Microbiology (BS)
Microbiology is concerned with the growth and development, physiology, classification, ecology, genetics, and other aspects of the life process of an array of microscopic, generally single-celled, organisms and viruses. These organisms frequently serve as model systems for elucidation of fundamental processes that are common to all living cells. Most of the major discoveries that have produced spectacular advances in biology and genomic science during the past decade have resulted from studies of microbial systems. Future developments in biotechnology, production of food and fuel, and human and animal health will rely heavily on understanding microbial processes.
There are 4 avenues to earning a B.S. in Microbiology. Students can opt for a general curriculum (MBIO) or can choose to focus in a particular area by selecting one of three areas of concentration: Microbial Biotechnology (MBIO-MT) or Microbial Research (MBIO-MR) or Microbial Health Sciences (MBIO-HS). These concentrations mirror the three most common career paths of Microbiology majors: work in research laboratories and production facilities, further study in graduate school (at the Masters or Doctoral level), and further study in professional schools such as medical and dental schools.
Plan Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours | Counts towards |
|---|---|---|---|
| Orientation | |||
| LSC 103 | Exploring Opportunities in the Life Sciences | 1 | |
| or MB 103 | Introductory Topics in Microbiology | ||
| Communication | |||
| ENG 333 | Communication for Science and Research 1 | 3 | |
| Mathematical Sciences | |||
| MA 131 | Calculus for Life and Management Sciences A 1 | 3 | |
| or MA 141 | Calculus I | ||
| ST 311 | Introduction to Statistics 1 | 3 | |
| or ST 371 | Introduction to Probability and Distribution Theory | ||
| Natural and Physical Sciences | |||
| CH 101 & CH 102 | Chemistry - A Molecular Science and General Chemistry Laboratory 1 | 4 | |
| CH 201 & CH 202 | Chemistry - A Quantitative Science and Quantitative Chemistry Laboratory 1 | 4 | |
| CH 221 & CH 222 | Organic Chemistry I and Organic Chemistry I Lab 1 | 4 | |
| CH 223 & CH 224 | Organic Chemistry II and Organic Chemistry II Lab 1 | 4 | |
| BIO 181 | Introductory Biology: Ecology, Evolution, and Biodiversity 1 | 4 | |
| BIO 183 | Introductory Biology: Cellular and Molecular Biology 1 | 4 | |
| Select one of the following: 1 | 4 | ||
| University Physics I | |||
| Physics for Engineers and Scientists I and Physics for Engineers and Scientists I Laboratory | |||
| College Physics I | |||
| Select one of the following: 1 | 4 | ||
| University Physics II | |||
| Physics for Engineers and Scientists II and Physics for Engineers and Scientists II Laboratory | |||
| College Physics II | |||
| Major Requirements | |||
| LSC 101 | Critical and Creative Thinking in the Life Sciences 1 | 2 | |
| MB 351 & MB 354 | General Microbiology and Inquiry-Guided Microbiology Lab 1 | 4 | |
| MB 411 & MB 412 | Medical Microbiology and Medical Microbiology Laboratory 1 | 4 | |
| MB 414 | Microbial Metabolic Regulation 1 | 3 | |
| MB 451 & MB 452 | Microbial Diversity and Microbial Diversity Lab 1 | 4 | |
| MB 480 | Current Issues in Microbiology 1 | 1 | |
| GN 311 | Principles of Genetics 1 | 4 | |
| BCH 451 | Principles of Biochemistry 1 | 4 | |
| Gene Expression 1 | 3 | ||
| Biochemistry of Gene Expression | |||
| Molecular Genetics | |||
| Cell/Physiology 1 | 3 | ||
| Principles of Human Anatomy & Physiology (A): Nervous, Skeletal, Muscular, & Digestive Systems | |||
| Principles of Human Anatomy & Physiology (B): Endocrine, Cardiovascular, Respiratory & Renal Systems | |||
| Cell Biology | |||
| Plant Physiology | |||
| Laboratory Elective 1 | 3 | ||
| Microbiology Electives 1 | 9 | ||
| GEP Courses | |||
| ENG 101 | Academic Writing and Research 1 | 4 | |
| GEP Humanities | 6 | ||
| GEP Social Sciences | 6 | ||
| GEP Health and Exercise Studies | 2 | ||
| GEP US Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion | 3 | ||
| GEP Interdisciplinary Perspectives | 3 | ||
| GEP Global Knowledge (verify requirement) | |||
| Foreign Language Proficiency (verify requirement) | |||
| Free Electives | |||
| Free Electives (12 Hr S/U Lmt) 2 | 9 | ||
| Total Hours | 119 | ||
- 1
A grade of C- or higher is required.
