Microbiology and Immunology major
Microbes are organisms too small to be seen without the aid of a microscope and include bacteria, viruses, protozoa, algae and parasites. The study of these organisms and the role they play in health, disease and the environment is known as microbiology, and immunology is the study of how the body defends itself against such organisms. This major covers a range of fields, from the more applied disciplines such as medical, public health, industrial, and food microbiology, to basic fields of immunology, microbial ecology, physiology and genetics of microbes. Your studies will teach you how microbiology can be applied in areas as diverse as medicine, brewing, food spoilage, control of environmental pollution and space science. You will receive a thorough grounding in the scientific basis of microbiology and its applications in the real world. Graduates in Microbiology and Immunology will be eligible for membership in the Australian Society of Microbiology (ASM)—the national scientific and employment body of the profession.
Outcomes
Students are able to (1) describe the fundamental divisions of the microbial world including bacteria, viruses, protozoa, algae and parasites; (2) describe the genetic and molecular biological processes involved in their life cycles, and in their pathologic and environmental interactions; (3) describe the steps involved in the initiation, perpetuation and resolution of infectious diseases; (4) describe the role of the innate and adaptive immune system in these processes; (5) integrate and apply principles of microbiology and immunology to understanding a wide array of diseases in the various body systems of humans, such as the cardiovascular and respiratory systems, central nervous system, liver and kidney, gastrointestinal and reproductive tracts; (6) describe the role of microbes and their ecology in environmental and industrial processes; and (7) through laboratory/tutorial exercises, acquire skills in (a) methods relevant to microbiology and immunology; (b) experimental design; (c) data collection, analysis and interpretation; (d) critical thinking skills, integration of concepts, precepts and fundamentals; (e) working independently, as well as in teams; and (f) communication to a high level, of results and analyses in both oral and written forms.
Broadening guidelines
All students studying towards a Bachelor's Degree at UWA are required to Broaden their studies by completing a minimum of four units (24 points) of study outside their degree specific major. Broadening is your opportunity to explore other areas of interest, investigate new disciplines and knowledge paradigms and to shape your degree to suit your own aspirations and interests. Many of you will be able to undertake more than this minimum amount of broadening study and we encourage you to do so if this suits your aspirations. Over the next few months you will find here some broadening suggestions related to your degree-specific major. While we know that many students value guidance of this sort, these are only suggestions and students should not lose sight of the opportunity to explore that is afforded by your Broadening Choices. Advice can also be sought from your Allocated Student Advising Office.
Prerequisites
Student without WACE Chemistry or equivalent, are required to take CHEM1003 in their first year.
Students without ATAR Mathematics Applications, ATAR Mathematics Methods, WACE Mathematics: Specialist 3A/3B or equivalent or higher, will need to take MATH1720 in their first year.
Microbiology and Immunology can be taken as a degree-specific major in the following degree courses:
BP004 Bachelor of Science
BP006 Bachelor of Biomedical Science
BH005 Bachelor of Philosophy (Honours)
Overview of unit sequence
Microbiology and Immunology is a degree-specific single major comprising:
- two Level 1 units
- two Level 2 units
- four Level 3 units
| Key to availability of units: |
|---|
| S1 = Semester 1; S2 = Semester 2 |
Students who do not have ATAR Mathematics Applications or equivalent or higher, are required to complete MATH1720 in their first year.
Level 1
Students without ATAR Chemistry will need to take CHEM1003 in first semester to meet prerequisites for SCIE1106. Students without ATAR Human Biology or ATAR Biology will need to take ANHB1101, or BIOL11030 in first semester to meet prerequisites for SCIE1106.
| Availability | Unit code | Unit name | unit requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| S2 | SCIE1106 | Molecular Biology of the Cell |
|
Take unit(s) to the value of 6 points:
| Availability | Unit code | Unit name | unit requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| S1 | ANHB1101 | Human Biology I: Becoming Human |
|
| S2 | ANHB1102 | Human Biology II: Being Human |
|
| S1 | BIOL1130 | Frontiers in Biology |
|
Take units if applicable:
| Availability | Unit code | Unit name | unit requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| S1, S2 | CHEM1003 | Introductory Chemistry |
|
| S1, S2 | MATH1720 | Mathematics Fundamentals |
|
Level 2
Take all units (12 points):
| Availability | Unit code | Unit name | unit requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| S1 | MICR2208 | Introductory Microbiology |
|
| S2 | MICR2209 | Introduction to Infectious Diseases and Immunology |
|
Level 3
Take all units (24 points):
| Availability | Unit code | Unit name | unit requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| S1 | MICR3305 | Immunobiology and Immune Diseases |
|
| S2 | MICR3310 | Microbial Ecology and One Health | |
| S2 | MICR3320 | Viruses and Viral Disease | |
| S1 | MICR3330 | Bacteria and Bacterial Disease |
Choosing your degree-specific major
General degrees
You must satisfy the requirements of a degree-specific major before you complete your course. The flexible structure of an undergraduate course allows you to try out a number of different subjects to see what interests you before nominating your degree-specific major. You have the choice to either nominate your degree-specific major when you first enrol in the course or delay nominating it until your second year.
To plan the first year of your study without nominating a degree-specific major, you are advised to choose units that will pave the way to two or more degree-specific majors that are of interest to you. For examples of the choice of units available in first year, search the first-year study plans .
To fully understand the structure of an undergraduate course, read the course structure information and the Undergraduate Degree Course Rules.
The following example illustrates how the Microbiology and Immunology degree-specific major can be included in the Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Biomedical Science course.
There are more choices open to you. For more examples, search the study plans .
Specialised degrees – Bachelor of Advanced Computer Science (Honours), Bachelor of Automation and Robotics, Bachelor of Environmental Design, Bachelor of Music
You must satisfy the requirements of the degree-specific major in your degree before you complete your course.
Bachelor of Philosophy, Politics and Economics
This comprehensive degree does not require you to choose a degree-specific major.
Choosing a second major
You also have the option to choose a second major from those available in the Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Biomedical Science, Bachelor of Commerce, Bachelor of Design Only available to re-enrolling students. and Bachelor of Science courses, giving you the opportunity to pursue your interests no matter how different they are.
The following example illustrates how the Microbiology and Immunology degree-specific major can be combined with a second major in the Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Biomedical Science course.
For more examples of combinations of majors, search the study plans .