Microbiology is an emerging broad discipline that not so many people have regarded relevant due to the the little knowledge that we have of it.

Microbiology is a rapidly evolving field with new discoveries being made everyday, researches whose results help to better the lots of mankind are also being carried out.

Here are the top ten reasons why a student should study Microbiology in the university.

To Gain Knowledge
Microbiology is an emerging broad field of study. Though it is seen as just the study of microorganisms and their impart on the environment, it also finds wide applications in major areas as human health, industries, food management, water treatment, soil and agriculture, bioremediation etc. Gaining the knowledge of Microbiology is a huge asset that can translate into monetary gain in the future if properly applied.

For satisfaction.
One of the main reasons why people establish businesses is to make profit. Another is to earn satisfaction. They study of Microbiology is not, to an extent, too different from these. There are a lot of people who yearn for knowledge irrespective of monetary gain though we know that that would come in too. If gaining knowledge of the effects and the applicable uses of most if not all of the invisible organisms that have impart on man and his environment is what you seek, then Microbiology will satisfy you.

Recognition.
Some courses studied in the universities are not widely recognized. This is because some of them are begun by a particular department in a particular university somewhere without them being globally recognized. Take for example, if a university in Hong Kong decides to carve out a discipline from the body of existing ones in order to meet a particular need or supplement an existing one, such a course may be vibrant and existing there but when you move out of the region and say, come to Nigeria, you may be surprised not to hear anything about such a course here. In essence, there are some courses that are not yet widely recognized but they are in existence. Microbiology today is evolving. Go to Japan or China you will get to know the same thing.

Relatedness of Microbiology to other courses.
Microbiology is not an isolated course in the world of science. It is not surprising to find a microbiology student with vast knowledge in Biochemistry, Zoology or Parasitology. This is because most of the courses are related. For example, a Microbiology student who wants to understand fully the works of Gram Christian on staining techniques will first of all understand through the study of Physics that unlike charges attract each other while like charges attract. This is the basic principle of Gram staining technique which is an indispensable procedure that tends classify organisms into either Gram positive or Gram negative depending on the reaction between a dye and the nature of the microorganism's cell wall. Microbiology is also interchangeable with other related courses where it is absolutely necessary.

Specialization.
Microbiology is an emerging broad field. Though it is mainly seen as the study of microorganism which have an impart on man and his environment, Microbiology finds wide application in major areas that has to do with man and the environment. Some of these areas include Agriculture, Recycling, bioremediation, industrial, food, medical microbiology etc. All of these fields create areas of specialization for professionals and Doctorate degree holders in the field of Microbiology. One can study Microbiology and be good in what one does but finding a particular field to specialize in avails one the opportunity to dig deeper into the knowledge that can be applied to more specific situations.

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Accreditation.
Microbiology, as it's widely recognized is accredited in most universities in Nigeria and it is even offered as an option in Science Laboratory Technology (ie, SLT) in most polytechnics. The field of Microbiology does not require such requirements as 77 Doctors of Philosophy, 68 post graduate lecturers or Professors before it can be accreditated for study in the university. All it asks for is a conducive environment and the right tutors. Microbiology is widely accredited in the universities and most polytechnics e.g Nnamdi Azikiwe University, NAU, Awka and Federal Polytechnic, Oko.

Competitiveness.
Due to its wide accreditation, Microbiology finds a lower entrance competition compared to other science courses. An applicant who wants to study of Microbiology in the university must have good grades to facilitate his or her admission. Though Microbiology is not hugely competitive, it is the best thing to stay on the safer side by having good grades such as JAMB score and West African Examination Council (WAEC) grade in relevant subjects.

Job Availability.
Job openings in the field of Microbiology are enormous. One who studied Microbiology can find career options in environmental microbiology, quality control personnel, water and sewage treatment, medical microbiology, research assistance, teaching, sales representative of science related companies and as well as agricultural procedures. A degree in Microbiology can qualify one for of these job opportunities.

Innovative.
Microbiology is evolving, so are its uses. The study of Microbiology avails one the opportunity to 'think out of the box' and come up with reasonable theories that can be tested, experimented on and research analysis given with the sole aim of solving one of our numerous problems. The study of Microbiology is an opportunity as well as an invitation for one to step into the endless possibilities of discoveries. Microorganism for many of their beneficial uses are engineered to produce desirable traits and results. Care has to be taken to make sure the right results are obtained. You can think of anything you can do with a degree in Microbiology.

Pay.
According to Payscale.com, Microbiologists earn up to 33,000 USD annually in the United States of America. A Microbiologist's salary depends largely on the area of specialization and the area of work the person is partaking in. Top paying areas are mostly industrial productions, quality controls and administrative purposes. You can find out how much they earn in Nigeria by doing a little research online.

Bonus.
Course Duration.
The minimum duration of the study of Microbiology in the university is just 4 years. This is largely preferable compared to other courses as engineering which takes up to 5 years.