Microbiology
Catalog pages 372-375
Subject abbreviation: MCBL College of Natural and Agricultural Sciences
Jason Stajich, Ph.D. Program Director Graduate Program, 1140 Batchelor Hall
- (800) 735-0717 or (951) 827-5688
microbiology.ucr.edu Microbiology / 370
program in Microbiology, a student must have a B.A. or B.S. degree from an accredited institution and an academic record that satisfies the minimum admission standards established by the UCR Graduate Division. In addition, all applicants must submit results of the GRE General Test (verbal, quantitative and analytical) at the time of application.
Although no specific undergraduate degree specialization is required, applicants should have an adequate background in the physical and biological sciences, including the following or equivalent courses:
CHEM 001A, CHEM 001B, CHEM 001C (General Chemistry), CHEM 008A and 08LA or CHEM 08HA and CHEM 8HLA, CHEM 008B and CHEM 08LB or CHEM 08HB and CHEM 8HLB, CHEM 008C and CHEM 08LC or CHEM 08HC and CHEM 8HLC (Organic Chemistry), BCH 110A, BCH 110B (Biochemistry), MATH 007A or MATH 009A, MATH 007B or MATH 009B (Calculus), STAT 100A or STAT 120A (Statistics), BIOL 102 (Genetics), BIOL 121A/MCBL 121A, BIOL 121L/MCBL 121L (Microbiology), BIOL 107A or BCH 110C (Molecular Biology) This list is intended to represent the minimum background required for students wishing to pursue a graduate degree in Microbiology. Additional course work and laboratory experience in microbiology, biochemistry or genetics is highly desirable. However, upon the recommendation of the graduate advisory committee, occasionally a student may be admitted into the graduate program with one or more course work deficiencies; such students must satisfy these course work deficiencies usually within the first and no later than within the second year of graduate study.
Course work The program is designed to prepare students for teaching and research careers in colleges and universities, as well as basic and applied research in private, industrial and government laboratories. To attain this goal, a three-tiered curriculum has been designed whereby students are expected to complete the following:
- 1. A core sequence of classes in microbiology:
MCBL 201 (Functional Diversity of Prokaryotes) or MCBL 202 (Microbial Pathogenesis and Physiology), BIOL 221/ MCBL 221 (Microbial Genetics), and MCBL 211/SWSC 211 (Microbial Ecology)
- 2. A selection of elective courses in microbiology
and other relevant fields chosen in consultation with the student’s major professor and the advisory committee in order to develop depth in particular areas of specialization
- 3. Research training in specific areas of
microbiology
The program stresses the importance of innovative and independent laboratory research as the major component of the student’s education.
In addition to the above course work, students must attend one seminar per week each quarter in programs collaborating with PHYS 02LA, PHYS 02LB, PHYS 02LC 1 1 1
Total Units 13 17 14
Junior Year Fall Winter Spring
BCH 100 4
Humanities/Social Sciences 4 4 4
BIOL 102 4
MCBL 121 4
PHIL 0094 4
Major Electives & Other Reqs 7
Elective 4 4
Total Units 16 16 14
Senior Year Fall Winter Spring
MCBL 125 4
Major Electives & Other Reqs. 8 8 7
MCBL 197 3 3 3
Total Units 15 15 14
Notes:
1 Some students will take courses in summer session to (i) reduce the unit load during the normal academic year (ii) complete the degree requirements in less than four years or (iii) enable the acquisition of a minor or double major in four years.
2 No more than 4 units can be applied toward the Major Electives unit requirement, unless approved by the Microbiology Steering Committee.
3 No more than 4 units can be applied toward the Other Requirements unit requirement, unless approved by the Microbiology Steering Committee.
4 Students are encouraged to take a class in ethics.
Graduate Program
The Graduate Program in Microbiology is an interdisciplinary program with participating faculty from the departments of Biology, Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Chemistry, Entomology, Environmental Sciences, Plant Pathology and Microbiology, and the Division of Biomedical Sciences. Faculty research interests are concentrated in several disciplines in the areas of basic and applied microbiology. These disciplines include the following:
- • Microbial Pathogenesis
- • Environmental Microbiology and Ecology
- • Microbial Evolution, Genomics, and Meta-
genomics
- • Molecular and Cellular Microbiology
Admission For admission into the graduate
or MATH 009B
- f) STAT 100A
- 2. Upper-Division Requirements (37 units)
- b) Major Electives. A minimum of 18 units
from the following to be selected in consultation with a faculty advisor: BIOL 128/CBNS 128, BIOL 157, BIOL 158, CBNS 101, ENSC 120/NEM 120, MCBL 120/BIOL 120/PLPA 120, MCBL 120L/ BIOL 120L/PLPA 120L, MCBL 122/BIOL 122, MCBL 123/BIOL 123/PLPA 123, MCBL 124/BIOL 124, MCBL 141/ENSC 141, MCBL 197, PLPA 134/BIOL 134, PLPA 134L/BIOL 134L
- 3. Other Requirements
For the Bachelor of Science degree, an additional 16 units in upper-division microbiology courses and/or substantive courses in a field or fields related to the major. Acceptable courses include BCH 102, BCH 110C, BIOL 107B, BIOL 109, BIOL 119, ENSC 133/MCBL 133, MCBL 190, MCBL 198-I3; a more complete list of acceptable courses is available at the CNAS Undergraduate Academic Advising Center.
