Drexel University College of Medicine

The Master of Science in Infectious Disease Program (MS-ID) provides training in various aspects of research related specifically to basic, translational, and clinical research in the field of infectious disease; in particular, the program focuses on research and development relevant to new diagnostics, therapeutics, and vaccines to prevent and/or treat infectious diseases such HIV/AIDS, hepatitis, influenza, malaria, and many other viral, bacterial, parasitic, and fungal pathogens. Special attention will be given to the study of therapeutic and vaccine target identification, drug and vaccine discovery and development, resistance mechanisms, and immune escape mechanisms during the course of treatment.

Participation in the program will provide enhanced educational credentials through a flexible curriculum, with most classes offered in the early evening to maximize accessibility. Classes can be attended at any of three Drexel University College of Medicine locations: Center City and Queen Lane campuses in Philadelphia, and the Pennsylvania Biotechnology Center in nearby Doylestown. State-of-the-art video conferencing provides real-time interactive learning at all three locations.

In addition to broad geographic access, the M.S. degree in Infectious Disease will encompass two years of required and elective graduate courses and a comprehensive research internship package completed during the course of the two-year training program. The internship will encompass three specific areas of research in basic discovery, translational research, and in the clinical research arena. The MS-ID graduate program will also include a one semester experience in clinical and research grand rounds focused on clinical problems associated with infectious disease. Some students may opt to complete the program on a part-time basis, taking up to four years. In either sequence, no dissertation is required. Program directors and course faculty will work closely with each student to best achieve his or her specific goals.

The Master of Science in Infectious Disease Program is designed to provide academic and practical knowledge in translational research in the areas of immunological and inflammatory diseases.

Typical Background of MS-ID Program Students

The program is ideally suited for enhancing the scientific credentials of the following groups:

• New college graduates
• College undergraduates
• Premedical students
• Industrial employees
• High school biology teachers

Flexible Program

The infectious disease program is designed to be convenient and flexible to accommodate students. It features:

• Late afternoon/early evening classes (4:00 p.m.–7:30 p.m.) to minimize the impact on other commitments.
• Multiple campus teaching (Drexel University College of Medicine Queen Lane Campus in East Falls; Drexel University College of Medicine New College Building in Center City Philadelphia; Drexel Institute for Biotechnology and Virology Research Doylestown campus) with videoconference transmission to all three venues.
• Flexible degree design. Successful completion of the degree can be accomplished in 18 months on a full-time basis, or up to 4 years on a part-time basis.

Foreign Applicant Opportunity

Foreign applicants who enter the English Language Center (ELC) of Drexel University, who have obtained a baccalaureate degree in the biological or life sciences, may apply for provisional admission to the Master of Science in Infectious Disease Program offered by Drexel University College of Medicine. The faculty of the infectious disease program is working closely with the faculty of the ELC to incorporate programmatically relevant content into the English language instruction program, with the goal of providing essential academic and language skills for optimal preparation for the infectious disease program. Successful acceptance into the infectious disease program following provisional admission will be dependent upon fulfilling the academic requirements as defined by ELC.

Required Courses

• Introduction to Infectious Diseases
• Fundamentals in Molecular Medicine I
• Fundamentals in Molecular Medicine II
• Fundamentals in Molecular Medicine III
• Fundamentals in Molecular Medicine IV (Immunology)
• Fundamentals in Molecular Medicine V (Journal Club)
• Fundamentals in Molecular Medicine VI (Journal Club)
• Biostatistics
• Scientific Integrity and Ethics
• Research Internship in Infectious Disease
• Microbiology and Immunology Seminar
• Clinical Correlations in Infectious Diseases

Electives

• Biotechniques I
• Biotechniques II
• Diseases in Laboratory Animals
• Advanced Bacterial Pathogenesis
• Vaccines and Vaccine Development
• Principles and Practices of Biocontainment
• The Use of Animal Models in Biological Research
• Molecular Virology
• Viruses and Viral Infections
• Bacteria and Bacterial Infections
• Mycology, Fungal Infections, and Antibiotics
• Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases
• Emerging Infectious Diseases
• Experimental Therapeutics
• Techniques and Laboratory Research I
• Techniques and Laboratory Research II

Internship

An important component of the program is a research internship. The internship will encompass three specific areas of research: one in basic discovery, one in translational research, and one in the clinical research arena of infectious disease.

Application Process

The current application deadline is July 1 for the Master of Science in Infectious Disease Program.

Apply to the Infectious Disease program.

For questions on the application process, please contact Kate Pelusi, MSEd at kpelusi@drexelmed.edu.

Important Documents

• Oral report form
• Performance evaluation form
• Research internship form

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