Studying Microbiology at Canterbury
Microbiology is the study of organisms such as algae, fungi, bacteria and viruses that cannot be seen with the naked eye.
These micro-organisms are abundant and diverse, and they affect humans in both negative and positive ways. Some micro-organisms cause diseases in humans, other animals, or agricultural crops. Others can be used to benefit humans, such as microbes that can be used to kill insect pests (biocontrol) and those that destroy harmful chemicals such as pesticides (bioremediation). Other microbes are simply essential to the maintenance of all life, such as those that generate nitrogen, oxygen and other critical elements.
Career paths
Microbiologists are employed by various industries to test product safety, by wastewater treatment plants to ensure water quality, by hospitals to identify disease-causing microbes, and by research institutes to explore basic aspects of microbial biology, diversity and ecology.
The food industry employs many microbiologists for food testing and production of products such as wine, beer, dairy products and mushrooms.
Careers can also be in horticulture, plant disease research, terrestrial and freshwater ecology, water pollution investigations and biology teaching.
Postgraduate
BSc (Hons) - Students complete a fourth year of study
comprising four 400-level papers and a research project.
PGDipSc - Students complete a fourth year of study comprising
four 400-level papers.
MSc - Students complete a fourth year of study comprising
four 400-level papers (part I), then proceed to a research project (part
II), written up as a thesis.
PhD - Students complete a 3-4 year research project written
up as a thesis. Entry is after successsful completion of either BSc(Hons)
or an MSc.
Planning Your Degree
Below is a guide to help you select courses that will give you a well rounded degree in microbiology.
Year 1
Essential
BIOL
111 Cellular Biology & Biochemistry
BIOL
112 Ecology, Evolution & Conservation
BIOL
113 Diversity of Life
CHEM
112 General Chemistry B*
MATH
101 Methods of Mathematics **
* Unless
you have 9 NCEA level 3 credits in chemistry
it is essential that you take a CHEM 114 before
CHEM 111 and CHEM 112.
** Note: Unless you have good NCEA level 3 credits
in maths, it is essential that you take a minimum
of 15 points in MATH (MATH101).
Recommended
CHEM
111 General Chemistry A
Optional
STAT 101 Statistics 1***
*** Biology majors are required to take BIOL
209 Introduction to Biological Data Analysis (or
equivalent preparation e.g. STAT 201, PSYC 206).
Entry to this course does not require STAT 101,
but if you haven’t done maths or stats at level
12 or 13, then think about doing STAT 101 in your
first year.
Year 2
Essential
BIOL
209 Introduction to Biological Data Analysis
BIOL
213 Microbiology and Genetics
BIOL
231 Foundations in Molecular Biology
Optional
BCHM 221 Biochemistry A - Biomolecules
and their interactions
BCHM 222 Biochemistry B - Metabolism; the
reactions of molecules in cells
Year 3
Essential
BIOL
309 Experimental Design and Data Analysis for Biologists §
BIOL
313 Advanced Microbiology
At least 30 points from:
BIOL
331 Biochemistry 3
BIOL
330 Advanced Concepts in Genetics
BIOL 332 Genetics and Evolution of Invasive
Species
BIOL
352 Plant Development and Biotechnology
§ Note students wishing to progress to 4th year in any Biology major are expected to have taken BIOL 309.