Infectious Diseases

The mission of the Department of Infectious Diseases is: To educate graduate and professional students as to the causes of and prevention of bacterial, fungal, viral, and parasitic diseases, and methods of identifying and protecting humans and animals; To train graduate and professional students in advanced technologies in order to protect the human population from emerging diseases; To develop new technologies at both the graduate level and professional levels and affect the transfer of these technologies so as to assure the safety and welfare of our food production and companion animals; And finally to conduct basic research on microbial pathogenesis, the molecular biology of microbial and parasitic pathogens, and the mechanisms of immunity.

Graduate work is offered in infectious diseases leading to a PhD degree. Strengths of the diverse departmental graduate faculty include molecular virology, pathogenic bacteriology, classical and molecular parasitology, vaccinology, vector biology, disease modeling, and immunology. Students with BS or MS degrees, and those with a DVM degree, are accepted for graduate training in our doctoral program. We also offer a MS degree administered through the Master of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences program.

The Department of Infectious Diseases participates in the Integrated Life Sciences program at the University of Georgia, and as such relies on that program for recruitment of graduate students. Prospective students interested in Infectious Disease research should apply to the Integrated Life Sciences program.

Instruction is coordinated with course offerings from the Department of Infectious Diseases, and with departments of the College of Arts and Sciences and the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. The statistics and computer science departments are involved in the epidemiology program of study. Suitable courses in these departments are included in students� programs of study. Instruction in infectious diseases is coordinated with work in other departments within the College of Veterinary Medicine, the Poultry Diagnostic Research Center, and regional/federal research facilities.

Overall, PhD students must accrue 20 credits in 8000 level or higher courses, independent of research and dissertation writing courses (IDIS 9000 and IDIS 9300).

Semester 1 (ILS-fall)

Students entering through the ILS program will take common courses with all entering students in semester one.

• GRSC 8000: Research Techniques in Integrated Life Sciences (7 cr.)  [three 6 week long ILS rotations through departmenal labs]
• GRSC 8010: Professional Development for Integrated LIfe Sciences Students (1 cr.) [7 week minicourse, taught in first half of semester]
• GRSC 8550: Responsible Conduct of Research (1 cr.) [7 week minicourse, taught in second half of semester]
• GRSC 8020: Critical Reading of the Primary Scientific Literature (2 cr.)
• Plus One Elective Course:
• GRSC 8015: Biological Data Management (2 cr.)
• CBIO 8080: Biomedical Grant Writing (3 cr.)
• GRSC 8200: Communicating Research and Scholarship (1 cr.)

(Satisfies 4 of 20 credits required by Graduate School)

Semester 2 (spring)

The ID curriculum begins in semester two after students have chosen their thesis lab in the department.

• IDIS 6100: Immunology (3 cr.)
• IDIS 8010: Advanced Infectious Diseases (4 cr.)
• IDIS 8160: Infectious Diseases Seminar (1 cr.)*
• Journal Club (1 cr.)
• IDIS 9000: Doctoral Research (up to 9 cr.)

(Satisfies 6 of 20 credits required by Graduate School)

*NB: the department allows only 1 ID Seminar credit to count toward the required 20 credits for the degree.

Remaining Required Courses

• BIOS 7010: Introductory Biostatistics I (3 cr.) (or POPH 8310L: Population Health Medical Statistics I, offered summer semester odd years)
• IDIS 8160: Infectious Diseases Seminar (1 cr.) The department allows only 1 ID Seminar credit to count toward the required 20 credits for the degree. Enrollment through semester 4 or until admission to candidacy, whichever is later is required. Attendance required regardless of enrollment.
• IDIS 8170: Graduate Research In Progress (1 cr.) The department requires that students take this course in semester 4 and spring of year three. Enrollment during year four is optional.
• Journal Club – The department requires that students take at least three of the five offered departmental Journal Clubs. Additional enrollment in Journal Club per student’s Advisory Committee recommendations. 
• Journal Club Options
• IDIS 8550: Special Topics in Immunology (1 cr., every year spring and fall)
• IDIS 8540: Special Topics in Bacterial Pathogenesis (1 cr., every year fall)
• IDIS 8250: Special Topics in Parasitology (1 cr., every year spring)
• IDIS 8590: Special Topics in Disease Intervention (1 cr., every year spring and fall)
• IDIS 8050: Special Topics in Ecology and Evolution of Infectious Diseases (1 cr., odd years fall)
• IDIS 9000: Doctoral Research (up to 9 cr.)
• GRSC 7770: Graduate Seminar on Teaching (1 cr.) (Optional)

This course is for students who are planning on TA-ing and can be taken in the same semester that a teaching assistantship begins.

*NB: the department allows only 1 ID Seminar credit to count toward the required 20 credits for the degree.

