Microbiology at Ohio University
Microbiology is the study of microorganisms. Microbes such as bacteria, viruses, fungi and protozoans cover this planet, and have an impact on every aspect of life. Everyday topics being studied include: HIV/AIDS, cancer, malaria, West Nile Virus, influenza, Ebola, Salmonella and food safety, beer yogurt, cheese, public health, waste water treatment, tropical diseases vector control, oil spills, landfills, antibiotics, pharmaceuticals...
A major of microbiology will prepare you for an occupation in a diverse and expanding library of many fields of specialization.
Divisions of Microbiology As Recognized By the American Society of Microbiology
Antimicrobial Chemotherapy, Microbial Pathogenesis, Clinical Microbiology, General Medial Microbiology, Immunology, Medical Mycology, Mycoplasmology, Genetics & Molecular Biology, General Microbiology, Ultrastructure & Function, Microbial Physiology & Metabolism, Nosocomial Infection, Bacteriophage, Microbial Ecology, Fermentation & Biotechnology, Food Microbiology, Environmental & Applied Microbiology, Systematic & Evolutioary Microbiology, DNA viruses, RNA viruses, Mycobacteriology, Clinical and Diagnostic Immunology, Microbiology Education, Molecular, Cellular & General Biology, Public Health, Animal Health Microbiology.
How can microorganisms be used to clean up environmental spills?
How can we target deadly pathogens without contributing to the problem of antibiotic resistance?
How can we better maintain foods safe from microbial contamination?
How can we protect ourselves and others from bioterrorism?
Microbiologists work for private companies and laboratories, for government labs and agencies, international labs and agencies, and in educational institutions, answering all kinds of interesting questions such as those above.
After graduating with an udergraduate major in microbiology, you can enter the job market directly with your Bachelor's, proceed on to graduate work towards a Master's or Ph.D. degree, or go on to medical or other professional school. A common course is to enter a clinical lab scientist certification program. Ther are many options and opportunities with an excellent job market. Our microbiology students obtain jobs in their field of study.
The median starting salary (as reported by ASM) is dependent on the level of education you receive and type of job.
Ph.D. .........$47,000-67,000/yr
Master's.......$28,000-35,000/yr
Bachelor's in Micro....$21,000-23,000/yr
Bachelor's with a clinical lab certification.....$30,000-45,000
| Course Name | Hours | |
| Introduction to Zoology | BIOS 170-173 | 14 |
| Calculus w/App Biology | MATH 266A | 4 |
| Statistics | PSY 221 | 5 |
| OR | ||
| Prob and Statistics | MATH 250, 251 | 8 |
| Fundamentals of Chemistry | CHEM 151-153 | 15 |
| Introduction to Physics | PHYS 151-153 | 15 |
| OR | ||
| PHYS 251-253 | ||
| Organic Chemistry* | CHEM 305-307 | 9 |
| General Biochemistry I,II | CHEM 490, 491 | 7 |
| Cell Biology | BIOS 320 | 4 |
| Genetics | BIOS 325 | 5 |
| Principles of Evolution | BIOS 330 | 4 |
| OR | ||
| Microbial Ecology | BIOS 385 | 3 |
| General Microbiology | BIOS 321(L) | 5 |
| Immunolgoy, Lab | BIOS 486A,B(L) | 5 |
| Microbial Physiology | BIOS 489(L) | 5 |
| Molecular Genetics | BIOS 426 | 3 |
*Note that the major curriculum does not require the organic chemistry labs, but if taken, this curriculum satisfies the requirements for a chem minor.
| Course Name | Hours | |
| Lab Genetics | BIOS 326(L) | 3 |
| Microbial Ecology | BIOS 385 | 3 |
| Microbiological Techniques | BIOS 422(L) | 5 |
| Pathogenic Bacteriology, Lab | BIOS 423A, B(L) | 5 |
| Virology | BIOS 424A | 3 |
| Gene Regulation | BIOS 427 | 3 |
| Parasitology, Lab | BIOS 441A, B(L) | 5 |
| Tropical Disease Biology | BIOS 444 | 4 |
Students are strongly urged to work or volunteer in a microbiology or molecular biology research lab during their junior and senior years. The PACE program is excellenct for this purpose.
Interested?
If you are interested in the microbiology program at Ohio University and would like more information...
- Talk to your advisor.
- Visit a member of the microbiology faculty.
- Talk to students already in the program or attend a meeting of the Microbiology Student Organization.
- Visit the American Society of Microbiology student information web site: http://www.asm.org/Education
Consider Microbiology. The specialization will provide you with a well-rounded knowledge of Biology while offering a fascinating and virtually limitless selection of career prospects.
This information is presented to you by the Microbiology Student Organization.