Microbiology courses can help you learn about microbial physiology, genetics, and ecology, as well as the roles of microorganisms in health and disease. You can build skills in laboratory techniques like culturing, staining, and microscopy, along with data analysis for interpreting microbial behavior. Many courses introduce tools such as PCR machines, bioinformatics software, and various types of microscopy, that support conducting experiments and analyzing results in real-world applications.

Technical University of Denmark (DTU)
Skills you'll gain: Laboratory Testing, Quality Assurance, Microbiology, Infectious Diseases, Bioinformatics, Medical Laboratory, Molecular, Cellular, and Microbiology, Epidemiology, Public Health and Disease Prevention, Data Quality, Medical Science and Research, Biology, Public Health
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months

Lecturio
Skills you'll gain: Microbiology, Infection Control, Infectious Diseases, Hand Hygiene, Bloodborne Pathogens, Public Health and Disease Prevention, Immunology, Biology, Molecular Biology, Cell Biology, Taxonomy
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months

University of Copenhagen
Skills you'll gain: Microbiology, Molecular, Cellular, and Microbiology, Infectious Diseases, Biology, Infection Control, Chronic Diseases, Diagnostic Tests, Pharmacology
Mixed · Course · 1 - 3 Months

University of Colorado Boulder
Skills you'll gain: Microbiology, Health Informatics, Big Data, Biostatistics, Data Analysis, Immunology, Molecular Biology, Nutrition and Diet, Biology, Specimen Collection
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months

University of Virginia
Skills you'll gain: Bioinformatics, Data Analysis Software, Scientific Visualization, Taxonomy, Data Integration, Data Import/Export
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months

University of Manchester
Skills you'll gain: Biotechnology, Sustainable Technologies, Process Engineering, Molecular Biology, Chemical Engineering, Sustainable Engineering, Life Sciences, Biochemistry, Pharmaceuticals, Biomedical Engineering, Materials science, Scalability
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months

Imperial College London
Skills you'll gain: Immunology, Infectious Diseases, Molecular Biology, Epidemiology, Microbiology, Public Health, Drug Development, Biotechnology, Medical Science and Research, Climate Change Programs, Cell Biology, Health Disparities, Biology, Clinical Trials, Laboratory Research, Pharmacology, Public Health and Disease Prevention, New Product Development, Emerging Technologies, Manufacturing Processes
Intermediate · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months

Technical University of Denmark (DTU)
Skills you'll gain: Bioinformatics, Microbiology, Infectious Diseases, Molecular Biology, Epidemiology, Medical Science and Research, Data Analysis Software, Data Processing, Database Design
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months

University of Leeds
Skills you'll gain: Infectious Diseases, Microbiology, Immunology, Pathology, Infection Control, Pharmacology, Epidemiology, Public Health and Disease Prevention, Molecular, Cellular, and Microbiology, Cell Biology
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks

Rice University
Skills you'll gain: Biology, Environment, Microbiology, Environmental Science, Life Sciences, Environmental Issue, Environment and Resource Management, Sustainable Development, Demography, Natural Resource Management, Physiology, Molecular Biology, Taxonomy, Cell Biology, Anatomy, Climate Change Adaptation, Estimation, Mathematical Modeling, Scientific Methods, Climate Change Mitigation
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months

Imperial College London
Skills you'll gain: Immunology, Infectious Diseases, Hematology, Physiology, Oncology, Microbiology, Molecular, Cellular, and Microbiology, Epidemiology, Internal Medicine, Chronic Diseases, Public Health and Disease Prevention, Geriatrics, Pathology, Pulmonology, Environment, Pharmacotherapy, Biology, Public Health, Molecular Biology, Cell Biology
Intermediate · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months

Johns Hopkins University
Skills you'll gain: Oncology, Medical Imaging, Patient Education And Counseling, Diagnostic Radiology, Radiation Therapy, Molecular Biology, Diagnostic Tests, Clinical Trials, Pain Management, Preventative Care, Treatment Planning, Urology, Patient Treatment, Immunology, Epidemiology, Surgery, Cell Biology, Care Management, Biology, Pathology
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Browse the microbiology courses below—popular starting points on Coursera.
Microbiology is the study of microscopic organisms and their structures, functions, uses, and modes of existence. One common example of Microbiology is bacteria and their effects on biological systems, such as the resistance they develop to antibiotics and other clinical interventions.
Microbiology is critical to understanding the role microorganisms play in our everyday lives. Knowing how they cause disease affecting humans, plants, and animals enables Microbiologists to explore solutions for the maintenance and modification of agriculture, healthcare, and medicine.‎
According to collegegrad.com, more Microbiologists will be needed over the next 10 years to contribute to basic research, solve problems in industrial production processes, and monitor environmental conditions to ensure public health and safety. But jobs in Microbiology don’t end with Microbiologists—learners can find opportunities as Lab Supervisors, Bacteriologists, Mycologists, Parasitologists, Public Health Specialists, Virologists, Teachers and Professors, and other related roles.‎
Any type of scientific background can be helpful before learning microbiology. You may have worked in a lab, at a research institution, or at a university. High school or college coursework in closely related subjects can be helpful too. This might include biology, biochemistry, cell biology, or any other type of biological science. This could also include physiology, virology, microbial physiology, chemistry, and physics. Coursework in math and statistics can be beneficial as well. Even a background in computer science can help prepare you to study microbiology. Depending on the context in which you want to learn microbiology, a background in fields like public health, agriculture, environmental studies, veterinary science, biosafety, and quality control may all help prepare you to learn about microbiology.‎