Microbiology and Immunology
MS without thesis: 36.0 semester credits
MS with thesis: 48.0 semester credits
PhD: 96.0 semester credits
About the Programs
The Department of Microbiology and Immunology offers students the MS and PhD degrees. The programs are designed to promote understanding of the molecular mechanisms of infectious diseases. The department has research programs in the areas of parasitic, viral, and opportunistic infections; bacterial pathogenesis and biodefense; immunology; and drug development driven by investigators with national and international reputations and with extended histories of extramural funding from the NIH, as well as other sources of funding.
In the first year, students complete both required courses in the core curriculum, and research laboratory rotation requirements. All students must pass an examination at the end of the first year, while also attending seminars and journal clubs.
MS in Microbiology and Immunology
MS students are required to successfully complete the core curriculum and the first year program-specific course work (Molecular Pathogenesis I and II and Immunology). The preliminary examination, taken at the end of the first year, involves a proposal describing the research to be undertaken towards completion of the MS degree. In all semesters, MS students must attend seminars and journal clubs.PhD in Microbiology and Immunology
PhD students are required to successfully complete the core curriculum and the first year program-specific course work (Molecular Pathogenesis I and II and Immunology). The preliminary examination, taken at the end of the first year, involves a research proposal written in response to a question submitted by a committee of the Program's faculty. Advanced level courses in immunology, virology, advanced molecular biology, and microbial pathogenesis are offered to interested students in the second year and PhD students are required to enroll for credit for at least two advanced courses.PhD candidates must pass a qualifying examination in the middle of their third year. In all semesters, PhD students must attend seminars and journal clubs. PhD students are also required to submit a minimum of two manuscripts (publications from their research) during the course of the program. The average amount of time required to complete the PhD requirements is five years.
Courses Repeatable for Credit
As well as taking all required courses, MS and PhD students may re-enroll in courses having the status “repeatable for credit” (such as journal club, seminar and research courses) for the duration of their program in order to meet the total number of credits required for graduation.
For more information, including scheduling a plan of study, visit the College of Medicine's Microbiology and Immunology Program website.
MS and PhD Degree Requirements
 |
|||||
| MS Degree Requirements: Non-Thesis Option |
36.0 semester credits | ||||
|
|||||
| Required Courses | |||||
 |
|||||
| IDPT 500S | Scientific Integrity and Ethics | 2.0 | |||
| IDPT 501S | Biostatistics I | 2.0 | |||
| IDPT 521S | Molecular Structure and Metabolism | 5.0 | |||
| IDPT 526S | Cells to Systems | 5.0 | |||
| IDPT 850S | Literature Review Non-Thesis MS | 4.0 | |||
| MIIM 502S | Microbiology and Immunology Journal Club | 1.0 | |||
| MIIM 507S | Microbiology and Immunology Student Seminar Series | 1.0 | |||
| MIIM 508S | Immunology I | 3.0 | |||
| MIIM 512S | Molecular Pathogenesis I | 3.0 | |||
| MIIM 513S | Molecular Pathogenesis II | 3.0 | |||
| MIIM 606S | Microbiology and Immunology Seminar | 1.0 | |||
|
|||||
|
|||||
| Suggested Electives* | |||||
|
|||||
| Students are required to take a minimum of 9.0 credits from the following list: | |||||
|
|||||
| MIIM 504S | Microbiology and Immunology 1st Lab Rotation | 4.0 | |||
| MIIM 524S | Vaccines and Vaccine Development | 3.0 | |||
