Microbiology students at OSU study with and conduct research alongside faculty renowned for their pioneering work on virology and immunology to address daunting environmental, medical and molecular biological problems. As a microbiology major, you will gain a foundational understanding of infectious and beneficial organisms that play a role in human and environmental health. Through coursework and laboratory training, you will also learn about microbiology applications in the areas of environment, medicine, healthcare, agriculture and animal health.

Through the microbiology major, you will engage in the study of bacteria, viruses and parasites to address environmental, medical and molecular biological problems. Originating with a single course in bacteriology in 1899, today the Department of Microbiology is internationally renowned for pathbreaking research in the areas of the microbiology of aquatic environments, the microbiome and food and environmental microbiology.

You will have extensive opportunities to engage in undergraduate research, international study programs, internships, and conduct field studies that span environmental sciences, human and animal health, ocean ecosystems and medicine. Through a wide range of core and elective courses, you will engage in both theoretical and experimental learning from outstanding teachers and researchers.

The microbiology major has a built-in chemistry minor to provide students with a broad background in the physical sciences and enhance their skills as scientists.

Careers in microbiology
A B.S. degree in microbiology will provide you excellent job opportunities: three months after graduation, 95% of our recent graduates have been employed in a microbiology-related field or accepted to a program for further education (graduate school or medical, dental and pharmacy school). A microbiology degree will prepare you for jobs in national labs, environmental and natural resource agencies, research institutes, food and pharmaceutical industries and the non-profit sector.What can you do with a microbiology degree: Careers of our recent graduates
Research Microbiologist for the Food and Drug Administration

Laboratory Analytical Specialist at the Portland Water Bureau

Medical students at Cornell, Ohio State University, Royal College of Surgeons

Graduate students at New York University, OHSU, Max Planck Institute, Germany

Infectious Disease Medical Specialist at Samaritan Regional Medical Center
Resident Physician at OHSU, Mayo Clinic
Principal Scientist at SmartPhage Inc
Software Engineer at Thermo Fisher Scientific
Content Specialist at Study.com, LLC
Senior Quality Control Scientist at WR Grace and Co.