CIVE 3430 — Engineering Microbiology and Ecology
4 semester hoursUndergraduateLectureusually offered: springtypical days: M/W/ThBostonTraditional
Introduces the importance of microorganisms and plants to the natural and built environments and evidence-based decision making for complex systems constrained and defined by multiple metrics. Seeks to provide a fundamental understanding of microorganisms (metabolisms, growth, genetics, resource requirements, and niche) and their role in the global ecosystem (element cycling, energy flows, food webs). Examines the role of plants and microbes in both engineered and natural environmental systems and bidirectional interactions between the natural and the built environments. Framed around a series of case studies that highlight the challenges of and strategies for engineering in the earth system context, such as microbially mediated infrastructure corrosion; ecological effects of nutrient pollution; bioaccumulation; green infrastructure and remediation (constructed wetlands, bioremediation); and wastewater treatment.
Prerequisites
Offering history
| Term | Sections | Enrolled | Capacity | Full | Open seats/section |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring 2024 | 1 | 30 | 40 | 75% | 10.0 |
| Spring 2025 | 1 | 23 | 40 | 57% | 17.0 |
| Fall 2025 | 1 | 19 | 20 | 95% | 1.0 |
| Spring 2026 | 1 | 19 | 40 | 48% | 21.0 |
Snapshots from scheduled scrapes — not live seat availability. "Full" can exceed 100% when sections over-enroll.
Meeting times
Share of recent sections by weekday: M 67% · T 0% · W 67% · Th 100% · F 0%
Common patterns: MWR (67% of sections), R (33% of sections) — in patterns, R means Thursday
Professors
Fall
- Amy Mueller (100% of students) · reviews
Spring
- Yu Miao (68% of students) · reviews
- Amy Mueller (32% of students) · reviews
Percentages are each professor's average share of the season's enrolled students in recent terms.
Links
Official catalog (CIVE course descriptions) · Student reviews on RateMyHusky · All CIVE courses · Plan it at numap.app