M.S. in Microbiology & Immunology

The Department of Microbiology and Immunology offers a vigorous multi-disciplinary training environment leading to the M.S. degree. Our program focuses on the comprehensive study of bacteriology, virology, and immunology with emphasis on mechanisms of human disease caused by pathogens at the cellular and molecular level.

Graduates with a Master’s degree in Microbiology and Immunology are prepared for research, technical, and supervisory positions in scientific laboratories in academia, industry, government, and the health care field. Within the Master’s program, emphasis may be placed on bacteriology, virology or immunology. 

The following areas are available for thesis research: bacterial genetics; influenza virus antigens; HIV infection; pathogenesis of infectious disease; monoclonal antibody production; molecular biology of neoplastic disease; oncogenes and growth factors; anti-idiotype therapy of autoimmune and neoplastic diseases; immunological and biological therapy of disease; and cellular immunology.

The Department of Microbiology and Immunology does not specify prerequisite undergraduate courses, but a background in chemistry (qualitative and quantitative analysis, physical, and organic), physics, mathematics (including calculus), and botany or zoology is desirable.