Microbiology (Medical Microbiology), BS

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

Arizona State University Tempe

Program Overview

The Microbiology (Medical Microbiology), BS at Arizona State University prepares students to understand infectious diseases by studying microorganisms, pathogens, immunity, diagnostics and disease mechanisms, with hands-on laboratory and research experience. It is well suited to students interested in medicine, health professions, biomedical research or medical microbiology, combining microbiology with genetics, immunology, molecular biology, biochemistry and physiology.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1: Students build their scientific foundation through BIO 181 General Biology I and BIO 182 General Biology II, while also developing quantitative and chemistry knowledge through courses such as MAT 117 College Algebra, CHM 113 General Chemistry I and CHM 116 General Chemistry II. First-year requirements also include composition and the LIA 101 Student Success in The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences course.

Year 2: Students move deeper into microbiology and molecular science with MIC 220 Biology of Microorganisms, MIC 206 Microbiology Laboratory and MBB 347 Molecular Genetics: From Genes to Proteins or BIO 340 General Genetics. They also develop biochemical and organic chemistry foundations through BCH 361 Advanced Principles of Biochemistry, BCH 367 Elementary Biochemistry Laboratory, CHM 231 Elementary Organic Chemistry and CHM 235 Elementary Organic Chemistry Laboratory.

Year 3: The medical microbiology focus becomes more prominent through BIO 353 Cell Biology, MIC 420 Immunology: Molecular and Cellular Foundations or BIO 420 Immunology, and an upper-division biomedical course. Students can explore areas such as Medical Anthropology: Culture and Health, Cancer—Mother of All Diseases, Genetic Engineering and Society, Cell Biotechnology, or Techniques in Molecular Biology/Genetics.

Year 4: Students apply their advanced knowledge through upper-division microbiology options such as MIC 379 Medical Bacteriology, MIC 485 General Virology, MIC 425 Advanced Immunology, MIC 441 Bacterial Genetics or MIC 302 Advanced Bacteriology Laboratory. The program also includes MIC 401 Research Paper, while students may choose opportunities such as MIC 484 Internship, MIC 495 Undergraduate Research, MIC 442 Bacterial Genetics Laboratory or BIO 390 Medical/Dental Field Placement.

Focus areas:

Medical microbiology, infectious diseases, pathogens, immunology, molecular biology, genetics, cell biology, biomedical science, clinical laboratory techniques and human health.

Learning outcomes:

Scientific thinking, analysis of scientific evidence, communication of complex scientific concepts, microbiology laboratory testing, interpretation of laboratory results and practical research skills.

Professional alignment (accreditation):

Higher Learning Commission (HLC): ASU states that all of its undergraduate and graduate academic programs are accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, providing institutional recognition and a framework for continuous academic quality improvement.

Reputation (employability rankings):

#2 in the U.S. among public universities for graduate employability: ASU reports this position in the Global Employability University Ranking and Survey, 2023–2026; ASU also reports 87% of new graduates were employed, continuing education, volunteering or serving in the military within six months, with a $63,000 median full-time undergraduate salary for 2023–24. These figures are university-wide rather than specific to Microbiology.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The Microbiology (Medical Microbiology), BS at Arizona State University gives students substantial hands-on preparation in microbiology, with laboratory courses focused on bacteriology, immunology, bacterial genetics and molecular biology. Students can also move beyond classroom laboratories into faculty-supervised research, internships and course-based research experiences, building practical skills relevant to clinical, health-care and research settings.

