The Microbiology degree includes a broad background and education in the sciences, including chemistry, biology, physics, and mathematics as well as specific, focused training in the field of microbiology. Majors complete 40 credits in microbiology departmental courses. Much of the advanced coursework displays an integrated approach to the study of prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms with a major emphasis in microbial pathogenesis. This includes an analysis of virulence factors, bacterial toxins, lipopolysaccharides, and outer membrane proteins, interactions of pathogens and their products with eukaryotic host cells (cellular microbiology), antigenic variation, contemporary vaccine strategies, bacterial gene regulation (osmoregulation, quorum sensing), bacterial export and secretion, and genetic regulation of bacterial virulence expression.

Career Options: This degree provides the technical skills for careers in resource management, conservation, teaching, agriculture, medicine, dentistry, microbiology, marine biology, biotechnology, or for post-graduate study in any of the various life sciences.