School of
Integrative Biology
Undergraduate

Undergraduate Academic Programs

Certificate in Infection Biology

The Certificate in Infection Biology, jointly administered by the School of Molecular and Cellular Biology (MCB) and the School of Integrative Biology (IB), allows undergraduate students to obtain recognition for completing coursework that provides a foundational understanding of the study of Infection Biology from the molecular to ecosystem level.

Students pursuing further graduate or professional education or immediate employment in health-related professions such as medicine, veterinary medicine, dentistry, pharmacy and education, or in food, pharmaceutical or other health-related industries will benefit from a well-considered set of courses that together help them be more informed, in a well-rounded way, about what Infection Biology is and how it affects each of us in one way or another. Students interested in law might use this certificate as a springboard to policymaking in government and non-governmental organizations. Students seeking an MS or PhD degree in any subfield of biology would benefit from understanding in more detail the issues surrounding infection biology.

For completion of the certificate, students must do the following:
  1. Declare their intention to complete the certificate and develop a plan of study in by completing the online form.
  2. Earn at least twelve hours of coursework selected from the list below.
  3. Complete the online checklist no later than the final day of classes in the student’s final term to affirm that the requirements for the certificate have been met.

Students completing the certificate will be presented with an official certificate document. Although the certificate will not appear on a student’s transcript, students will be free to use this credential on any resumé or application for advanced study.

Notes:
  • Students are not guaranteed a seat in a course required by the certificate but are welcome to enroll in courses where seats are available after any restriction, which may have been placed, has been removed.
  • Courses selected at the 400-level may not be used to satisfy requirements of more than one MCB or IB Certificate.

Certificate in Infection Biology eligibility requirements:

Declare an MCB, BIOC, or IB major or minor.

Complete 12-14 advanced credit hours of required and elective courses in their declared major. To satisfy the requirements of this certificate, a minimum of 5 courses from the lists below are required, some of which can be used to satisfy their major requirements. At least one elective course must have an MCB rubric and at least one elective course must have an IB rubric.

Required Courses

  • MCB 100 (Introductory Microbiology) or MCB 300 (Microbiology) (3 credits)
  • MCB 435/IB 442 Evolution of Infectious Disease (3 credits)
  • MCB 436 (Global Biosecurity) (1 credit)

Elective IB courses (choose at least 1 course)

  • IB 360 Evolution & Human Health (3 credits)
  • IB 361 Ecology & Human Health (3 credits)
  • IB 364 Genomics & Human Health (3 credits)
  • IB 481 Vector-borne Diseases (4 credits)
  • IB 494 Theoretical Biology and Models (4 credits)

Elective IB courses (choose at least 1 course)

  • MCB 408 Immunology (3 credits)
  • MCB 426 Bacterial Pathogenesis (3 credits)
  • MCB 428 Microbial Pathogens Laboratory (2 credits)
  • MCB 493 section VIR Virology (3 credits)
  • MCB 432 Computing in Molecular Biology (3 hours)