Course Descriptions


MIC 100 SSP MIC 321 
MIC 201 MIC 322
MIC 202 Not for Majors/Minors in MIC MIC 323
MIC 301 MIC 436
MIC 304 MIC 451452453456
MIC 319 MIC 460

MIC 100. Microbiology as it Relates to Humans. 3 Credit Hours.

An introductory microbiology course for the summer scholars program. Microorganisms are in every facet of our lives and make up a microscopic world. Right now, your body is inhabited by over 40 trillion bacteria . Due to the evolution of our immune systems, we have been able to coexist with this world. It is when our immune systems weaken or when our otherwise healthy immune system encounters a particularly nasty pathogen that we become vulnerable. This course will cover the topics of how our immune system works, how microbial pathogens cause disease, how beneficial microbes protect us from disease, and some of the other activities perform that impact our world. The laboratory will provide you with invaluable experience in growing, staining, viewing and identifying microorganisms through the use of practical techniques and procedures. An in lab presentation of your "unknown organism" will culminate what you have learned.

Components: LAB.
Grading: GRD.
Typically Offered: Summer.

If you are a high school sophomore or junior you can participate in our Summer Scholars Program and earn 6cr. of college credit.  For more information click the following link: Summer Scholars Program 

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MIC 201. Modern Plagues and Society. 3 Credit Hours.

An examination of three infectious diseases (AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria) that currently impact a significant fraction of the human population, describing the infectious microbes themselves, efforts of researchers to contain these diseases, and how politics, infrastructure, and geographical factors determine public health outcomes.

Components: LEC.
Grading: GRD.
Typically Offered: Fall.

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MIC 202. Your Health, Your Immune System, Your Microbiota. 3 Credit Hours.

The course will examine how advances in our understanding of the immune system are having unprecedented effects on both health care and society. The immune system must shield us from bacterial, fungal, and viral invasion while harmoniously co-existing with beneficial microbes in our Microbiotas. The immune system is also a surveillance system that recognizes and kills the emerging enemies within: cancer cells. The course will discuss recent advances in immunology, genetic manipulation, and the Microbiota; their consequences on emerging notions of personalized health and medications; the creation of tailored biological therapies against cancer and other maladies; and what all this means for the cost healthcare, the difficult choices, and the politics of medicine. We will critically examine popular of representations of these medical advances, being careful to distinguish fact from fiction and accurate representation from exaggerated claims.

Components: LEC.
Grading: GRD.
Typically Offered: Spring.

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MIC 301. Introduction to Microbes and the Immune System. 3 Credit Hours.

Basic principles of microbiology and immunology; the microbiology component will include basic properties of bacteria, viruses, and parasites and how microbes interact with multicellular organisms in both disease and non-disease settings. The Immunology component presents the players and basic concepts of immune responses as they apply to combat infectious pathogens, autoimmunity, allergy and transplantation.  Course is required for microbiology and immunology majors; recommended for biology, chemistry and biochemistry majors and those considering the health sciences.

Components: LEC.
Grading: GRD.
Typically Offered: Fall & Spring

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MIC 304. Introduction to Microbes and the Immune System (Laboratory). 2 Credit Hours.

Basic laboratory principles of microbiology and immunology. Students are instructed on how to handle, culture and identify microorganisms. Microscope care/use, various staining techniques, ELISA, blood typing, bacterial transformation and more ... This laboratory is required of all microbiology and immunology majors.

Components: LAB.
Grading:GRD.
Typically Offered:Fall & Spring.

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MIC 319. Innate Immunity. 3 Credit Hours.

The innate immune system provides the first line of defense against infectious microorganisms and is a very important disease-preventing mechanism. In this course the students will learn the molecular and cellular processes mediating innate immune responses to microbial pathogens, including intra- and extra- cellular bacteria and viruses.

Components: LEC.
Grading: GRD.
Typically Offered: Fall.

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MIC 321. Immunobiology. 3 Credit Hours.

