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Aquatic Microbiology Option for Microbiology Majors

Aquatic Microbiology Option for Microbiology Majors

Scuba diver collecting samples in shallow ocean water.

The Aquatic Microbiology Option focuses on how bacteria, archaea, and viruses are integral parts of stream, estuarine, and marine ecosystems. This option encompasses a core of oceanography and microbiology courses with heavy coverage of aquatic systems to provide a foundation of knowledge based in the ecology of ecosystems inclusive of microbial processes. It is designed to provide a microbiology major with a detailed understanding of the role that microbes play in biogeochemical cycles as well as host/ecosystem physiology. This option complements the Marine Studies Initiative, adding to the scientific opportunities of students focusing their studies on water habitats.

Courses used to satisfy the Aquatic Microbiology option requirements may also satisfy the Upper-Division Microbiology Electives and Upper-Division Microbiology laboratory requirements in the Microbiology major.

Required courses

13 credits

MB 314. Aquatic Microbiology (3) Syllabus
MB 420. Microbial Genomes, Biogeochemistry, and Diversity (3) Syllabus
MB 448. Microbial Ecology (3) Syllabus
OC 201. *Oceanography (4)

Additional courses

At least 8 credits

BI 351. Marine Ecology (3)
BI 373. Field Methods in Marine Ecology (3)
BI 450. Marine Biology and Ecology (15)
BI/FW 464. Marine Conservation Biology (3)
BI 495. Disease Ecology (3)
BOT 416. Aquatic Botany (4)
BOT 476. Introduction to Computing in the Life Sciences (3)
BOT 480. Photosynthesis and Photobiology (3)
FW/OC 434. Estuarine Ecology (4)
FW 456. Limnology (5)
MB/FW 491. Fish Diseases in Conservation Biology and Aquaculture (3)
MB/FW 496. Fish Diseases in Conservation Biology and Aquaculture Lab (2)

Total= 21 minimum credits

See what you can do in aquatic microbiology courses