| MIIM 555S | Molecular Mechanisms of Micro Pathogenisis | 3.0 | |||
| MIIM 604S | Special Topics in Virology | 3.0 | |||
| MIIM 607S | Immunology II | 3.0 | |||
| MIIM 613S | Emerging Infectious Diseases | 2.0 - 3.0 | |||
| MIIM 615S | Experimental Therapeutics | 2.0 - 3.0 | |||
| MIIM 630S | Advanced Molecular Biology | 2.0 | |||
|
|||||
| *Additional courses from the Biograduate Medical programs may be taken as electives. Students should check with the College of Medicine's Biomedical Graduate Studies programs. | |||||
|
|||||
|
|||||
| MS Degree Requirements: Thesis Option |
48.0 semester credits | ||||
|
|||||
| Required Courses | |||||
|
|||||
| IDPT 500S | Scientific Integrity and Ethics | 2.0 | |||
| IDPT 501S | Biostatistics I | 2.0 | |||
| IDPT 521S | Molecular Structure and Metabolism | 5.0 | |||
| IDPT 526S | Cells to Systems | 5.0 | |||
| IDPT 600S | Thesis Defense | 9.0 | |||
| MIIM 502S | Microbiology and Immunology Journal Club | 1.0 | |||
| MIIM 504S | Microbiology and Immunology 1st Lab Rotation | 4.0 | |||
| MIIM 507S | Microbiology and Immunology Student Seminar Series | 1.0 | |||
| MIIM 508S | Immunology I | 3.0 | |||
| MIIM 512S | Molecular Pathogenesis I | 3.0 | |||
| MIIM 513S | Molecular Pathogenesis II | 3.0 | |||
| MIIM 600S | Microbiology and Immunology Thesis Research | 9.0 | |||
| MIIM 606S | Microbiology and Immunology Seminar | 1.0 | |||
|
|||||
|
|||||
| Suggested Electives* | |||||
|
|||||
| MIIM 505S | Microbiology and Immunology 2nd Lab Rotation | 4.0 | |||
| MIIM 524S | Vaccines and Vaccine Development | 3.0 | |||
| MIIM 555S | Molecular Mechanisms of Micro Pathogenisis | 3.0 | |||
| MIIM 604S | Special Topics in Virology | 3.0 | |||
| MIIM 607S | Immunology II | 3.0 | |||
| MIIM 613S | Emerging Infectious Diseases | 2.0 - 3.0 | |||
| MIIM 615S | Experimental Therapeutics | 2.0 - 3.0 | |||
| MIIM 630S | Advanced Molecular Biology | 2.0 | |||
|
|||||
| *No electives are required for the MS with Thesis option. This list includes suggested electives, however additional courses from the Biograduate Medical programs may also be taken. Students should check with the College of Medicine's Biomedical Graduate Studies programs. | |||||
|
|||||
|
|||||
|
|||||
| PhD Degree Requirements | 96.0 semester credits | ||||
|
|||||
| Required Courses | |||||
|
|||||
| IDPT 500S | Scientific Integrity and Ethics | 2.0 | |||
| IDPT 501S | Biostatistics I | 2.0 | |||
| IDPT 521S | Molecular Structure and Metabolism | 5.0 | |||
| IDPT 526S | Cells to Systems | 5.0 | |||
| IDPT 600S | Thesis Defense | 9.0 | |||
| MIIM 502S | Microbiology and Immunology Journal Club | 1.0 | |||
| MIIM 504S | Microbiology and Immunology 1st Lab Rotation | 4.0 | |||
| MIIM 505S | Microbiology and Immunology 2nd Lab Rotation | 4.0 | |||
| MIIM 506S | Microbiology and Immunology 3rd Lab Rotation | 4.0 | |||
| MIIM 507S | Microbiology and Immunology Student Seminar Series | 1.0 | |||
| MIIM 508S | Immunology I | 3.0 | |||
| MIIM 512S | Molecular Pathogenesis I | 3.0 | |||
| MIIM 513S | Molecular Pathogenesis II | 3.0 | |||
| MIIM 600S | Microbiology & Immunology Thesis Research | 9.0 | |||
| MIIM 606S | Microbiology and Immunology Seminar | 1.0 | |||
|
|||||
|
|||||
| Suggested Electives* | |||||
|
|||||
| Students are required to take a minimum of 2 courses from the following list: | |||||
|
|||||
| MIIM 555S | Molecular Mechanisms of Micro Pathogenisis | 3.0 | |||
| MIIM 604S | Special Topics in Virology | 3.0 | |||
| MIIM 607S | Immunology II | 3.0 | |||
| MIIM 613S | Emerging Infectious Diseases | 2.0 - 3.0 | |||
| MIIM 615S | Experimental Therapeutics | 2.0 - 3.0 | |||
| MIIM 630S | Advanced Molecular Biology | 2.0 | |||
|
|||||
| *Additional courses from the Biograduate Medical programs may be taken as electives. Students should check with the College of Medicine's Biomedical Graduate Studies programs. | |||||
|
|||||
