Courses we offer

This page contains information about the graduate courses currently offered by our department. All courses have a MICR prefix. Click on the course number to download a syllabus for that course. Click on the instructor’s name to go to their webpage.

645 Animal Cell Culture Techniques

Credits: 2; Offered in the spring; Instructor: Gustad

Methods of animal cell culture propagation and uses for cell culture systems.

650 Infectious Disease Pathogenesis

Credits: 3; Offered in the spring (beginning in 2012); Instructor: McEvoy

Students will study mechanisms of bacterial, viral, fungal, and parasitic pathogenesis and the immune response to pathogens. Prereq: MICR 470.

650L Infectious Disease Pathogenesis Laboratory

Credits: 2; Offered in the spring; Instructor: Haggart

Students will study mechanisms of bacterial, viral, fungal, and parasitic pathogenesis and the immune response to pathogens. Prereq: MICR 350L.

652 Microbial Ecology

Credits: 3; Prereq: MICR 350, 350L; Offered in the fall. Instructor: Ebert

Examines the relationships between microbes and the physical, chemical, and biotic components of their environments. The role of microbes in nutrient cycling, bioremediation, biocontrol, biological waste treatment, fuel production, and energy recovery.

653 Food Microbiology

Credits: 3; Offered in the fall; Instructor: Wolf-Hall

Study of the nature, physiology, and interactions of microorganisms in foods. Introduction to foodborne diseases, effects of food processing on the microflora of foods, principles of food preservation, food spoilage, and foods produced by microorganisms. Prereq: MICR 202L or 350L. Cross-listed with CFS 453/653.

660 Pathogenic Microbiology

Credits: 3; Offered in the spring; Instructor: McEvoy (2011) Berry (Beginning in 2012)

Study of the microorganisms that cause disease and of disease processes. Prereq: MICR 202 or 350.

661 Pathogenic Microbiology Lab

Credits: 2; Offered in the spring; Instructor: Haggart

Emphasizes the isolation and identification of pathogenic microorganisms. Prereq: MICR 350L.

663 Clinical Parasitology

Credits: 2; Offered in the spring; Instructor: McEvoy

A study of protozoan and helminthic parasites of humans, with an emphasis on clinical identification, life histories, and control. Prereq: BIOL 150, 150L.

665 Fundamentals of Animal Disease

Credits: 3; Offered in the fall; Instructor: Dyer

Basic principles of disease processes and prevention. Comparative review emphasizing infectious and management related diseases in production and
companion species. Regulation and oversight of animal health and welfare. Prereq: VETS 135, BIOL 150, MICR 202 or 350.

670 Basic Immunology

Credits: 3; Offered in the fall; Instructor: Berry

An overview of the role of the immune system including the functions of humoral and cell-mediated immunity in health and disease. Prereq: MICR 350.

671 Immunology and Serology Laboratory

Credits: 2; Offered in the spring; Instructor: Gustad

Basic immunological and serological procedures. Prereq or Co-req: MICR 350L.

672 Clinical Immunology

Credits: 3; Will tentatively be offered in spring 2013

The main objective of the course is to broaden the student’s knowledge in the basic concepts of immunology with special attention to clinical conditions that result from malfunctions of the immune system including but not limited to autoimmune diseases, hypersensitivity reactions, immune deficiency, allograft rejection, chronic inflammatory disorders. The student will also be introduced to concepts of vaccination and adverse vaccine reactions. A review on the application of immunological tools in disease diagnosis will also be discussed. Prereq: MICR 202, MICR 350, MICR 470.

674 Epidemiology

Credits: 3; Offered in the spring; Instructor: Khaitsa

The study of the distribution and dynamics of disease in populations. Prereq: STAT 330. Cross-listed with SAFE.

675 Animal Virology

Credits: 3; Offered in the fall; Instructor: Berry

The biology of animal viruses with emphasis on virus replication and pathogenesis. Prereq: MICR 350.

680 Bacterial Physiology

Credits: 3; Offered in the spring; Instructor: Pruess

Composition and function of eubacterial and archaeobacterial cell structure. Nutrition and nutrient transport in bacteria. Principles of energy-yielding carbohydrate metabolism, bacterial fermentation, and respiration. Prereq: MICR 350, 350L. Coreq: BIOC 460.

682 Bacterial Genetics and Phage

Credits: 3; Offered in the fall; Instructor: Gibbs

Bacterial genetics as it pertains to antibiotic resistance, genetic testing and manipulation for biotechnological applications. Prereq: MICR 350. Coreq: BIOC 460.

722 International Health Systems, Policy and Biosecurity

Credits: 2; Offered in the spring and fall; Instructor: Khaitsa

This course will provide students with the necessary information to understand international health regulations and the potential implications on animal health, human health, global trade, and food safety.

