BIOL 241Introduction to Applied Microbiology
- Units
- 0.50
- Faculty
- Science
- Subject
- Biology
When it runs
- F24
- W25
- S25
- F25
- W26
- S26
- F26
- W27
- S27
Ran in 4 of the last 7 terms. Winter 2027: scheduled, 3 lecture sections. Spring 2027: schedule not out yet.
Introduction to microbial ecology, environmental microbiology, food microbiology, and medical microbiology explored through lectures and laboratory exercises. Topics in environmental microbiology include biogeochemical cycling and biological treatment of wastes and pollutants. Topics in medical microbiology include concepts of immunology and host-pathogen relationships.
Prerequisites
Antirequisites
None listed.
Leads to
Winter 2027 sections
| Section | Class | Enrolled | Meets |
|---|---|---|---|
| LEC 001 | 6634 | 0 / 314 | MW 13:30–14:20 |
| LEC 002 | 6912 | 0 / 55 | Online or by arrangement |
| LEC 701 | 2533 | 270 / 9999 | Online or by arrangement |
| LAB 101 | 6635 | 0 / 32 | T 14:30–17:20 |
| LAB 102 | 6636 | 0 / 32 | T 14:30–17:20 |
| LAB 103 | 6637 | 0 / 32 | T 19:00–21:50 |
| LAB 104 | 6638 | 0 / 32 | T 19:00–21:50 |
| LAB 105 | 6639 | 0 / 30 | W 14:30–17:20 |
| LAB 106 | 6640 | 0 / 32 | W 14:30–17:20 |
| LAB 107 | 6641 | 0 / 30 | W 19:00–21:50 |
| LAB 108 | 6642 | 0 / 32 | W 19:00–21:50 |
| LAB 109 | 6972 | 0 / 30 | Th 14:30–17:20 |
| LAB 110 | 7014 | 0 / 32 | Th 14:30–17:20 |
Reviewed on UW Flow
53% liked it67% easy65% useful
From 147 ratings and 44 comments on UW Flow. The most helpful comments, quoted as written, without names. Read them all on UW Flow.
Basically a repeat of biol 240 with a few new topics, so if you had a solid base in that course you should be fine. this course didn't have as much microorganisms to memorize, it was more broad since we're talking about the applications. pretty dull course though, I barely showed up to lectures because the prof would just repeat the slides. final exam had fill in the blanks and long answer so be prepared.
Jul 2025 · didn’t like it · 1 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this
taught by Jozef Nissimov. Course is 35% midterm, 35% final, 30% lab component. The course itself was easy (both midterm + exam) but the lab portion is what screws you over. There is so much you have to do for the lab and it is all worth so little (3% lab report, 6% lab report, lab quizzes, pre-lab outlines, lab exam). Even worse that since the lab is part of the course, Cheryl can't have a lab exam during exam period and instead decides to put it during class time (good luck studying for that). Finished with a 90 but this course is a review of BIOL240 and a total waste of time.
May 2024 · didn’t like it · 1 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this
The content in this course is less difficult than BIOL 240 - you don't have to memorize any specific phylum or clades and the organisms in them along with their characteristics etc. It builds on some concepts that you learn in 240 with an emphasis on environmental and industrial applications to microbiology. However, because the content is (subjectively) not difficult, the midterm and final are "application" based which makes this course hard for no reason at all. Typical "a, b, c, b&c, all of the above" multiple choice where all the options are extremely vague and you could argue any of the options are the correct answer. The lab is painful and unorganized as usual, but the lab reports…
Aug 2023 · didn’t like it · 1 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this
Horrible and pointless class. It's just a repeat of some parts of 240 with a worse professor. The first half genuinely felt like an ecology course, and the second half was 240 but easier. I'm perplexed as to why this course is compulsory for Biomedical Science.
Feb 2023 · didn’t like it · 1 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this
Mid. Labs are ehhh (Duxbury). The lecture portion is super dry, exams are not bad at all. You can study the night before and easy 80.
