Medical Microbiology and Bacteriology

Overview

Programs in medical microbiology and bacteriology teach people how bacteria cause human disease.

Programs in medical microbiology and bacteriology teach people about the chemistry and physiology of bacteria. Students learn to identify new or mutated forms of bacteria.

Medical microbiology and bacteriology programs include topics such as:

Bacterial genetics and physiology
Bacterial anatomy and structure
Bacterial reproduction and mutation
Research methodology

Schools

Several colleges and universities offer bachelor’s degrees in medical microbiology and bacteriology. A bachelor's degree usually takes about four years of full-time study. At some schools these programs are offered through biology programs. In many cases, students get their bachelor's degree in biology with a concentration in microbiology and bacteriology.

A few universities offer graduate degrees in medical microbiology and bacteriology. A master’s degree typically requires two years of study beyond a bachelor’s degree. Doctoral (PhD) degree programs usually require two or more years of study beyond the master’s degree.

See schools that offer this program.

Related Educational Programs

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Program Admission

You can prepare for this program by taking courses in high school that prepare you for college. This typically includes four years of English, three years of math, three years of social studies, and two years of science. Some colleges also require two years of a second language.

For this program, schools recommend that you know how to use a computer and the Internet.

Some programs require you to complete prerequisite courses before you are allowed to declare a major in medical microbiology and bacteriology. These courses usually include physics, general chemistry, organic chemistry, and biology.

Below is a list of high school courses that will help prepare you for this program of study:

Advanced Biology courses
Advanced Chemistry courses
Anatomy and Physiology
Physics
Pre-Calculus

Graduate Admissions

Admission to graduate programs is competitive. You need a bachelor's degree, good grades, and good test scores.

Additional requirements at some schools include:

Graduate Record Exam (GRE) General
Letters of recommendation
Personal statement
Professional resume
Undergraduate major or significant course work in biology, chemistry, zoology, or related field
Undergraduate course work in statistics and calculus

Typical Course Work

Program Courses

This undergraduate program typically includes courses in the following subjects:

Anatomy
Bacteriology
Biochemistry
Calculus
Genetics
Hematology
Immunology
Laboratory Practice
Medical Microbiology
Molecular Diagnostics
Organic Chemistry
Physics
Physiology
Statistics
Virology

Graduate Program Courses

Graduate programs that lead to a master's or doctoral degree typically include:

Required courses
Clinical laboratory rotations
Thesis (master's degree)
Preliminary exams (doctoral degree only)
Dissertation and dissertation defense (doctoral degree)

Things to Know

A background in medical microbiology and bacteriology is good preparation for medical school. You can also go to graduate school in several areas of the biological sciences, including epidemiology, immunology, pathology, and more advanced study in microbiology and bacteriology.

Most people with degrees in medical microbiology and bacteriology work as researchers for laboratories. This means you work for medical centers, universities, or drug or chemical companies. You can also work for government agencies, such as the National Institutes of Health or the Centers for Disease Control.

Schools

King-Snohomish Area

University of Washington - Seattle

Medical Scientist