Bachelor of Science in Microbiology

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

Iowa State University

Program Overview

The Bachelor of Science in Microbiology at Iowa State University provides a strong foundation in microbiology, biological sciences and laboratory science, with extensive hands-on experiences designed to build problem-solving and technical skills for professional careers. It suits students interested in careers in industry, government or academia, as well as those preparing for graduate, medical or veterinary school, with opportunities to explore areas such as immunology, virology, parasitology, food microbiology and environmental microbiology.

Curriculum Structure

First Year: Students begin with the fundamentals of biology, chemistry and microbiology through courses such as MICRO 1010: Microbial World, BIOL 2110: Principles of Biology I and CHEM 1770: General Chemistry I. In the second semester, MICRO 3020: Biology of Microorganisms and MICRO 3000L: Introductory Microbiology Laboratory introduce students to microorganisms and fundamental laboratory techniques.

Second Year: The second year develops medical, genetic and chemical foundations through MICRO 3100: Medical Microbiology, BIOL 3130: Principles of Genetics and CHEM 3310: Organic Chemistry I. Students also complete MICRO 3100L: Medical Microbiology Laboratory, strengthening their practical understanding of microorganisms and their relationship to human health.

Third Year: Students move into advanced biological and microbiological concepts through MICRO 3200: Molecular and Cellular Bacteriology, alongside BIOL 3140: Principles of Molecular Cell Biology and physics coursework. The program also allows students to select environmental or other microbiology electives, beginning the process of developing a more specialized academic focus.

Fourth Year: The final year emphasizes advanced laboratory skills, specialization and professional preparation through MICRO 4400: Laboratory in Microbial Physiology, Diversity, and Genetics, microbiology electives and MICRO 4500: Undergraduate Capstone Colloquium. Students can use electives to explore areas such as Microbial Genetics and Genomics, Virology, Food Microbiology, Immunology, Soil and Environmental Microbiology or Microbial Ecology.

Focus Areas

Focus areas: General microbiology, medical microbiology, microbial genetics, physiology, immunology, virology, parasitology, food microbiology, environmental microbiology, microbial ecology and molecular/cellular bacteriology.

Learning Outcomes

Learning outcomes: Graduates develop theoretical and laboratory knowledge in microbiology, computational proficiency, professional and technical abilities aligned with American Society for Microbiology recommendations, ethical awareness in biotechnology, and the ability to collaborate on complex biological problems.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation)

Professional alignment: The program's core curriculum and laboratory courses are recommended by the American Society for Microbiology (ASM), including general microbiology, medical microbiology, microbial genetics and physiology. The official Iowa State sources reviewed describe this ASM curriculum alignment, but do not state that the bachelor's program itself holds a separate professional accreditation.

Reputation (Employability Rankings)

Reputation: Iowa State's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences agricultural and forestry programs ranked No. 12 globally among 477 institutions in the 2025 QS World University Rankings, providing an institutional indicator of international strength in related life-science and agricultural disciplines. The official sources reviewed do not publish a separate QS employability ranking specifically for the B.S. in Microbiology.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

Students in the B.S. in Microbiology at Iowa State University develop practical microbiology skills through extensive hands-on laboratory experiences alongside their scientific coursework. The program follows a core curriculum recommended by the American Society for Microbiology (ASM), including general microbiology, medical microbiology, microbial genetics and physiology, while upper-level options allow students to gain specialized experience in areas such as immunology, virology, parasitology, food microbiology and environmental microbiology. Students can also pursue independent study and undergraduate research with faculty across multiple microbiology-related departments, connecting laboratory training with real research questions.

