10 Self-Paced Microbiology Courses Online 2025

Science courses can be difficult, especially when you have to take several other subjects at the same time. Students may find it to be helpful to take the tougher ones online at a slower pace.

Many undergraduate students take advantage of the convenience of self-paced online microbiology courses, which you can complete even before you enter college full-time. You can do this by exploring individual microbiology courses through accredited self-paced online colleges.

What Is a Self-Paced Microbiology Course?

Many reputable universities offer self-paced microbiology courses, designed to move at the student's preferred pace. This differs from traditional courses, which require you to attend classes at specific times and don't permit much flexibility.

Self-paced courses normally involve an asynchronous delivery format, meaning you can get online and complete course requirements whenever you please. These courses often last between six to 20 weeks, with flexible deadlines for examinations and projects.

What Will I Learn in a Self-Paced Online Microbiology Course?

Online microbiology courses cover the same essential course materials as on-campus courses. These accredited courses allow the students to delve into various topics, including:

• microbial genetics
• microorganisms
• infectious diseases
• metabolism
• epidemiology
• pathogens/pathogenesis
• virology

Some course content draws from related subjects, like biochemistry, healthcare, mathematics, and other health sciences. These self-paced courses can include both the lecture and laboratory component for undergraduate-level microbiology. Online learners gain exposure to hands-on laboratory techniques (through virtual labs), take quizzes, and complete modules at their own pace without losing the quality of a traditional college learning experience.

Best Self-Paced Online Microbiology Courses

Here's a list of 10 options for self-paced online microbiology courses. These are individual courses, allowing students to take them without requiring full enrollment in any specific degree program.

1. Southern California University of Health Sciences - Intro Microbiology

You can take microbiology either online or in person at the Southern California University of Health Sciences. This course takes five weeks to complete and does not require specific attendance times. It includes both a lecture syllabus and a lab syllabus, outlining everything you need to do all the work at your own pace online.

Cost: $1,545.00

2. Portage Learning - Microbiology & Lab

Portage Learning offers ''Essential Microbiology with Lab'' for online students who wish to fulfill four hours of general education or natural science credit. It explores topics like morphology, microbial growth, physiology, and genetics. You'll also learn the appropriate use of biotechnology through microscopic and diagnostic methods for microbial experimentation.

Cost: $223 per credit hour

3. Westcott Colleges - Microbiology

Westcott Colleges partners with UMass Global to offer BIOU 203 for three semester hours. This covers topics like microscopy, metabolism, genetics, human disease transmission, methods for controlling infectious disease, and microbial metabolism. It costs $526 to attend, which you can pay in one lump sum or through an installment payment plan.

Cost: $526

4. University of New England - Microbiology

The University of New England offers microbiology as one of its many 100% online, self-paced college courses. It teaches students the basic structures of viruses, eukaryotes, and prokaryotes before investigating bacteria, fungi, and other infectious disease agents. Students must complete an introductory biology course and either anatomy or physiology before taking microbiology.

Cost: $1,395 (course alone) or $1,850 (course with lab)

5. Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences - Microbiology Lecture

Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences offers a microbiology lecture course for self-paced, online learners who prefer an asynchronous delivery. You can access course materials at any time, preferably from a computer, for optimal results. First-time students at this institution may qualify for a 50% discount on the tuition rate.

Cost: $520 per credit hour

6. Corexcel - Microbiology

Corexcel holds accreditation from the International Accreditors for Continuing Education and Training (IACET) to offer science courses, including microbiology, at an affordable $200 price tag. It focuses on topics like immunology, microbiological diseases, medical microbiology, and infection prevention. Its self-paced curriculum grants students an entire year of access to course materials.

Cost: $200

7. Thompson Rivers University - Microbiology Specimen Preparation

Thompson Rivers University offers an interesting version of microbiology, focusing on specimen preparation. This teaches students about media selection, aseptic techniques, and other important tasks, which could prepare you for a career in laboratory research. The course is worth three credit hours, allowing students 30 weeks to complete it at their own pace.

Cost: $849 per credit hour

8. University of Phoenix - Microbiology

The University of Phoenix offers a seven-week microbiology course with real-world instructors through 100% online delivery. This fully transferable course investigates areas like cellular biology, microorganism classification, microbial metabolism and genetics, and microbial growth. This course grants four credit hours at $398 per unit.

Cost: $398 per credit hour

9. Georgia Tech - Food Microbiology and Controlling Microbial Hazards

Georgia Tech allows online students to take an intermediate microbiology course, focusing on the impact of microbes on human food sources. It teaches undergraduates and food industry professionals about antimicrobial interventions involved in baking, brewing, fermentation, and other food processing methods. Georgia Tech offers this as a five-hour course, available fully online in an asynchronous and self-paced format.

Cost: $195

10. Cayuga Community College - General Microbiology

Cayuga Community College lets you take this asynchronous course to study microbiology anytime with no mandatory course meetings. This is an affordable option for anyone in New York, with a tuition rate of $220 per credit hour. It assumes you have taken high school biology with some exposure to topics like taxonomy, biochemistry, and cell biology.

Cost: $220 per credit hour (New York residents)

FAQs About Self-Paced Microbiology Courses Online

Check out these common questions regarding self-paced online courses. These address course costs, delivery quality, and prerequisite requirements.

Is It Better To Take Microbiology in Person or Online?

We can't speculate on course quality because it depends on the specific program you take. However, many students have given high reviews for self-paced online courses, enjoying the same satisfaction they experienced with in-person education. As long as the facilitating university offers tutoring and student support, you have every reason to expect a quality college experience with these online courses.

What Are the Prerequisites for Microbiology Courses?

This depends on what level of microbiology you pursue, as well as specific institutional requirements. Common prerequisites include physics, molecular biology, calculus, and biochemistry. Microbiology may be a prerequisite for more advanced coursework in degree programs for students pursuing careers in the health professions.

How Much Does a Microbiology Course Cost?

The cost of an online microbiology course varies depending on where you take it. It typically ranges between $500 and $2,000 per course, but you may see prices expressed in terms of credit hours. Most individual microbiology courses, excluding lab classes, allow students to earn three credit hours of natural science credits.

Enroll in Self-Paced Courses

Learn.org has all the essential information you need to select high-quality, self-paced courses. Browse all our resources to identify the best online programs for you.