If books like The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks or the Hot Zone appeal to you, or if you've ever been inspired by films like Jurassic Park, the microbiology, molecular biology and biotechnology degree will fuel your interests. This emphasis allows you to study how microbes influence our lives, how DNA functions in cells, and how our understanding of molecular and microbiological processes can be used in research and industry. While completion times varies from person to person, you can reasonably complete this degree in four to five years.
Special Services and Opportunities
You have access to faculty who are committed to providing quality advising. All faculty who teach courses in the MMBB emphasis have advanced degrees, are experts in their fields, have had extensive experience teaching and in performing scientific research. If you're interested, you'll also have the opportunity to conduct undergraduate scientific research and to present their research findings during the Annual Student Research Conference on campus of ENMU, as well as at regional and national scientific conferences. Additionally, you'll have regular opportunities to publish your undergraduate research projects. Our biology students regularly work (work-study or student hire) in the laboratories, or in the Dr. Antonio "Tony" Gennaro Natural History Museum.
Service and Mutual Interest Organizations
When you are working on this degree, you'll have the opportunity to become a member of the student chapter of the American Society for Microbiology (ASM), a national and international organization devoted to the advancement of microbiology. If you're interested in medical or medically-related careers, you might want to join the Caduceus Society. Additionally, if you're nominated, you can become a member of Sigma Xi: the Scientific Research Society, where you have the opportunity to apply for funding for research projects. At ENMU, if you are a biology major and you excel academically, you'll be inducted into the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, which is one of the largest honor societies in the world.
Scholarships and Financial Assistance
Like all Eastern students, students who major in biology and emphasize in MMBB, you can take advantage of grants, loans and scholarships offered by Financial Aid and Enrollment Services. Included is the Dr. Robert G. Taylor Endowed Scholarship in Biological Sciences for MMBB emphasis students. There are also opportunities for you to apply for work-study or student hire positions to conduct laboratory research when available.
View More About ENMU Scholarships
Career Opportunities
The careers and employers for microbiology continue to expand. Some examples of potential careers and employers are:
- Animal health technologist
- Biological scientist
- Biomedical engineer
- Biotechnology
- College/University faculty
- Consumer products research scientist
- Food scientist
- Medical geneticist
- Microbiologist
- Science technician
- Toxicology
Employers:
- Biotechnology companies
- Clinics and hospitals
- Colleges and universities
- Environmental/Pollution control
- Government agencies
- Hospitals
- Industrial laboratories
- Manufacturers
- Medical research labs
- Medical schools
- National Science Foundation
- Pharmaceutical companies
- Private research foundations
- Public health departments
High School Courses
If you are interested in pursuing this degree, you should complete as many life science and physical science courses as possible and sufficient mathematics courses to be ready for College Algebra (MATH 119). Ideally, you are also be reading and writing at the college-level when you finish high school. Courses you should take in high school include:
- Biology
- Mathematics
- Chemistry
- Physics
- English
Additional Degree Information
Find additional information about the Bachelor of Science in Biology with emphasis in microbiology, molecular biology and biotech degree, including the courses you will take when you're a MMBB major at Eastern.
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