# is a BS microbiology degree marketable? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 18, 2003, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-bs-microbiology-degree-marketable/219683 "2003-12-18T03:09:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2003, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-bs-microbiology-degree-marketable/219683/1 "2003-12-18T03:09:58Z")
Are there any job prospects with a BS in microbiology? ---
**Author:** ![Laughing\_Lagomorph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/6bbea6/32.png) [@Laughing\_Lagomorph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Laughing_Lagomorph)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2003, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-bs-microbiology-degree-marketable/219683/2 "2003-12-18T03:27:48Z")
A quick search on [Biospace.com](http://Biospace.com) ([www.biospace.com](http://www.biospace.com)) gave back 24 jobs with the keyword “microbiology”. [http://careers.biospace.com/js.php?view=&lookid=biospace&q=microbiology&qMatch=all&qField=All&qSort=smart&qCity=&qState=&qCountry=United+States&qMiles=&qLocFilter=&qcompid=&qInd=&qstaff=&qDate=&pp=20&fromSearch.x=0&fromSearch.y=0](http://careers.biospace.com/js.php?view=&lookid=biospace&q=microbiology&qMatch=all&qField=All&qSort=smart&qCity=&qState=&qCountry=United+States&qMiles=&qLocFilter=&qcompid=&qInd=&qstaff=&qDate=&pp=20&fromSearch.x=0&fromSearch.y=0) A lot of Quality Assurance/Quality Control type jobs. Most of them seem to only require a Bachelors. I think microbiologists are also often in demand at water treatment plants and such. Biospace is a good resource **Wesley** for info about careers in the biological sciences. Also a lot of general information about companies and geographical areas. ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2003, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-bs-microbiology-degree-marketable/219683/3 "2003-12-18T05:15:41Z")
I was doing some research online and it says there is a nationwide shortage of medical technologists/technicians. I know a microbiology degree would qualify me for this job, but i dont know if someone with a BS in microbiology would be a first choice. ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2003, 6:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-bs-microbiology-degree-marketable/219683/4 "2003-12-18T06:12:49Z")
I have a BS in microbiology. I’m currently working as a medical technologist in a clinical genetics lab. However, if you’re really interested in working in a medical lab as your profession, I would strongly recommend that you get a med-tech degree, which would qualify you more easily for a lot of jobs. For instance, the position I have now required me to do some rotations through other labs and get a certification, which I wouldn’t have had to do if I had a med-tech degree. The reason I went with micro is because eventually, I’d like to go on to grad school, get a PhD, and go into research. It all just depends on what you want to do with your life. ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2003, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-bs-microbiology-degree-marketable/219683/5 "2003-12-18T14:53:08Z")
yeah but the only medical technologist program around here is in indianapolis and i wouldn’t be able to do that (its a 30 credit hour add on) until after i’d done most of a chemistry or microbiology degree. So a BS in micro would qualify me you think? I can always go to IUPUI and try to get into the medical technologist add on program. ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2003, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-bs-microbiology-degree-marketable/219683/6 "2003-12-18T18:58:40Z")
It should qualify you for a job, but you probably won’t be able to go as far as fast as you could with an MT degree. If you go with the micro BS, at least look into what it would take to get an ASCP certification (I think that’s the right acronym…). Usually, you’ll be required to have at least a year of work experience and probably have to do some rotations. ---
**Author:** ![phraser](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a88e4f/32.png) [@phraser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phraser)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2003, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-bs-microbiology-degree-marketable/219683/7 "2003-12-19T00:17:38Z")
_does a double take at the thread title_ _giggles_ In Australian english, your thread title means “Is a bullshit microbiology degree marketable?” Over here, bachelor of science = BSc. BS=Bullshit. ---
**Author:** ![labmonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f19dbf/32.png) [@labmonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/labmonkey)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2003, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-bs-microbiology-degree-marketable/219683/8 "2003-12-19T00:55:07Z")
As someone else has already mentioned, clinics all over the States are in need of MT’s, most peolple I work with are ASCP certified, but not all. It depends on the institution. You can be certified as an MLT(2 yr) or an MT(4yr). MT’s have a much broader pay range, more room for advancement and get to work with less routine/more complex assays(in general). ASCP certification for the 4 yr requires 1 and a half years of (unpaid) clinical rotations(my program did anyway) then you take your certification. But like I said, that may not be necessary, some pathologists or lab directors will hire and train 4yr science degrees(biology,micro, biochem, etc.) others don’t like to because working in a commercial can be quite a bit different than whats usually taught in research-based undergrad programs. I believe you can take the specialist micro ASCP certification with enough years experience(3-5?) ---
**Author:** ![dwyr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dwyr/32/363_2.png) [@dwyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dwyr)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2003, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-bs-microbiology-degree-marketable/219683/9 "2003-12-19T02:33:30Z")
I started in the Med Tech biz with just a degree in general biology, working at the local university medical center. I went on to get my MT a little later. Reference labs (SmithKline, LabCorp, etc.) tend to be looser on their requirements for employment, but it’s more of a corporate environment and not very pleasant sometimes when the stress is on profit. If you want to go the federal route, as I did, you’ll definitely need a MT degree and ASCP certification (or the equivalent). ---
**Author:** ![Aviator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9de053/32.png) [@Aviator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aviator)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2003, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-bs-microbiology-degree-marketable/219683/10 "2003-12-19T03:14:04Z")
I graduated with a BS in micro. Out of 40 or so that graduated with me I was one of only 2 who were not planning to follow up with medical school. My first year after graduation was spent in an industrial lab performing various water quality tests, toxicity assay’s and food micobiology. That was followed by 7 years doing the technical production (viral & tissue culture) for the manufacture of IFA and ELISA test kits. That led to a QA manager position 4 years ago at an ice cream plant, of all places. Currently I am plant manager of that facility. I did add an MBA in the middle of all that, but to answer your question, yes it is marketable although you may not end up exactly where you expect. But that’s true of any career.