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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.
Minimum Degree Credits to Graduate: 128

General Education Requirements for Baccalaureate Degree

  • A dynamic list of approved general education courses offered by term is available on the NDSU General Education Requirements website.
  • General education courses may be used to satisfy requirements for both general education and the major, minor, and program emphases, where applicable. Students should carefully review the major, minor, and program emphases requirements for minimum grade restrictions, if applicable.
First Year Experience (F)1
Skills For Academic Success (Also offered with the following prefixes: ABEN, AGRI, BUSN, HD&E, ME, NURS, PHRM)
Communication (C)12
College Composition I
College Composition II
Fundamentals of Public Speaking
Upper Division Writing
Quantitative Reasoning (R) 3
Science and Technology (S) 10
Humanities and Fine Arts (A) 6
Social and Behavioral Sciences (B) 6
Wellness (W) 2
Cultural Diversity (D) *†
Global Perspectives (G) *†
Total Credits40

Major Requirements

A grade of ‘C’ or better is required for the microbiology core and elective requirements.

Required Courses for Microbiology Major
MICR 350
350L
General Microbiology
and General Microbiology Lab
5
MICR 352
352L
General Microbiology II
and General Microbiology Lab II
5
MICR 354Scientific Writing3
MICR 480Bacterial Physiology3
MICR 482Bacterial Genetics & Phage3
MICR 486Capstone Experience in Microbiology3
Elective Courses for Microbiology Major - Select a minimum of 21 credits from the following:21
Fifteen (15) of the 21 credits must have a MICR prefix. No more than 3 credits may come from courses numbered 371-399 or 491-499 to fulfill this requirement.
Study Tour Abroad
Study Abroad
Individual Study
Animal Cell Culture Techniques
Infectious Disease Pathogenesis
Infectious Disease Pathogenesis Laboratory
Pathogenic Microbiology Laboratory
Microbial Ecology
Food Microbiology
Clinical Parasitology
Basic Immunology
Immunology and Serology Laboratory
Clinical Immunology
Epidemiology
Animal Virology
Microbial Genomics with Computational Laboratory
Seminar
Undergraduate Research
Individual Study
Field Experience
Methods of Biochemical Research
Methods of Recombinant DNA Technology
Cellular Signal Transduction Processes and Metabolic Regulations
Molecular Biology of Gene Expression
Evolution
General Ecology
Wetland Science
Introduction to Geographic Information Systems
Biogeochemistry
Hematology
Intermediate Genetics
Fungal Biology
Introduction to Soil Science
Soil Ecology
Cell Biology
Related Requirements for the Microbiology Major
BIOL 150
150L
General Biology I
and General Biology I Laboratory
4
BIOL 151
151L
General Biology II
and General Biology II Laboratory
4
CHEM 121
121L
General Chemistry I
and General Chemistry I Laboratory (May satisfy general education category S)
4
CHEM 122
122L
General Chemistry II
and General Chemistry II Laboratory (May satisfy general education category S)
4
CHEM 341
341L
Organic Chemistry I
and Organic Chemistry I Laboratory
4
CHEM 342Organic Chemistry II3
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
PHYS 211
211L
College Physics I
and College Physics I Laboratory (May satisfy general education category S)
4
PHYS 212
212L
College Physics II
and College Physics II Laboratory (or higher (May satisfy general education category S)
4
PLSC 315
315L
Genetics
and Genetics Laboratory (May satisfy general education category S)
4
STAT 330Introductory Statistics (May satisfy general education category R)3
Select one of the following or higher level math:3-4
Trigonometry
Precalculus
Applied Calculus I
Total Credits91

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 credits may come from courses numbered 491-499 to fulfill this requirement.
General Microbiology II
General Microbiology Lab II
Study Tour Abroad
Animal Cell Culture Techniques
Microbial Ecology
Food Microbiology
Pathogenic Microbiology
Infectious Disease Pathogenesis
Pathogenic Microbiology Laboratory
Infectious Disease Pathogenesis 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
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.