Microbiology

MICROBIOLOGY

Chair: Donald N. Wright
Graduate Coordinator: F. Brent Johnson
887 WIDB
Provo, UT 84602-5253
(801) 378-2331

THE PROGRAM OF STUDIES

Graduate studies in microbiology and molecular biology emphasize a combination of both course work and research experience. The department faculty provide current theory and informational material in a broad collection of courses and mentor graduate students in purposeful research efforts that lead to publication of research work in leading science journals. Completion of degree programs in the department qualify our graduates for further graduate study at other universities; employment in educational, industrial, medical and research institutions; or postdoctoral research opportunities leading to careers as productive research or academic scientists.

The Department of Microbiology offers two degrees: Microbiology—MS and Microbiology—PhD. The department also offers an integrated degree, Microbiology—BS/MS, and the two following interdepartmental degrees: Molecular Biology—MS and Molecular Biology—PhD

Areas of specialization include:

• Microbiology—MS: Clinical Laboratory Science, Immunology, Microbiology, Microbial Physiology, and Virology.
• Microbiology—PhD: Immunology, Microbiology, Microbial Physiology, and Virology.

Typically, there are from twenty to thirty graduate students in the department at any one time. Approximately one-third of them are PhD students and the remainder are MS students and students in the BS/MS integrated program. Average times in the programs are about two years for an MS degree, about three years beyond the master's for the PhD degree, and about five years for the PhD, going directly from the bachelor's without the master's degree.

Admission and Entry.

All graduate programs in microbiology have the same admission and entry requirements:

• Semesters of entry and application deadlines: fall (preferred), February 1 (U.S. and international); winter, June 30 (U.S. and international).
• Entrance examination: GRE general test.
• Statement of intent must explicitly state field of interest and career goals.

Microbiology—(BS/MS Integrated)

The integrated microbiology program is a five-year curriculum during which students simultaneously work for both the BS and MS in microbiology. The purpose of this program is to increase flexibility of course scheduling, decrease the time normally necessary to complete both degrees independently, and increase opportunity for student laboratory research. The specific requirements for this program are basically the same as those for the MS degree in microbiology but include the following:

Admission and Entry.

• Program applications must be received during the sixth semester of study. Students unable to complete all course requirements by the end of a total of five years of matriculation will not be accepted.
• Applicants must have a minimum 3.3 cumulative GPA and no grade lower than a B in major or supportive science courses.

Requirements for Degree.

• Credit hours: minimum 158 credit hours including 30 hours of graduate-level (500 or 600) courses, of which 6 thesis hours (Mcbio 699R) are required.
• Required courses: Math 119, Stat 222, Mcbio 130, Phscs 105, 106, 107, 108, Chem 105, 106, 107, 226, 351, 352, 353, 481, 689, Zool 503, Mcbio 230, 265, 291, 351, 365, 402, 403, 404, 425, 430, 441, 442, 481, 502, 504; 691R each semester after acceptance; an additional 18 hours must be completed from graduate-level courses including 695R.
• Minor (optional): any approved minor in biological or physical science.
• One semester of approved teaching experience.
• Thesis: standard university thesis or journal publication format.
• Examinations: (A) oral examination on course work and (B) oral examination on thesis.

Microbiology—MS

Admission and Entry.

• See preceding general requirements.
• Prerequisite: baccalaureate degree in microbiology or equivalent discipline; one year of inorganic chemistry (including laboratory); one semester of quantitative analysis; one year of organic chemistry; one year of general physics at Phscs 105 level or higher; one semester of calculus (Math 119 or equivalent); Mcbio 351, 402, 403, 404, or equivalent; Stat 222.

Requirements for Degree.

• Credit hours (30 hours): minimum 24 course work hours plus 6 thesis hours (Mcbio 699R).
• Required courses: Mcbio 691R (attendance required each semester of residence), Chem 481, Zool 503.
• Minor (optional): any approved minor in biological or physical science.
• Approved teaching experience of one semester.
• Thesis: standard university thesis or journal publication format.
• Examination: (A) oral examination on course work and (B) oral examination on thesis.