Laboratory-based coursework: Students complete MIC 220 Biology of Microorganisms with MIC 206 Microbiology Laboratory, MIC 302 Advanced Bacteriology Laboratory, and can select advanced laboratory experiences such as MIC 421 Experimental Immunology Laboratory, MIC 442 Bacterial Genetics Laboratory, and MIC/MBB 446 Techniques in Molecular Biology Laboratory.
Research experience: ASU allows students to earn credit through MIC 495 Undergraduate Research, involving supervised research in a faculty microbiology laboratory. Up to six credit hours of undergraduate research can be applied toward major requirements, while MIC 496 Undergraduate Thesis provides a pathway to turn supervised research into an undergraduate thesis.
Internships: Microbiology students can complete MIC 484 Internship, gaining professional experience outside the classroom; ASU's School of Life Sciences describes internships as opportunities to contribute to significant projects, develop professional skills and network with people working in the science community.
Course-based research projects: Students can participate in Course-based Undergraduate Research Experiences (CUREs), where an entire class works during a semester on a research problem relevant to the scientific community, including projects involving faculty, industry partners or nonprofit organizations.
Medical microbiology techniques: The curriculum provides practical exposure to advanced bacteriology, experimental immunology, bacterial genetics, molecular biology/genetics laboratory techniques and cell biotechnology, directly supporting the program's medical microbiology focus.
Biodesign Institute: Tempe students are close to ASU's Biodesign Institute, a major interdisciplinary research complex with advanced laboratory space spanning biotechnology, biomedicine, nanotechnology and information technology. Biodesign Building C provides high-quality wet-lab space for biological sciences, while Buildings A and B support interdisciplinary research involving hundreds of researchers.
Microbiomics research: The Biodesign Center for Fundamental and Applied Microbiomics provides an especially relevant research environment, investigating microbial systems and their importance to human, animal and plant biology, the environment and engineered systems.
Advanced imaging facilities: ASU's Advanced Light Microscopy Facility within the Biodesign Institute provides specialized imaging infrastructure, training and consultation for bioscience research.
Research partnerships: ASU's School of Life Sciences identifies undergraduate research opportunities with external partners including the Phoenix Zoo, Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) and USDA, allowing students to gain experience beyond university laboratories.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The Microbiology (Medical Microbiology), BS at Arizona State University prepares students to understand pathogens, diagnostics, infection, immunity and disease mechanisms, with training in microbiology, genetics, immunology, molecular biology and clinical laboratory techniques. Graduates can enter biology research and laboratory careers or use the degree as preparation for medical, dental, optometry, physician assistant and other health-related graduate programs.

Typical job roles: Microbiologist, Laboratory Technologist, Cytotechnologist, Histology Technologist.

Career progression and opportunities:

Career preparation: ASU’s School of Life Sciences provides opportunities for internships, undergraduate research and faculty-supervised research, allowing students to build practical skills, contribute to projects, network with science professionals and strengthen their resumes.
Career services: Students can use ASU Career and Professional Development Services for career planning and development, including support with employment opportunities and career preparation.
Employment and salary: ASU lists a median salary of $81,990 for Microbiologists, $57,380 for Laboratory Technologists, $57,380 for Cytotechnologists and $57,380 for Histology Technologists. These are occupational salary figures and are not guaranteed starting salaries for graduates.
Health and research connections: ASU’s microbiology research network includes the Biodesign Institute, Translational Genomics Research Institute, Barrow Neurological Institute, Mayo Clinic in Arizona, Phoenix Children’s Hospital and other medical and research institutions, creating opportunities for interdisciplinary research and professional exposure.
Hands-on experience: Students can undertake MIC 484 Internship, BIO/MIC/MBB 495 Undergraduate Research, or BIO/MIC/MBB 492 Honors Directed Study as approved experiential options within the microbiology curriculum.
Professional recognition: ASU states that the medical microbiology curriculum provides competencies and prerequisite preparation valued by medical, dental and optometry programs, as well as programs preparing physician assistants and physical therapists.
Long-term accreditation: Arizona State University is fully accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, with the university continuously accredited since 1931. Institutional accreditation supports the recognition of ASU degrees and provides an established framework for ongoing academic quality review.
Graduation outcomes: Students graduate with the ability to perform and interpret microbiology laboratory tests, apply scientific thinking and communicate complex scientific concepts using evidence, supporting progression into laboratory, research and health-related pathways.

Further Academic Progression: After completing the BS, students can progress into medical, dental, optometry, physician assistant and physical therapy programs, or pursue graduate study in microbiology and related biological sciences. ASU offers a Microbiology MS and PhD, with graduate research spanning areas such as microbial ecology, bacterial physiology and genetics, pathogenesis, immunology, vaccine development and cancer biology.