Major Overview

Description

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.

Students should be aware that this major does not provide a pathway to an Honours.

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
  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

Students who have not achieved a scaled mark of at least 50 in ATAR Chemistry or equivalent, are required to successfully complete CHEM1003 Introductory Chemistry in their first 48 points of study in their course.

Students who have not achieved a scaled mark of at least 50 in ATAR Mathematics Applications or equivalent or higher, will need to successfully complete MATH1720 Mathematics Fundamentals in their first 48 points of study in their course.

Courses

Microbiology and Immunology can be taken as a degree-specific major in the following degree courses:

Example Study Plan

See study plans for more information.

Units

Key to availability of units:
S1
Semester 1
S2
Semester 2

Take all units in level 1. There is no exception for prior ATAR level study in Biology or Human Biology.

Level 1

For the following co-majors, take the following level 1 core units. Students undertaking MJD-BCHMB are advised to complete BIOC1001, CHEM1001 and SCIE1104. Students undertaking MJD-PHARY are advised to take BIOC1001. Students undertaking MJD-PLMED are advised to take ANHB1102. IMED1001 and IMED1002 is only available to students enrolled in the MJD-MEDSI, MJD-IMSCP, MJD-EBMEG, MJD-PHMSC and MJD-DENTS. MICR1101 is an elective unit for those interested in the principles of scientific discovery in microbiology.

Degree-specific major units

Take all units (12 points):

There is no exception for prior ATAR level study in Biology or Human Biology.

There is no exception for prior ATAR level study in Biology or Human Biology.

Availability Unit code Unit name unit requirements
S1 BIOL1130 Frontiers in Biology None
S2 SCIE1106 Molecular Biology of the Cell
Prerequisites
Successful completion of
ATAR Subject(s) Human Biology or equivalent
or ATAR Subject(s) Biology or equivalent
or ANHB1101 Human Biology I: Becoming Human
or ANHX1101 Human Biology 1 (Becoming Human)
or ANHX1102 Human Biology 2 (Being Human)
or ANHB1102 Human Biology II: Being Human
or BIOL1130 Frontiers in Biology
or IMED1001 Form and Function
and Successful completion of
ATAR Subject(s) Chemistry or equivalent
or CHEM1003 Introductory Chemistry
or CHEX1003 Introductory Chemistry
Incompatibility
Unit(s) SCIE2225 Molecular Biology
Bridging units

Take units if applicable:

Students who have not achieved a scaled mark of at least 50 in ATAR Mathematics Applications or equivalent or higher, will need to successfully complete MATH1720 Mathematics Fundamentals in their first 48 points of study in this course. Student who have not achieved a scaled mark of at least 50 in ATAR Chemistry or equivalent, are required to successfully complete CHEM1003 Introductory Chemistry in their first 48 points of study in this course.

Students who have not achieved a scaled mark of at least 50 in ATAR Mathematics Applications or equivalent or higher, will need to successfully complete MATH1720 Mathematics Fundamentals in their first 48 points of study in this course. Student who have not achieved a scaled mark of at least 50 in ATAR Chemistry or equivalent, are required to successfully complete CHEM1003 Introductory Chemistry in their first 48 points of study in this course.

Availability Unit code Unit name unit requirements
S1, S2 CHEM1003 Introductory Chemistry
Incompatibility
ATAR Subject(s) Chemistry or equivalent
S1, S2 MATH1720 Mathematics Fundamentals
Prerequisites
Mathematics Applications ATAR [with a scaled score of less than 50] or with permission
Incompatibility
Mathematics Applications ATAR [with a scaled score of 50 or greater] or Equivalent or higher

Level 2

Degree-specific major units

Take all units (12 points):

Students who have successfully completed IMED2001 will only need to take MICR2208 to enter the discipline specialisation in LEVEL 3 of Medical Science [MJD-MEDSI].

