Department of Microbiology
Third Year Microbiology

Introduction

Third year Microbiology is taught as two semester units, MIC3AMM: Advanced Medical Microbiology and Molecular Mutagenesis; and MIC3EPM: Environmental Microbiology, Plasmid Biology and Microbial Cell Biology.

Microbiology 3AMM and 3EPM subjects include: medical microbiology and pathogenesis; medical and molecular virology; microbial genetics; food microbiology; environmental microbiology, unusual microbes, practical uses of microbes; microbial cell biology, microbial development; applied plasmid biology.

Each semester unit consists of a practical and a theoretical component, and students must successfully complete both units in order to gain an overall pass for third year microbiology.

Prerequisites

Students must have gained a satisfactory mark in both MIC2IM: Introductory Microbiology and MIC2MVM: Medical and Veterinary Microbiology before they are eligible to enrol in third year microbiology. In some years it may be necessary to impose a quota on enrolments.

Practical component

There are two compulsory three hour practical sessions plus some extra required practical class time each week. Students can expect to learn many advanced and specialist techniques associated with the different areas of study.

Practical work is assessed by reports, short assignments, oral presentations and mini-exams throughout the semester. The practical component accounts for 30% of the final mark.

Practical classes begin in the first week of each semester.

Theoretical component

There are four one-hour lectures per week. Material covered in lectures is assessed in two end-of-semester examinations. The theory component accounts for 70% of the final mark.

Practical Allocations

Practical allocations will be made by the Department and these will be posted on both the third year notice board and on WebCT on the first day of the relevant semester.