Molecular Biology—MS

The molecular biology program is a multidepartmental program in the College of Biology and Agriculture that allows students to learn modern procedures and techniques used in research at the molecular level. Refer to the Molecular Biology section of this catalog for a program description.

Admission and Entry.

See preceding general requirements. Students should apply to the molecular biology program in the college and designate microbiology as the study specialization.

Requirements for Degree.

• Prerequisite: baccalaureate degree in microbiology or equivalent discipline; one semester of quantitative analysis; one year of organic chemistry; one year of general physics at Phscs 105 level or higher; one semester of calculus (Math 119 or equivalent)
• Required courses: for minimum degree requirements see Molecular Biology section of this catalog. Additional departmental course requirements include Zool 503, Mcbio 404, 561; Mcbio 691R each semester; Stat 222.

Microbiology—PhD

Admission and Entry.

See preceding general requirements.

Requirements for Degree.

• Credit hours: candidates without a master's degree: 54 semester hours beyond baccalaureate, including no more than 18 hours of dissertation credit. Minimum 36 hours beyond master's degree, including 18 hours of dissertation (Mcbio 799R).
• Required courses: Chem 367 or 461; 481; Mcbio 561, 691R (attendance required each semester of residence); Zool 503, Stat 222.
• Minor (optional): any approved minor in biological or physical science.
• Two semesters of approved teaching experience.
• Written qualifying examination before selection of dissertation topic (may be waived if bachelor's or master's degree was obtained from BYU).
• Skill requirement: experience in statistics required and other courses as required by the graduate committee
• Dissertation: standard university dissertation or journal publication format.
• Examinations: (A) written and oral comprehensive examination on completion of skill requirement and all course work and (B) oral defense of dissertation.
• Two semesters of registration are required following successful completion of the comprehensive examination.

Molecular Biology—PhD

Admission and Entry.

See preceding general requirements. Application should be made to the Molecular Biology Program, designating microbiology as the specialization of study. See Molecular Biology section of this catalog.

Requirements for Degree.

• Credit hours: candidates without a master's degree: 54 semester hours beyond baccalaureate including no more than 18 hours of dissertation credit. Minimum 36 hours beyond master's degree, including 18 hours of dissertation (Mcbio 799R).
• Required courses: for minimum degree requirements see Molecular Biology section of this catalog. Additional departmental course requirements include Mcbio 691R each semester; Chem 367 or 461, Zool 503, and one of Mcbio 502, 611, 504, or 551; Stat 222.
• Minor: any approved minor in biological or physical science. None is required.
• Two semesters of approved teaching experience.
• Written qualifying examination before selection of dissertation topic (may be waived if bachelor's or master's degree were obtained from BYU).
• Skill requirement: experience in statistics required and other courses as required by the graduate committee.
• Dissertation: standard university dissertation or journal publication format.
• Examinations: (A) written and oral comprehensive examination on completion of skill requirement and all course work; (B) oral defense of dissertation.
• Two semesters of enrollment are required after successful completion of the comprehensive examination.

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE

The department offers to qualified students financial assistance in the form of teaching or research assistantships, fellowships, scholarships, or tuition waivers.

RESOURCES AND OPPORTUNITIES

Electron Optics Laboratory. In the Electron Optics Laboratory researchers can accomplish all standard electron optics procedures. The laboratory has transmission and scanning electron microscopes equipped with X-ray microanalysis capabilities, plus accessory equipment for freeze-fracture, freeze-drying, and necessary support facilities, including confocal laser scan microscopy.

