Microbiology Undergraduate Major (BS, HBS)
This program is available at the following location:
- Corvallis
Option available:
Administered by the Department of Microbiology under the School of Life Sciences in the College of Science.
The undergraduate BS degree in Microbiology (MB) provides broad training and opportunities to specialize in health, environmental, computational or biotechnological microbiology. Graduates with BS degrees frequently enroll in professional programs, such as medical, dental, and pharmacy programs, or are hired as microbiologists by the biomedical, food, beverage or biotechnology industries. This program offers hands-on training in microbiology laboratory courses and advanced opportunities for undergraduate laboratory and field research experiences.
Students may elect to complete one transcript-visible option in Pre-Medicine, although an option is not required.
Contact Information
For more information, contact the Department of Microbiology, 226 Nash Hall, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331-3804 or visit the departmental website for specific contact information.
Major Code: 570
Upon successful completion of the program, students will meet the following learning outcomes:
- Apply specialized microbiology knowledge from multiple fields to critically analyze and evaluate microbiological, environmental, and health-related problems.
- Demonstrate competency in routine and specialized microbiological laboratory skills applicable to microbiological research or clinical methods, including laboratory safety and accurately reporting observations and analysis.
- Communicate scientific concepts, experimental results and analytical arguments clearly and concisely.
- Practice flexible professional skills needed for careers in microbiology and related scientific and professional fields.
Students majoring in Microbiology cannot seek a dual degree or double major in Biochemistry & Biophysics, Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, BioHealth Sciences, Biology or Zoology.
To receive the BS degree in Microbiology, a student must complete all university baccalaureate core requirements plus departmental requirements listed below. All departmental requirements must be taken for a grade, with the exception of CH 324, which may be taken S/U; however, if taken S/U the student will not receive the Chemistry minor.
MB majors must complete the following courses with a grade of C- or better: MTH 227 or MTH 251Z, CH 221Z, CH 222Z, CH 223Z, CH 227Z, CH 228Z, CH 229Z, CH 331, and CH 332.
MB majors must have a minimum 2.0 GPA in microbiology courses. This includes courses in the Microbiology Sciences Core, Microbiology Laboratory, and Microbiology Electives.
MB majors planning advanced professional training in medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, etc., should consult an appropriate advisor.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Mathematics and Statistics Core (12 credits) | ||
| MTH 227 & MTH 228 | +*CALCULUS AND PROBABILITY FOR THE LIFE SCIENCES I and CALCULUS AND PROBABILITY FOR THE LIFE SCIENCES II | 8 |
| or MTH 251Z & MTH 252Z | +*DIFFERENTIAL CALCULUS and INTEGRAL CALCULUS | |
| ST 351 | INTRODUCTION TO STATISTICAL METHODS | 4 |
| Chemistry and Physics Core (46 credits) | ||
| CH 221Z & CH 227Z | GENERAL CHEMISTRY I and +*GENERAL CHEMISTRY I LABORATORY | 5 |
| CH 222Z & CH 228Z | GENERAL CHEMISTRY II and *GENERAL CHEMISTRY II LABORATORY | 5 |
| CH 223Z & CH 229Z | GENERAL CHEMISTRY III and *GENERAL CHEMISTRY III LABORATORY | 5 |
