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Careers in Microbiology

Students receiving degrees in either Microbiology or Medical Laboratory Science are well prepared for careers in almost any field in medicine, biology, and in every sector of the economy.

Build Your Career

A degree in Microbiology from Miami University gives you the flexibility and tools to build the career you desire.

Choose Your Major

Our department offers majors in both Microbiology, and Medical Laboratory Science, and minors in Molecular Biology and Bioinformatics. You can earn a B.S. degree in the Medical Laboratory Science major, and either a B.S. or A.B. degree in the Microbiology major.

Choose Your Courses

You can tailor your courses to your career interests. We offer a wide range of course selections for both B.S. and B.A. degrees that support careers in Biomedical Science, Microbial Ecology, Genetics and Bioinformatics, and Cellular and Molecular Biology, so that you can design your own combination of courses to best suit your needs.

Get Involved in Research

Whether you are interested in research in biomedical, commercial, or environmental fields; in industry, academia, or the government; a major in microbiology can provide the background and experience you need.

Interested in Medical School?

Miami degrees serve as an excellent stepping-stone to medical school (the requirements for a major in Microbiology are virtually the same as those which will qualify students to apply to medical, dental, and veterinary schools). They also align very well with the Premedical Studies Co-major.

Career Diversity

A major in microbiology prepares one for a career in almost any field in medicine and biology. Microbiologists work in every sector of the economy: Universities, Colleges, Schools, Hospitals, Government Agencies, Congress, Industry, the Peace Corps, NASA, and the Military. Here are some of the wide array of career paths available to microbiology majors.

NOTE: Some of the options listed may require training beyond the bachelor's degree.

  • Infectious disease
  • Technical sales
  • Product development
  • Medical illustration
  • Genetic engineering
  • Bioreclamation
  • Scientific research
  • Forensic Sciences
  • Environmental health
  • Laboratory administration
  • Veterinary microbiology
  • Human genome project
  • Patent law
  • Bioremediation
  • Bioethics
  • Biotechnology
  • Education
  • Virology
  • Microbial ecology
  • Epidemiology
  • Clinical microbiology
  • Pollution control
  • Technical writing
  • Immunology
  • Infection control
  • Quality control
  • Food technology
  • Molecular biology
  • Vaccine development
  • Microbial genetics
  • Public health
  • Microbial physiology
  • Environmental law
  • Agricultural microbiology
  • Drug development
  • Bioweapons defense

Find Out More

If you would like to visit a faculty advisor to discuss what the Department of Microbiology has to offer, email us at microbiology@MiamiOH.edu, and we'll schedule an appointment.

Career Resources

Center for Career Exploration and Success

The Center for Career Exploration and Success provides a broad array of services designed to help you build your career. Among the resources available are those associated with:

Career and Job Search Listings

Miami's Graduate School Opportunities

Students may choose to continue their education in microbiology, molecular biology, genetics, ecology and environmental biology, biochemistry, immunology, virology, mycology, or clinical microbiology.

Forensic Science

The field of Forensic Science covers diverse disciplines, ranging from Criminalistics and Jurisprudence to Forensic Pathology and Forensic Odontology. A major in microbiology can help prepare you for a career in Forensic Science or for graduate study in Forensic Science. For example, the minimum requirement for Criminalistics is a bachelor's degree in chemistry, biology, physics, molecular biology, or related sciences (i.e. Microbiology or Medical Lab Science), and in the future, a master's degree may be required. Other Forensic Science disciplines can require medical, dental, or engineering degrees.

Many colleges and universities offer degrees and courses in Forensic Science. In deciding whether to get a bachelor's degree in chemistry, biology, microbiology, or forensic science or to pursue a post-graduate degree, consider your career preferences and study the courses offered. At least 24 semester hours of either chemistry or biology is required and math is a must. The title of the degree is often not as important as the courses taken (adapted from the American Academy of Forensic Sciences).

Medical and Dental Schools

Many graduates choose to go to professional schools in medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine, law, or business.

GRE and Testing Information

Department of Microbiology

212 Pearson Hall
700 E. High St.
Oxford, OH 45056
513-529-5422 513-529-2431(fax)
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