Program Overview

Infectious Disease and Immunology (MS)

The Master of Science Degree in Infectious Disease and Immunology is a research-intensive program that provides students with rigorous training in the fundamentals of the scientific method and practical laboratory skills. Students will perform a research project under the joint direction of two scientific mentors: a basic scientist and a clinician.

Overview

Through this program, students will receive broad training in the biomedical sciences and focused training in Infectious Disease and Immunology. The program requires 30 credit hours and a master's thesis.

Curriculum

The curriculum includes the following required courses:

• BMSC 402: Statistical Methods for Biomedical Science (3 hours)
• BMSC 405: Ethics in Biomedical Sciences (1 hour)
• BMSC 410: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (4 hours)
• BMSC 412: Cell Biology (4 hours)
• BMSC 416: Methods Biomedical Science (1 hour)
• IDIM 400: Infections and Immunology (3 hours)
• IDIM 401: Conceptual Bases of Infectious Diseases (2 hours)
• IDIM 403: Parasitology and Virology (2 hours)
• IDIM 418: Presentation skills (1 hour)
• IDIM 492: Research (2 hours)
• IDIM 501: Seminar (1 hour)
• IDIM 502: Special Topics in Infectious Disease and Immunology (5 hours)
• MIIM 503: Current Literature (1 hour)
• IDIM 595: Thesis Supervision (0 hours)

Research

Students will select a laboratory for research following one to three 6-week rotations during the first semester. Students will undertake an independent, original experimental study resulting in a new and significant contribution to knowledge. The research will culminate in the preparation of a thesis and a final oral examination conducted by the student's MS Thesis Committee.

Thesis

By the beginning of the second year, students will select a committee and submit a written proposal for the master's thesis work. Following approval of the proposal, students will continue to carry out the appropriate experiments and develop the written thesis. The thesis is defended orally to the committee by the end of the second year.

Learning Outcomes

Master's students will graduate with the ability to:

• Discuss, develop, conduct and/or supervise research projects that call for broad training in the biomedical sciences and focused training in Infectious Disease and Immunology.
• Provide technical expertise in molecular biology and cellular biology and a variety of other areas, such as biochemistry, immunological techniques, enzyme assays, and cell culture.
• Act as liaison between researchers and clinical faculty and in situations that require familiarity with clinical presentations within the areas of infectious disease and immunology, as well as treatment of infectious disease.
• Incorporate high standards of ethics into research design and execution and data interpretation.
• Demonstrate strong oral presentation skills in the course of dialogues with colleagues, clients, physicians, and research scientists.
• Have thorough knowledge, within the fields of infectious diseases and immunology, of the biomedical research process including project planning, experimental design, and research protocol development.

Related Programs

• Biochemistry, Molecular and Cancer Biology (PhD)
• Microbiology and Immunology (MD/PhD)