Graduate Courses in Immunology

 Ph.D. Study Plan | Dual Degreee Study Plan | Masters Study Plan

The Graduate Group in Immunology brings together faculty and students from diverse disciplines. The diverse nature within the group mirrors the presence of Schools of Veterinary and Human Medicine and Colleges of Agriculture and Biological Sciences, providing a unique and rich research environment. Emphasis of study within the Graduate Group in Immunology includes aspects of Infection and Immunity, Inflammation and Nutrition and Immunity.

Students are required to take a number of immunology classes that comprise the core curriculum of the program. Those classes are designed to teach the student the current knowledge base in immunology and enhance their ability to critically evaluate current literature. Students are also required to take classes in outside areas of study. Those areas depend on their interest and their particular field of study. Classes in those outside areas might pertain, but are not limited to topics in microbiology, molecular biology, neurobiology and pathology. Those classes should be chosen after consultation with the mentor and the assigned graduate student advisor. More information on those classes may be found at relevant websites.

Core Courses in Immunology

The following core courses are required for graduate students in the group:

IMM 201 Basic Immunology (Fall)

IMM 201 is a required graduate level course for first year Immunology Graduate Students. This course is a comprehensive introduction to basic principles of immunology and a prerequisite to IMM 293. Course content includes lectures based on immunology textbooks, in addition to discussion of concepts and current literature pertinent to lecture topics. Letter grading is based on discussion participation, one midterm and a comprehensive final exam.

IMM 201L Laboratory Rotations (Fall, Winter)

Ph.D. students enroll in this class to participate in laboratory rotations during the Fall and Winter quarters in their first year. They will conduct 4 rotations of 5 weeks duration in the laboratories of graduate group faculty members to be identified in consultation with the graduate adviser. Following each rotation the student must submit a written research report and present their research findings in a short oral presentation to the class.

IMM 293 Current Concepts in Immunology (Winter)

This is an advanced level graduate course in Immunology. IMM 201 is a prerequisite for this class. It is a required course for all Immunology Graduate Students. Topics include: Anitmicrobial peptides and other innate immune defenses, Inflammation and leukocyte migration, Macrophage and Dendritic cell biology, T and B cell development and function and current models of immunology. The class is divided into a lecture and a discussion part. In the lecture part of the class students read recent literature reviews as background to obtain and comprehend up-to-date information on various aspects of both innate and adaptive immunity. In the second part of the class research papers on those topics are reviewed and discussed to enhance the students ability to design and critically evaluate experiments. Letter grading is based on 2 comprehensive take-home exams, a written evaluation of a recent research article and participation in discussion.

IMM 294 Clinical Immunology (Fall)

This course covers the clinical application of principles of hypersensitivity, autoimmunity, transplantation, immunodeficiency, and tumor immunology. The material is case based and focuses on both human and animal (veterinary species) examples of diseases. In the two hours session a faculty lecturer presents approximately one hour; during the second hour a student presents a case related to the day’s topic. The group addresses questions posed about the case and discusses various aspects of immunopathogenesis. The grading is 50% midterm and 50% final examination. The prerequisite is second year standing in the Immunology graduate program, or consent of instructor.

IMM 295 Cytokines (Spring)

This course examines the broad structural classes of cytokines and how structure informs function among these diverse proteins. The signal transduction pathways activated by various cytokines as well as the roles of cytokines in immunity, inflammation, tissue injury, and disease will also be discussed. This is a required course for all graduate students in the Immunology Graduate Group. Current knowledge of the molecular structure and mechanisms of action of cytokines will be covered by reference to the literature in immunology, cell biology and molecular biology.

IMM 296 Advanced Topics in Immunology (Fall)

This course offers presentations by faculty on advanced topics in immunology and their research. It is a required course for all Immunology Graduate Students. Recent topics encompassed studies of integrins, galectins, chemokine and antigen receptors in varied research areas such as pulmonology, dermatology, autoimmune and infectious diseases. Students are expected to complete one short writing assignment.

RAL 209 Current Topics in Immunology: From Presentations to Grants (Winter)

Current developments in various aspects of immunology and their interrelationships. Focus on areas of immunology not currently covered in the basic and advanced immunology courses. The student will learn strategies for effective oral presentations, writing of reviews and the basics of grant preparation.