The program provides several opportunities to turn classroom knowledge into practical experience:

Hands-on laboratories: Students complete laboratory-based courses including MICRO 3000L General Microbiology Laboratory, MICRO 3100L Microbiology Laboratory, BIOL 3130L Genetics Laboratory and other approved microbiology laboratory courses.
Research opportunities: Students can participate in research with professors across Animal Science, Plant Pathology, Entomology and Microbiology, Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Biology, Veterinary Microbiology, Veterinary Pathology, Food Science and Geology.
Independent research: MICRO 4900 Independent Study provides a structured route for students to undertake individual academic or research work within the microbiology program.
Research assistantships: Iowa State's Undergraduate Research Assistantship Program gives eligible juniors and seniors hands-on experience in formal research environments while developing technical and specialized skills.
Research projects: Faculty-led undergraduate experiences can involve students collaborating on research projects with real-world implications, including work involving microbiological techniques and scientific communication.
Specialized microbiology areas: Students can tailor upper-level study toward immunology, virology, parasitology, food microbiology and environmental microbiology, allowing practical training to align with their interests.
Internships: Iowa State's CALS highlights internship experiences for microbiology students, including student stories demonstrating how the university network can help students secure internship opportunities.
Microbiology Club: The Microbiology Club provides opportunities to learn about careers and professional opportunities and participate in outreach activities where students can use their microbiology skills.
Digital learning resources: The program provides access to CELLS alive!, an interactive resource featuring animations, videos, puzzles, quizzes, study aids and microscopy-focused materials for microbiology and cell biology.
Scientific communication: Undergraduate microbiology faculty provide hands-on opportunities involving microbiological techniques, independent discovery and scientific communication, helping students build skills applicable to research, employment and professional school.
Interdisciplinary facilities and expertise: The undergraduate program draws on faculty and research expertise spanning food safety, genetics and molecular biology, immunology, medical microbiology, microbial genomics, mycology, parasitology, plant pathology and veterinary microbiology.
Field trips: A specific field-trip requirement for the B.S. in Microbiology is not stated on the official undergraduate program pages reviewed.
Program-specific software: The official undergraduate program pages reviewed do not identify a specific required software package for the B.S. in Microbiology.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The B.S. in Microbiology at Iowa State University prepares graduates for careers across biotechnology, healthcare, agriculture, food safety, government laboratories and research, while also providing a strong foundation for professional and graduate education. The program reports that 97% of its graduates have been employed or enrolled in graduate programs within six months of graduation over the past 10 years.

Career roles: Graduates can pursue roles such as Microbiologist, Food Microbiologist, Laboratory Technician, and Immunologist, with additional opportunities in vaccine development, food safety, agricultural microbiology and public health.
Career services: CALS Career Services provides career counseling, job fairs, interview support, résumé building, résumé referral services and assistance with summer employment and internships.
Employment outcomes: 97% employed or in graduate programs within six months is the program's reported 10-year graduate outcome.
Salary information: Iowa State publishes CALS entry-level salary information for recent graduates and departmental first-destination reports, but the official Microbiology pages do not state a Microbiology-specific salary figure; therefore, no unsupported salary figure is provided.
Industry experience: A documented example is Corteva Agriscience, where microbiology student Alex Bray completed a biotechnology internship involving transgenic crop research across laboratory, field and greenhouse environments.
Research connections: Students can interact with professors across departments including Animal Science, Plant Pathology, Entomology and Microbiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Biology, Veterinary Microbiology, Food Science and Human Nutrition, and Geology, creating opportunities to explore different microbiology applications.
Professional alignment: The curriculum follows a core of courses recommended by the American Society for Microbiology (ASM), including general microbiology, medical microbiology, microbial genetics and physiology.
Accreditation value: Program-specific professional accreditation is not stated on the official Iowa State Microbiology undergraduate pages. The program does, however, state that its curriculum uses professional and technical recommendations from ASM.
Graduation outcomes: Iowa State reports that approximately 45% of each graduating class continues into graduate or professional education, including graduate, medical, pharmacy, veterinary, dental, public health and medical laboratory science programs, while approximately 55% enter microbiology-related employment in the private sector, USDA laboratories or academia.

Further Academic Progression: After the B.S., students can continue into Iowa State's Interdepartmental Microbiology M.S. or Ph.D. programs, which cover areas including molecular biology, genetics, microbial genomics, food safety, veterinary microbiology, medical microbiology, virology, immunology and parasitology. The bachelor's degree also provides preparation for professional programs in medicine, veterinary medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, optometry, physician assistant studies and medical laboratory science.