Microbiology major

Microbiology: courses, careers, and where to study

Microbiology studies microorganisms, bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites, suiting students aiming for lab research, biotech, public health, and clinical or pharmaceutical work.

A Microbiology major covers the structure, genetics, physiology, and ecology of microorganisms, including bacteriology, virology, immunology, and microbial genetics. Programs build on a strong chemistry sequence (general and organic), biochemistry, genetics, and statistics, and are lab-intensive, with extensive training in aseptic technique, culturing, and microscopy. Common areas of focus include medical microbiology, environmental and industrial microbiology, and microbial genetics or molecular biology.

The major is usually offered as a bachelor's degree and prepares graduates for laboratory and quality-control roles in biotechnology, pharmaceutical, food-safety, environmental, and clinical settings, as well as for medical, dental, and veterinary school. A bachelor's degree is the typical entry-level education for microbiologists, though independent and academic research positions generally require a master's or PhD.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a 2024 median annual wage of $87,330 for microbiologists, and BLS projects employment of microbiologists to grow 4.1% from 2024 to 2034.

Academic classification (CIP)

In the federal Classification of Instructional Programs, Microbiology maps to CIP 26.0502, Microbiology, General, within the BIOLOGICAL AND BIOMEDICAL SCIENCES family. The official definition:

A program that focuses on the scientific study of unicellular organisms and colonies, and subcellular genetic matter and their ecological interactions with human beings and other life. Includes instruction in microbial genetics, cell biology, cell physiology, virology, pathogenic microbiology, environmental microbiology, immunology, biostatistics, bioinformatics, and laboratory methods including microscopy.

Source: U.S. Department of Education (NCES), Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) 2020. View on nces.ed.gov

What you'll study

  • General microbiology, bacteriology, and aseptic laboratory technique
  • Virology and the biology of viruses and other infectious agents
  • Immunology and host-pathogen interactions
  • Microbial genetics and molecular biology
  • Microbial physiology and metabolism
  • Biochemistry and the supporting chemistry sequence (general, organic)
  • Lab methods (culturing, staining, microscopy, PCR, sequencing)
  • Senior research project or capstone in a microbiology lab

Typical careers

  • Microbiologists
  • Clinical / Medical Laboratory Scientist
  • Quality Control Microbiologist (pharma or food)
  • Biotech Research Associate
  • Public Health Laboratory Technician
  • PhD Microbiologist (academia or industry)

Typical salary range: BLS, 2024 microbiologists median $87,330 (informational; varies by sector and degree)Ranges are early-career estimates. Any BLS figure shown is the occupation-wide median across all experience levels, not a starting wage, and is informational only.

Related occupations

Occupations the federal CIP–SOC crosswalk associates with Microbiology. Linked titles open a CampusPin career page with BLS pay and outlook data; others are listed for reference.

Source: U.S. Department of Education (NCES), Crosswalk: CIP 2020 to SOC 2018. A program of study does not guarantee any specific occupation.

Before you commit to a Microbiology major

CampusPin does not rank programs. Use these prompts to pressure-test whether a specific Microbiology program fits your goals, they are decision questions, not claims about any school.

Ask the Microbiology department

  • Which concentrations or specializations are offered, and which faculty lead them?
  • What does the typical course sequence look like, and how much is required vs. elective?
  • What labs, studios, clinical placements, or research opportunities are available to undergraduates?
  • Is there a capstone, thesis, internship, or co-op requirement?

Ask current students & check the curriculum

  • How heavy is the workload, and how accessible is the faculty?
  • What internships or co-ops did you do, and where do recent graduates end up?
  • Does the required curriculum actually match the careers listed above?
  • How easy is it to add a minor, double major, or switch tracks later?
Accreditation & licensure: Most Microbiology programs are covered by their institution's regional accreditation; specialized programmatic accreditation is less common in this field. Confirm any field-specific accreditation or licensure that matters for your goals.
Degree level & graduate study: Many Microbiologycareers are open with a bachelor's degree, but some, such as research, advanced-practice, or licensure-track roles, require a master's or doctorate. Check the typical entry-level education on each linked career page above before assuming a bachelor's is enough.

Find a Microbiology program

CampusPin lists U.S. universities and community colleges that offer Microbiology programs. Filter by state, tuition, school size, acceptance rate, and campus setting, no account required.

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How this guide is sourced

This is an editorial guide from the CampusPin Editorial Team. Career and wage figures are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, occupation-wide medians across all experience levels, not starting wages, and link to each career page. Program availability comes from CampusPin's free institution search; CampusPin does not assert that any specific school offers this exact major until that program data is verified. Last reviewed 2026-06-15. How CampusPin sources data · Report a correction.