| CH 324 | QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS (or take an additional 400-level MB lab course from below) 1 | 4 |
| CH 331 & CH 332 | ORGANIC CHEMISTRY and ORGANIC CHEMISTRY | 8 |
| CH 337 | ORGANIC CHEMISTRY LABORATORY | 4 |
| PH 201 & PH 202 & PH 203 | +*GENERAL PHYSICS and *GENERAL PHYSICS and *GENERAL PHYSICS | 15 |
| Biological Sciences Core (23 credits) | ||
| BB 314 | CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY | 4 |
| BB 450 & BB 451 | GENERAL BIOCHEMISTRY and GENERAL BIOCHEMISTRY | 7 |
| BI 221Z & BI 222Z & BI 223Z | +*PRINCIPLES OF BIOLOGY: CELLS and *PRINCIPLES OF BIOLOGY: ORGANISMS and *PRINCIPLES OF BIOLOGY: ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION | 15 |
| Microbiological Sciences Core (18 credits) | ||
| MB 290 | +CAREER PREPARATION: BIOHEALTH SCIENCES AND MICROBIOLOGY | 1 |
| MB 302 | GENERAL MICROBIOLOGY | 3 |
| MB 303 | GENERAL MICROBIOLOGY LABORATORY | 2 |
| MB 330 | +*DISEASE AND SOCIETY | 3 |
| MB 310 | BACTERIAL MOLECULAR GENETICS | 3 |
| MB 311 | ^MOLECULAR MICROBIOLOGY LAB: A WRITING INTENSIVE COURSE | 3 |
| MB 312 | BACTERIAL PHYSIOLOGY AND METABOLISM | 3 |
| MB 008 | +BEYOND OSU II: ENGAGE | 0 |
| Upper-Division Microbiology Laboratory | ||
| Select one MB lab from the following or two MB labs if CH 324 is not taken above: 2 | 2-4 | |
| IMMUNOLOGY LABORATORY | ||
| AQUATIC MICROBIOLOGY LABORATORY | ||
| PATHOGENIC MICROBES LABORATORY | ||
| FOOD MICROBIOLOGY LABORATORY | ||
| Upper-Division Microbiology Electives | ||
| Select at least 20 credits from the following courses: | 20 | |
| PHYCOLOGY 4 | ||
or BOT 451 | PLANT PATHOLOGY | |
or BOT 461 | MYCOLOGY | |
or BOT 462 | FUNGAL ECOLOGY | |
| AQUATIC MICROBIOLOGY | ||
| IMMUNOLOGY | ||
| IMMUNOLOGY LABORATORY (if not used above) | ||
| MICROBIAL GENOME EVOLUTION AND BIODIVERSITY | ||
| AQUATIC MICROBIOLOGY LABORATORY (if not used above) | ||
| BACTERIAL PATHOGENESIS | ||
| VIROLOGY | ||
| PATHOGENIC MICROBES LABORATORY (if not used above) | ||
| THE HUMAN MICROBIOME | ||
| FOOD MICROBIOLOGY | ||
| FOOD MICROBIOLOGY LABORATORY (if not used above) | ||
| MICROBE-ENVIRONMENT INTERACTIONS | ||
| MICROBIAL BIOTECHNOLOGY | ||
| FERMENTATION MICROBIOLOGY | ||
| GENERAL PARASITOLOGY | ||
| FISH DISEASES IN CONSERVATION BIOLOGY AND AQUACULTURE | ||
| RESEARCH 3 | ||
or MB 403 | THESIS | |
or MB 405 | READING AND CONFERENCE | |
or MB 410 | OCCUPATIONAL INTERNSHIP | |
| SPECIAL PROJECTS (1-3 credits allowed) | ||
| Remaining Core Ed, Option and/or Electives | 54-56 | |
| Total Credits | 180 | |
- *
Baccalaureate Core course. Applies to general education requirements for undergraduate students in a catalog year up to 2024-2025
- +
Core Education course. Applies to general education requirements for undergraduate students in catalog year 2025-2026 and beyond
- ^
Writing Intensive Curriculum (WIC) course
- 1
If a student elects to take CH 324 for an A-F grade, they will meet all the requirements for the Chemistry minor as part of their MB program
- 2
Additional upper-division MB lab credits may count towards the Upper-division Microbiology Electives credits
- 3
Students may apply 3 credits from the following courses: MB 401, MB 403, MB 405, MB 410
- 4
Students may use two of the following courses for the MB major: BOT 417, BOT 451, BOT 461, BOT 462
Major Code: 570
Degree plans are subject to change and the following is only an example of how students may complete their degree in four years. Students should consult their advisor to determine the best degree plan for them. Contact details for advisors can be found on the Academic Advising page.