For the Bachelor of Arts degree, the foreign language requirement may be fulfilled by completing level-four coursework or by demonstrating the equivalent proficiency in one foreign language.
- 4. Bachelor of Science Sample Program1
Freshman Year Fall Winter Spring
BIOL 005A, BIOL 005LA, or BIOL 020, BIOL 005B 5 4
CHEM 001A, CHEM 001B, CHEM 001C, 4 4 4
CHEM 01LA, CHEM 01LB, CHEM 01LC 1 1 1
Humanities/Social Sciences 4
NASC 093 2
Total Units 15 14 17
Sophomore Year Fall Winter Spring
CHEM 008A and 08LA or CHEM 08HA and CHEM 8HLA, CHEM 008B and CHEM 08LB or CHEM 08HB and CHEM 8HLB, CHEM 008C and CHEM 08LC or CHEM 08HC and CHEM 8HLC 4 4 4
Elective 4
Humanities/Social Sciences 4 371 / Programs and Courses MCBL 120L Introduction to Plant Pathology Laboratory (1) F Laboratory, 4 hours. Prerequisite(s): BIOL 005A, BIOL 005B; concurrent enrollment in BIOL 120/MCBL 120/PLPA 120 or consent of instructor; BIOL 121/ MCBL 121 and BIOL 124/MCBL 124 recommended. Covers fundamentals in the use of laboratory instru- ments and techniques for the detection, isolation, and identification of representative infectious agents that cause disease in plants. Cross-listed with BIOL 120L and PLPA 120L. Credit is not awarded for PLPA 210 if it has already been awarded for BIOL 120/MCBL 120/ PLPA 120 and/or BIOL 120L/MCBL 120L/PLPA 120L. Manosalva
MCBL 121 Introductory Microbiology (4) F, W Lecture, 3 hours; discussion, 1 hour. Prerequisite(s): BIOL 005A, BIOL 05LA or BIOL 020, BIOL 005B, BIOL 005C, CHEM 001C or CHEM 01HC, CHEM 008C and CHEM 08LC, or CHEM 08HC and CHEM 08HLC, MATH 007B or MATH 009B or MATH 09HB, PHYS 002C, PHYS 02LC, BCH 100 or BCH 110A (BCH 100 or BCH 110A may be taken concurrently); or consent of instructor. An intensive introduction to the funda- mental physiology and molecular biology of bacteria and viruses. Covers evolutionary origins of metabolic diversity, bacterial and viral molecular genetics, and an introduction to microbial pathogenesis. Cross-listed with BIOL 121. Hsiao, Ma, Roper
MCBL 121L Microbiology Laboratory (3) W, S Lecture, 1 hour; laboratory, 6 hours. Prerequisite(s): BIOL 121/ MCBL 121 with a grade of “C-” or better. Laboratory exercises in diagnostic bacteriology, basic virology, and epidemiology. Includes fundamental quantitative and diagnostic microbiological procedures, basic mechanisms of microbial genetic exchange, and a project examining bacterial epidemiology. Cross-listed with BIOL 121L. Coffey
MCBL 122 Food Microbiology (4) S Lecture, 3 hours; discussion, 1 hour. Prerequisite(s): BIOL 121/MCBL 121 with a grade of “C-” or better; BIOL 121L/ MCBL 121L. Covers spoilage and preservation of food; food quality and indicator organisms; the role of microorganisms in the production of dairy goods and fermented beverages; food-borne pathogens and microbiological production of toxins; and classical and modern molecular methods for detection of food microorganisms. Cross-listed with BIOL 122.
MCBL 123 Introduction to Comparative Virology (4) Lecture, 3 hours; discussion, 1 hour. Prerequisite(s): BIOL 005A, BIOL 05LA or BIOL 020, BIOL 005B, BIOL 005C, CHEM 001C or CHEM 01HC, CHEM 008C and CHEM 08LC or CHEM 08HC and CHEM 08HLC, MATH 007B or MATH 009B or MATH 09HB, PHYS 002C, PHYS 02LC, BCH 100 or BCH 110A, one course in statistics; or consent of instructor. Considers viruses as infectious agents of bacteria, plants, and animals (vertebrates and invertebrates). Compares the major groups of viruses to each other with respect to their biological and biochemical properties, molecular and genetic characteristics, and modes of replication. Cross-listed with BIOL 123 and PLPA 123. Rao
MCBL 124 Pathogenic Microbiology (4) S Lecture, 3 hours; discussion, 1 hour. Prerequisite(s): BIOL 121/ MCBL 121 with a grade of “C-” or better or consent of instructor. An intensive introduction to the funda- mental physiology and molecular biology of bacteria and viruses. Covers research strategies for examining microbial pathogenic mechanisms. Cross-listed with BIOL 124. Hai
MCBL 125 Experimental Microbiology (4) Lecture, 1.5 hours; workshop, 1 hour; laboratory, 6 hours. Prerequisite(s): upper division standing in Microbiolo- gy, BIOL 102, BIOL 107A, BIOL 121/MCBL 121, BIOL 121L/MCBL 121L or consent of instructor. Introduces the process of performing experimental research in a microbiology laboratory. Teaches skills used in formu- lating hypotheses, designing experiments, performing laboratory experiments, analyzing data, and preparing and presenting research in written and oral formats. Oral Qualifying Examination After completion of the preliminary examination, the qualifying committee is established, and the oral qualifying examination is normally taken no later than the eighth quarter (year three) of academic work, not counting summer quarters.
