Welcome to the Molecular Microbiology and Immunology PhD Program

The MMI PhD program offers a structured curriculum plus extensive mentoring and support to help students complete their degree in five years. The program has sufficient flexibility that students can pursue a course of study tailored to their research interests.

Year 1 Curriculum

Fall Semester Spring Semester
  • Genes, Microbes and Disease (3 SCH)
  • Principles of Immunology (3 SCH)
  • Immunology QE (1 SCH)
  • Rotation - Doctoral Research (2 SCH)
  • Elective (3 SCH)
  • Principles of Microbiology (3 SCH)
  • Microbiology QE (1 SCH)
  • Rotation - Doctoral Research (2 SCH)
  • Elective (3 SCH)
  • Elective (3 SCH)
  • Written Qualifying Requirement to be completed by May 30
  • Select a Dissertation Laboratory and assemble Dissertation Committee by August 20
  • Professional and Leadership Development activities
  • Summer Semesters - Doctoral Research (1 SCH)

Year 2 Curriculum

Fall Semester Spring Semester
  • Principles of Scientific Writing (3 SCH)
  • Elective (3 SCH)
  • Doctoral Research (3 SCH)
  • Colloquium (1 SCH)
  • Teaching in Life Sciences (3 SCH)
  • Elective (3 SCH)
  • Doctoral Research (3 SCH)
  • Colloquium (1 SCH)
  • Oral Qualifying Requirement to be completed by May 30
  • Submit Dissertation Proposal as application for extramural funding
  • Professional and Leadership Development activities
  • Summer Semesters - Dissertation Research (1 SCH)

Year 3 Curriculum

Fall Semester Spring Semester
  • Doctoral Dissertation (2 SCH)
  • Doctoral Dissertation (3 SCH)
  • Doctoral Dissertation (3 SCH)
  • Colloquium (1 SCH)
  • Doctoral Dissertation (2 SCH)
  • Doctoral Dissertation (3 SCH)
  • Doctoral Dissertation (3 SCH)
  • Colloquium (1 SCH)
  • Dissertation Committee meetings every 6 months
  • Manuscript submission/publication
  • Professional and Leadership Development activities
  • Summer Semesters - Dissertation Research (1 SCH)

Year 4/5 Curriculum

Fall Semester Spring Semester
  • Doctoral Dissertation (2 SCH)
  • Doctoral Dissertation (3 SCH)
  • Doctoral Dissertation (3 SCH)
  • Colloquium (1 SCH)
  • Doctoral Dissertation (2 SCH)
  • Doctoral Dissertation (3 SCH)
  • Doctoral Dissertation (3 SCH)
  • Colloquium (1 SCH)
  • Dissertation Committee meetings every 6 months – Oral Presentations
  • Full-length departmental seminar
  • Manuscript submission/publication (2-3)
  • Professional and Leadership Development activities
  • Summer Semesters - Dissertation Research (1 SCH)
  • Defend dissertation
  • Graduate with a doctoral degree

Prescribed Elective

  • MMI 6803 – Advanced Immunology
  • MMI 6643 – Introduction to Bioinformatics
  • MMI 6513 – Drug Development
  • MMI 6323 – Biostatistics
  • MMI 6883 – Bacterial Pathogenesis
  • MMI 6733 – Advanced Medical Mycology
  • MMI 6743 – Advanced Virology
  • MMI 6363 – Microbial Genetics
  • MMI 6973 – Comparative Genomics
  • MMI 6923 – Advanced Microbial Bioinformatics
  • MMI 6613 – Introduction to Clinical Medicine and Pathology
  • MMI 6713 – Advanced Clinical Medicine and Pathology

and more...

Elective Colloquia

  • MMI 7041 – Microbiology
  • MMI 7041 – Immunology
  • MMI 7041 – Vector-Borne Diseases
  • MMI 7041 – Biofilms
  • MMI 7041 – Virology