The Ph.D. in Pathology provides opportunities for graduate training in the fundamentals of modern pathobiology, immunology, and investigative microbiology, with an emphasis on a multi-disciplinary approach to research problems. Students study naturally occurring animal disease and host responses in a variety of species, including cancer, inflammatory, and infectious diseases. In addition, the program involves research in progressive areas such as emerging diseases, comparative oncology, interdisciplinary/systems biology, and translational medicine. This Ph.D. program provides training and preparation to pursue research and/or teaching careers in academia, industry, and government.
The student's graduate committee guides the student in planning a program of study based on their academic background to meet their goals in their area of specialization. Goals for Pathology Ph.D. students include successful completion of the preliminary exam; presentation of research at local, national and international meetings, publication of dissertation research in peer-reviewed journals, and successful completion and defense of a dissertation.
Students interested in graduate work should refer to the Graduate and Professional Bulletin.
Learning Objectives
- Design and execute research projects by devising hypotheses specific to the field of pathology.
- Evaluate, integrate and demonstrate comprehensive knowledge about the molecular and organismal basis of disease.
- Critique findings from scientific literature to enhance and inform their research proposals.
- Interpret and justify and defend their research findings through analysis, discussion, and defense.
- Perform activities in support of other graduate students’ well-being, sustainability, and advancement of knowledge.
Effective Fall 2026
A minimum of 72 semester credits and a high-quality research project are required. At least 16 credits must be earned in graduate-level (500+) didactic coursework. Of those 16 credits, at least 13 must be Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology courses (i.e., courses with the MIP prefix). The remaining 56 credits may be in special studies, graduate seminars, topics, research and dissertation credits.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses: | ||
| MIP 792A | Seminar: Research/Graduate 1 | 8 |
| MIP 700 | Topics in Microbiology 2 | 4 |
| MIP 784 | Supervised College Teaching 4 | 4 |
| MIP 798 | Research 3 | 1 |
| MIP 799 | Dissertation 3 | 1 |
| Select one course from the following: | 1 | |
| Ethical Conduct of Research | ||
| Ethical Issues in Big Data Research | ||
| Research Policies and Regulations | ||
| A total of 30 credits can be applied from an MS or DVM degree | 30 | |
| Electives (Select a minimum of 16 credits from the lists below) 5 | 16-23 | |
| General Electives: | ||
| Graduate Fellowship Proposal Preparation | ||
| Fundamentals of Biosafety and Biosecurity | ||
| Grant Writing for Microbiology/Pathology | ||
| Writing Scientific Manuscripts | ||
| Research Team Mentoring | ||
| Virology Electives: | ||
| Epidemiology of Infectious Diseases/Zoonoses | ||
| RNA Biology | ||
| Bacteriology Electives: | ||
| Microbial and Molecular Genetics Laboratory | ||
| Bacterial Pathogenesis: Introduction to Mechanisms | ||
| Bacterial Pathogenesis: Mechanisms and Lifestyle | ||
| Bacterial Pathogenesis: Evading Host Defenses | ||
| Vector Biology Electives: | ||
| Vector Collection and Identification Methods | ||
| Molecular and Genomic Approaches Electives: | ||
| RNA Biology | ||
| Microbial Metagenomics/Genomics Data Analysis | ||
| Next Generation Sequencing Platform/Libraries | ||
| Functional Genomics | ||
| Immunology Electives: | ||
| Flow Cytometry for Immunology | ||
| Pillars of Immunology | ||
| Immunobiology | ||
| Advanced Bioanalytic Pathology | ||
| Principles of Flow Cytometry & Cell Sorting | ||
| Cytopathology--Clinical Pathology | ||
| Advanced General Pathology | ||
| Advanced Clinical Pathology | ||
| Pathobiology of Laboratory Animals | ||
| Laboratory Animal Pathology Rotation | ||
| Courses offered by other departments: | ||
| Molecular Genetics | ||
| Molecular Regulation of Cell Function | ||
| Cell and Tissue Engineering | ||
| STEM Communication | ||
| Mammalian Physiology I | ||
| Mammalian Physiology II | ||
| Linux as a Computational Platform | ||
| Genomics Data Analysis in Python | ||
| RNA-Sequencing Data Analysis | ||
| Cancer Biology | ||
| R Programming for Research | ||
| Cancer Genetics | ||
| Design and Data Analysis for Researchers I | ||
| Design and Data Analysis for Researchers II | ||
| Program Total Credits: | 72 | |
A minimum of 72 credits are required to complete this program.
