Environmental microbiology is a large and diverse field that addresses concerns such as soil fertility, water purity and quality, and safety of the food supply. Although environmental biology is concerned with all members of the biosphere and the geochemical surroundings, microorganisms are at the heart of the biological activities in the environment. Many of the environmental problems facing society are microbiological ones, or ones for which microbiological solutions may be found. The Bachelor of Science degree program with a major in environmental biology/microbiology is designed for students who plan to pursue careers involving microbiology and the environment or who plan to pursue graduate study in microbiology and related environmental areas.

The educational objectives of the program are to: 1. Help students to acquire knowledge of microbiology and related environmental areas. 2. Prepare students to solve problems in environmental microbiology. On completion of the program, the graduate may apply for certification with the National Registry of Microbiologists of the American Society for Microbiology.