The Master of Science in Infectious Disease (INFD) program, offered by the Department of Microbiology & Immunology and by the Institute for Molecular Medicine & Infectious Disease (IMMID), provides graduate-level training in the area of infectious disease. Classroom activities, online learning and research experiences cover fundamentals of molecular biology, cell biology and immunology, as well as basic, translational and clinical aspects of diseases caused by important infectious pathogens, including HIV, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), malarial parasites, influenza virus and Zika virus.
Elective courses offer highly focused studies of topics relevant to infectious disease, including:
- Vaccines and vaccine development
- Viral, bacterial, parasitic, and fungal pathogens
- Emerging pathogens
- Principles of biocontainment
- Experimental therapeutics
THE INFECTIOUS DISEASE PROGRAM IS ALSO ONLINE
If you prefer an online learning experience, you can still earn a Drexel master’s degree in the field of infectious disease. The online Master of Science in Infectious Disease program features the same curriculum, flexibility, course content, and instructors as the traditional, face-to-face degree program.
Learn more about the online Master of Science in Infectious Disease program!
The program has three signature elements in its curriculum:
- Introduction to Infectious Disease – This element is built around lectures in the Medical Microbiology course that College of Medicine medical students take as part of their second-year medical school curriculum.
- Clinical Correlations in Infectious Disease – This element features researchers and clinicians at the College of Medicine who talk about their active research programs in the field of infectious disease.
- Research Internship in Infectious Disease – This experiential element gets you involved in basic, translational, or clinical research in the field of infectious disease. Many of our INFD students have worked in laboratories here at the College of Medicine. Others have completed their internship requirement in industry and biotechnology settings.
For more details about the program, visit these pages:
Meet Infectious Disease Program Students/Alums
"The biggest benefit of doing this program was that it expanded my knowledge in infectious diseases, vaccines and immunology, and most importantly, it helped me to develop my critical thinking and problem-solving skills, which helps me in research and assay development."
Read more about Ross.
Meet Jennifer Connors
"My upbringing spanned from Singapore to the Bay Area, to humid central Texas. But my familial attachment to the Red Wings and the nostalgic tales told by my father about the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, led me to Michigan Technological University where I studied biochemistry and molecular biology. After researching the bioremediation capability of a combination of vetiver plant, Serratia marcescens, and Burkholderia cepacia at Tech and working as a microbiology intern at (believe it or not) a circuit board company, I made my way east to study infectious disease at Drexel. I never thought I would feel Midwestern friendliness anywhere east of the Mississippi but Drexel faculty and students have made a believer out of me. Drexel faculty in the Microbiology and Immunology Department have always scooped time from their schedule to sit down with me when I needed it and put me at ease with their approachability. I plan to continue my education with a doctoral degree (wish me luck!) and it would be an honor to do so here at Drexel."
Is the Infectious Disease Program Right for Me?
The program is designed to prepare students for careers in infectious disease in government, industry and academic environments, and is ideally suited for enhancing the scientific credentials of:
- Recent college graduates
- Early career scientists
- Premedical students
- Industrial employees
- Clinical laboratory technicians
Course schedules and flexible learning options have been designed to accommodate all learners, including working professionals. INFD graduates have accepted positions in various biotechnology and pharmaceutical firms, and successfully competed for entry into PhD training programs.