- 2
Students should consult their academic advisors to determine which courses fill this requirement.
Laboratory Elective
| Code | Title | Hours | Counts towards |
|---|---|---|---|
| BBS 426/526/BEC 426/526 | Upstream Biomanufacturing Laboratory | 2 | |
| BCH 452 | Introductory Biochemistry Laboratory | 2 | |
| BEC 436 | Introduction to Downstream Process Development | 2 | |
| BEC 440 | 3 | ||
| BEC 441 | 3 | ||
| BEC 462 | Fundamentals of Bio-Nanotechnology | 3 | |
| BEC 463 | Fermentation of Recombinant Microorganisms | 2 | |
| BEC 475 | Global Regulatory Affairs for Medical Products | 3 | |
| BEC 480 | cGMP Fermentation Operations | 2 | |
| BEC 483 | Tissue Engineering Technologies | 2 | |
| BEC 485 | cGMP Downstream Operations | 2 | |
| BEC 488 | Animal Cell Culture Engineering | 2 | |
| BEC 495 | Special Topics in Biomanufacturing | 1-4 | |
| BEC 497 | Biomanufacturing Research Projects | 1-3 | |
| BIT 402 | Biotechnology Networking and Professional Development | 1 | |
| BIT 410 | Manipulation of Recombinant DNA | 4 | |
| BIT 462 | 2 | ||
| BIT 463 | Fermentation of Recombinant Microorganisms | 2 | |
| BIT 464 | Protein Purification | 2 | |
| BIT 465 | Real-time PCR Techniques | 2 | |
| BIT 466 | Animal Cell Culture Techniques | 2 | |
| BIT 467 | PCR and DNA Fingerprinting | 2 | |
| BIT 468 | 2 | ||
| BIT 471 | RNA Interference and Model Organisms | 2 | |
| BIT 473 | Protein Interactions | 2 | |
| BIT 474 | Plant Genetic Engineering | 2 | |
| BIT 476 | Applied Bioinformatics | 2 | |
| BIT 477 | Metagenomics | 2 | |
| BIT 478 | 2 | ||
| BIT 479 | High-Throughput Discovery | 2 | |
| BIT 480 | Yeast Metabolic Engineering | 2 | |
| BIT 481 | Plant Tissue Culture and Transformation | 2 | |
| BIT 492 | External Learning Experience | 1-6 | |
| BIT 493 | Special Problems in Biotechnology | 1-6 | |
| BIT 495 | Special Topics in Biotechnology | 1-3 | |
| BME 483 | Tissue Engineering Technologies | 2 | |
| CHE 462 | Fundamentals of Bio-Nanotechnology | 3 | |
| CHE 463 | Fermentation of Recombinant Microorganisms | 2 | |
| CHE 488 | Animal Cell Culture Engineering | 2 | |
| FS 426 | Upstream Biomanufacturing Laboratory | 2 | |
| GN 312 | Elementary Genetics Laboratory | 1 | |
| MB 360 | Scientific Inquiry in Microbiology: At the Bench | 3 | |
| MB 420 | Fundamentals of Microbial Cell Biotransformations | 2 | |
