Overview
The University of Miami is one of only four institutions in the United States that offers a four-year combined undergraduate program in Microbiology and Immunology. You will study, a) microorganisms (which can be good and bad for your health, found in food, and in our environments) and b) how your body’s immune defense system defeats and controls harmful microorganisms. Our major provides you with courses of general interest as well as a solid preparation for future scientists or medical professionals. To apply this knowledge to health policy, we partnered with the School of Nursing Public Health program to offer an optional dual degree and double major track opportunity for our students.
Microorganisms: You will learn about bacteria that cause serious infections including the plague, meningitis, and tuberculosis; not so serious infections like staphylococci causing a boil; and those that inhabit your bodies in symbiotic relationships (your microbiome). Regarding viruses, you will learn about emerging viruses like SARS-CoV-2 (causative agent of COVID-19) and Zika, endemic and pandemic viruses like the flu, and those causing chronic infections like HIV/AIDS. Parasites such as those cause malaria and fungi round out the breadth and depth of our offered coursework.
Immune system: You will study its mechanisms to avoid microbial infections in the first place; how it will cause the body’s resistance to them either by natural infection or vaccination; how pathogens like HIV and tumors are able to overcome the multiple barriers of the immune system to cause AIDS and cancer, and their up-to-date virological and, respectively, immunological therapies. Finally, you will understand how a mistuned immune system can cause allergies such as asthma or autoimmune diseases such as type I diabetes.
Our program provides you with:
- a broad knowledge base
- laboratory experiences and the opportunity to conduct research in one of our laboratories at the Miller School of Medicine
- the ability to attend a broad spectrum of seminars offered through our home department at the Miller School of Medicine
- opportunities to communicate and write in a scientific manner
- exposure to critical thinking within our field
Students that have finished our program have gone on to careers at other prestigious institutions which include research, medicine, dentistry, physician assistant, pharmacy, optometry, epidemiology, law and many more.
Curriculum Requirements
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required MIC Courses | ||
| Take the following: 1 | ||
| MIC 301 | Introduction to Microbes and the Immune System 4 | 3 |
| MIC 304 | Introduction to Microbes and the Immune System (Lab) 4,7 | 3 |
| Select one of the following: 1 | 3 | |
MIC 319 | 2 | |
| Immunobiology 3 | ||
| Select one of the following: 1 | 3 | |
| Modern Plagues and Society 2 | ||
| Medical Parasitology 3 | ||
| Microbial Pathogenesis and Physiology 2 | ||
MIC 436 | 3 | |
| Elective MIC Courses | 15 | |
| Modern Plagues and Society 2 | ||
MIC 319 | 2 | |
| Immunobiology 3 | ||
| Medical Parasitology 3 | ||
| Microbial Pathogenesis and Physiology 2 | ||
MIC 436 | 3 | |
| Advanced Topics in Microbiology and Immunology (A) 3 | ||
| Research in MIC for Credit | ||
| (only 6 credit hours may be applied to count toward the 15 MIC Elective hours, any credits over 6 count as elective credits toward the 120 credits required for graduation or 150 credits for dual degree seeking students) | ||
| Special Projects in Immunobiology 4,5 | ||
| Special Projects in Microbiology 4,5 | ||
| Special Projects in Parasitology 4,5 | ||
MIC 454 | 4,5 | |
MIC 455 | 4,5 | |
MIC 456 | 4,5 | |
| Outside Electives that can be taken to count toward the 15 credit hours above (2 courses maximum) | ||
| Introduction to Public Health (Required for students pursuing an additional major or degree in Public Health) 9 | ||
| Introductory Epidemiology (Required for students pursuing an additional major or degree in Public Health) 9 | ||
| Cellular and Molecular Biology | ||
or BIL 250 | Genetics | |
| Microbes and the Environment Either course is a Requirement for MIC/MSC double majors | ||
or MBE 465 | Marine Comparative Immunology | |
