Our courses are the backbone of our world-class programs. The Department of Bacteriology offers a wide range of courses for students pursuing the undergraduate Microbiology major, undergraduate students doing other majors, graduate/professional students, and special students.
The classes listed here are offered to undergraduate students. The list below includes when a course is typically offered and a sample syllabus for each course, if available.
You can find the complete official list of all Microbiology courses taught by the Department of Bacteriology in the UW-Madison Guide with official descriptions, number of credits, requisites, and more.
Microbiology Elective courses for the undergraduate Microbiology major
Spring 2025
Please contact the Undergraduate Advising Hub for questions about Microbiology major requirements, including Microbiology Elective courses for the undergraduate Microbiology major.
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100 Level Courses
100 The Microbial World
- Typically offered: spring, summer
- Sample syllabus
101 General Microbiology
- Typically offered: fall, spring, summer
- Sample syllabus
102 General Microbiology Laboratory
- Typically offered: fall, spring
- Sample syllabus
150 Microbiomes and Microbiology – First-Year Seminar
- Typically offered: fall
- Sample syllabus
200 Level Courses
299 Independent Study
- Typically offered: fall, spring, summer
- Requirements vary by instructor
300 Level Courses
303 Biology of Microorganisms
- Typically offered: fall, spring, summer
- Sample syllabus
304 Biology of Microorganisms Laboratory
- Typically offered: fall, spring, summer
- Sample syllabus
305 Critical Analyses in Microbiology
- Typically offered: fall, spring
- Sample syllabus
324 Food Microbiology Laboratory
- Typically offered: fall
- Sample syllabus
325 Food Microbiology
- Typically offered: fall
- Sample syllabus
335 The Microbiome of Plants, Animals, and Humans
- Typically offered: spring
- Sample syllabus
345 Introduction to Disease Biology
- Typically offered: spring
- Sample syllabus
357 General Bioinformatics for Microbiologists
- Typically offered: spring
- Sample syllabus
399 Microbiology Coordinative Internship/Education
- Requirements vary by study abroad program/internship
400 Level Courses
400 Study Abroad in Microbiology
- Requirements vary by study abroad program
425 Environmental Microbiology
- Typically offered: Fall
- Sample syllabus
450 Ecology of Microorganisms
- Typically offered: spring
- Sample syllabus
470 Microbial Genetics & Molecular Machines
- Typically offered: fall, spring
- Sample syllabus
500 Level Courses
520 Planetary Microbiology: What Life Here Tells Us About Life Out There
- Typically offered: spring
- Sample syllabus
523 Soil Microbiology and Biochemistry
- Typically offered: spring
- Sample syllabus
525 Planetary Microbiology Field Experience
- Typically offered: summer
- Sample syllabus
526 Physiology of Microorganisms
- Typically offered: fall, spring
- Sample syllabus
527 Advanced Laboratory Techniques in Microbiology
- Typically offered: fall
- Sample syllabus
545 Topics in Biotechnology
- Typically offered: spring
- May vary by semester, sample syllabus
551 Microbiology Capstone
- Typically offered: spring
- Requirements vary by section, sample syllabus
600 Level Courses
612 Prokaryotic Molecular Biology
- Typically offered: fall
- Sample syllabus
626 Microbial and Cellular Metabolomics
- Typically offered: fall
- Sample syllabus
668 Microbiology at Atomic Resolution
- Typically offered: spring
- Sample syllabus
681/682 Senior Honors Thesis
- Typically offered: fall, spring, summer
- Requirements vary by instructor & Honors program
691/692 Senior Thesis
- Typically offered: fall, spring, summer
- Requirements vary by instructor
699 Special Problems
- Typically offered: fall, spring, summer
- Requirements vary by instructor