Course Requirements and Laboratory Rotations

Curriculum

The student must successfully complete a minimum number of 48 course credit hours and a total number of 148 credit hours (core course requirements, electives, and research credits). Students must maintain an average grade of 3.0 (B) or better throughout graduate training to remain in good academic standing in the Program. The required curriculum consists of the core courses and electives, training rotations in research laboratories, and completion of a research dissertation. Every student will also be required to attend an EID Journal Club and an EID Seminar Series.

Required Courses

All students are required to complete a series of core courses during the first year of training. The student will also select one of two tracks in which to focus the remainder of his/her course work. The two tracks are: Microbiology and Immunology or Preventive Medicine and Biometrics. Each of these tracks will require specific courses (See listing below).  Students must also enroll in one of the Departmental Seminar Series at the University, the EID Seminar Series, and EID Journal Club.

Laboratory Rotations

During the first year of study, each student is required to take a minimum of three laboratory rotations of approximately 12 weeks duration and an average of 15 hours per week. The first rotation is taken in research laboratories on the USUHS campus and is selected based on the student's initial interests and in consultation with the program director. Subsequent rotations may take place at off-campus laboratories. During the summer after the first year, a fourth, optional laboratory rotation may be taken.

Core Courses

Core courses for Ph.D. students in all tracks of the EID Program are as follows:

Year 1

Fall Quarter

• Introduction to Microbiology
• Introduction to Immunology
• Ethics and Responsible Conduct of Research
• Biochemistry I
• Lab Rotation
• EID Seminar

Winter Quarter

• Models of Emerging Infectious Diseases I
• Bacterial Genetics and Physiology
• Biochemistry II
• Lab Rotation

Spring Quarter

• Models of Emerging Infections Diseases II
• Molecular Parasitology
• Lab Rotation

Year 2

Fall Quarter

• Experimental Statistics and Design
• Epidemiology
• Research in EID

Winter Quarter

• Models of Emerging Infectious Diseases III
• Cellular and Molecular Immunology
• Research in EID

Spring Quarter

• Models of Emerging Infections Diseases IV
• Research in EID