| Total MIC Credits for Major = 12 cr. Required MIC courses + 15 cr. Elective MIC courses = 27 | ||
| Required Natural Science Courses | ||
| Chemistry Courses: | 16 | |
| Principles of Chemistry and Chemistry Laboratory I | ||
| Introduction to Structure and Dynamics and Chemical Dynamics Laboratory | ||
| Organic Reactions and Synthesis and Organic Reactions and Synthesis Laboratory | ||
| Other Required Natural Science Courses: | ||
| General Biology and General Biology Laboratory | ||
| Evolution and Biodiversity and Evolution and Biodiversity Laboratory | ||
| Biochemistry for the Biomedical Sciences | ||
| Select one of the following Physics Options: | 10 | |
| Option 1: | ||
| College Physics I and College Physics Laboratory I | ||
| College Physics II and College Physics Laboratory II | ||
| Option 2: | ||
| University Physics I for the Sciences and College Physics Laboratory I | ||
| University Physics II for the Sciences and College Physics Laboratory II | ||
| Select one of the following Calculus Options: 6 | 8 | |
| Option 1: | ||
| Calculus Concepts with Foundations A and Calculus Concepts with Foundations B and Calculus II | ||
| Option 2: | ||
| Calculus I and Calculus II | ||
| Option 3: | ||
| Calculus I and Calculus II | ||
| Select one of the following Computer Science or Statistics courses: | 3 | |
| Introductory Statistics in Health Care | ||
or BPH 465 | Public Health Statistics and Data Management | |
| Computer Programming I | ||
| Computing for Scientists | ||
| Introduction to Probability and Statistics | ||
| Introduction to Biobehavioral Statistics Section B | ||
| Quantitative Methods for Sociologists | ||
| General Education Requirements | ||
| Written Communication Skills: | ||
| WRS 105 | First-Year Writing I | 3 |
| ENG 106 | Writing About Literature and Culture | 3 |
| or WRS 106 | First-Year Writing II | |
| or WRS 107 | First-Year Writing II: STEM | |
| Quantitative Skills: | ||
| Calculus Concepts with Foundations A fulfilled through the major | ||
or MTH 161 | Calculus I | |
or MTH 171 | Calculus I | |
| Areas of Knowledge: | ||
| Arts and Humanities Cognate | 9 | |
| People and Society Cognate (BPH fulfills if Dual Degree or Dual Major) | 9 | |
| STEM Cognate (9 credits) (fulfilled through the major) | ||
| Additional Required Courses | ||
| SOC 101 and PSY 110 are required for students that are Premed and/or are using to satisfy a cognate | ||
| SOC 101 | Introduction to Sociology | 3 |
| PSY 110 | Introduction to Psychology | 3 |
| Language Courses | 9 | |
| Electives | 17 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 120 | |
- 1
Required of all Microbiology and Immunology majors.
- 2
MIC 201, MIC 319, MIC 323, GSC 309 Fall Semester only or by announcement
- 3
MIC 321, MIC 322, MIC 436, MIC 460 Spring Semester only or by announcement
- 4
- 5
MIC 451, MIC 452, MIC 453, MIC 454, MIC 455, MIC 456 all require that you have already completed MIC 304 and earned at least a B and have a 3.0 cumm GPA with permission of Program Director or Roger, Fall and Spring Semesters
- 6
Depends on Math placement from SAT/ACT or ALEKS score.
- 7
University writing credit course
- 8
CHM 121 requires as a prerequisite or co-requisite MTH 140
- 9
BPH 206 and BPH 208 can both count toward MIC, if you are pursuing an additional major or degree in MIC. BPH minors, may only use BPH 206 or 208 toward the MIC major elective credits.
- *
All MIC majors are required to have a minor (science or non-science). Students will receive a CHM minor provided that they earn a C- or better in every course of the minor while in residence at UM. A total of 19 credits are required for the CHM minor. All students should declare their CHM minor when they begin our program in ASHE 200 by filling out a change of major form. On this form, you can declare also additional majors/minors as well as cognates.
- **
Transfer students seeking a Microbiology and Immunology major must earn at least 12 credit hours taken in residence in the UM Department of Microbiology and Immunology beyond MIC 301 in the courses listed above for majors.
Sample Plan of Study
This is a 4 year sample plan of study that assumes courses are taken during the fall and spring.
