Microbiology
Microbiology is a fundamental biological science which offers a variety of challenges and opportunities. Microbiologists have made some of the most important scientific discoveries in this century. Since 1910, approximately one-third of the Nobel Prizes in medicine and physiology have been awarded to microbiologists. The discipline covers a wide spectrum of specialized interest areas that illustrate how microbes affect human and animal health, our environment, food safety, food technology, and the biotechnology industry. In recent years, the field of microbiology has had a major impact upon virtually all other scientific disciplines. For this reason, even students who choose to major in other fields may benefit from a minor in microbiology.
Students majoring in microbiology are well prepared to enter graduate school, veterinary school, and medical school, or to establish careers in food or pharmaceutical industries, hospitals, public health agencies, universities, research laboratories, and other biomedical industries.
Major Requirements
Major: Microbiology
Degree Type: B.S.
Required Degree Credits to Graduate: 128
General Education Requirements
| First Year Experience (F): | ||
| AGRI 189 | Skills for Academic Success (Students transferring in 24 or more credits do not need to take AGRI 189.) | 1 |
| Communication (C): | ||
| ENGL 110 | College Composition I | 3 |
| ENGL 120 | College Composition II | 3 |
| MICR 354 | Scientific Writing | 3 |
| COMM 110 | Fundamentals of Public Speaking | 3 |
| Quantitative Reasoning (R): | ||
| STAT 330 | Introductory Statistics | 3 |
| Science & Technology (S): | ||
| CHEM 121 & 121L | General Chemistry I and General Chemistry I Laboratory (or higher) | 4 |
| CHEM 122 | General Chemistry II (or higher) | 3 |
| PHYS 211 | College Physics I (or higher) | 3 |
| Humanities & Fine Arts (A): Select from current general education list | 6 | |
| Social & Behavioral Sciences (B): Select from current general education list | 6 | |
| Wellness (W): Select from current general education list | 2 | |
| Cultural Diversity (D): Select from current general education list | ||
| Global Perspectives (G): Select from current general education list | ||
| Total Credits | 40 | |
Major Requirements
A grade of ‘C’ or better is required for the Microbiology Core and Elective Credit requirements.
| General Education Requirements | 40 | |
| Required Core Courses for Microbiology | ||
| MICR 350 & 350L | General Microbiology and General Microbiology Lab | 5 |
| MICR 450 & 450L | Infectious Disease Pathogenesis and Infectious Disease Pathogenesis Laboratory | 5 |
| MICR 470 | Basic Immunology | 3 |
| MICR 471 | Immunology and Serology Laboratory | 2 |
| MICR 475 | Animal Virology | 3 |
| MICR 480 | Bacterial Physiology | 3 |
| MICR 482 | Bacterial Genetics & Phage | 3 |
| MICR 486 | Capstone Experience in Microbiology | 3 |
| Elective Credit: Select 6 credits from the following: | 6 | |
| Molecular Biology of Gene Expression | ||
| Clinical Parasitology | ||
| Study Tour Abroad | ||
| Animal Cell Culture Techniques | ||
| Microbial Ecology | ||
| Food Microbiology | ||
| Clinical Immunology | ||
| Epidemiology | ||
| Hematology | ||
| Fungal Biology | ||
No more than 3 of the elective credits may come from the following: | ||
| Seminar | ||
| Individual Study | ||
| Field Experience | ||
| Special Topics | ||
MICR 370-MICR 399 | ||
| Related Requirements | ||
| AGRI/ANSC/VETS 150 | Agriculture Orientation (Students transferring in 24 or more credits do not need to take AGRI 150.) | 1 |
| BIOC 460 & 460L | Foundations of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology I and Foundations of Biochemistry I Laboratory | 4 |
| BIOC 461 | Foundations of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology II | 3 |
| BIOL 150 & 150L | General Biology I and General Biology I Laboratory | 4 |
| CHEM 122L | General Chemistry II Laboratory | 1 |
| CHEM 341 & 341L | Organic Chemistry I and Organic Chemistry I Laboratory | 4 |
| CHEM 342 | Organic Chemistry II | 3 |
| Select one of the following or higher level math: | 4-6 | |
| Applied Calculus I | ||
| College Algebra and Trigonometry | ||
| Precalculus | ||
| PHYS 211L | College Physics I Laboratory (or higher) | 1 |
| PHYS 212 & 212L | College Physics II and College Physics II Laboratory (or higher) | 4 |
| PLSC 315 & 315L | Genetics and Genetics Laboratory | 4 |
| BIOL/BOT/ZOO | Elective | 3 |
| Degree Requirements: Potential of 19-21 credits to reach 128. | 19-21 | |
| Total Credits | 128 | |
Degree Requirements and Notes
- A cumulative 2.50 GPA is required for graduation.
Minor Requirements
Microbiology Minor
Minor Requirements
Required Credits: 16
| Required Courses | ||
| MICR 350 & 350L | General Microbiology and General Microbiology Lab | 5 |
| Elective Courses: Select 11 credits from the following: | 11 | |
No more than 3 of the elective credits may come from MICR 490-499. | ||
| Molecular Biology of Gene Expression | ||
| Hematology | ||
| Study Tour Abroad | ||
| Animal Cell Culture Techniques | ||
| Microbial Ecology | ||
| Food Microbiology | ||
| Pathogenic Microbiology and Pathogenic Microbiology Laboratory | ||
| Clinical Parasitology | ||
| Basic Immunology | ||
| Immunology and Serology Laboratory | ||
| Clinical Immunology | ||
| Epidemiology (see SAFE) | ||
| Animal Virology | ||
| Bacterial Physiology | ||
| Bacterial Genetics & Phage | ||
| Seminar | ||
| Individual Study | ||
| Field Experience | ||
| Special Topics | ||
| Fungal Biology | ||
| Total Credits | 16 | |
Minor Requirements and Notes
- A minimum of 8 credits must be taken at NDSU.
- Students must earn a 2.50 minimum GPA for the minor with a grade of ‘C’ or better in the courses used to satisfy the minor requirements.