Miscellaneous Campus Facilities. On the Provo campus are greenhouses, gardens, an arboretum, a small animal vivarium, and a tissue culture room. Laboratory facilities include gas chromatography-mass spectrometers, isotope ratio mass spectrometers, transmission and scanning electron microscopes, ultracentrifuges, visible ultraviolet and infrared spectrophotometers, gas chromatographs, high-performance liquid chromatographs, infrared gas analyzers, atomic absorption spectroscopy, polymerase chain reaction thermocyclers, flow cytometers, and many other items.

Faculty research interests currently include: clinical microbiology; clinical laboratory science; immunology; molecular biology and genetics; oncology; parasitology; physiology; virology.

For a more detailed description of the graduate program requirements, send for a copy of the department's graduate student handbook.

COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

Class Schedule

502. Immunobiology. (4)

Prerequisite: Mcbio 402 or equivalent.

Literature review of current topics in immunology.

504. Molecular Biology of Animal Viruses. (4)

Prerequisite: Mcbio 404 or equivalent.

Molecular aspects of viral replication and infection.

551. Microbial Physiology. (5)

Prerequisite: Mcbio 351, Chem 481.

561. Radioisotope Methods. (2)

Prerequisite: college physics.

601. Molecular Approaches to Microbial Pathogenesis. (2)

Prerequisite: Mcbio 403.

Mechanisms of pathogenesis in host-parasite relationships.

611. Cellular Immunology and Immunogenetics. (2)

Prerequisite: Mcbio 502.

629. Advanced Clinical Laboratory Science. (3)

Clinical techniques and their relationship to disease. Topics in hematology, microbiology, immuno- hematology, and clinical chemistry.

631. Molecular Mechanisms in Virology. (2)

Prerequisite: Mcbio 504; Chem 581 or equivalent.

Selected topics in molecular functions of animal viruses.

632. Cell and Tissue Culture Techniques. (2)

Prerequisite: Mcbio 504; Chem 581 or equivalent.

Advanced procedures in cell culture.

642. Molecular Biology of the Cell. (3)

Prerequisite: Mcbio 441.

Structure and function of the prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells at the molecular level. Emphasis on molecular aspects of membranes, cytoskeletons, organelles, cell-to-cell communication, and cell movement.

651R. Special Topics in Microbiology. (2-5)

652R. Special Topics in Clinical Laboratory Science. (1-2)

671. Clinical Correlation. (2)

Correlating laboratory data with the diagnosis, pathogenesis, progress, and treatment of disease.

691R. Graduate Seminar. (1)

695R. Research. (Arr.)

699R. Master's Thesis. (1-9)

799R. Doctoral Dissertation. (1-9)

FACULTY 

ANDERSON, SHAUNA C., Professor. PhD, University of Washington, 1984. Medical Technology; Clinical Chemistry.

HARKER, ALAN R., Associate Professor. PhD, University of Utah, 1982. Microbial Physiology.

JENSEN, JAMES B., Professor. PhD, Auburn University, 1976. Immunology; Parasitology.

JOHNSON, F. BRENT, Professor. PhD, Brigham Young University, 1970. Virology.

LEAVITT, RONALD W., Associate Professor. PhD, University of California, San Diego, 1975. Molecular Biology.

MCCLEARY, WILLIAM R., Assistant Professor. PhD, University of California, Berkeley, 1990. Molecular Biology.

MURRAY, BYRON K., Professor. PhD, Brigham Young University, 1971. Virology.

NORTH, JAMES A., Professor. PhD, University of Utah, 1964. Virology.

O'NEILL, KIM L., Associate Professor. DPhil, New University of Ulster, Northern Ireland, 1986. Genetics; Oncology.

ROBISON, RICHARD A., Assistant Professor. PhD, Brigham Young University, 1988. Molecular Biology; Immunology.

WOODWARD, SCOTT R., Associate Professor. PhD, Utah State University, 1983. Molecular Biology.

WRIGHT, DONALD N., Professor. PhD, Iowa State University of Science and Technology, 1964. Clinical Microbiology.

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