Background: I’m 20 years old. I never went to a CC or University. I know very little to nothing about higher education.
Question: I’m thinking about pursuing a career as a microbiologist, but I’m unsure what degree or course work I need to take in order to become a microbiologist. What Major and minor should I take?
Any help is appreciated, thanks in advance
What do you plan to do with a Microbiology degree? If you want to work in Research, then you are looking at going to Graduate school.
Many colleges offer a degree in Microbiology or a Biology degree with a Microbiology concentration. Be sure you love Chemistry since you are looking at 3 years minimum for the degree (General, Organic, Biochem, Quantitive Analysis).
I suggest you do some research on what job opportunities are available: https://www.asm.org/index.php/scientists-in-k-12-outreach/careers-in-microbiology
I have managerial experience in a food company that specializes in premixes. Powdered vitamins, and minerals, hundreds maybe thousands of powdered materials. They typically end up in beverages, sports bar, but they have done work for pharmaceuticals companies for tablets and pills as well. I’ve worked with a Microbiologist, she worked in Quality Control, and she was in charge of the lab as wells as R&D. I’ve looked around and I don’t see any degree in Microbiology is that an actual “thing” or do I have to get a degree in biology? And I’m not sure I love chemistry since I’ve never done it, I’m not really even entirely sure what chemistry “is” but I love my job, and I love learning about new materials, and how they interact with each other. I’ve done it on a more hands on level in R&D. I’ve noticed the QC girl had a lot of theoretical knowledge and incredible insight on the materials but wasn’t very practical in the actual interaction of materials. I want a job similar to hers. As I already have experience. I know she tested for Micros, formulated batches, and conducted other various QC related jobs, product sampling, testing, and manufacturing equipment sanitation checks. Sorry for the long post.
Here is information on being an Industrial Microbiologist which seems to fit your goals. Since you have worked with a Microbiologist, why not contact them and ask about their degree path. Since you have been out of school for a few years, you might want to consider starting at a community college and take the your general education requirements along with basic prep classes for a degree. Contacting your local community college on the requirements to register should be your first step.
https://www.asm.org/index.php/career-paths-industrial-microbiology
Depending upon which college(s) you are looking to possibly apply to transfer, some will offer a degree in Microbiology and some will offer a degree in Biology with a concentration or option in Microbiology.
Not knowing where you currently reside, I cannot give you any specifics on colleges.