Major: Microbiology and Immunology First Year Subjects: - BIOL10004 Biology of Cells and Organisms
- BIOL10005 Genetics & the Evolution of Life
- CHEM10003 Chemistry 1
- CHEM10004 Chemistry 2
- PSYC10003 Mind, Brain and Behaviour 1
- PSYC10004 Mind, Brain and Behaviour 2
- UNIB10006 Critical Thinking with Data
- CULS10005 Media, Identity and the Everyday Life
First Year WAM = 83 (H1)
Second Year Subjects:PHYS20008 Human Physiology
MIIM20001 Principles of Microbiology & Immunology - 90 (H1)
CCDP20001 Street Art
ANAT20006 Principles of Human Structure
PHYS20009 Research Based Physiology
MUSI20150 Music and Health
MIIM20002 Microbes, Infections and Responses - 84 (H1)
BCMB20002 Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Second Year WAM = 86 (H1)
Third Year Subjects:CORE SUBJECTS:
MIIM30011 Medical Microbiology: Bacteriology - 82 (H1)
MIIM30014 Medical Microbiology: Virology - 84 (H1)
MIIM30002 Principles of Immunology - 88 (H1)
MIIM30015 Techniques in Immunology - 87 (H1)
NON-CORE SUBJECTS:
MIIM30003 Medical and Applied Immunology
PHYS30005 Muscle and Exercise Physiology
MUSI20203 Peak Performance under Pressure
POPH20001 Genetics, Health and Society
Third Year WAM = 85 (H1)
Year of completion: 2017
Rating: 5 out of 5
Your Average Mark: 85 (H1)
Comments:Let's face it - any time someone tells you they're thinking of a Micro/Immuno major, or as we like to call it, the 'MIIM major', at least one person in the room gasps. Arguably, it is one of the most challenging majors of the Human Biosciences, particularly due to the enormous amount of content and memory involved. In saying that however, if you do enjoy all things related to Microbiology and Immunology, I highly recommend this major, for reasons I will outline below. I thought I'd give a little background to how & why I decided to do a MIIM major (you'll find me referring to this major as MIIM throughout).
At the end of first year of Science, I was deadset on a Human Structures & Functions Major. Why? Because I want to do Med and it seems like the logical major to do. A lot of content covered in this major will reappear in Medicine, so why not get a head start on it all and get that knowledge under your belt? After second year Anatomy (ANAT20006), I was quite sure that although it was a pretty decent subject content/difficulty wise, it wasn't something that I was extremely passionate about. What really consolidated my passion for a MIIM major though, was actually sort of an accident. In second year, semester 1, I had Biochem, Anatomy and my breadth, Street Art, all set. All I needed was one more subject. I was quite unsure of what I wanted to do in my first semester, and ultimately gave in to doing Principles of Immunology and Microbiology (MIIM20001). It was my filler subject, and on my first lecture, I remembered justifying this preference based on the passion I had for the VERY little Immunology and Microbiology I had dabbled in during first year.
Doing this subject opened my eyes up to all things MIIM related, and I loved the subject so much that I prioritised it over all my other subjects. It wasn't all bliss, though - I would have anxiety attacks frequently just thinking about the amount of detail I needed to memorise everything in. I had never been in a situation where I had to memorise so much content, and I literally couldn't fathom how anyone could expect students to memorise so much. Nonetheless, my passion drove me to persevere, and it was my first subject I ever received in the 90s for. So, this led me to doing MIIM20002, the follow-up to MIIM20001, which was definitely a lot more focussed on the Microbiology aspect. By the end of semester 1, I was convinced I wanted to major in Immunology alone, but MIIM20002 changed my mind to doing a Microbiology and Immunology major (more on why I recommend this later).
Some FAQs:
1. Is there a lot of memory involved in a MIIM major?
Yes. Be prepared to memorise a LOT. The majority of this major is not application, but simply rote learning copious amounts of viral life cycles, cytokine functions, components of the complement cascade, the mechanisms of CRISPR, a gazillion different types of antibiotics. This is the point where I recommend that anyone who cannot memorise a lot of information steers away from this major. It can be an extreme turn-off, and extremely daunting having to memorise so much. I know a lot of my friends don't appreciate the MIIM major because they cannot see the relevance of memorising so much information. I would be lying if I didn't feel the same way sometimes. However, the content is so interesting that I believe it definitely outweighs the copious amounts of info you need to remember.
If however, you've got a good memory, the MIIM major is probably the most loyal major. Why? Because a lot of the times, the marks you gain are purely based on knowledge. If you know something, you get the mark. If you don't know it, you don't get the mark.