PMI 291A Seminars in Immunology (Fall, Spring)

This course stresses student participation in presentations and discussion relating to a topic selected by the students in the seminar. Two quarters each year need to be taken by all Graduate Group in Immunology students until they advance to candidacy (Ph.D.) or finish required coursework and pass exam (Masters students). Each quarter students choose a topic in Immunology. Students (1 or 2) then sign up to present a seminar. Each week the student(s) in charge choose an experimental paper relevant to the topic and make copies available for the other students to read prior to the seminar day. On the day of the seminar, a general overview of the immunology involved in the study described in the paper is presented. This is followed by an in depth discussion of the paper by the student(s) presenting. Appropriate statistical analysis of data is discussed as well as relevant methodology. After formal presentation of the paper, students in the class are expected to ask questions and to participate in an active discussion. Attendance is mandatory and a sign-in sheet is circulated.

Elective Courses in Immunology

The following elective courses are also offered by the group:

IMM 297 Mucosal Immunology (Spring)

This class is held in a journal club format. Expert lecturers assign recent research papers on various aspects of immunology as they pertain to immune defenses at different mucosal surfaces of the body, including respiratory tract, gastrointestinal tract and urogenital tract. Following a short overview lecture by faculty to provide the context of current knowledge in the field, students will be selected to participate in presenting the major findings of the paper.

PMI 298-42 Immunology Breakfast Club (Fall, Winter, Spring)

This is a student-run discussion group intended particularly for students before they advance to candidacy (or masters exit exam). Students decide each quarter on a discussion topic in immunology of choice. Each student presents on a topic of her/his choice. Faculty may be invited to discuss particular areas of interest.

NUT 251 Nutrition and Immunity (Winter, alternate years)

This course explores the mechanisms by which nutrition and diet affect the immune system and resistance to infectious diseases and cancer. It also explores the impact of an immune response on metabolism, appetite, and nutritional needs. The class has both lectures and discussions.

PMI 270 Advanced Immunology (Winter)

This is a required introductory course in immunology for first year graduate students in the Graduate Group of Comparative Pathology. It is open to students in the immunology graduate group with the permission of the instructor. The course is designed to give the student a broad working knowledge of innate and adaptive immunity. The course consists of two one-hour didactic lectures and one student-led discussion (one hour) each week. The lectures are textbook based similar to IMM201 (Janeway). The discussions are organized to give the students an appreciation of the seminal papers that revolutionized our understanding of host immune responses. Depending on enrolled student numbers, three to four students will present a seminal paper in immunology to the rest of the class. In addition, each student will participate in a second presentation to the class on a topic broadly organized around one of three immunological questions posed to the class by the instructors at the beginning of the quarter.

PHR 222 Avian Immunology (Spring)

Prerequisite: basic immunology course or consent of instructor. Normal structure of the avian immune system, quick review of basic immunology, comparison between mammalian and avian immune systems and generation of immune responses, immunodiagnostics and vaccination.

PTX 292 Immunotoxicology (Fall, alternate years)

This course has lectures on the principles of toxicology and the application of immunology to research and public health issues in toxicology. Students present on a topic of their choice.

Immunology Journal Club (Fall, Winter, Spring)

All faculty members and students, particularly those having advanced to candidacy, are welcome to attend. This journal club cannot be taken for course credit. The journal club is organized by students to learn and discuss significant recent publications in immunology. Faculty members identify a research paper of interest. Students present the findings of the manuscript and discuss the implications of the findings. The faculty member is present as an expert.

Courses for a Designated Emphases

Graduate students in Immunology may participate in a Designated Emphasis, a specialization that might include a new method of inquiry or an important field of application, which is related to two or more existing Ph.D. programs. The Designated Emphasis is awarded in conjunction with the Ph.D. degree and is signified by a transcript designation; for example, "Ph.D. in Immunology with a Designated Emphasis in Biotechnology".

The Graduate Group in Immunology is associated with two inter-graduate programs: Biotechnology and Biology of vector-borne diseases.

Students must fulfill additional courses and other requirements specified by these programs before the qualifying exam can be taken. For more information on the additional requirements contact those programs directly.