A qualifying committee is nominated by the graduate advisory committee and submitted to the graduate dean for approval. Suggestions of potential members of the qualifying committee may be submitted to the advisory committee by the student and the student’s major professor. The qualifying committee is composed of five faculty members: three with expertise in the area of specialization in microbiology, one representing a different area from microbiology, and one outside member. The student’s major professor may not serve on the qualifying committee. Prior to the oral qualifying examination, the student submits a written dissertation research proposal to the members of the qualifying committee. The oral examination covers the student’s area of specialization and research field and must be passed for the student to continue in the program. Upon successful completion of the qualifying examination, the student is advanced to candidacy. The qualifying examination may be repeated only once.
Dissertation and Final Oral Examination The dissertation committee is nominated by the graduate advisor for approval by the graduate dean (upon successful completion of the qualifying examination) and is composed of the student’s major professor and at least two other faculty members suggested by the student and the student’s major professor. Before approval of the dissertation, the student is expected to present orally the dissertation research at an announced defense seminar.
Teaching Requirement Two quarters of teaching experience is required, which may be satisfied by serving as a teaching assistant in any of the microbiology courses listed.
Foreign Language Requirement None
Normative Time to Degree 15 quarters
Master’s Degree
M.S. students must fulfill the requirements for Plan I (Thesis) of the Graduate Council. They must complete the core series of courses and three additional graduate level courses chosen in consultation with the student advisory committee. Plan I requires 36 units, of which 24 must be in graduate level courses. No more than 6 units of MCBL 290 level courses may be used to satisfy this unit requirement. The student must also submit an acceptable research thesis. The M.S. thesis committee, consisting of three members, which may be the same as the student advisory committee, is nominated by the graduate advisor after consultation with the student. The committee, once approved by the graduate dean, becomes responsible for the student’s academic guidance and evaluation. The master’s degree is conferred at the end of the academic quarter in which all requirements have been satisfied.
Normative Time to Degree 6 quarters
Doctoral Degree
Ph.D. students must meet all requirements of the Graduate Council. Students satisfactorily complete the core class requirements and a program of courses approved by the student advisory committee. The Ph.D. degree is awarded upon passing the preliminary and qualifying examinations and demonstrating an ability to carry out original research by preparing and submitting an acceptable dissertation.
Students enrolled in the Ph.D. program are expected to become actively engaged in a research project no later than the end of their first year, and research progress is monitored by the student’s advisory committee until the student advances to candidacy and a dissertation committee is appointed.
Preliminary Examination The preliminary examination, consisting of a written, comprehensive examination is based on general microbiology and required material in the student’s area of specialization. If a student fails this examination, the advisory committee recommends either additional course work in specific areas of weakness, transfer to a Microbiology / Middle East and Islamic Studies / 372
MCBL 262 Molecular Biology of Arthropod Disease Vectors (2) Seminar, 1 hour; discussion, 1 hour. Prerequisite(s): graduate standing or consent of instructor. Seminar series sponsored by the Center for Disease-Vector Research at the Institute for Integrative Genome Biology. Provides an opportunity for graduate students to discuss current issues of molecular biology and genomics of vector insects and pathogens they transmit with guest speakers. Course is repeatable to a maximum of 4 units. Cross-listed with ENTM 262.
MCBL 290 Directed Studies (1-6) Outside research, 3-18 hours. Prerequisite(s): graduate standing; con- sent of instructor and graduate advisor. Experimental or literature studies on specifically selected topics conducted under the direction of a faculty member. Graded Satisfactory (S) or No Credit (NC). Course is repeatable.
MCBL 297 Directed Research (1-6) Outside research, 3-18 hours. Prerequisite(s): graduate standing. Directed research in microbiology. Performed prior to advancement to candidacy and in preparation for thesis or dissertation projects. Graded Satisfactory (S) or No Credit (NC). Course is repeatable to a maximum of 99 units.
MCBL 299 Research for Thesis or Dissertation (1-12) Outside research, 3-36 hours. Prerequisite(s): gradu- ate standing. Original research in the area selected for the advanced degree. Graded Satisfactory (S) or No Credit (NC). Course is repeatable.