Bachelor of Science in Microbiology

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

Purdue University West Lafayette

Program Overview

The Bachelor of Science in Microbiology at Purdue University West Lafayette provides focused study of microorganisms, including viruses, bacteria, and fungi, with strong preparation in biology, chemistry, mathematics, and laboratory science. It is well suited to students interested in infectious disease, biotechnology, medical research, environmental microbiology, and other life-science careers, with opportunities to study microbiology in depth through advanced coursework and laboratory experiences.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1: Students establish their scientific foundation through BIOL 12100 – Biology I: Diversity, Ecology and Behavior, BIOL 13100 – Biology II: Development, Structure and Function of Organisms, and BIOL 13500 – First Year Biology Laboratory, alongside chemistry, calculus, communication, and general-education coursework. This combination introduces biological diversity and organismal biology while building practical laboratory skills from the beginning of the degree.

Year 2: The second year moves deeper into cellular and genetic biology through BIOL 23100 – Biology III: Cell Structure and Function, BIOL 23200 – Laboratory in Biology III: Cell Structure and Function, and BIOL 24100 – Biology IV: Genetics and Molecular Biology, supported by their associated laboratory coursework. Students also begin the microbiology-focused pathway with BIOL 28600 – Introduction to Ecology and Evolution, strengthening their understanding of organisms, genes, cells, and biological systems.

Year 3: Students transition into advanced microbiology with BIOL 43800 – General Microbiology, BIOL 41600 – Viruses and Viral Diseases, and BIOL 43900 – Microbiology Lab. The coursework explores microbial structure and function, microbial diversity, viruses, pathogenicity, and laboratory investigation, while BIOL 52900 – Bacterial Physiology adds advanced study of bacterial function and biology.

Year 4: The final year allows students to deepen their specialization through microbiology electives such as BIOL 54100 – Molecular Genetics of Bacteria, BIOL 53300 – Medical Microbiology, BIOL 47800 – Introduction to Bioinformatics, and BIOL 54900 – Microbial Ecology. Students can therefore develop more targeted expertise in microbial genetics, infectious disease, computational biology, or microbial ecosystems while completing advanced chemistry, statistics, computing, and multidisciplinary requirements.

Focus Areas: Microbial biology, bacteria, viruses, fungi, microbial genetics, bacterial physiology, medical microbiology, microbial ecology, microbial genomics, bioinformatics, infectious disease, molecular biology.

Learning Outcomes: Students develop knowledge of microorganisms and their biological processes, laboratory and experimental skills, understanding of microbial genetics and physiology, and the ability to investigate microorganisms in medical, environmental, and biotechnology contexts. Purdue emphasizes hands-on laboratory experience throughout its Biological Sciences programs, including advanced microbiology courses.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation): Purdue's official program information identifies Microbiology as a specialized baccalaureate degree within the Department of Biological Sciences and does not state a separate professional accreditation specifically for the B.S. in Microbiology. The focused curriculum provides preparation for advanced study and professional pathways connected with biological sciences, health, research, and biotechnology.

Reputation (Employability Rankings): Purdue's Department of Biological Sciences reports that its programs combine cutting-edge research with education across molecular, cellular, organismal, and ecosystem levels, and its official site lists #17 in Microbiology among U.S. colleges offering the major in the cited U.S. News & World Report ranking. The department also reports extensive advanced-course offerings and laboratory experience in areas including microbiology, molecular biology, neuroscience, physiology, and ecology.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

Purdue’s B.S. in Microbiology gives students substantial hands-on exposure to laboratory science, with the Department of Biological Sciences emphasizing laboratory experience throughout the biology curriculum and advanced microbiology courses. Students can develop practical skills through microbiology laboratories, research projects, team-based analysis of scientific literature, independent experiments, and access to Purdue’s advanced life-science research infrastructure.

