Microbes are everywhere. In us, on us and in every ecosystem on the planet. The microbiome is the collection of bacteria, viruses, archaea and fungi that live in community within and on larger living organisms, and the science of how those communities function has become one of the fastest-moving areas in pharmaceutical and biotechnology research.
This certificate is designed for students who want to build deep, graduate-level expertise in microbiome science, whether they are advancing a research career, preparing for graduate or professional school, or moving into biotechnology and clinical roles where this knowledge is increasingly in demand.
What You Will Study
Human microbiome science and host interactions Microbial ecology and community dynamics Genomics, metagenomics and sequencing technologies Probiotics, antimicrobial resistance and microbiome-based therapies Bioinformatics and computational analysis tools
Coursework includes options for students who want to develop stronger computational skills, with courses covering AI applications in life sciences, R programming for DNA sequencing analysis and large-scale genomic data analysis.
Where this credential leads
Graduates pursue roles in microbiome research and biotechnology, pharmaceutical development, healthcare and diagnostics, academic and clinical research, and data-driven biology positions that combine biological knowledge with computational tools.
For students with ambitions in medical, dental or doctoral programs, this certificate adds documented, graduate-level scientific training in one of the most competitive and visible areas of modern biology.
Built to stack
The Microbiome and Health certificate can be completed as a standalone credential or concurrently with the M.S. program. Students who pursue both graduate with a degree and a specialized certificate, a combination that is increasingly competitive in research and clinical hiring.