Students who have successfully completed IMED2001 will only need to take MICR2208 to enter the discipline specialisation in LEVEL 3 of Medical Science [MJD-MEDSI].

Availability Unit code Unit name unit requirements
S1 MICR2208 Introductory Microbiology
Prerequisites
For MJD-MCBIM Microbiology and Immunology Major:
Successful completion of
SCIE1106 Molecular Biology of the Cell
or SCIX1106 Molecular Biology of the Cell
and BIOL1130 Frontiers in Biology .
For MJD-MEDSI Medical Science Extended Major:
Successful completion of
IMED1001 Form and Function
and IMED1002 The Facts of Life .
For students taking as an elective:
Successful completion of
SCIE1106 Molecular Biology of the Cell
or SCIX1106 Molecular Biology of the Cell
and any one Unit(s) ANHB1101 Human Biology I: Becoming Human
, ANHX1101 Human Biology 1 (Becoming Human)
, ANHB1102 Human Biology II: Being Human
, ANHX1102 Human Biology 2 (Being Human)
, BIOC1001 Introductory Cellular Biochemistry
or CHEM1002 Chemistry—Structure and Reactivity
Incompatibility
for pre-2012 courses: MICR2204 Introductory Microbiology
S2 MICR2209 Introduction to Infectious Diseases and Immunology
Prerequisites
For MJD-MCBIM Microbiology and Immunology Major:
Successful completion of
SCIE1106 Molecular Biology of the Cell
or SCIX1106 Molecular Biology of the Cell
and BIOL1130 Frontiers in Biology .
For MJD-MEDSI Medical Science Extended Maj
or Successful completion of
IMED1001 Form and Function
and IMED1002 The Facts of Life .
For students taking as an elective:
Successful completion of
SCIE1106 Molecular Biology of the Cell
or SCIX1106 Molecular Biology of the Cell
and any one Unit(s) ANHB1101 Human Biology I: Becoming Human
, ANHX1101 Human Biology 1 (Becoming Human)
, ANHB1102 Human Biology II: Being Human
, ANHX1102 Human Biology 2 (Being Human)
, BIOC1001 Introductory Cellular Biochemistry
or CHEM1002 Chemistry—Structure and Reactivity
Incompatibility
for pre-2012 courses: MICR2205 General and Applied Microbiology

Level 3

Degree-specific major units

Take all units (24 points):

Availability Unit code Unit name unit requirements
S1 MICR3305 Immunobiology and Immune Diseases
Prerequisites
Successful completion of
MICR2208 Introductory Microbiology
and MICR2209 Introduction to Infectious Diseases and Immunology
or
PATH2210 Fundamentals of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
and PATH2220 Introduction to Human Disease
or
PATH2221 Principles of Human Disease
and PATH2222 Pathology of Body Systems
or
MICR2208 Introductory Microbiology
and IMED2001 Body Defences
Incompatibility
MICR3340 Infections and Immunity
and PATH3307 Pathology and Laboratory Medicine I.
S2 MICR3310 Microbial Ecology and One Health
Prerequisites
Successful completion of
MICR2208 Introductory Microbiology
and MICR2209 Introduction to Infectious Diseases and Immunology
or
MICR2208 Introductory Microbiology
and IMED2001 Body Defences
S2 MICR3320 Viruses and Viral Disease
Prerequisites
Successful completion of
MICR2208 Introductory Microbiology
and MICR2209 Introduction to Infectious Diseases and Immunology
or
MICR2208 Introductory Microbiology
and IMED2001 Body Defences
Incompatibility
MICR3302 Infection and Immunity
S1 MICR3330 Bacteria and Bacterial Disease
Prerequisites
Successful completion of
MICR2208 Introductory Microbiology
and MICR2209 Introduction to Infectious Diseases and Immunology
or
MICR2208 Introductory Microbiology
and IMED2001 Body Defences
Incompatibility
MICR3302 Infections and Immunity