Other required courses typically satisfied during first two years:

A minimum of one 8000-level (3 or 4 credit) elective, as per student’s Advisory Committee recommendations. Please see recommended elective courses below. Other departments such as CBIO, VPAT, VPHY, MIBO, GENE, BCMB, etc., also offer suitable courses.

(Satisfies 3-4 of 20 credits required by Graduate School)

Recommended Elective Courses

• IDIS 7200-7200L: Veterinary Parasitology (3.7 cr., fall, POD)
• IDIS 7215-7215L: Large Animal Parasitology (1.3 cr., spring POD)
• IDIS 8020: Vaccines: From Design to Development (3 cr., odd years fall)
• IDIS 8030: Parasites and Parasitic Diseases (3 cr., even years fall)
• IDIS 8080L: Advanced Molecular Techniques (3 cr., even years maymester)
• ECOL(IDIS) 8140L: Research Methods in Disease Ecology (4 cr., even years fall)
• IDIS 8300: Advanced Immunology: Innate Immunology (3 cr., odd years spring)
• IDIS 8350, Principles and Research Applications of Flow Cytometry (3 cr., odd years fall)
• IDIS 8591: Advanced Concepts of Virology (3 cr., even years spring)
• CBIO 8080: Biomedical Grant Writing (3 cr., contact CBIO for schedule)
• CBIO(IDIS) 8100: Advanced Immunology (4 cr., even years spring)
• CBIO 8500: Biology of Parasitism (4 cr., even years spring)
• EPID(ECOL)(IDIS) 8515: Modeling Infectious Diseases (4 cr., every year fall)
• MIBO(PBHL)(IDIS)(BHSI) 8260: Global Perspectives on Tropical and Emerging Infectious Diseases (1 cr., even years summer)
• POPH(IDIS)(MIBO) 8200: Molecular Virology and Experimental Design (5 cr., every year spring)
• BCMB(CBIO)(GENE) 8112: Advanced Genetics, Cell, Biochemistry, and Molecular Biology I (4 cr., every year spring) [DNA/RNA/proteins/metabolism]
• BCMB(CBIO)(GENE) 8212: Advanced Genetics, Cell, Biochemistry, and Molecular Biology II (4 cr., every year fall) [membranes/signalling/cell transport/cytoskeleton/cell cycle/energetics]
• POPH(MIBO)(IDIS) 6450/6450L: Microbial Genetics and Genomics (4 cr., every year fall)
• POPH(MIBO)(IDIS) 6650: Introduction to Virology (3 cr., every year fall)

Each Summer (until dissertation writing commences)

• IDIS 9000: Doctoral Research (up to 9 cr.)

Dissertation Writing Requirement

The Graduate School requires 3 hours IDIS 9300, Doctoral Dissertation, typically taken the semester prior to graduation. This course does not count toward the 20 credit hours of 8000 and above courses required by the Graduate School.

• All applicants must have an undergraduate degree or master’s degree in any biological science from an accredited institution. An important consideration in the evaluation process is that applicants have demonstrated research experience. In addition, the Department of Infectious Diseases is actively recruiting veterinarians who would like to pursue a research career in infectious diseases. Eligible foreign students must have a degree equivalent to an American bachelor’s degree requiring a minimum of four years of training or they may additionally have a master’s degree. The Graduate School reviews foreign transcripts for eligibility into graduate programs at the University of Georgia.
• Transcripts. Documents must be submitted in both Russian and English. Russian documents must bear the original institution stamp. The English translations must bear the original institution stamp or the original stamp/signature of the certified translator.
• 4-5 year Diplom from a recognized institution.. An official copy of the Diplom, which bears the original stamp of the issuing institution. The English translation is required and must bear the original stamp of the issuing institution or the original stamp/signature of the certified translator.
• Completed application form. Select 0052 (Integrated Life Sciences) as the major code in the application process.
• Payment of an application fee.
• Official GRE scores with correct UGA code (UGA code is 5813). There is no requirement for a subject GRE.
• The names of three referees in the fields on page three of the application along with their e-mail addresses. You should request letters from people who can speak to your academic accomplishments and your readiness to undertake graduate study. Each of the references named will receive a link to access a secure page where their recommendation can be submitted online.
• International applicants will also need TOEFL scores 
• Certification of finances forms (international applicants)

Want to improve your English level for admission?

Prepare for the program requirements with English Online by the British Council.

• ✔️ Flexible study schedule
• ✔️ Experienced teachers
• ✔️ Certificate upon completion

📘 Recommended for students with an IELTS level of 6.0 or below.

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Scholarships

Students accepted into the program are supported through fellowships or assistantships. Students funded on fellowships or assistantships are also granted a tuition waiver.