| PB 481 | Plant Tissue Culture and Transformation | 2 | |
| PO 466 | Animal Cell Culture Techniques | 2 |
Microbiology Electives
| Code | Title | Hours | Counts towards |
|---|---|---|---|
| BBS 426 | Upstream Biomanufacturing Laboratory | 2 | |
| BBS 526 | Upstream Biomanufacturing Laboratory | 2 | |
| BEC 426 | Upstream Biomanufacturing Laboratory | 2 | |
| BEC 463 | Fermentation of Recombinant Microorganisms | 2 | |
| BEC 480 | cGMP Fermentation Operations | 2 | |
| BEC 526 | Upstream Biomanufacturing Laboratory | 2 | |
| BEC 563 | Fermentation of Recombinant Microorganisms | 2 | |
| BEC 580 | cGMP Fermentation Operations | 2 | |
| BIT 210 | Phage Hunters | 3 | |
| BIT 211 | Phage Genomics | 2 | |
| BIT 410 | Manipulation of Recombinant DNA | 4 | |
| BIT 463 | Fermentation of Recombinant Microorganisms | 2 | |
| BIT 466 | Animal Cell Culture Techniques | 2 | |
| BIT 563 | Fermentation of Recombinant Microorganisms | 2 | |
| BIT 566 | Animal Cell Culture Techniques | 2 | |
| BSC 493 | Research Experience | 1-3 | |
| CHE 463 | Fermentation of Recombinant Microorganisms | 2 | |
| CHE 563 | Fermentation of Recombinant Microorganisms | 2 | |
| FS 405 | Food Microbiology | 3 | |
| FS 406 | Food Microbiology Lab | 1 | |
| FS 426 | Upstream Biomanufacturing Laboratory | 2 | |
| FS 505 | Food Microbiology | 3 | |
| FS 506 | Food Microbiology Lab | 1 | |
| FS 526 | Upstream Biomanufacturing Laboratory | 2 | |
| MB 210 | Phage Hunters | 3 | |
| MB 211 | Phage Genomics | 2 | |
| MB 405 | Food Microbiology | 3 | |
| MB 406 | Food Microbiology Lab | 1 | |
| MB 420 | Fundamentals of Microbial Cell Biotransformations | 2 | |
| MB 435 | Bacterial Pathogenesis | 3 | |
| MB 441 | Immunology | 3 | |
| MB 455 | Microbial Biotechnology | 3 | |
| MB 461 | Molecular Virology | 3 | |
| MB 470 | Emerging and Re-emerging Infectious Diseases | 3 | |
| MB 492 | External Learning Experience | 1-6 | |
| MB 505 | Food Microbiology | 3 | |
| MB 506 | Food Microbiology Lab | 1 | |
| MB 520 | Fundamentals of Microbial Cell Biotransformations | 2 | |
| MB 532 | Soil Microbiology | 4 | |
| MB 535 | Bacterial Pathogenesis | 3 | |
| PO 466 | Animal Cell Culture Techniques | 2 | |
| PO 566 | Animal Cell Culture Techniques | 2 | |
| SSC 532 | Soil Microbiology | 4 |
Semester Sequence
This is a sample.
