Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences to Offer Bachelor's Degree in Microbiology

ALBANY, NY--(Marketwire -07/18/12)- Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences has received approval from the New York State Education Department to offer a bachelor's degree in Microbiology and plans to enroll the program's first class in fall 2013. The addition of the Microbiology program continues the academic expansion of the College over the past decade, which in addition to the doctor of pharmacy program, now includes five bachelor's programs and five graduate programs.

Microbiology is the study of microscopic living organisms such as bacteria, fungi, and viruses. The curriculum for the program, which was developed in accordance with guidelines published by the American Society for Microbiology, includes coursework in subjects such as immunology, biochemistry, microbial physiology, and microbial genetics. To accommodate the needs of the program, the College plans to hire two new full time faculty and a part time instructor, in addition to renovating its existing microbiology lab.

The B.S. in Microbiology will prepare graduates for employment or advanced study in fields requiring knowledge of microbial life, ranging from health care to medical equipment to public health. Specific career options may include: research laboratory technician, drug analyst, industrial microbiologist, public health administrator, public health biologist/epidemiologist, and biotechnologist.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the total employment of microbiologists is projected to grow at a 13.3% rate over the 2010-2020 decade, much faster than most other occupations. Food safety issues, environmental concerns, increasing antibiotic resistance, and the emergence of new diseases (as well as the recurrence of old ones) are all expected to contribute to job growth. New York State is, in fact, the fourth largest employer of microbiologists in the country, with those individuals earning a mean annual wage of $68,280.

"Our bachelor's program in Microbiology will not only provide students with the intellectual and practical skills required for successful careers as microbiologists, it will give them a broad based understanding of how this discipline, and science in general, can be used to meet societal needs," said David Clarke, Ph.D., Dean of the School of Arts and Sciences at ACPHS.

About Albany College of Pharmacy and Health SciencesFounded in 1881, Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences is a private, independent institution committed to graduating the best health care minds in the world. In addition to its doctor of pharmacy program, ACPHS offers five bachelor's programs and five graduate programs in the health sciences. The College's main campus is located in Albany, New York; its satellite campus is in Colchester, Vermont. For more information, please visit http://www.acphs.edu.

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Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences to Offer Bachelor's Degree in Microbiology