BSc (Hons) Microbiology
Overview
Students enter Second Science Microbiology First Science Area of Study: Biological and Chemical Sciences (CK402) provided they have passed First Science.
BSc Ordinary Degree - NFQ Level 7, Major Award
Students who pass Third Year may choose not to proceed to Fourth Year and may opt instead to be conferred with a BSc Ordinary Degree.
Programme Requirements
For information about modules, module choice, options and credit weightings, please go to Programme Requirements.
Programme Requirements
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | ||
| Students take 60 credits as follows: | ||
| Core Modules | ||
| BC1001 | Introduction to Biochemistry and the Biological Basis of Disease | 5 |
| BL1002 | Cells, Biomolecules, Genetics and Evolution | 5 |
| BL1004 | Physiology and Structure of Plants and Animals | 5 |
| CM1200 | Fundamentals of Modern Chemistry Part 1 | 10 |
| CM1201 | Fundamentals of Modern Chemistry Part 2a | 10 |
| MA1001 | Calculus for Science Part 1 | 5 |
| MA1002 | Calculus for Science Part 2 | 5 |
| MB1003 | Microbiology in Society | 5 |
| PY1010 | Physics for Biological and Chemical Sciences | 10 |
| Year 2 | ||
| Students take 60 credits as follows - all listed core modules (55 credits) and 5 credits of elective modules: | ||
| Core Modules | ||
| Biochemistry | ||
| BC2001 | Biomolecules | 5 |
| BC2002 | Principles of Metabolic Pathways | 5 |
| Biotechnology | ||
| BT2001 | Introduction to Biotechnology | 5 |
| Molecular Biology | ||
| ML2001 | Introductory Molecular Biology | 5 |
| Microbiology | ||
| MB2005 | Fundamentals of Microbiology | 5 |
| MB2006 | Principles of Microbiology | 5 |
| Neuroscience | ||
| AN2003 | Principles of Human Structure | 5 |
| AN2020 | Introduction to Neuroscience, the Brain and Behaviour | 5 |
| Physiology | ||
| PL2021 | Introductory Physiology I | 5 |
| PL2022 | Introductory Physiology II | 5 |
| Statistics | ||
| ST2001 | Introduction to Biostatistics | 5 |
| Elective Modules | ||
| Students take modules to the value of 5 credits from the following: | 5 | |
| Semester 1 | ||
| Chemistry | ||
| Main Group and Transition Element Chemistry | ||
| Fundamentals of Organic Chemistry | ||
| Energetics and Kinetics | ||
| Plant Science | ||
| Introduction to Plant Biotechnology | ||
| Zoology | ||
| Vertebrate Diversity | ||
| Semester 2 | ||
| Chemistry | ||
| Spectroscopy | ||
| Ecology | ||
| Fundamentals of Ecology | ||
| Year 3 | ||
| Students take 60 credits as follows: | ||
| Core Modules | ||
| MB3002 | Virology | 5 |
| MB3003 | Food and Industrial Microbiology I | 5 |
| MB3005 | The role and ecology of microbes in the environment | 5 |
| MB3006 | Genetic Engineering and Molecular Biotechnology | 5 |
| MB3007 | Molecular Genetics and Genomics | 5 |
| MB3008 | Immunology: Host Response to Pathogens. | 5 |
| MB3012 | Transmission and Epidemiology of Infectious Diseases | 5 |
| MB3016 | Methods in Microbiology | 10 |
| MB3017 | Themes in microbe-host interactions | 5 |
| MB3021 | Medical Microbiology | 5 |
| MB3914 | Food and Industrial Microbiology II | 5 |
| Optional Module | ||
| Microbiology Work Placement (5) 1 | ||
| Year 4 | ||
| Students take 60 credits as follows - all listed core modules (35 credits) and elective modules to the value of 25 credits: | ||
| Core Modules | ||
| MB4002 | Research Project | 15 |
| MB4019 | Computational Biology | 5 |
| MB4025 | Eukaryotic Molecular Genetics | 5 |
| MB4026 | Molecular Biology and Physiology of Bacteria | 5 |
| MB4027 | Research Frontiers in Microbiology | 5 |
| Elective Modules | ||
| Students take modules to the value of 25 credits from the following: | 25 | |
| Food Fermentation and Mycology (5) | ||
| Microbial Food Safety (5) | ||
| Food Biotechnology (5) | ||
| Microbial Diversity and Molecular Ecology (5) | ||
| Advanced Medical Microbiology and Immunology (5) | ||
| Advanced Virology and Antiviral Immunity (5) | ||
| Total Credits | 240 | |
- 1
Students electing to take this optional module must secure a work placement relevant to the discipline, to be undertaken in June-August (minimum four weeks) subject to the approval of the School of Microbiology. MB3019 Microbiology Work Placement is not included for progression to subsequent year and is not counted toward the final degree award. The result obtained in MB3019 Microbiology Work Placement will be recorded on the student's transcript.
Programme Learning Outcomes
Programme Learning Outcomes for BSc in Microbiology (NFQ Level 8, Major Award)
On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to:
- Describe and discuss fundamental principles, processes and concepts central to the discipline of Microbiology
- Demonstrate interconnections between microorganisms, developments in the discipline of Microbiology and major societal impacts
- Discuss key structural, physiological, biochemical and molecular aspects of prokaryotes, eukaryotic microbes and viruses
- Compare and contrast microorganisms of medical and public health significance with respect to epidemiology, aetiology and control
- Explain the molecular basis of microbial infection and host immune response in in both pathogenic and symbiotic interactions
- Outline the key roles and applications of microbes and microbial processes in the food, pharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors
- Propose microbial-based, technological innovations to address societal challenges, sustainable development and climate change
- Demonstrate fundamental and advanced laboratory procedures in Microbiology of relevance to research, clinical and industrial settings
- Critically assess developments in scientific research in Microbiology and compare & contrast classical and cutting edge laboratory and in silico technologies underpinning same
- Apply the scientific method of investigation and hypothesis testing, including experimental design and execution, data analysis and the presentation of written and oral reports, aligned with international disciplinary norms.