The Interdisciplinary Pathobiology (IDPB) PhD program in the College of Veterinary Medicine will utilize an One Medicine-One Health concept based on systems theory to facilitate transformative learning that incorporates rich dialogue, critical self-reflection, and behavioral change for students, faculty, and communities. Additionally, community-based participatory research, and other active learning technologies of the social sciences are integrated with biomedical sciences utilizing wet laboratory, computerized modeling, and modern information technologies. It will seek partnerships with other key disciplines within TU as well as externally.

The program expects to produce successful academicians and investigators in the areas of infectious diseases, food safety, cancer cell biology, reproductive biology, epidemiology, toxicology, and control of food intake. The three major focus for this PhD program are, Infectious Diseases, Translational Medicine, and Epidemiology.

Admission Requirements:

• Applicants must have completed the M.S. degree from an accredited college or university. In exceptional cases candidates with a B.S. degree may be admitted, however, they would be required to 30 hours of additional graduate level course work (Candidates with M.S degree are required to complete 30 hours of course work). 
• Cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better
• Completed Online Application and Application Fee
• Official Transcripts from all colleges/universities (International Students must have transcripts evaluated by World Education Services -WES)
• GRE Scores at least 540 (old) or 156 (new), less than 5 years old
• Personal Statement
• 3 Recommendation Letters
• Resume or Curriculum
• TOEFL (International students only)
• Affidavit of Support and Bank Statement (International students only)

Graduation Requirements:

• Core Courses: 10 Hours
• Elective Courses: 20 Hours 
• Research/Thesis: 30
• Admission to Candidacy
• Passing of the Final Oral Examination

Advisory Committee:

During the first semester of his/her study in the IDPB PhD program, the student and his/her

Major Professor will form an Advisory Committee consisting of a minimum of four members including the Major.  The Advisory Committee shall also serve as the Examination Committee with an additional member appointed by the Dean of the Graduate School.

Core Courses Required by All Students

Course Number	Courses	Credits
MBIO 0660	Biomedical Statistics	3
IBSC 0604	Integrative Molecular Biology I	4
IBSC 0605	Integrative Molecular Biology II	4
MBIO 0600	Seminar I	1
IDPB 0602	Seminar II	1
IBSC 0603	Integrative Biochemistry I	4
IDPB 0800	Research/Thesis	30

*Integrative Biochemistry and Integrative Molecular Biology II are core courses for

Infectious Diseases and Translational Medicine focus areas.

 

Elective Courses:  Determined by Student’s Advisory Committee

Elective courses may be any graduate level courses offered at Tuskegee University or elsewhere.

Course Number	Course	Credits
	Infectious Disease
MBIO 0523	Advanced Immunology	2
MBIO 0521	Advanced Pathogenic Micro	3
IDPB 0601	Advanced Virology	2
PATH 425G	Parasitology	3
IBSC 0754	Candidate for Degree	0
	Translational Medicine
PHSI 0612	Clinical Physiology	2
PHSI 0313	Clinical Pharmacology	2
PHSI 0619	Molecular Toxicology	2
PHSI 0619	Special Problems in Development and Neurobehavioral Toxicology	2
PHSI 0637	Clinical Pathology Data	2
IBSC 0754	Candidate for Degree	0
	Epidemiology and Risk Analysis
IBSC 0601	Integrative Bioethics	3
	Health Economics	3
MBIO 0524	Exotic Animal Diseases	2
MBIO 0661	Advanced Epidemiology	3
MBIO 0662	Disease Control & Eradication	3
MBIO 0666	Special Problems in Epidemiology	2
MBIO 0518	Food Safety and Quality	2
IBSC 0754	Candidate for Degree	0

 

Admission to Candidacy:

Admission to Candidacy for students who are enrolled in the Doctoral program in Interdisciplinary Pathobiology include the following:

1. Completion  of  all  course  work  required  for  the  PhD  program (more  than  30  credits for  the students starting with a MS degree, or 60 credits for those starting with a BS degree).
2. Passing a written qualifying examination.
3. Successful oral presentation of research proposed to the Advisory Committee.  Students who fail the qualifying examination after two attempts may apply for a Master’s degree in any of the established programs at Tuskegee University.  In such cases, the student will have to meet the oral examination requirements of the Master’s degree Graduate Program.

