Department of Veterinary and Microbiological Sciences
This department offers instruction in microbiology, including courses in general microbiology, pathogenic microbiology, parasitology, virology, immunology, food microbiology, microbial physiology and bacterial genetics. The department also offers courses in epidemiology, animal disease, and food safety to enhance our students’ understanding of applied microbiology and infectious disease.
Microbiology
Microbiology is a fundamental biological science which offers a variety of challenges and opportunities. Microbiologists have made some of the most important scientific discoveries in this century. Since 1910, approximately one-third of the Nobel Prizes in medicine and physiology have been awarded to microbiologists. The discipline covers a wide spectrum of specialized interest areas that illustrate how microbes affect human and animal health, our environment, food safety, food technology, and the biotechnology industry. In recent years, the field of microbiology has had a major impact upon virtually all other scientific disciplines. For this reason, even students who choose to major in other fields may benefit from a minor in microbiology.
Students majoring in microbiology are well prepared to enter graduate school, veterinary school, and medical school, or to establish careers in food or pharmaceutical industries, hospitals, public health agencies, universities, research laboratories, and other biomedical industries. A 2.50 cumulative grade point average and a minimum grade of 'C' in core and elective microbiology courses are required to graduate with a Microbiology major.
MAJOR REQUIREMENTS : MINOR REQUIREMENTS
Pre-Veterinary Medicine
NDSU offers excellent programs that prepare students for application to a college of veterinary medicine. All veterinary schools stress the importance of high scholastic standing and judge applicants on academic preparation, knowledge of the veterinary profession, experience and character.
Because the number of students admitted to veterinary schools is limited, prospective students should check the specific requirements of the college of their choice well in advance to make certain that preparatory work is appropriate.
Pre-veterinary medicine is not a specific major, and students are encouraged to pursue a major in their area of interest while at NDSU. In addition, students preparing for application to a veterinary school should consult with a pre-veterinary medicine advisor. The department is a member of the Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC), which administers the Veterinary Medical College Application Service (VMCAS). Communication with pre-veterinary students is facilitated when students are enrolled in the College of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Natural Resources. Visit the VMS, Pre-Veterinary Medicine Web site for further information.
