MISA McGill

McGill University Microbiology and Immunology Students' Association

U1 Courses

DISCLAIMER: Schedule suggestions are only a guideline to complete the Major Program and should not be thought of as the only way to complete your degree. Course insight is only a reflection of previous years experiences and may not reflect the coming year’s grading scheme or the nature of the course as these fluctuate from year to year.

Suggested U1 Semester Outline

Option 1 (not having taken Organic Chemistry 1 previously):

 

Fall:

MIMM211 – Biology of Microorganisms

MIMM212 – Laboratory in Microbiology

BIOL200 – Molecular Biology

CHEM212 – Introduction to Organic Chemistry 1

Elective

 

Winter:

MIMM214 – Introduction to Immunology

BIOL202 -Basic Genetics

CHEM222 – Introduction to Organic Chemistry 2

BIOL201 OR BIOC 212 – Cell Biology & Metabolism OR Molecular Mechanisms of Cell Function

Elective

Option 2 (having taken Organic Chemistry previously):

 

Fall:

MIMM211 – Biology of Microorganisms

MIMM212 – Laboratory in Microbiology

BIOL200 – Molecular Biology

Elective or CHEM 234 (3 credits) – Topics in Organic Chemistry (equivalent to lecture section of CHEM 222)

Elective

 

Winter:

MIMM214 – Introduction to Immunology

BIOL202 -Basic Genetics

BIOL201 OR BIOC 212 – Cell Biology & Metabolism OR Molecular Mechanisms of Cell Function

Elective + CHEM 244 (1 credit) or CHEM222 (4 credits)  – Introduction to Organic Chemistry 2

Elective

NOTE: U1 or U2 or U3 Required class is one of BIOL373 (Biometry) OR MATH203 (Principles of Statistics 1) OR PSYC204 (Intro to Psychological Stats). Additional remarks: biometry is not offered for the year 2020-2021 and CHEM 222 will not be offered during Fall 2020. Instead, it will be replaced by CHEM 234 with the opportunity to take the lab section CHEM 244 in the Winter semester. 

Summary of U1 Microbiology and Immunology Courses

Course
Pros
Cons
Comments
Evaluations
Fall

MIMM 211 Biology of Microorganisms (F)

  • Broad course that touches on many different topics in microbiology
  • Only content from the slides is tested
  • Interesting content
  • Lots of material to memorize
  • Take with or before BIOL 200 as there is a lot of overlap
  • 6 take home exams
  • Open book with 72h limit

MIMM 212 Laboratory in Microbiology (F)

  • Develop lab skills
  • No final exam 
  • Works very well with 211
  • Practice presentation skills
  • Constant workload with many assignments and quizzes
  • Lab reports are tedious and long but not that difficult
  • Try not to take 384 and 212 together lol
  • 1% Pre-course survey
  • 1% Lab book set up
  • 25% Lab reports 
  • 20% Lab book 
  • 10% In-Labster quizzes
  • 20% Problem sets/quizzes
  • 8% Flow Charts
  • 5% Peer Review of PPT
  • 10% Final Presentation

BIOL 200 Molecular Biology (F)

  • Different professors offer different styles of teaching some of which may work better for you
  • Content is interesting 
  • Very memorization heavy and is infamous for being a difficult class
  • Exam questions consist of a combination of memorization AND critical thinking questions
  • This course is an essential building block for a lot of MIMM courses and you will find that the concepts learnt in this class will come up again and again it is best to have at least a basic understanding
  • Quizzes (10%)
  • Midterm (25%)
  • Final (65%)

CHEM 212 Introductory Organic Chemistry I (F/W/S)

  • Good introduction to Organic Chemistry and covers the basics (naming etc.) as well as reaction mechanisms
  • Many educational supports are available (FrezCa, tutorials, OH)
  • Can be time consuming with long labs and lectures
  • Really important that you stay on top of content, as concepts build off of each other
  • Dr. Pavelka writes her own problem sets, and you get to see previous exams/midterms – no need to buy a textbook
  • Quizzes are useful to stay on top of course work
  • Quizzes (5%)
  • 2 Midterms (2x 20%)
  • Laboratory (20%
  • Final Exam (35%)
Winter

MIMM 214 Introduction to Immunology (W)

  • Information is surface level so while there are a lot of details, you jump to a new topic before it gets too specific or complicated
  • Immunology & Society assignment is a great exercise in communicating scientific topics to a lay audience, it will allow you to develop great presentation or writing skills
  • Memorization heavy
  • Very confusing individual lectures that build up to a somewhat clear big picture
  • Dr. Trottier really cares about feedback and is always trying to improve the course
  • In class quiz(5%)
  • Midterm(25%)
  • Final Exam(40%)
  • Formative assessments(10%)
  • Immunology & society assignment (20% or 17%)

