Program Overview

Ph.D. in Pathology

The Ph.D. in Pathology provides opportunities for graduate training in the fundamentals of modern pathobiology, immunology, and investigative microbiology, with an emphasis on a multi-disciplinary approach to research problems. Students study naturally occurring animal disease and host responses in a variety of species, including cancer, inflammatory, and infectious diseases. In addition, the program involves research in progressive areas such as emerging diseases, comparative oncology, interdisciplinary/systems biology, and translational medicine. This Ph.D. program provides training and preparation to pursue research and/or teaching careers in academia, industry, and government.

Program Overview

The student's graduate committee guides the student in planning a program of study to meet their goals in their area of specialization and is based on their academic background. Goals for Pathology Ph.D. students include successful completion of the preliminary exam; presentation of research at local, national and international meetings, publication of dissertation research in peer-reviewed journals, and successful completion and defense of a dissertation.

Learning Objectives

1. Design and execute research projects by devising hypotheses specific to the field of pathology.
2. Evaluate, integrate and demonstrate comprehensive knowledge about the molecular and organismal basis of disease.
3. Critique findings from scientific literature to enhance and inform their research proposals.
4. Interpret and justify and defend their research findings through analysis, discussion, and defense.

Course Requirements

• Required Courses:
  • MIP 792A: Seminar: Research/Graduate 1 (4 credits)
  • MIP 796: Group Study 2 (4 credits)
  • MIP 799: Dissertation (17 credits)
• Select one course from the following:
  • GRAD 544: Ethical Conduct of Research
  • GRAD 575/NSCI 575: Ethical Issues in Big Data Research
  • MIP 554: Research Policies and Regulations
• A total of 30 credits can be applied from an MS or DVM degree
• Electives (Select a minimum of 16 credits from the lists below)
  • General Electives:
    • MIP 470: Graduate Fellowship Proposal Preparation
    • MIP 540: Fundamentals of Biosafety and Biosecurity
    • MIP 643: Grant Writing for Microbiology/Pathology
    • MIP 666: Writing Scientific Manuscripts
    • MIP 710: Research Team Mentoring
  • Virology Electives:
    • MIP 533/VS 533: Epidemiology of Infectious Diseases/Zoonoses
    • MIP 543: RNA Biology
  • Bacteriology Electives:
    • MIP 550: Microbial and Molecular Genetics Laboratory
    • MIP 573A: Bacterial Pathogenesis: Introduction to Mechanisms
    • MIP 573B: Bacterial Pathogenesis: Mechanisms and Lifestyle
    • MIP 573C: Bacterial Pathogenesis: Evading Host Defenses
  • Vector Biology Electives:
    • MIP 535: Vector Collection and Identification Methods
  • Molecular and Genomic Approaches Electives:
    • MIP 543: RNA Biology
    • MIP 545: Microbial Metagenomics/Genomics Data Analysis
    • MIP 565/BZ 565: Next Generation Sequencing Platform/Libraries
    • MIP 570: Functional Genomics
  • Immunology Electives:
    • MIP 525: Flow Cytometry for Immunology
    • MIP 542: Pillars of Immunology
    • MIP 651: Immunobiology
    • MIP 675: Advanced Bioanalytic Pathology
    • MIP 730/ERHS 730: Principles of Flow Cytometry & Cell Sorting
    • MIP 766: Cytopathology--Clinical Pathology
    • MIP 767: Advanced General Pathology
    • MIP 768: Advanced Clinical Pathology
    • MIP 778: Pathobiology of Laboratory Animals
    • MIP 779: Laboratory Animal Pathology Rotation
  • Courses offered by other departments:
    • BC 563: Molecular Genetics
    • BC 565: Molecular Regulation of Cell Function
    • BIOM 525/MECH 525: Cell and Tissue Engineering
    • BMS 500: Mammalian Physiology I
    • BMS 501: Mammalian Physiology II
    • DSCI 510: Linux as a Computational Platform
    • DSCI 511: Genomics Data Analysis in Python
    • DSCI 512: RNA-Sequencing Data Analysis
    • ERHS 510/VS 510: Cancer Biology
    • ERHS 535: R Programming for Research
    • ERHS 611: Cancer Genetics
    • GRAD 550: STEM Communication
    • STAR 511: Design and Data Analysis for Researchers I
    • STAR 512: Design and Data Analysis for Researchers II

Program Total Credits

A minimum of 72 credits are required to complete this program.

Additional Requirements

• MIP 792A should be taken for a minimum of 4 credits.
• MIP 796 should be taken for a minimum of 4 credits.
• A minimum of 13 credits must be regular courses with the MIP subject code.
• Regular course work is defined as courses other than independent or group studies, thesis/dissertation credits, supervised college teaching, unique titled courses offered through the Division of Continuing Education, and any courses graded pass/fail.

Summary of Procedures for the Master's and Doctoral Degrees

1. Application for admission
2. Diagnostic examination when required
3. Appointment of advisor
4. Selection of graduate committee
5. Filing of program of study
6. Preliminary examination (Ph.D. and PD)
7. Report of preliminary examination
8. Changes in committee
9. Application for Graduation
10. Submit thesis or dissertation to committee
11. Final examination
12. Report of final examination
13. Submit a signed Thesis/Dissertation Submission Form to the Graduate School and Submit the Survey of Earned Doctorates (Ph.D. only) prior to submitting the electronic thesis/dissertation
14. Submit the thesis/dissertation electronically
15. Graduation