Getting Started (Majors Guide)

College: CNS

 (Revised Spring 2018)  

How to Explore/Get Started in the Major

Suggested General Education Courses

Under the new guidelines students are still required to take two courses, one in U.S. Diversity and one in Global Diversity. Students entering in Fall 2018 are expected to take one of these diversity courses, either U.S. or Global, in their first year on campus.  For Fall 2018 Registration, look for courses with DU (formerly U) and DG (formerly G) to help students stay on track.  Any course labled DU will satisfy the requirement for a U.S. diversity course and any course labeled DG will satisfy the the requirement for Global diversity course. Course planning guidelines, including guidelines for students, are available at www.umass.edu/gened.

Major and Pre-requisite Courses

Required prerequisites:

  • CHEM 111 and CHEM 112 (“C-” or higher required in both)
  • MATH 127 and either MATH 128 or STATISTC 240
  • BIOLOGY 151 and then BIOLOGY 152 plus BIOLOGY 153 lab (a “C-” or higher is required in these courses)

Minimum grades in prerequisite courses :
A “C-” is required in CHEM 111 to enroll in CHEM 112.
A "C-" is required in CHEM 112 to enroll in CHEM 261.
A “B-” is required in MICROBIO 310 and 312 to enroll in Microbiology courses over 312.

How to Declare the Major

To graduate on time, students should declare by sophomore year. See the Chief Undergraduate Advisor to do so.

Summary of Requirements for the Major

Twenty-seven Microbiology credits plus additional science/math credits in other departments as follows:

  • BIOLOGY 151, 152, 153  
  • CHEM 111, 112, 261, 262, 269
  • MATH 127 and either MATH 128 or STATISTC 240
  • PHYSICS 131, 132
  • Biochem 420

The twenty-seven credits in Microbiology courses must include MICROBIO 310, 312, 320, 330, 360 and 480 as well as two upper level Microbiology lab courses and the IE Requirement.

Is there a minor? If so what are the requirements?
Yes. The Microbiology minor requires 15 credits in courses numbered 300 and higher; these must include MICROBIO 310 and 265 (application for 265 found at https://www.micro.umass.edu).

For further information, contact:
Dr. Heather Reed
hreed@umass.edu
**Please make appointments by using the following link: https://umass.campus.eab.com**