What is it?
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Microbiology involves the study of microorganisms including bacteria, fungi and viruses. Our program emphasizes bacterial function, structure, and biochemistry. Courses deal with microbial processes that influence the health of humans, animals and plants, microbes that have environmental impact, and those achieve industrial uses. Senior laboratory courses provide hands-on training in molecular biology and biochemical techniques as well as chemical analysis.
The Microbiology program is designed to give students a solid understanding of microbes and their potential in health, the environment and industry. Several areas of concentration are available, depending on the course options undertaken: medical microbiology, food microbiology, immunology, and environmental microbiology. However, students do not have to declare an area of concentration. Honors students undertake a research project in a professor's laboratory for 8 months (BIOL 499; usually in their 4th year). This option is also possible for Specialization students; a 4 month laboratory research project (BIOL 498) or literature research project (BIOL 490) is also an option.
Microbiology graduates have a wide choice of career options. Areas of career
opportunities include diagnostics, food quality control, research, and any area
of industry that produces enzymes, drugs and vaccines, or antimicrobial sera.