This is a guide and is not meant to take the place of the advice of your major advisor, you should consult with them before making any changes.
| Freshman Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credit Hours | |
| MIC 304, 201, 301, or MIC 319 | Introduction to Microbes and the Immune System (Lab) or Modern Plagues and Society or Introduction to Microbes and the Immune System or | 3 |
| BIL 150 | General Biology | 4 |
| BIL 151 | General Biology Laboratory | 1 |
| CHM 121 | Principles of Chemistry | 4 |
| CHM 113 | Chemistry Laboratory I | 1 |
| WRS 105 | First-Year Writing I | 3 |
| PSY 110 | Introduction to Psychology (People & Society Cognate) | 3 |
| Credit Hours | 19 | |
| Spring | ||
| MIC 301 | Introduction to Microbes and the Immune System | 3 |
| MIC 304 | Introduction to Microbes and the Immune System (Lab) | 2 |
| BIL 160 | Evolution and Biodiversity | 4 |
| BIL 161 | Evolution and Biodiversity Laboratory | 1 |
| CHM 221 | Introduction to Structure and Dynamics | 4 |
| CHM 205 | Chemical Dynamics Laboratory | 1 |
| WRS 106, ENG 106, or WRS 107 | First-Year Writing II or Writing About Literature and Culture or First-Year Writing II: STEM | 3 |
| Credit Hours | 18 | |
| Sophomore Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| MIC 319 or MIC 201 | and MIC 304 if MIC 303 taken prior or Modern Plagues and Society | 3 |
| CHM 222 | Organic Reactions and Synthesis | 4 |
| CHM 206 | Organic Reactions and Synthesis Laboratory | 2 |
| MTH 161 | Calculus I | 4 |
| Arts and Humanities Cognate Course | 3 | |
| Foreign Language | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 19 | |
| Spring | ||
| MIC 321 | Immunobiology (or MIC 322 or MIC 436 or MIC 460) | 3 |
| BMB 401 | Biochemistry for the Biomedical Sciences | 4 |
| MTH 162 | Calculus II | 4 |
| BIL 255 or 250 | Cellular and Molecular Biology (Optional elective in MIC) or Genetics | 3 |
| SOC 101 | Introduction to Sociology (or Foreign Language) | 3 |
| Recommended MCAT, GRE, DAT or OAT... | ||
| Credit Hours | 17 | |
| Junior Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| MIC 323 | Microbial Pathogenesis and Physiology | 3 |
| GSC 309 or MBE 465 | Microbes and the Environment (Optional elective credit in MIC) or Marine Comparative Immunology | 3 |
| PHY 101 | College Physics I | 4 |
| PHY 106 | College Physics Laboratory I | 1 |
| Foreign Language | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 14 | |
| Spring | ||
| MIC 436 | 3 | |
| People and Society Cognate | 3 | |
| PHY 102 | College Physics II | 4 |
| PHY 108 | College Physics Laboratory II | 1 |
| Statistics or Computer Science Course | 3-4 | |
| Computer Programming I | ||
| Computing for Scientists | ||
| Introduction to Probability and Statistics | ||
| Introduction to Biobehavioral Statistics Section B | ||
| Quantitative Methods for Sociologists | ||
| Arts and Humanities Cognate Course | 3 | |
| Possible MCAT, GRE, DAT or OAT... | ||
| Credit Hours | 17-18 | |
| Senior Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| Choose one of the following: | 2-6 | |
| Special Projects in Immunobiology | ||
| Special Projects in Microbiology | ||
| Special Projects in Parasitology | ||
MIC 454 | ||
MIC 455 | ||
MIC 456 | ||
| Applications to Medical or Graduate School | ||
| CHM Elective for Minor | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| People and Society Cognate Course | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 11-15 | |
| Spring | ||
| MIC 322 | Medical Parasitology | 3 |
| Choose one of the following: | 2-6 | |
| Special Projects in Immunobiology | ||
| Special Projects in Microbiology | ||
| Special Projects in Parasitology | ||
MIC 454 | ||
MIC 455 | ||
MIC 456 | ||
| Elective | 3 | |
| Arts and Humanities Cognate Course | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 11-15 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 126-135 | |
Mission
Our primary goal is to emphasize basic as well as medical-focused science and instill in our students the desire for lifelong learning. We are unique program in that we have a dual presence at the Miller School of Medicine as well as the Coral Gables Campuses. Research opportunities and laboratory engagement help create knowledge in our students while preparing them to become active members of the scientific and public communities.
Student Learning Outcomes
- Students will learn to write scientifically using the appropriate style, terminology and methodology pertaining to their major area of study.
- Students will demonstrate practical knowledge in microbiology and immunology.
- Students will be able to apply their knowledge in scientific manner to deduce outcomes.