723 International Animal Production, Disease Surveillance, and Public Health

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Credits: 3; Offered in the summer

This course will enable the students to appreciate and experience tropical animal production, food safety, and public health from a developing country’s perspective, prepare them for global career opportunities, foster an international perspective and understanding of diverse systems. Travel to Uganda is required. This course is taught jointly with the College of Veterinary Medicine, Makerere University, Uganda. Prereq: 379/793 (Pre-Uganda seminar).

724 Applied Epidemiology and Biostatistics

Credits: 3; Offered in the spring and fall; Instructor: Khaitsa

This course will enable the students to get an understanding of how to apply epidemiological tools in study designs, data management and analysis. Students will create as well as or use existing databases and learn data management and analysis using software such as EPIINFO. Prerequisite = MICR/SAFE 474/674.

750 Advanced topics in Epidemiology

Credits: 3; Offered in the fall of even years; Cross listed with SAFE 750; Instructor: Khaitsa

This course relies on a survey of contemporary literature to identify current epidemiologic problems and research topics for discussion. Topics may vary with interest of the students enrolled, but it is anticipated that contemporary tools of epidemiologic research, including use of molecular techniques in Epidemiologic investigations will be covered. The epidemiology of infectious disease as it pertains to animal and human health, including food borne illness, will be the major orientation of the course.

762 Advanced Pathogenic Bacteriology

Credits: 3; Offered in the spring of odd years (next offering 2013); Instructors: McEvoy and Schuh

MICR 762 and 770 are taught together. The purpose of this combined course is to illustrate that neither the host (immune response) nor the pathogen (infectious agent) works in a vacuum. Both are required for disease. We will explore three BIG diseases: HIV/AIDS, TB, and malaria. While none of these is a major cause of death in the U.S., worldwide their combination kills over 5 million people every year. The “co-epidemic” status of both TB/HIV and malaria/HIV are particularly interesting and concerning. We will also address the social, economic, and political impact of these diseases. Prereq: MICR 460/660, 470/670

770Immunology of Chronic Infections

Credits: 3; Offered in the spring of odd years (next offering 2013); Instructors: McEvoy and Schuh

775 Molecular Virology

Credits 3; offered in the fall of odd years; Berry

An in-depth study of the current areas of research on human and animal viruses. The replication, pathogenesis, diagnosis, prevention, and control of viruses using contemporary molecular and cellular biology approaches will be examined. Prereq: MICR 460/660, 470/670, 475/675.

781 Advanced Bacterial Physiology

Credits 3; offered in the spring of even years; Instructor: Pruess

Understand how metabolic pathways and their regulation contribute to the production of biofuels. Prereq: MICR 480/680.

782 Molecular Microbiological Techniques

Credits 3; Will tentatively be offered spring 2013; Please contact Dr. Gibbs for information on the next course offering.

Designed to introduce the fundamental principles and current trends in the field of Molecular Microbiological Techniques. This will be accomplished by providing basic information in the form of lectures, videos, demonstrations, and as much laboratory hands-on experience as possible. The student will acquire skills in experimental design, critical thinking, nucleic acid and protein expression and purification techniques, basic immunological methods, data presentation, and computer based data searches and application of public domain software for sequence analysis.

783 Advanced Bacterial Genetics and Phage

Credits 3; Please contact Dr. Gibbs for information on the next course offering.

MICR 782 is designed to introduce the fundamental principles and current trends in addition to the cutting edge knowledge and techniques in the field of Bacterial Genetics. Written critiques and oral reports will be the basis by which you will be evaluated. There will be a Blackboard site for current information and for discussion interchange between Dr. Gibbs and the students, and among the students. BIOC 460, MICR 482/682.

785 Pathobiology

Credits 3; Will tentatively be offered fall 2013

an elective course suitable for graduate students pursuing a career in the biomedical field; particularly those with interest in animal and human health. The goal of the course is to give students a comprehensive understanding of the molecular mechanisms that underlie disease pathogenesis and lesion development. The course constitutes class room lectures and seminars in which individual students present a case study done on a specific disease entity of either humans or animals. Prereq: MICR 460/660

793Pre-Uganda Course Seminar Series

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Credits: 1; Offered in the spring; Instructor: Khaitsa

This seminar course addresses several topics over the spring semester aimed at preparing students for the summer MICR 379/723/793 study abroad In Uganda (International Animal Production, Disease Surveillance & Public Health) course.

793 Study Abroad in Uganda

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Credits: 3; Offered in the summer; Instructor: Khaitsa

To study International Animal production, Animal Health, Disease Surveillance, Public Health systems and Food safety. This course involves international travel to Uganda and is delivered in a format involving lectures from international experts and field trips.