Sep 2026 · didn’t like itOn UW FlowRemove this
Discussed on r/uwaterloo
70 posts and comments in 62 threads mention BIOL 241, January 2012 to December 2024. Quoted word for word, newest first; each reply sits under the post and the comment that started its branch. Search r/uwaterloo for newer posts.
Spring 2024
BIOL 241 Winter 2021 Syllabus 1 point, 2 comments
u/Dependent-Big143: “Hi everyone! For grad school purposes I need the syllabus for BIOL 241 Winter 2021. Unfortunately, the undergraduate office was only able to provide me the syllabus from a different term. I was hoping somebody would be able to help me out! Help is greatly appreciated.”
Winter 2024
BIOL 241 1 point, 0 comments
u/DaTheta: “Anyone taking BIOL 241 want to switch lab times for a Tuesday 7-10pm slot 🙃. I'm looking for Tuesday 2:30-5:30pm so Sec 1 or 2. Anything course related from 7-10pm is actually criminal 😞”
Fall 2023
If you fail a course does it affect the lab? 2 points, 1 comment
“Title explains it a bit, I failed Chem 266 but passed 266L, if I retake 266 next year do I have to retake the lab as well?”
u/CMDR-BRIAN_ZUBRZYCKI: “No it does not affect the lab if you fail the course. You would only have it affect the lab if the lecture had a built in lab (for example biol 241).”
BIOL 240L - keep or drop? 1 point, 4 comments
“unintentionally missed the 2nd lab, and after speaking w the prof it'll be a -10% deduction in my grade. the exam is worth 45%, and is notorious for being extremely hard. …”
u/Loud-Meeting-8434: “Yeah this is a tricky situation. Keep in mind that BIOL 240L is needed for BIOL 241 and that BIOL 241 is a pre-req for alot of 3rd year courses. Since the lab is only 0.25 credits, it shouldn't impact your grade too much. Try your best to be well prepared for the exam.”
Winter 2023
Those of you who were/are a TA during your masters, and did your undergrad at an another school, how did you learn the course content? 2 points, 4 comments
“Beginning my masters at Waterloo in September. However I did my undergrad at another university. I want to be a TA, but I since I’m not familiar yet with the specific undergrad courses at Waterloo …”
u/MountainNegotiation: “I TA biol 241 during my Masters and did my undergrad in BC. Initially, I was quite stressed but each week we had TA meetings where the prof would go over the lab in good detail and give us TA notes to help us with the theory and important key results. …”
Is there a BIOL 241 group chat? 1 point, 1 comment
Spring 2022
Biol 240 & Biol 308 3 points, 5 comments
“I am enrolled in Biol 308 for this fall term but I was wondering if I should take Biol 240/240L first. Is there any content in Biol 240 that I should learn/know before taking Biol 308?? …”
u/itsazureeee: “… I took Biol 241 and 308 together Spring 2022 and had no issues. Good luck with your upcoming term and with 308 especially! …”
One stop shop for course selection+tips to all biomedical/science students 6 points, 3 comments
u/-Leviathan-: “… BIOL 241 was taught by Barb Butler, who has retired since. The content was not hard, but remembering everything might be - the nitpicking of one sentence of a slide was annoying. BIOL 273/373 content is not exactly hard, but I struggled with the applications a little. …”
Winter 2022
When do official grades come out?? BIOL 241 Grades?? 0 points, 3 comments
u/WatercressAcrobatic1: “Hi everyone, Why the hell are some courses not posting grades. It doesn't take that long to run paper through a scantron machine. Anger aside does anyone know why a course that only have multiple choice assessments is not posting the final grades. …”
What is the hardest course you took in waterloo 29 points, 66 comments
u/Hahaimalwayslikethis: “BIOL241 when I never took biology in high school and never did an intro biology in uni either”
BIOL 241 Textbook Use 1 point, 3 comments
u/WatercressAcrobatic1: “Do I actually need to read the textbook to do well in the course? What is the midterm and final based on the lectures or the reading? Asking cuz I don't want to waste my time reading a textbook. Thank you”
anyone taking biol 241 biol 273 or phys 112? 1 point, 1 comment
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