Microbiology Undergraduate Major (BS, HBS)
This program is available at the following location:
- Corvallis
Options 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 or Aquatic Microbiology, 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, both verbally and in writing.
- 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 251, CH 231, CH 232, CH 233, CH 261, CH 262, CH 263 and CH 331.
MB majors must have a minimum 2.0 GPA in microbiology classes. 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 PROBABILTITY FOR THE LIFE SCIENCES II | 8 |
| or MTH 251 & MTH 252 | *DIFFERENTIAL CALCULUS and INTEGRAL CALCULUS | |
| ST 351 | INTRODUCTION TO STATISTICAL METHODS | 4 |
| Chemistry and Physics Core (46 credits) | ||
| CH 231 & CH 261 | GENERAL CHEMISTRY and *LABORATORY FOR CHEMISTRY 231 | 5 |
| CH 232 & CH 262 | GENERAL CHEMISTRY and *LABORATORY FOR CHEMISTRY 232 | 5 |
| CH 233 & CH 263 | GENERAL CHEMISTRY and *LABORATORY FOR CHEMISTRY 233 | 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 221 & BI 222 & BI 223 | *PRINCIPLES OF BIOLOGY: CELLS and *PRINCIPLES OF BIOLOGY: ORGANISMS and *PRINCIPLES OF BIOLOGY: POPULATIONS | 12 |
| Microbiological Sciences Core (17 credits) | ||
| MB 110 | ORIENTATION TO MICROBIOLOGY | 1 |
| MB 302 | GENERAL MICROBIOLOGY | 3 |
| MB 303 | GENERAL MICROBIOLOGY LABORATORY | 2 |
| MB 310 | BACTERIAL MOLECULAR GENETICS | 3 |
| MB 311 | ^MOLECULAR MICROBIOLOGY LAB: A WRITING INTENSIVE COURSE | 3 |
| MB 312 | BACTERIAL PHYSIOLOGY AND METABOLISM | 3 |
| MB 490 | MICROBIOLOGY CAPSTONE EXPERIENCE | 2 |
| Upper-Division Microbiology Laboratory (2 credits) | ||
| 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 (18 credits) | ||
| Select 18 credits from the following courses: 3 | 18 | |
| PLANT PATHOLOGY | ||
| MYCOLOGY | ||
| AQUATIC MICROBIOLOGY | ||
| RESEARCH | ||
| THESIS | ||
| READING AND CONFERENCE | ||
| SPECIAL PROJECTS | ||
| OCCUPATIONAL INTERNSHIP | ||
| IMMUNOLOGY | ||
| IMMUNOLOGY LABORATORY | ||
| MICROBIAL GENOME EVOLUTION AND BIODIVERSITY | ||
| AQUATIC MICROBIOLOGY LABORATORY | ||
| BACTERIAL PATHOGENESIS | ||
| VIROLOGY | ||
| PATHOGENIC MICROBES LABORATORY | ||
| THE HUMAN MICROBIOME | ||
| FOOD MICROBIOLOGY | ||
| FOOD MICROBIOLOGY LABORATORY | ||
| MICROBE-ENVIRONMENT INTERACTIONS | ||
| MICROBIAL BIOTECHNOLOGY | ||
| FERMENTATION MICROBIOLOGY | ||
| GENERAL PARASITOLOGY | ||
| FISH DISEASES IN CONSERVATION BIOLOGY AND AQUACULTURE | ||
| SPECIAL TOPICS | ||
| Additional Requirements | ||
| Remaining Bacc Core, Option and/or Electives | 60-62 | |
| Total Credits | 180 | |
- *
Baccalaureate Core Course (BCC)
- ^
Writing Intensive Course (WIC)
- 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
No more than 3 credits may come from the following courses: MB 401, MB 403, MB 405, MB 410. No more than 3 credits may come from MB 406
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 231 & CH 261 | GENERAL CHEMISTRY and *LABORATORY FOR CHEMISTRY 231 | 5 |
| MB 110 | ORIENTATION TO MICROBIOLOGY | 1 |
| MTH 251 or MTH 227 | *DIFFERENTIAL CALCULUS or *CALCULUS AND PROBABILITY FOR THE LIFE SCIENCES I | 4 |
| WR 121Z | *COMPOSITION I | 4 |
| Credits | 14 | |
| Winter | ||
| CH 232 & CH 262 | GENERAL CHEMISTRY and *LABORATORY FOR CHEMISTRY 232 | 5 |
| HHS 231 | *LIFETIME FITNESS FOR HEALTH | 2 |
| COMM 114 | *ARGUMENT AND CRITICAL DISCOURSE or *PUBLIC SPEAKING or *COMMUNICATING ONLINE or *INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION | 3 |
| HHS 241 | *LIFETIME FITNESS (or any PAC course) | 1 |
| MTH 252 or MTH 228 | INTEGRAL CALCULUS or CALCULUS AND PROBABILTITY FOR THE LIFE SCIENCES II | 4 |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| CH 233 & CH 263 | GENERAL CHEMISTRY and *LABORATORY FOR CHEMISTRY 233 | 5 |
| Bacc Core or Electives | 10 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| BI 221 | *PRINCIPLES OF BIOLOGY: CELLS | 4 |
| CH 331 | ORGANIC CHEMISTRY | 4 |
| Bacc Core or Electives | 7 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Winter | ||
| BI 222 | *PRINCIPLES OF BIOLOGY: ORGANISMS | 4 |
| CH 332 | ORGANIC CHEMISTRY | 4 |
| ST 351 | INTRODUCTION TO STATISTICAL METHODS | 4 |
| Bacc Core or Electives | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| BI 223 | *PRINCIPLES OF BIOLOGY: POPULATIONS | 4 |
| CH 337 | ORGANIC CHEMISTRY LABORATORY | 4 |
| Bacc Core or Electives | 7 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| BB 450 | GENERAL BIOCHEMISTRY | 4 |
| MB 302 | GENERAL MICROBIOLOGY | 3 |
| PH 201 | *GENERAL PHYSICS | 5 |
| Bacc Core or Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Winter | ||
| BB 451 | GENERAL BIOCHEMISTRY | 3 |
| MB 303 | GENERAL MICROBIOLOGY LABORATORY | 2 |
| PH 202 | *GENERAL PHYSICS | 5 |
| Bacc Core or Electives | 5 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| BB 314 | CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY | 4 |
| CH 324 | QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS (or MB lab) | 4 |
| PH 203 | *GENERAL PHYSICS | 5 |
| Bacc Core or Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| MB 490 | MICROBIOLOGY CAPSTONE EXPERIENCE | 2 |
| MB Lab Course | 2 | |
| Upper-Division MB Course | 3 | |
| Upper-Division MB Course | 3 | |
| Bacc Core or Electives | 5 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Winter | ||
| MB 310 | BACTERIAL MOLECULAR GENETICS | 3 |
| MB 311 | ^MOLECULAR MICROBIOLOGY LAB: A WRITING INTENSIVE COURSE | 3 |
| Upper-Division MB Course | 4 | |
| Bacc Core or Electives | 5 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| MB 312 | BACTERIAL PHYSIOLOGY AND METABOLISM | 3 |
| Upper-Division MB Course | 4 | |
| Upper-Division MB Course | 4 | |
| Bacc Core or Elective | 4 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Total Credits | 180 | |
- *
Baccalaureate Core Course (BCC)
- ^
Writing Intensive Course (WIC)