BSc (Hons) Microbiology
Overview
NFQ Level 8, Major Award
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:
- Discuss the key principles and concepts underpinning the discipline of Microbiology;
- Describe the role of microbes in society and critically analyse future microbiological developments of relevance to society;
- Discuss in detail the physiology and biochemistry of bacteria, and the key elements of genetics in prokaryotes, eukaryotic microbes and viruses;
- Explain the molecular basis of infectious diseases and host immune responses;
- Explain the role and applications of microbes in the food and biotechnology industries, in environmental biotechnology and in ecosystem functioning;
- Critically assess recent and ongoing developments in scientific research and effectively communicate scientific knowledge both orally and in writing;
- Apply fundamental laboratory procedures in Microbiology for applications in research, in medical and/or industrial laboratories;
- Apply the scientific method of investigation and hypothesis testing, including the development of theoretical and practical skills, in the design and execution of experiments;
- Demonstrate appropriate scientific proficiency for entry into further postgraduate education/research or for employment in government, academic or industrial positions.