The Department of Microbiology and Immunology offers a program leading to the Ph.D. degree that is designed to provide training in bacteriology, virology, parasitology, and immunology. The department actively pursues studies of cellular oncogenes, mechanisms of biological signal transduction, bacterial and parasite genetics, retrovirology, and cellular and molecular immunology. The aim of the program is to prepare students for careers in research and teaching. The required core curriculum includes courses in immunology, virology, bacteriology, parasitology, molecular biology, microbial genetics, and biochemistry.
Students elect additional advanced courses in their particular areas of interest.
A minimum of 38 semester hours of course work, with a minimum grade point average of 3.0, is required. During the first three semesters, a series of laboratory rotations familiarizes students with faculty research interests. Following completion of the core curriculum in the third semester of study, students must pass a qualifying examination prior to admission to candidacy for the Ph.D. degree. Upon the successful completion of the qualifying examination, students are accepted into the laboratory of a faculty adviser to begin dissertation research and develop independent benchtop skills. Completion of the Ph.D. program usually requires five years.