Bachelor of Science in Microbiology

Overview

The B.S. program in Microbiology at Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences prepares graduates for employment or advanced study in fields requiring knowledge of microorganisms (e.g., bacteria, fungi, viruses) and how they interact with other living organisms. Such fields include health care, public health, biotechnology, pharmaceutical sciences, and the medical equipment/supplies industry. 

Depending on the student’s goals, one of three tracks will be chosen in consultation with the microbiology advisors in the Department of Basic and Social Sciences. The tracks are as follows:

• > The Biomedical Microbiology track provides students with the knowledge of how infectious diseases occur.
  
  
• > The Public Health/Infectious Disease track teaches the skills relevant to the prevention and control of problems arising from infectious diseases.
  
  
• > The Industrial/Pharmaceutical Microbiology track emphasizes areas that include the prevention, investigation, and control of microbial contamination.

Careers

Food safety issues, environmental concerns, increasing antibiotic resistance, and the emergence of new diseases are all expected to contribute to job growth for microbiologists. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the total employment of microbiologists is projected to grow at a 13.3% rate between 2010-2020, much faster than most other occupations. The mean annual wage for a microbiologist is currently $72,030.

There are a variety of career options for students with a B.S. degree in Microbiology. Graduates will have an excellent foundation for advanced study in areas that include immunology, virology, and molecular biology. They will also be well prepared for acceptance into a professional school (e.g., medicine, veterinary, public health). 

Employment opportunities include positions as research technicians, drug analysts, industrial microbiologists, public health administrators, public health biologists/epidemiologists, and biotechnologists. These opportunities may occur in settings ranging pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities to international health agencies to research laboratories.

Curriculum

View the core curriculum for the B.S. in Microbiology program. 

You may also view a sample schedule for the Biomedical Microbiology track, Public Health/Infectious Disease track, and the Industrial/Pharmaceutical Microbiology track.