Program Overview

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Introduction to the MHS Program

The Master of Health Science (MHS) in Molecular Microbiology and Immunology (MMI) is designed to provide students with a solid foundation in the biomedical sciences, focusing on infectious and immunologic diseases of public health importance. The program aims to equip students with a diverse range of disciplinary concepts and methodological tools to address specific disease-related problems.

Program Overview

The MHS program in MMI is a one-year, full-time residence program that requires a minimum of 64 credits for completion. The program includes coursework, special studies with faculty members, and participation in departmental activities. Students also have the opportunity to gain experience with basic molecular biological laboratory techniques.

MHS to ScM Program Transfer

MHS students who excel in the program and wish to add a research component to their training may apply for transfer to the ScM program in MMI. The transfer application process involves submitting an updated personal statement, a recommendation letter from the principal investigator of the proposed rotation laboratory, and a completed School application form.

Program Requirements

The program requires students to register for a minimum of 16 credits each term, with a maximum of 22 credits per term. Students must maintain a minimum grade point average of 2.75 to remain in good academic standing. The program also requires students to complete at least 5 credits of formal coursework outside of their home department, with all 5 credits taken for a letter grade.

Course Distribution Requirement

The School requires MHS students to complete at least 5 credits of formal coursework outside of their home department, with all 5 credits taken for a letter grade. Many university-wide courses can be used to fulfill specific requirements.

MHS Curriculum

The MHS curriculum includes required and elective courses, with a focus on molecular microbiology and immunology. The curriculum is designed to provide students with a strong foundation in the biomedical sciences and to prepare them for careers in public health, research, and medicine.

MHS & Biotechnology

A subset of MHS students are interested in a career in the biotechnology arena. To accommodate this interest, MMI offers an elective set of four courses focused on how innovative technologies are moved to a commercial sphere.

MHS & Medical School

A subset of MHS students are interested in pursuing medical careers. Students who plan to apply to medical school should consider enrolling in the Premedical Seminars course, which covers topics such as planning the premedical journey, reviewing the application process, and writing the personal statement.

Cells-to-Society Requirements

The Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) requires didactic coursework covering and assessing 12 CEPH-defined Introductory Public Health Knowledge Learning Objectives. The School's Committee on Academic Standards approved 12 online, 0.5 credit, mini-courses to cover each of the 12 Learning Objectives.

Additional Course Requirements

The School requires MHS students to complete at least 5 credits in formal courses outside of their home department, with all 5 credits taken for a letter grade. Required courses include Seminars in Research in Molecular Microbiology and Immunology and Research Forum in Molecular Microbiology and Immunology.

MHS Thesis

The MHS thesis involves writing a critical review of scientific literature on a substantive public health issue. The student will select the topic for the thesis in consultation with the Thesis Mentor. The thesis follows the Sheridan Library Formatting Requirements, with a page limit of 30 pages, excluding Front Matter and References.

Thesis Readers

Students are responsible for finding a primary thesis reader (the Thesis Mentor) who will act as a mentor through the thesis-writing process. A secondary reader will be assigned by the department. The primary and secondary readers cannot be from the same laboratory group.

Thesis Deadlines

The student is responsible for meeting the benchmarks and deadlines listed in the thesis calendar. Students who fail to meet the deadlines will be removed from the May graduation list.

Vacation/Holiday Policy

Graduate student holiday and vacation schedules are flexible to accommodate the varied demands of individual research projects. Students are generally entitled to university holidays, spring break, and the period between the last day of 2nd term and the first day of the winter intersession.

Leave of Absence

Application for a leave of absence must be made on a form available from the Student Coordinator. Students should discuss any potential leave of absence with their mentor and the Student Coordinator.

Graduate Student Organization

All MMI graduate students are members of the MMI Graduate Student Organization (GSO). The GSO meets at the annual departmental retreat to elect officers and can meet at other times as often as the students desire.

Academic Performance

MHS students are required to maintain a 2.75 grade point average or better. Students who do not satisfy this and other academic requirements will be placed on Academic Probation by the Graduate Program Committee.

Criteria for Dismissal

Students may be dismissed from the MMI MHS program for reasons that include failure to satisfy conditions specified for removal from academic probation, failure to maintain an adequate GPA, violations of academic or professional ethics, and failure to adhere to School and Departmental time limitations.

Academic Ethics and Responsible Conduct of Research

MMI requires students to adhere rigorously to the School's standards for Academic Ethics and Responsible Conduct of Research in all activities. Violations of these standards are grounds for dismissal from the program.

Student Conduct Code

The fundamental purpose of the JHU's regulation of student conduct is to promote and protect the health, safety, welfare, property, and rights of all members of the University community.

Learning Outcomes

According to the requirements of the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH), all BSPH degree students must be grounded in foundational public health knowledge. Key educational objectives for MHS students include:

• Graduates will be able to address current and future issues in public health related to the biology, ecology, molecular biology, biochemistry, and genetics of infectious diseases and their vectors.
• Graduates will be able to address current and future issues in public health related to immunology, immunization, and pathogenesis of infectious diseases.
• Graduates will be able to critically evaluate scientific literature, presentations, and scientific ideas.
• Graduates will be able to prepare written documents as well as prepare and deliver oral presentations appropriate for communication to a scientific community.
• Graduates will be able to evaluate the ethical implications of scientific research and conduct scientific activities in an ethical and responsible manner.