Immunology Course Descriptions
Helpful Documents: Degree Plan | Professional Outcomes
Core Curriculum – Genes
Fall (1st half)
2 credit hours
Molecular genetics of model organisms; DNA replication, repair, and recombination; transcription; RNA catalysis, processing, and interference; translation; protein turnover; developmental biology; and genomics.
Core Curriculum – Proteins
Fall (1st half)
2 credit hours
Energetic basis of protein structure; stability; ligand binding and regulation; enzyme mechanics and kinetics; methods of purification; and analysis by spectroscopic methods.
Core Curriculum – Cells
Fall (2nd half)
2 credit hours
Cell structure; membrane biology; intracellular membrane and protein trafficking; energy conversion; signal transduction and second messengers; cytoskeleton; cell cycle; and introductory material in microbiology, immunology, and neurobiology.
Professionalism, Responsible Conduct of Research, and Ethics I
Fall (Full semester)
1 credit hour
Topics covered through lectures and small group discussions: goals of education in RCR; professionalism; collaboration; teambuilding and professional behaviors; everyday practice of ethical science; mentorship; data management and reproducibility; animal research; genetics and human research.
Fall (Full semester)
1 credit hour
Topics covered through lectures and small group discussions: goals of education in RCR; professionalism; collaboration; teambuilding and professional behaviors; everyday practice of ethical science; mentorship; data management and reproducibility; animal research; genetics and human research.
Professionalism, Responsible Conduct of Research, and Ethics II
Spring (Full semester)
1 credit hour
Topics covered through lectures and small group discussions: codes of ethics and misconduct; building interprofessional teams; conflict of interest; sexual boundaries and professional behavior; applications of genetic testing; technology transfer and intellectual property; plagiarism, authorship, and citation; peer review; image and data manipulation
1 credit hour
Topics covered through lectures and small group discussions: codes of ethics and misconduct; building interprofessional teams; conflict of interest; sexual boundaries and professional behavior; applications of genetic testing; technology transfer and intellectual property; plagiarism, authorship, and citation; peer review; image and data manipulation
Fundamentals of Immunology Part I: Innate Immunity and Antigen Recognition by T cells (IMM 5273-01)
Spring (1st half)
2 credit hours
This course consists of an integrated series of lectures designed to familiarize students with cellular, molecular and biochemical aspects of the development of the immune system and the immune response. The course content comes predominantly from the “Janeway’s Immunobiology” textbook and historical papers on foundational topics. The course covers innate immune barriers, chemical defense, pattern recognition, cells of the innate immune system, and effector mechanisms. We will also cover the first steps of adaptive immunity, including antigen presentation to T cells and gene rearrangement. (2.0 semester hours)
Fundamentals of Immunology Part II: Adaptive Immunity (IMM 5274)
Spring (2nd half)
2 credit hours
Similar to the Part I course, this course consists of an integrated series of lectures designed to familiarize students with cellular, molecular and biochemical aspects of the development of the immune system and the immune response. The course content comes predominantly from the “Janeway’s Immunobiology” textbook and historical papers on foundational topics. In Fundamentals Part II we cover T and B lymphocytes, lymphocyte signaling and costimulation, integration of innate and adaptive immunity, immunological memory, and experimental techniques. (2.0 semester hours)
Immunology of Human Diseases (IMM 5012)
Fall (1st half)
1.5 credit hours
Prerequisites: Fundamentals of Immunology Part I & Part II
This course focuses on how the various immune system components are integrated during the response to infectious agents, and how the system is naturally or artificially perturbed in clinical conditions, such as immunodeficiency, autoimmunity and cancer therapies. (1.5 semester hours)
Principles of Immunology Research Proposal Writing (IMM 5189-01)
Summer (full semester)
1.5 credit hours
Prerequisites: Fundamentals of Immunology Part I & Part II
This course focuses on the logic of experimental design and the development of scientific communication skills, with particular emphasis on writing skills. Students design, compose, and present their own research proposals and evaluate their colleagues' proposals in small-group discussion sessions with the aid of faculty advisors. (1.5 semester hours)
Special Topics in Immunology: Tumor Immunology (IMM 5096)
Spring (2nd half)
1 credit hour
Recent advances in our understanding of how the immune system responds to tumors have led to a revolution in cancer therapy. Through a series of lectures and paper discussions, this course will cover the mechanisms by which the immune system recognizes and responds to tumors, how tumors evade this response, and therapeutic strategies to manipulate the immune system to treat cancer. (1.5 semester hours)
Seminars and Journal Club (IMM 5193-01)
Spring and Fall (full semester)
1 credit hour
A course is offered in which students are required to attend the student Works-in-Progress Seminar (WIPS), the IGP Journal Club (JC), and the Excellence in Immunology Lecture Series (EILS). In the Works-in-Progress Seminar and in the Journal Club, the students perfect their skills in evaluating scientific presentations, in giving oral presentations, and in communicating their continuing research to a sophisticated audience. Students are enrolled in “Seminars and Journal Club” during each Fall and Spring semester of their graduate training. (1 semester hours)
*Students are given the opportunity to have lunch with the EILS speakers; please look out for sign-up opportunities from the Program Coordinator or contact the Immunology Department EILS coordinator (Cathy Smith).
Research (IMM 5094-01)
Spring and Fall (full semester)
Credit hours vary
Students enroll in this course while conducting research prior to being admitted to candidacy. (semester hours vary)
Dissertation Research (IMM 5099-01)
Spring and Fall (full semester)
Credit hours vary
Students enroll in this course while conducting dissertation research after admission to candidacy.