 

Seminars:

A student pursing the Doctoral Degree in Interdisciplinary Pathobiolgy must present two seminars.  This course includes practical examples of proper conduct of research, issues with copy right violation, plagiarism, interpretation of published work among other academic requirements including discussions on basic research methods, and a review of current research topics. Oral presentations are required.

Thesis:

The final draft of the thesis/dissertation must be filed with the student’s Advisory Committee at least 30 days before the date listed in the university calendar for final copies to be submitted during the semester in which the student expects to graduate. The student must present to the Dean of Graduate Programs a “Preliminary Approval Sheet” (PAS) bearing the signature of the Major Professor before scheduling the final oral examination and before copies of the thesis/dissertation are distributed to members of the Examining Committee.

After the “Preliminary Approval Sheet” has been signed, it should be submitted to the Dean of Graduate Programs before the final examination is scheduled and before the final draft of the thesis/dissertation is prepared for final approval. Approval of the thesis/dissertation in its final form rests with the Examining Committee.

 

List of Core Courses

MBIO 0660 BIOMEDICAL STATS. CR. 3. The conceptual and theoretical bases of biomedical research designs are examined. Appropriate statistical methods, which correspond to and are consistent with the biomedical research design, will be studied. These include both parametric and nonparametric methods. Descriptive statistics, probability distributions, comparative statistics (t test, ANOVA) and causal analysis (chi square, regression and other multivariate techniques) will be covered with emphasis on inferential aspects of statistics and on the interpretation of results which would be rational and meaningful in biomedicine.

IBSC 0603 INTEGRATIVE BIOCHEMISTRY. CR. 4. IBS course development-mol.cell- organism-development-system-ecological-environmental biosciences (lecture/laboratory-emphases on model systems) under-girded by chemistry that bear on the aforementioned(biochemistry). Biochemical Topics: Context-Living Systems, Protein Structure and Function, Enzymes and Co-Enzymes, Metabolism

IBSC 0605 INTEGRATIVE MOLECULAR BIOLOGY I. CR. 4. This is a graduate-level, integratively-taught course that explores the origin, modification and interactive properties of living organisms, focusing on nucleic acids. This course is team taught, with different faculty teaching, based on their areas of expertise.

IBSC 0606 INTEGRATIVE MOLECULAR BIOLOGY II. CR. 4. This course is a continuation of the concepts began in IBSC 605, IBS Molecular Biology, Part I and thus constitutes an academic year, a two semester, ordered and integrative examination of molecular, cellular, organismic, developmental, populational and ecological phenomena -whose conceptual origins rest with the unitary linkage between chemical, biological and geological cycles that support life on Earth. This second part of Molecular Biology focuses largely on RNA, post-translational processes and other complex phenomena with molecular bases. This course will include discussions of applications to RNA (ex.Cancer, Immune function, Embryology, and other topics, per the instructors’ discretions.

MBIO 0600 SEMINAR I - MICROBIOLOGY. CR. 1. This course includes practical examples of proper conduct of research, issues with copy right violation, plagiarism, interpretation of published work among other academic requirements including discussions on basic research methods, and a review of current research topics. Oral presentations are and/or reports are required.

IDPB 0602: SEMINAR II. CR. 1. This course includes practical examples of proper conduct of research, issues with copy right violation, plagiarism, interpretation of published work among other academic requirements including discussions on basic research methods, and a review of current research topics. Oral presentations are and/or reports are required.

IDPB 0800 PHD RESEARCH & DISSERTATION. CR. 30. This course deals with continuation of dissertation research for a PhD student, the candidate will have a specific topic related to any research in the areas of infectious diseases, food safety, cancer cell biology, reproductive biology, epidemiology, toxicology, and control of food intake.

List of Elective Courses

Infectious Disease

MBIO 0523 ADVANCED IMMUNOLOGY. CR. 3. This course is designed for veterinary and graduate students who wish to pursue an advanced study of immune reactions. Emphasis is placed on clinical immunology as it relates to domestic animals. Prerequisite: MBIO 0411 and MBIO 0412 or quivalents and approval of the course coordinator.

MBIO 0521 ADV. PATHOGENIC MICRO. CR. 3. In this course, a basic introduction to research and research methodology is provided. Current research topics that emphasize pathogenic mechanisms of infectious microbes of importance in animal diseases are discussed. Participants are provided an opportunity to utilize various advanced immunologic and molecular biologic techniques that have application in microbial research. Prerequisite: MBIO 0411 and MBIO 0412 or their equivalent, and approval of the course coordinator.

