There are numerous courses offered at other colleges and universities that involve the study of small living organisms. This course includes mention of a wide variety of microbes so this biology course is called microbiology. We will primarily study organisms like E. coli, Bacillus, Streptococcus, Clostridium, and other similar microbes. What could we also call this course? (bacteriology because those microbes are examples of bacteria) There are other courses like virology-study of viruses including HIV, hepatitis, and herpes. Another course may study parasites like flukes and nematodes-parasitology. What would you call the study of fungi or mycetae? It may seem appropriate to call it fungology, but the more likely course would be mycology. The study of algae is sometimes called phycology. Most students studying microbiology will find that microbiology is part of their daily lives. The outbreak of AIDS, disposal of wastes, and treatment of infectious diseases are examples of the applications of microbiology. Many students will provide daily hands-on care to other humans, animals, or plants; and the ability to think from a microbiological frame of mind is essential.