Microbiology – Online Minor

Explore the invisible world

Delve into the impact of microorganisms on the well-being of humans, animals and the environment. From viruses to bacteria and beyond, harness your curiosity and discover what you can’t see with an online minor in microbiology from Oregon State University. 

Gain essential skills like lab techniques, data analysis and scientific communication, and choose your path in the program, focusing on topics like virology, food microbiology, microbial genetics or human health.

Learn from trailblazers

Microorganisms may be small, but their impact can be huge. Researchers at Oregon State have applied microbiology to areas of national and international interest like ecosystem preservation, COVID-19 tracking and sustainable agriculture. 

This minor is a great option for those in a variety of fields like food production, environmental science, medicine or research.

Coursework

This 27-28 credit minor delivered online by Oregon State Ecampus includes 24 elective credits. That means that your program is entirely guided by your interests. You can choose electives from more than 40 courses in microbiology, botany, biology and biohealth sciences. You could even find yourself using Oregon State’s groundbreaking virtual microscope throughout your course of study. 

Curriculum details and minor requirements are available on Oregon State’s academic catalog.

Sample course topics

• The human biome
• Immunology
• Plant pathology
• Food safety and sanitation
• Fungi in society
• Fermentation microbiology

Benefits of learning online with Oregon State

• All classes are developed by Oregon State's world-class faculty, who are renowned for their research, expertise and innovation.
• Oregon State is institutionally accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.
• Oregon State Ecampus consistently ranks among the nation’s 10 best providers of online education according to U.S. News & World Report.