Graduate Degrees

MASTER OF SCIENCE with a major in Immunology and Microbiology

DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY with a major in Immunology and Microbiology

The Department of Immunology and Microbiology has seventeen full-time faculty and fifty-one support personnel including graduate students, post-doctoral fellows, administrative and technical staff. In addition, affiliate faculty in health care units of the Detroit Medical Center, and the Karmanos Cancer Institute participate in departmental activities. Several senior associates from these institutions are members of the Departmental graduate faculty. The full-time faculty are actively engaged in individual and collaborative research in the areas of immunology, virology, bacteriology, prokaryotic molecular genetics. Current research of the immunologists includes autoimmune diseases, cancer immunology, complement, immunoparasitology, infectious diseases, lymphocyte biology, neuroimmunology, mucosal immunology, immunogenetics and immune regulation. The virologists are investigating the control of viral gene expression, glycoprotein functions, molecular mechanisms in latent and persistent viral infections and transcription regulation using herpes simplex viruses, influenza and retroviruses. The bacteriologists are studying molecular mechanisms of bacterial pathogenesis, regulation of bacterial gene expression in mammalian cells, ocular infections and drug delivery systems and structure-function analyses of bacterial toxins.

The Department offers a diversified program leading to the Doctor of Philosophy degree. The Master of Science degree is available under special circumstances. Areas of specialization include mucosal immunity, autoimmunity, lymphocyte recirculation, bacterial physiology, bacterial genetics, microbial pathogenesis, molecular virology, genetic basis of viral pathogenesis and cancer biology. All questions concerning these programs should be directed to the Graduate Officer, Department of Immunology and Microbiology.

MASTER OF SCIENCE and DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY

Admission:  Admission to these programs is contingent upon admission to the Graduate School and the Graduate Programs of the School of Medicine. Additionally, applicants are expected to meet the requirements of the Department: Students must have an undergraduate degree. A minimum honor point average of 3.0 for the Ph.D. program and 2.5 for the master's program is required. An interview with the Graduate Officer or designated representative is desirable. The Graduate Record Examination aptitude test is required. Foreign students must be proficient in English as determined by satisfactory performance on the standardized TOEFL English proficiency examination.

 

Scholarships: All course work must be completed in accordance with the regulations of the Graduate School and the School of Medicine governing graduate scholarship and degrees.

 

MASTER OF SCIENCE REQUIREMENTS:  This degree is offered only under special circumstances. Candidates must complete thirty credits in course work in accordance with Plan A, as outlined in this bulletin; see PLAN A. Required courses are as outlined below for the doctoral degree.

 

DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY REQUIREMENTS:  Students in the Immunology and Microbiology Department enroll in the School of Medicine's Interdisciplinary Biomedical Sciences (IBS) curriculum during their first year. The IBS curriculum includes IBS 7010, Biomedical Molecular Biology (five credits) and IBS 7020, Biomedical Cellular Biology (five credits). It also includes selection by the student in conjunction with the departmental Graduate Officer of courses within the IBS Systems curriculum, including IBS 7090, Biomedical Immunology (two credits) and selections from other IBS Systems courses. In addition, students enroll in I M 7030, Fundamentals of Virology (two credits) and I M 7520, Mechanisms of Bacterial Pathogenesis (two credits). Candidates for the doctoral degree must complete ninety credits beyond the bachelor's degree, including thirty credits in doctoral dissertation direction. For information regarding distribution of credits among major and minor requirements, consult the department.

ASSISTANTSHIPS AND RESEARCH

Assistantships are available through the IBS program on a competitive basis. All students accepted into the graduate degree program are considered for financial assistance and no application forms are necessary for this purpose. Students on assistantships are advised to elect no more than twelve credits in a given semester. All students, whether or not they hold a fellowship or an assistantship, are encouraged to assist the graduate faculty in teaching and research activities as a component of their educational experience. For more information on financial assistance, students should consult or write to: