Microbiology Major Requirements

PDF version of the Microbiology Undergraduate Major Handout (as of March 2024)
If you need this file in a more accessible format, please contact micro.grad@osu.edu.

Major Program Policies

  • The major consists of a minimum of 30 semester hours of courses approved by a microbiology advisor
  • A minimum grade of "C-" is required in every course counting toward the major
  • A maximum of 3 credits of coursework using the Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory (S/U) grading basis can be applied towards the major
  • A maximum of 3 credits of coursework at the 2000-level or 3000-level can be applied towards the major
  • Any student failing to obtain at least a C- after repeating a course must petition the Microbiology Department Curriculum Committee for permission to take the course a third time
  • A minimum grade point average of 2.00 (“C”) in the 30 credit hours counting towards the major is required for graduation

Please consult your assigned academic advisor for questions concerning: 

  • General Education (GE) Requirements for a BS degree  
  • Enrollment Windows and How to Schedule Classes in general
  • Adding and Dropping courses
  • Major Requirements
  • Most other general questions concerning your academic progress

Join the American Society for Microbiology Student Chapter at OSU! Contact President Rachel Martin for questions.

Major Requirements

Students must complete all major prerequisites based on their first semester of enrollment at OSU

*Current students can work with their assigned advisor if they wish to have the second semester of physics waived

Honors courses or more advanced courses can substitute when available

Students must complete all core courses below:

*Non-majors who earn an A or A- in Micro 4000.01 or 4000.02 can request to use this coursework in place of Micro 4100. Students must work with an advisor since this is not automatically approved and to ensure all major requirements are met.

Students must select a minimum of 9 credits of major electives from the coursework below. At least 3 of the 9 credits must specifically come from Group 1 courses and there is no minimum requirement for Group 2 courses. 

A maximum of 3 credits of coursework at the 2000-level or 3000-level can be applied towards the major.

A maximum of 3 credits of coursework using the Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory (S/U) grading basis can be applied towards the major

Courses with + are offered irregularly, including less often than once each academic year.