[overview] [matriculation] [lab-rotations] [coursework] [thesis] [activities] [stipend] [admission]


Course Work

Didactic course work provides an essential knowledge base for thesis research leading to the Ph.D. degree. The interdisciplinary approach of the Immunology Training Program favors course work that gives a broad exposure to cell and molecular biology coupled with an emphasis on contemporary immunological issues. Students typically take Fundamental Immunology (a graduate level course that covers all the major basic and current aspects of immunology), Current Topics in Immunology (an advanced, literature based course that gives more focused and more in-depth analyses of chosen topics on a rotating basis), Cell Structure and Function, Gene Structure and Expression, and Macromolecular Structure and Function. Students also take 1-2 other courses drawn from a wide range of topics, including Cell Signaling, Protein Structure, Physiology, Pharmacology, Cancer, Genetics, Biophysics, Molecular Medicine, and others. Total course work is usually five to seven courses, and is generally completed by the middle of the second year.

The Immunology Training Program offers several graduate level courses in Immunology through the Department of Microbiology. These courses are in addition to the basic science course requirements for any individual doing research in immunology regardless of the department in which he/she will obtain their degree.

Fundamental Immunology.  This course is designed to provide the beginning student with a firm grasp of the concepts of the activation and regulation of the immune response. This includes structural, molecular, and cellular immunology.

Current Topics in Immunology.  This course is topic oriented and is designed to provide the student continuing education in immunology after they complete their basic science requirements and as they pursue their dissertation research. Four topics, of current interest, are selected each year from the current literature. Faculty with special interest in each topic guide the students who are responsible for presenting and discussing the contents of the selected research papers.