Sub-areas of microbiology include microbial physiology, microbial genetics, molecular biology, pathogenic microbiology, virology and microbial ecology. These sub-areas help us acquire knowledge of how microorganisms can contribute to our health but are also capable of causing disease, how they can be used to prepare and improve the quality of foods and beverages, how their activities can be harnessed to produce many valuable substances suck as medicines and in manufacturing process and how they are capable of reducing or eliminating pollutants.

Microbiology graduates are in demand in educational institutions,pharmaceutical, food, health, biotechnology, and other industries and in government. Thriving companies of many types have also been founded by entrepreneurs holding a degree in microbiology. Many microbiology students pursue careers in research,epidemiology, medicine and dentistry. Others work in laboratories as technicians or enter the field of medical technology. Some will choose to attend medical or dental school, or to attend graduate school in microbiology, molecular biology, genetic engineering or other related fields. Faculty positions that can combine teaching and research are available at the junior college and university levels for those who earn advanced degrees.