program description

microbiology continues to be an exciting field that is crucial to understanding everything from natural and man-made ecosystems, human health, clean water, alternative energy, and climate change. the department of microbiology & immunology at montana state university (msu) has a unique combination of expertise in pathogen biology, bioremediation, biofuels, immunology, cell and developmental biology, microbial ecology, host/pathogen interactions, biofilm biology, and geomicrobiology. with this diverse expertise, the department strives to provide a broad and thorough curriculum to both undergraduate and graduate students that are encouraged to cross boundaries and push their studies/research via interactions across departments and colleges.

in this option, students obtain a thorough education in the fields of medical, ecological, physiological, and environmental microbiology, immunology, virology, and molecular biology. this curriculum is excellent preparation for:

• graduate study in microbiology and other fields of the biological sciences
  
• medical, dental, and other professional schools
• careers in industry, university, institute, and government laboratories

there are several tracks a student can choose within this option to tailor their studies to their interests. these include the microbiology track, the pre-medical track, the pre-veterinary track, the environmental track, and the environmental health track.