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall Semester | Hours | |
| BIO 181 | Introductory Biology: Ecology, Evolution, and Biodiversity 1 | 4 |
| CH 101 & CH 102 | Chemistry - A Molecular Science and General Chemistry Laboratory 1 | 4 |
| LSC 101 | Critical and Creative Thinking in the Life Sciences 1 | 2 |
| MA 131 | Calculus for Life and Management Sciences A 1 | 3 |
| MB 103 | Introductory Topics in Microbiology | 1 |
| GEP Health and Exercise Studies | 1 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| BIO 183 | Introductory Biology: Cellular and Molecular Biology 1 | 4 |
| CH 221 & CH 222 | Organic Chemistry I and Organic Chemistry I Lab 1 | 4 |
| ENG 101 | Academic Writing and Research | 4 |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| CH 223 & CH 224 | Organic Chemistry II and Organic Chemistry II Lab 1 | 4 |
| PY 211 | College Physics I 1 | 4 |
| GEP Social Sciences | 3 | |
| MB 351 | General Microbiology 1 | 3 |
| MB 354 | Inquiry-Guided Microbiology Lab 1 | 1 |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| CH 201 & CH 202 | Chemistry - A Quantitative Science and Quantitative Chemistry Laboratory 1 | 4 |
| PY 212 | College Physics II 1 | 4 |
| GEP Humanities | 3 | |
| MB 411 & MB 412 | Medical Microbiology and Medical Microbiology Laboratory | 4 |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| ENG 333 | Communication for Science and Research | 3 |
| GN 311 | Principles of Genetics 1 | 4 |
| GEP Social Sciences | 3 | |
| ST 311 | Introduction to Statistics | 3 |
| GEP Health and Exercise Studies | 1 | |
| Hours | 14 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| Cell/Physiology Elective 1 | 3 | |
| BCH 451 | Principles of Biochemistry 1 | 4 |
| Laboratory Elective 1 | 3 | |
| GEP US Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion | 3 | |
| Microbiology Elective 1 | 3 | |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| MB 414 | Microbial Metabolic Regulation 1 | 3 |
| MB 451 | Microbial Diversity 1 | 3 |
| Microbiology Elective 1 | 3 | |
| MB 452 | Microbial Diversity Lab 1 | 2 |
| GEP Humanities | 3 | |
| MB 480 | Current Issues in Microbiology 1 | 1 |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| Microbiology Elective 1 | 3 | |
| GEP Interdisciplinary Perspectives | 3 | |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Gene Expression Elective 1 | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Total Hours | 120 | |
- 1
A grade of C- or higher is required.
Career Opportunities
Many students majoring in the Department of Biological Sciences take advantage of scholarship and honors programs available at NC State, including the University Honors Program and the University Scholars Program. In addition, we offer a discipline-based Undergraduate Honors Program in Biological Sciences (DBS Honors Program). The DBS Honors Program requires students to design a challenging program of advanced study, including eight credits of honors coursework in biology and at least two semesters of research or teaching scholarship. Participants write an honors thesis and are required to present their scholarly work at a local, regional, or national meeting. Invitations to join the DBS Honors Program are sent in the first three weeks of the Fall and Spring semesters. Students in any major in the Department of Biological Sciences who have earned an overall GPA of 3.60 after completing 30-65 credit hours at NC State will receive an invitation to join the DBS Honors Program; transfer students in any of our majors who have earned an overall GPA of 3.60 in 15 credit hours at NC State also will receive an invitation.
Students who graduate from the Department of Biological Sciences are well prepared for employment in various government agencies and private industries. Graduates may continue their education with studies leading to advanced degrees in many areas of the biological sciences, including cell biology, ecology, microbiology, genetics, zoology, neurobiology, and biomedical disciplines. Many choose to seek advanced degrees in medicine, dentistry, optometry, veterinary medicine, public health, and other health-related fields. Students who plan to seek certification for pre-college teaching may want to pursue a second major in the Department of Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics Education.
Career Titles
- Biochemist
- Biologist
- Biology Professor
- Biomedical Engineer
- Biophysicist
- Dermatologist (MD)
- Epidemiologists
- Family Practitioner (MD)
- Food & Drug Inspector
- Food Technologist
- Forensic Science Technicians
- General Internists (MD)
- Geneticist
- Gynecologist (MD)
- Medical Technologist
- Microbiologist
- Obstetrician (MD)
- Pathologist (MD)
- Pediatrician (MD)
- Pharmacologist
- Sales Representative (Chemicals & Drugs)
- Surgeons (MD)
- Surgical Assistants
- Toxicologist
- Water Pollution Control Inspector
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