Mechanisms underlying the cooperation between T-cells, B-cells, and antigens leading to humoral and cell mediated responses. The significance of immune cells and their products pertaining to autoimmunity, transplantation, and the surveillance of neoplastic cells is covered.
Prerequisite: MIC 301.

Components: LEC.
Grading: GRD.
Typically Offered: Spring.

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MIC 322. Medical Parasitology. 3 Credit Hours.

Course discusses the biochemistry, physiology, pathogenicity, immunology, and mechanism of drug action and resistance of medically important parasitic protozoa, trematodes, nematodes, and cestodes.  
Prerequisite: MIC 301.

Components: LEC.
Grading: GRD.
Typically Offered: Spring.

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MIC 323. Microbial Pathogenesis and Physiology. 3 Credit Hours.

Fundamental properties of microbes as well as host-microbe relationships at the molecular and cellular levels.
Prerequisite: MIC 301.

Components: LEC.
Grading: GRD.
Typically Offered: Fall.

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MIC 436. Fundamental and Medical Virology. 3 Credit Hours.

The study of viruses as biological entities and etiological agents of disease. Virus-cell and virus-host interactions are also discussed.
Prerequisite: MIC 301.

Components: LEC.
Grading: GRD.
Typically Offered: Spring.

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MIC 451. Special Projects in Immunobiology. 2-6 Credit Hours.

Wet bench laboratory research with faculty in the Microbiology and Immunology (M&I) Department at the Miller School of Medicine. Students will be actively participating in all aspects of hypothesis-driven scientific research ranging from familiarity with the literature to conducting and analyzing experiments.
Prerequisite: at least 17 credits in MIC and MIN GPA 3.0.

Components: THI.
Grading: GRD.
Typically Offered: Fall & Spring.

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MIC 452. Special Projects in Parasitology. 2-6 Credit Hours.

Wet bench laboratory research with faculty in the Microbiology and Immunology (M&I) Department at the Miller School of Medicine. Students will be actively participating in all aspects of hypothesis-driven scientific research ranging from familiarity with the literature to conducting and analyzing experiments.
Prerequisite: at least 17 credits in MIC and MIN GPA 3.0.

Components: THI.
Grading: GRD.
Typically Offered: Fall & Spring.

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MIC 453. Special Projects in Pathogenic Bacteriology. 2-6 Credit Hours.

Wet bench laboratory research with faculty in the Microbiology and Immunology (M&I) Department at the Miller School of Medicine. Students will be actively participating in all aspects of hypothesis-driven scientific research ranging from familiarity with the literature to conducting and analyzing experiments.
Prerequisite: at least 17 credits in MIC and MIN GPA 3.0.

Components: THI.
Grading: GRD.
Typically Offered: Fall & Spring.

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MIC 456. Special Projects in Virology. 2-6 Credit Hours.

Wet bench laboratory research with faculty in the Microbiology and Immunology (M&I) Department at the Miller School of Medicine. Students will be actively participating in all aspects of hypothesis-driven scientific research ranging from familiarity with the literature to conducting and analyzing experiments.
Prerequisite: at least 17 credits in MIC and MIN GPA 3.0.

Components: THI.
Grading: GRD.
Typically Offered: Fall & Spring.

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MIC 460. Advanced Topics in Microbiology and Immunology. 3 Credit Hours.

An extensive and detailed examination of a number of topics covered in the core courses of the major. The goal is for upper-division undergraduate students to take the knowledge base they acquired in their major core courses into 'cutting edge' research areas. Each topic (of a total of 4 to 8) will be presented by a Faculty member with expertise in the area. (HIV Infection and the Immune System, Immunology of Pregnancy, Primary Immunodeficiency Diseases, Mitochondria: Glorified G.-bacteria) Emphasis will be placed on gaining a familiarity with the primary scientific literature.

Prerequisite: MIC 301 and MIC 319 and MIC 321.
Components: LEC.
Grading: GRD.
Typically Offered: Spring.

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