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If you are interested in medical issues such as:

• Epidemics, emerging diseases, and disease transmission,
• Mechanisms by which microorganisms (bacteria, viruses, and fungi) cause disease,
• Understanding how the immune system combats infection,
• The role of vaccines in disease prevention, and/or
• Antibiotics and the development and spread of antibiotic resistance in pathogens,

Then a degree in Microbiology can be an efficient and effective gateway to medical or other healthcare-related professional schools. The requirements for a major in Microbiology are virtually the same as those which will qualify students to apply to Medical, Dental, and Veterinary Schools.

In addition, the Department of Microbiology has two faculty members serving on the Pre-Medical Advisory Committee, participating in the , and helping our majors navigate their way toward medical school admission.

Students interested in attending a particular type of healthcare professional school after college are sometimes frustrated to discover that designations such as pre-med, pre-dent, pre-healthcare, etc. are not majors. Rather, they are indications of intent to pursue post-baccalaureate professional education.

Professional schools do not give preference for admission based on any specific major. The placement of students in professional schools is based on performance in required science courses as well as overall academic performance. Both breadth of education and the pursuit of some discipline in depth is expected.

A successful applicant will be able to effectively acquire, synthesize, apply, and communicate information. These are skills that can be developed through the study of a wide variety of disciplines, including Microbiology. You are urged to pursue a major that interests you, as you are more likely to excel academically in those subjects.