2. Is it easy to H1 subjects in the MIIM major?
This is a little subjective, and although I did achieve a H1 in all the MIIM major subjects, it was NOT easy. I don't think it is easy to H1 any subject (except for Music and Health and Peak Performance under Pressure - seriously guys these are the best subjects to do with a MIIM major because I don't even think they're legit subjects lol). Anyway, the reason I say it isn't easy to H1 MIIM subjects is because there is a lot of work and effort that needs to be put in to achieving that H1. If you are committed to memorising all the details, knowing many pathways, remembering lots of functions, etc., then you're definitely on your way to achieving a H1. If you aren't, then don't expect a H1.
3. Immunology, or Microbiology/Immunology major?
Okay so I kind of alluded to this above. After doing MIIM20001, I was convinced I wanted to do an Immunology major alone. I didn't really enjoy memorising all the different microbes and features of their life cycle at first. The reason for this was because of what I mentioned earlier - I never needed to do so much memory. However, when I did MIIM20002, I developed my memory skills, and I attribute my memory skills now to doing a MIIM major haha. Once I overcome my fear of memorising, which occurred at the end of semester 2, I considered my options. The best thing about a Micro/Immuno major over an Immuno major, is that it is really great to contextualise the Immunology you learn, to specific details about the different microbes. Personally, I loved Virology and Bacteriology in third year - they were so difficult with the amount I needed to memorise, and I would often be having anxiety attacks the morning of exams convinced I wouldn't remember everything. Nonetheless, I have completed them now and in hindsight, I think I achieved a H1 because they were SO interesting and fun to study. So, I think a MIIM major is so great purely because it allows you to explore the application of Immunology, and then contextualise it to Bacteriology and Virology, which provides you with an insight into the world of all things Bacteria and Viruses (Virology > Bacteriology by the way, just saying).
4. How is the MIIM Department?
Okay the MIIM department is the best department in the whole university. Across the three years of my degree, some of the departments have been so incompetent and I literally cannot fathom how they conduct themselves. Our results for a Muscle and Exercise Physiology MST were released 6 weeks after the test, and it was literally 40 multiple choice questions. Meanwhile, my Principles of Immunology MST results were released 2 days after the MST, and involved multiple choice and short answer. Yes yes, there are more people doing Phys than MIIM subjects. Yes yes, a department isn't good just because it gives results early. SO I'll go into more reasons why the department is great.
-- The MIIM department is always prepared to help. On so many occasions, people have been ill, received difficult information like not getting into Medicine, and the MIIM department does everything they can to help. I had a friend who was literally excused from a practical after finding out some difficult news, and the coordinator of the subject (Dr. Odilia Widjburg) made sure she was okay. They genuinely care for their students, and want them to do their very best.
-- The MIIM department is always prepared to provide feedback. There are consult sessions after all MSTs and they provide you with feedback to review your MSTs. This is something I didn't have access to in any other subjects I've done in my degree, and I found that they provided the opportunity to really engage with the lecturers, and develop a close relationship with them where they weren't so scary.
-- They actually listen to their students. If students find that there was something unclear in the lectures, they make the effort to actually clarify these things.
5. What are good subjects to do in addition to the core subjects?
Easy breadths. When I say easy, I mean easy going breadths with minimal work required. Some people may not necessarily agree with me on this one, but my personal opinion is that because the subjects in MIIM are so full-on, its great to have a reprieve by doing some decent subjects. I did 2 breadth subjects that were quite relaxed, and I found this helped me concentrate on my MIIM subjects to the best of my ability.
6. How do you memorise so much information?
I found that doing diagrams and flow charts definitely helped. The best approach to these subjects is to go over the lectures straight after sitting through them, because usually you consolidate about 70%, and get the overall big picture, and then spend time memorising the finer details. Acronyms are also your best friend - I found these so helpful on so many occasions and these will help you remember all the massive lists of information you can expect to be given for these subjects.
7. Is it a good major to do and follow up with Honours?
This is one of the most compelling reasons I recommend a MIIM major - there is SO much opportunity for Honours. I am going to do an Honours year next year, and I found that I was so in awe of the immense space for development because of the vastness of the space in the MIIM world. From Virology, to Bacteriology, to Immunology and Medical applications of all 3, there is something that is suited to your liking. The lecturers are also so great, and are part of the reason why these honours projects tend to be so compelling.
8. Techniques in Immuno or Micro?
- OKay so I did techniques in Immuno. It was a good subject; however, from what I have heard, and from what I have experienced, there is a lot more interesting content in Techniques in Microbiology. I cannot be the judge of this because I'd have to have done one, but in terms of Techniques in Immunology, this is probably the most application you'll do in the major because of the laboratory-basis of the subject.
All in all, doing a MIIM major has been the best decision I have made in my academic life thus far. It was not only interesting, but also such a great challenge, and although I've had so many moments doubting my capabilities, fearing not being able to remember everything, or just simply not being good enough, I have come out the other end proud of my achievements. The friendships I've formed, and the repertoire with the lecturers in this department, are all so dear to my heart. Highly recommend this major, and if anyone has any questions, please feel free to PM me!