The Program in Immunology, administered through the Division of Medical Sciences at Harvard Medical School, is one of the four offered interdisciplinary programs leading to the Ph.D. degree in medical sciences through the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences of Harvard University. The program, based at Harvard Medical School, is an interdepartmental, multidisciplinary degree program. It operates on the principle that scientists working in modern immunology must also have a general knowledge of biochemistry, genetics, and cell biology to work creatively in their field. The first year is occupied primarily by course work, seminars, and laboratory rotations.
Students generally select a thesis advisor during the second year.
The thesis investigation usually takes three to four years. The program has members from the Departments of Medicine, Pathology, Genetics and Pediatrics of the Faculty of Medicine. It offers a wide range of areas for education and research in the rapidly growing field of immunology, including immunochemistry, molecular immunology, cellular immunology, tumor immunology, cell activation, allergic inflammation, immunogenetics, and immune deficiency. Courses may be chosen from the offerings of all faculties of Harvard as well as from those of the Masachusetts Institute of Technology. Combining research facilities and faculties of Harvard Medical School, the Harvard School of Public Health, and Harvard University, the Immunology Program offers opportunities in a wide range of laboratory experiences and considerable interaction among the four other PhD programs.