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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 189Skills for Academic Success (Students transferring in 24 or more credits do not need to take AGRI 189.)1
Communication (C):
ENGL 110College Composition I3
ENGL 120College Composition II3
MICR 354Scientific Writing3
COMM 110Fundamentals of Public Speaking3
Quantitative Reasoning (R):
STAT 330Introductory Statistics3
Science & Technology (S):
CHEM 121
121L
General Chemistry I
and General Chemistry I Laboratory (or higher)
4
CHEM 122General Chemistry II (or higher)3
PHYS 211College Physics I (or higher)3
Humanities & Fine Arts (A): Select from current general education list6
Social & Behavioral Sciences (B): Select from current general education list6
Wellness (W): Select from current general education list2
Cultural Diversity (D): Select from current general education list
Global Perspectives (G): Select from current general education list
Total Credits40

Major Requirements

A grade of ‘C’ or better is required for the Microbiology Core and Elective Credit requirements.

General Education Requirements40
Required Core Courses for Microbiology
MICR 350
350L
General Microbiology
and General Microbiology Lab
5
MICR 352General Microbiology II3
MICR 450
450L
Infectious Disease Pathogenesis
and Infectious Disease Pathogenesis Laboratory
5
MICR 470Basic Immunology3
MICR 471Immunology and Serology Laboratory2
MICR 475Animal Virology3
MICR 480Bacterial Physiology3
MICR 482Bacterial Genetics & Phage3
MICR 486Capstone Experience in Microbiology3
Elective Credit: Select 6 credits from the following:6
Molecular Biology of Gene Expression
General Microbiology Lab II
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 150Agriculture 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 461Foundations of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology II3
BIOL 150
150L
General Biology I
and General Biology I Laboratory
4
CHEM 122LGeneral Chemistry II Laboratory1
CHEM 341
341L
Organic Chemistry I
and Organic Chemistry I Laboratory
4
CHEM 342Organic Chemistry II3
Select one of the following or higher level math:4-6
Applied Calculus I
College Algebra
and Trigonometry
Precalculus
PHYS 211LCollege 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/ZOOElective3
Degree Requirements: Potential of 16-18 credits to reach 128.16-18
Total Credits128

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
Microbial Genomics with Computational Laboratory
Bacterial Genetics & Phage
Seminar
Individual Study
Field Experience
Special Topics
Fungal Biology
Total Credits16

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.