Students can build this practical experience through several program-relevant opportunities:

Hands-on Microbiology Laboratories: Advanced biology courses, including microbiology, emphasize laboratory experience, while Purdue’s microbiology teaching includes work with bacterial growth, enzyme kinetics, bacterial identification tests, and bacterial physiology.
Independent Experiments: Microbiology laboratory coursework can include a two-week final project in which students conduct literature research and develop one or two independent experiments, giving them experience with experimental planning and microbiological investigation.
Team-Based Research Projects: Purdue’s Medical Microbiology course is a Course-based Undergraduate Research Experience in which students work in teams to evaluate primary research articles, analyze experimental data, design follow-up experiments, and present their findings at a public poster session.
Bindley Bioscience Center: Students involved in research can access Purdue’s interdisciplinary life-science infrastructure, including genomics, flow cytometry, cellular and single-cell analysis, proteomics, metabolomics, microscopy, and computational biology capabilities.
Genomics Resources: Purdue’s Bindley Core for Genomics provides access to Illumina MiSeq sequencing and instruments including the Agilent Bioanalyzer and ThermoFisher Qubit, supporting modern genomic analysis.
Flow Cytometry & Cell Separation: The Bindley facility provides training in flow cytometry analysis and sorting, with capabilities including immunofluorescence detection, cell-cycle analysis, apoptosis measurements, cytokine detection, and data analysis.
Advanced Microscopy: Purdue’s imaging facilities provide access to confocal, multiphoton, light-sheet, super-resolution, and fluorescence microscopy. The facility also uses NIS-Elements software for image acquisition and analysis and provides training and project-specific guidance.
Microbiology Research Environment: Purdue’s Microbiology, Immunology & Infectious Disease research area investigates microbial signaling, host–microbe interactions, pathogenic organisms, and immune responses, with collaborative opportunities across the Colleges of Science, Veterinary Medicine, and Agriculture.
Research Institutes and Centers: Program-relevant research connections include the Purdue Institute of Inflammation, Immunology, and Infectious Disease (PI4D), Bindley Bioscience Center, Markey Center for Structural Biology, and Genomics Center, giving students opportunities to engage with research environments beyond the classroom.
Undergraduate Research: Purdue supports undergraduate participation in research through faculty laboratories and independent projects, allowing students to gain experience that can be valuable for graduate or professional-school pathways.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The B.S. in Microbiology at Purdue University prepares students for laboratory, biotechnology, healthcare, pharmaceutical, food, environmental, and research careers, with opportunities to gain practical experience through research and internships. Purdue also emphasizes connections with employers and preparation for graduate and professional study, giving students flexibility to move directly into employment or continue their education.

Typical Job Roles: Microbiologist, Research Assistant, Laboratory Technician, Quality Control Analyst.

Career Support & Employment Opportunities:

Career Services: Purdue's Center for Career Opportunities provides students with internship and job-search resources, Career Gateway, career fairs, employer information sessions, resume and interview preparation, and access to co-op opportunities.
Research Experience: Undergraduate students can participate in faculty research, Discovery Park Undergraduate Research Internship Program (DURI), summer research programs, and research opportunities connected with external institutions and organizations.
Internships: Purdue provides access to internships and summer research opportunities with organizations such as Abbott, AbbVie, AstraZeneca, Bayer, Biogen, Eli Lilly, Johnson & Johnson, Merck, Pfizer, Roche, and Zoetis, giving students exposure to major life-science and healthcare employers.
Industry Connections: Purdue's Microbiology, Immunology and Infectious Disease research area collaborates across the College of Science, College of Veterinary Medicine, and College of Agriculture, creating interdisciplinary opportunities in infectious disease, microbiology, and host–microbe research.
Employment Preparation: Purdue reports that more than 90% of new graduates secure employment, further education, or another meaningful post-graduation experience within six months, while more than 80% of students participate in an internship before graduation across the university.
Salary Figures: Purdue's official career-readiness materials provide university-wide employment and career data but do not publish a specific starting-salary figure for graduates of the B.S. in Microbiology; therefore, a microbiology-specific salary figure is not stated in the official sources reviewed.
Professional Preparation: The degree develops laboratory, scientific reasoning, research, and analytical skills that can support employment in biotechnology, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, food science, environmental science, and government laboratories.
Accreditation Value: Purdue's official materials do not state a separate professional accreditation specifically for the B.S. in Microbiology. The degree can nevertheless provide a foundation for graduate and professional programs in microbiology, biological sciences, medicine, public health, and related fields.
Graduation Outcomes: Purdue graduates can progress into employment or further education, and the university provides dedicated pathways for students considering graduate and professional schools, including research experience and pre-professional planning.

Further Academic Progression: After completing the B.S. in Microbiology, students can continue into master's or doctoral study in microbiology, biological sciences, infectious disease, biotechnology, biomedical sciences, or related disciplines, or pursue professional education in areas such as medicine and other health professions. Purdue's microbiology research environment includes undergraduate, predoctoral, and postdoctoral training in cellular and molecular mechanisms of infectious disease, providing a strong foundation for students interested in advanced research careers.