IDPB 0601 ADVANCED VIROLOGY. CR. 2. This interesting course involves discussion of up to date and older research papers of viral diseases of human and veterinary significance.

PATH 425G PARASITOLOGY. CR. 4. This course deals with the classification, morphology, life history, mode of transmission, pathogenicity, control, and diseases caused by parasites of importance in animals. Emphasis is placed on the identification of parasites and the diagnosis of parasitic diseases.

IBSC 0754 CANDIDATE FOR DEGREE. CR. 0

Translational Medicine

PHSI 0612 CLINICAL PHYSIOLOGY. CR. 2. This course deals with the basic functions of the various body systems. Emphasis is placed on normal functions of those systems and how will be related to abnormalities in cases of disease statuses.

PHSI 0313 CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY. CR. 2. This course deals with essential pharmacological principles. Emphasis is placed on drugs of veterinary significance and their respective physiochemical properties, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, mechanisms of action, indications, and contraindications. Prerequisite: PHSI 0441

PHSI 0615 MOLECULAR TOXICOLOGY. CR. 2. This course deals with the molecular aspects of the various toxic agents including pesticides, metals, poisonous plants, mycotoxins, zootoxins, drugs, feed additives, industrial and commercial toxicants, household products, and water pollutants. Emphasis is placed on the sources, physical and chemical properties, absorption, distribution, mechanisms of action, biotransformation and excretion of these agents. Prerequisite: PHSI 0442

PHSI 0619 SPECIAL PROBLEMS DEVELOPMENT & NEUROBEHAVIORAL TOXICOLOGY. CR. 2. This course deals with basic developmental aspects of the various toxic agents including pesticides, metals, poisonous plants, mycotoxins, zootoxins, drugs, feed additives, industrial and commercial toxicants, household products, and water pollutants. Emphasis is placed on the developmental problems related to these substances.

PHSI 0637 CLINICAL PATHOLOGY DATA. CR. 2. This course provides students with a problem-solving approach to the interpretation of veterinary clinical pathological data by utilizing case studies, small group discussion, self- assessment quizzes, and computerized digital images. Prerequisite: Path 0429.

IBSC 0754 CANDIDATE FOR DEGREE. CR. 0

Epidemiology and Risk Analysis

IBSC 0601 INTEGRATIVE BIOETHICS. CR. 3. This course is open only to graduate students. There are no prerequisites. A primary goal is building student capacity to recognize and respond appropriately to ethical issues in research.

In an intensive discussion and student-presentation format, the course will particularly address cases, situations, and problems that can provide practical ethical knowledge and skills for working bioscientists. A special focus will be ethical problems in bioscience related to race/ethnicity and work of minority bioscientists. Instructors will primarily serve as learning guides. Extensive student preparation prior to class is essential. Students are expected to participate significantly in class discussion and conscientiously contribute to group work. Independent student research will be required.

MBIO 0661 ADVANCED EPIDEMIOLOGY. CR. 3. This course will build upon the introductory course in Epidemiology (MBIO 0614). It will emphasize the analysis (both qualitative and quantitative) of the dynamics of health /ill health processes and interactions in populations, systematically. Retrospective and prospective studies, the use of epidemiologic models (both statistical dynamic) and systems analysis techniques and other problem solving tools in analytical epidemiology will be presented and applied to selected cases. Independent study and developing a research paper on a selected epidemiologic topic will be encouraged.

MBIO 0662 DISEASE CONTROL & ERADICATION. CR. 3. Approaches used to control diseases will be considered systematically with Emphasis on those infections which have implications in international health (especially tropical health) in terms of animal/human problems. Epidemiologic, Ecological and economical considerations will form the conceptual framework via which disease control concepts will be examined. Mass screening, immuno- diagnostic, biochemical and other techniques applicable in populations will be evaluated. The use of computer simulation models and other epidemiologic models in evaluating effective and economical disease control/eradication avenues will be investigated.

MBIO 0666 SPECIAL PROBLEM IN EPIDEMIOLOGY. CR. 2. This course will enable graduate students to explore special population based problems. It will be mostly independent studies under the direction of the instructor.

MBIO 0518 FOOD  SAFETY  &  QUALITY.  CR.  2.  This  course  covers  the  basic properties of food borne diseases and methods to prevent them in humans and animals.

IBSC 0754 CANDIDATE FOR DEGREE. CR. 0