College Life

Private Schools That Are Well Known for This Major

• Harvard University
• Yale University
• Princeton University
• Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• Columbia University in the City of New York

State Schools That Are Well Known for This Major

• University of Virginia
• University of North Carolina—Chapel Hill
• University of Florida
• University of Minnesota
• Pennsylvania State University

Classes in the Major

Chemistry: Like we mentioned earlier, microbiology is sort of like a mash-up of biology and chemistry. Microbiology majors study life on the chemical level, so get ready for quite a few years of chem. Both organic and inorganic chemistry are in a microbiology major's wheelhouse, so if that sounds fun, you're gonna love it. In case it hasn't quite stuck yet, microbiology is pretty much just science, science, and more science.

Biology: Sorry Shmoopers, but if you don't know what biology is by now, it's time to consult Professor Google (or better yet, Professor Shmoop). The biology courses that a microbiology major needs to take range from introductory (like, what even is a cell?) to upper-level (whoa, that's a cell?). These courses have some core principles so if you don't learn general biology, forget about the micro. Sure, it can be intimidating, but you'll find your courage soon enough—and you probably won't even have to see the Wizard.

Physics: Yes, physics. This shouldn't come as a surprise—physics is the study of everything. Physics is just one more step in the microbiology staircase. It's not going to feel micro-related, but it's all part of strengthening your micro-quads. No one gets into the hard sciences without knowing what we know (or still don't know) about the universe. Even if you don't go into the hard sciences, having a basic understanding of physics is always a good idea. Time to get your physical education.

Math: Relax. We know you can hardly contain your enthusiasm (or lack thereof). It should also be no surprise that most science majors have to go through either statistics or calculus—there's no way around it. That's okay though, we've got you covered. If you're not a huge fan of math, give us a chance to persuade you. That being said, invest in a high-quality calculator—they're the real math heroes.

Microbiology: This is a total no-brainer, but in case you're a very certain scarecrow, yes, you do have to take some microbiology courses if you're majoring in microbiology. What isn't a no-brainer, however, is the actual subject matter you'll be tackling here. Microbiology classes include virology, immunology, microbial genetics, and bacteriology. These classes are all about itty bitty organisms and how they function. For example, the physical devastation of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is terrifying to think about, but it's very important to learn about.