BIOL 202 Basic Genetics

  • Wide variety of topics is taught by a wide variety of professors. This class essentially covers all the basics of genetics and each professor is responsible for their own part of the course.
  • Many opportunities to test and practice (and sometimes enrich) your understanding of the material learned in class: mydalite questions, textbook problems, in-class problems, TA sessions, primers, et al.
  • The midterm and the final vary greatly in style. While the midterm consists of short answer questions, the final is fully multiple choice.
  • Even though it’s great to have a variety of professors, their approaches to the subject at hand will definitely differ at times, similarly to their testing and teaching methods. This may be frustrating and sometimes hard to adjust to.
  • The first couple of topics may seem repetitive and tedious. Don’t get fooled and don’t slack off. You will absolutely learn new material and new approaches to already familiar notions.
  • Self Assessment Quizzes (10%)
  • Midterm (30%)
  • Final (60%)

BIOL 201 Cell Biology and Metabolism (W)

  • Application, not regurgitation. That being said, even though Gary Brouhard tests your understanding of the course content and your ability to manipulate the notions that you learn in class, you still need to know the material perfectly. Unless…
  • Cheat sheets! One full page for the first midterm, another page for the second midterm, both pages plus an extra one for the final. Not only do they really help during the exam, they also make learning the material much easier, since you will basically be expected to summarize everything. 
  • This isn’t a simple memorization course. You absolutely need to understand how all these processes work and interact, meaning that every single constituent is important.
  • Do not get discouraged by your first midterm result. Instead, take your time to understand where it went wrong and what you can do to improve for subsequent evaluations.
  • Quizzes are done in class/over the weekend and it is encouraged that you work in groups. It is a really great way to think critically and discuss with your peers about the concepts and they give you an idea of the the midterm/final will be like
  • Quizzes (10%). Six in-class evaluations via mycourses, with lowest result dropped.
  • Midterms (25% + 25%). Not cumulative.
  • Final (40%). Cumulative.

OR

BIOC 212 Molecular Mechanisms of Cell Function (W)

  • Second half of the course is a breeze and is extremely interesting since it is more broad idea focused rather than extremely specific details 
  •  Non cumulative final so you do not have to stress about pre-midterm material for the final 
  • Compared to BIOL 201, this course provides a strong foundation in terms of content covered in BIOC 311 which is mandatory, as well as the types of questions they ask and how rigorously you have to study 
  • Lectures were recorded
  •  First half of the course is extremely difficult both in terms of the actual content, the amount of memorization, the type of questions asked, basically everything (Young’s section)
  • Extremely memorization based, but even if you memorize everything some of the questions are super difficult 
  • Much harder than BIOL 201
  • So many pathways and enzymes and molecules and proteins to memorize
  • The course requires an understanding of the main ideas so all the questions are a mix of detail/application based questions
  • Young is notorious for his midterm exam questions 
  • Other profs’ sections on the midterm were easy marks, especially if you are already familiar with cell anatomy and metabolism basics
  • Midterm (only on first half of the course): 46%
  • Final Exam (only on second half of the course): 54%
  • Be careful, it is impossible to pass the course without the midterm grade and they are super strict about medical documentation for missing it to allow you to write the deferred exam

MATH 203 Principles of Statistics I (F/W)

  • Extremely straightforward to a point where questions from the assignments are basically blueprints for midterm questions.
  • Cheat sheets allowed for the midterm and the final.
  • Lectures are not recorded. However, the notes are posted at least once a week, so it’s fine, really. 
  • Some programming is used in the assignments. It is extremely simple, but some Googling (or attending at least the first tutorial session) may be required.
  • Yi Yang is a great professor. He really tries his best to make the course approachable and not tedious.
  • Assignments (20%). Quantity varies depending on how fast the class progresses.
  • Midterm (20% or 0%).
  • Final (60% or 80%)

OR

PSYC 204 Introduction to Psychological Statistics (F/W)

  • Simple, and easy to understand concepts
  • Will be mostly review if you took any statistics in high school/ CEGEP
  • Lectures are recorded
  •  Prof (Dairany) was super kind and understanding as well as accommodating)
  • Adjusted weights so that you got the highest grade possible 
  • Lectures were recorded 
  • Goes through examples very alike to those that will be tested on in class
  • Might move too slowly if you already have a background in data management, etc
  • Do the assignments and optional participation so that weight is taken off of your final! 
  • Do the practice he assigns and you will be golden for the exams
  • Assignments (20%)
  • Participation (optional 10%) 
  • Midterm (25%)
  •  Final (45% or 55%)

CHEM 222 Introductory Organic Chemistry II (F/W)

  • Dr. Pavelka cares deeply about the class and creates her own problem sets
  • Concepts such as NMR spectroscopy  can be difficult to understand. Very important that you practice
  • Important that you stay on top of the class and do practice problems and practice exams, midterms/finals are very similar – no need to buy a textbook
  • Quizzes are very useful to stay on top of course work
  • Quizzes (5%)
  • 2 Midterms (2x 20%)
  • Laboratory (20%
  • Final Exam (35%)