is mediated by microorganisms, microbiologists investigate the impacts of habitat perturbations, including global climate change, on microbial function.

The minor in microbial sciences is intended for students who are either not enrolled in the Biology Major or who are taking a concentration other than Microbiology within the Biology Major. Student must complete an Introductory Course in Microbiology to gain important background in microbiological sciences. Next, students must take a course in Microbial Biology (Group A) to equip them with knowledge of microbial physiology, genetics, and genomics. Students must then take one course each from two general areas of microbiological research: Microbial Ecology, Diversity and Environmental Microbiology (Group B) and Applied and Pathogenic Microbiology (Group C). Students must also take a microbiology laboratory course. Students must satisfy a total of 15 credits in microbiology courses (which must come from at least 1 introductory course and one course in each of Groups A – C).

Students graduating with the Microbial Sciences Minor will find careers in areas including but not limited to: graduate studies in microbiology, microbial ecology, virology, industrial and food microbiology, microbial biotechnology, and human and veterinary medicine, leading to positions in academic institutions, government agencies; hospitals and aquaria; industries involving microbial technologies (i.e. biotechnology); food science, including fermentative industries and food safety; and government health agencies.

The Minor is available to students in all Colleges at Cornell University.
Should you be interested in a subject that is not currently listed, please contact the Undergraduate Program Coordinator, Daniel Francis (df467) and the Minor Advisor, Anthony Hay (agh5) to discuss. Only courses which are microbiology, and courses that pertain to the three focus areas of the minor will be considered.
Students wishing to count subjects taken while on study abroad should contact their Undergraduate Program Coordinator, Daniel Francis (df467) and the Minor Advisor, Anthony Hay (agh5). Students should be prepared to provide a syllabus for the course and the name and contact details for the course instructor. The Minor Advisor will review the syllabus and contact faculty at Cornell teaching similar subjects to check the appropriateness of credit. Generally speaking, courses that cover the same material as on-campus courses will be considered for credit.

How to Apply

Submit a copy of the Microbial Science Minor Application. If you have questions, contact minor advisor Anthony Hay.
Complete the courses required for the Microbial Science Minor.
In your second-to-last semester, prior to pre-enrollment, email the Undergraduate Program Coordinator, Daniel Francis, with a list of the courses that you have taken or plan to take to complete the minor.
Email the minor advisor with any questions or issues that arise while completing the minor.
A final grade audit will be completed a few weeks after graduation, and the minor will be added to your academic record at that time.

Requirements

To fulfill the minor, Students must

Students must take at least of 15 credits in microbiology courses.
At least 2 courses must be in Basic Microbiology (from Group A) to gain important background in microbiological sciences.
At least 1 course must be in Microbial Ecology and Environmental Microbiology (from Group B)
At least 1 course must be in Applied and Pathogenic Microbiology (from Group C).

Group A–Fundamental Biology of Microorganisms (2 courses required)

BioMi 1100 — Locker Rooms, Kitchens and Bedrooms: The Microbiology of College Life (3 cr, S)
BioMI 1400 - Antibiotics (3 cr, S)
BioMI 2900 – General Microbiology Lectures (3 cr; F, S)
BioMI 2911 – General Microbiology Laboratory (2 cr; F, S)
BioMI 4850 – Bacterial Genetics* (2 – 3 cr; F)

Group B – Microbial Ecology, Diversity and Environmental Microbiology (1 course required)

BIOMI 1120 — Microbes, the Earth, and Everything (3 cr; F)
BioMI 3500 – Marine Microbes & Disease (3 cr, F)
BioMI 2970 - The Principles of Pharmaceutical Science (2 cr; S)

Group C – Applied and Pathogenic Microbiology (1 course required)

BioMI 2500 – Public Health Microbiology (3 cr, F)
BIOMI 2600– Microbiology of Human Contagious Diseases (3 cr, S, SU)
BIOMI 2950- Biology of Infectious Disease: From Molecules to Ecosystems (3 cr, S)
BioMI 3210 – The Gut Microbiome* (3 cr, F)
BioMI 3310 – General Parasitology (2 cr, S)
BioMI/FDSC 3940 – Applied and Food Microbiology* (3 cr, F)
FDSC 3950 - Food Microbiology Labratory (3 cr, F)
BioMI 4040 – Pathogenic Bacteriology* (2 – 3 cr, S)
BioMI 4090 – Principles of Virology* (3 cr, F)
BioMI 4310 – Medical Parasitology (2 cr, F)
BIOMS 4340 – Cellular and Molecular Microbial Pathogenesis (3 cr; S)

All courses must be taken for a letter grade and students must receive a grade of “C” or better for the course to count toward the minor. Any undergraduate student at Cornell may enroll in the minor.

*Note that BioMI 2900 is a pre-requisite for most advanced classes in Microbiology

*All classes taken toward the major may not count towards the minor