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | |
| CH 221Z & CH 227Z | GENERAL CHEMISTRY I and +*GENERAL CHEMISTRY I LABORATORY | 5 |
| MTH 251Z or MTH 227 | +*DIFFERENTIAL CALCULUS or +*CALCULUS AND PROBABILITY FOR THE LIFE SCIENCES I | 4 |
| WR 121Z | +*COMPOSITION I | 4 |
| Core Ed: Transitions | 2 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Winter | ||
| CH 222Z & CH 228Z | GENERAL CHEMISTRY II and *GENERAL CHEMISTRY II LABORATORY | 5 |
| MTH 252Z or MTH 228 | INTEGRAL CALCULUS or CALCULUS AND PROBABILITY FOR THE LIFE SCIENCES II | 4 |
| Core Ed: Arts & Humanities General | 3-4 | |
| Core Ed: Communication, Media & Society | 3-4 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| CH 223Z & CH 229Z | GENERAL CHEMISTRY III and *GENERAL CHEMISTRY III LABORATORY | 5 |
| MB 290 | +CAREER PREPARATION: BIOHEALTH SCIENCES AND MICROBIOLOGY | 1 |
| Core Ed: Arts & Humanities Global | 3-4 | |
| Core Ed: Difference, Power & Oppression Foundations | 3-4 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| BI 221Z | +*PRINCIPLES OF BIOLOGY: CELLS | 5 |
| CH 331 | ORGANIC CHEMISTRY | 4 |
| Core Ed: Writing Elevation | 3-4 | |
| Option or Elective | 4 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Winter | ||
| BI 222Z | *PRINCIPLES OF BIOLOGY: ORGANISMS | 5 |
| CH 332 | ORGANIC CHEMISTRY | 4 |
| ST 351 | INTRODUCTION TO STATISTICAL METHODS | 4 |
| Core Ed: Social Science | 3-4 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| BI 223Z | *PRINCIPLES OF BIOLOGY: ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION | 5 |
| CH 337 | ORGANIC CHEMISTRY LABORATORY | 4 |
| MB 302 | GENERAL MICROBIOLOGY | 3 |
| MB 303 | GENERAL MICROBIOLOGY LABORATORY | 2 |
| Credits | 14 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| BB 450 | GENERAL BIOCHEMISTRY | 4 |
| PH 201 | +*GENERAL PHYSICS | 5 |
| Microbiology Elective | 3 | |
| Option or Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Winter | ||
| BB 451 | GENERAL BIOCHEMISTRY | 3 |
| PH 202 | *GENERAL PHYSICS | 5 |
| Microbiology Elective | 3 | |
| Option or Elective | 4 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| BB 314 | CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY | 4 |
| PH 203 | *GENERAL PHYSICS | 5 |
| CH 324 | QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS (or MB lab) | 4 |
| Core Ed: Seeking Solutions | 3-4 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| Microbiology Electives | 8 | |
| Microbiology Laboratory | 2 | |
| Option or Electives | 5 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Winter | ||
| MB 310 | BACTERIAL MOLECULAR GENETICS | 3 |
| MB 311 | ^MOLECULAR MICROBIOLOGY LAB: A WRITING INTENSIVE COURSE | 3 |
| Microbiology Elective | 3 | |
| Option or Electives | 5 | |
| Credits | 14 | |
| Spring | ||
| MB 008 | +BEYOND OSU II: ENGAGE | 0 |
| MB 312 | BACTERIAL PHYSIOLOGY AND METABOLISM | 3 |
| MB 330 | +*DISEASE AND SOCIETY | 3 |
| Microbiology Elective | 3 | |
| Option or Electives | 5 | |
| Credits | 14 | |
| Total Credits | 180 | |
- *
Baccalaureate Core course. Applies to general education requirements for undergraduate students in a catalog year up to 2024-2025
- +
Core Education course. Applies to general education requirements for undergraduate students in catalog year 2025-2026 and beyond
- ^
Writing Intensive Curriculum (WIC) course