- 1
MIP 792A should be taken during each fall and spring semester for a minimum of 8 credits. Exemptions or substitutions may be granted with written approval from the Associate Department Head for Graduate Education.
- 2
MIP 700 should be taken for a minimum of 4 credits. Combined residency and DVM students may substitute MIP 796. Substitutions outside of the combined programs may be granted with written approval from the Associate Department Head of Graduate Education.
- 3
MIP 798 and MIP 799 should each be taken for a minimum of 1 credit.
- 4
MIP 784 a minimum of 4 credits is required only for students that are on graduate teaching assistantships.
- 5
A minimum of 13 credits must be regular courses with the MIP subject code. Regular course work is defined as courses other than independent or group studies, thesis/dissertation credits, supervised college teaching, unique titled courses offered through the Division of Continuing Education, and any courses graded pass/fail.
Non-Coursework Requirements:
Seminar Participation Requirement
Students are required to register for the Department Seminar (MIP 792A) and regularly attend seminars during the fall and spring semesters. Each graduate student is required to present in their second and fourth years in the program. A student in the combined residency-PhD program is required to present their fourth and sixth years in the program. Exemptions or waivers may be granted with written approval from the advisor and ADH of Graduate Education.
Preliminary Examination
The PhD student gains admission to candidacy by passing a comprehensive preliminary examination. The preliminary examination consists of preparation of a written research proposal and an oral exam that assesses foundational knowledge and research readiness. The preliminary examination is to be administered by the end of the 5th semester in the graduate program. A student in the Combined Residency-PhD program is expected to hold their preliminary exam by their 8th semester in the program. Extensions may be granted with written approval from the advisor and ADH of Graduate Education.
Dissertation Requirement
Students are required to prepare a comprehensive dissertation based upon independent research conducted during the program of study that contributes new knowledge to the field. Requires approval of a research proposal, data collection/analysis, and formal oral defense.
Oral Defense Presentation
Each candidate for a doctoral degree must pass an oral final examination at least five weeks before the expected graduation. This is a public presentation to present research findings with a Q&A session.
Graduate Student Organization Participation and Well-being Check
All enrolled graduate students are automatically members of the departmental graduate student organization and are assigned peer mentors when they enter the program. All incoming students schedule a meeting each semester in their first year to discuss their wellbeing and assess their progress in integrating into the program, and to alleviate any possible hurdles that might prevent them from doing so.
For more information, please visit Requirements for All Graduate Degrees in the Graduate and Professional Bulletin.
Summary of Procedures for the Master's and Doctoral Degrees
NOTE: Each semester the Graduate School publishes a schedule of deadlines. Deadlines are available on the Graduate School website. Students should consult this schedule whenever they approach important steps in their careers.
Forms are available online.
| Step | Due Date |
|---|---|
| 1. Application for admission (online) | Six months before first registration |
| 2. Diagnostic examination when required | Before first registration |
| 3. Appointment of advisor | Before first registration |
| 4. Selection of graduate committee | Before the time of fourth regular semester registration |
| 5. Filing of program of study (GS Form 6) | Before the time of fourth regular semester registration |
| 6. Preliminary examination (Ph.D. and PD) | Two terms prior to final examination |
| 7. Report of preliminary examination (GS Form 16) - (Ph.D. and PD) | Within two working days after results are known |
| 8. Changes in committee (GS Form 9A) | When change is made |
| 9. Application for Graduation (GS Form 25) | Refer to published deadlines from the Graduate School Website |
| 9a. Reapplication for Graduation (online) | Failure to graduate requires Reapplication for Graduation (online) for the next time term for which you are applying |
| 10. Submit thesis or dissertation to committee | At least two weeks prior to the examination or at the discretion of the graduate committee |
| 11. Final examination | Refer to published deadlines from the Graduate School Website |
| 12. Report of final examination (GS Form 24) | Within two working days after results are known; refer to published deadlines from the Graduate School website |
| 13. Submit a signed Thesis/Dissertation Submission Form (GS Form 30) to the Graduate School and Submit the Survey of Earned Doctorates (Ph.D. only) prior to submitting the electronic thesis/dissertation | Refer to published deadlines from the Graduate School website. |
| 14. Submit the thesis/dissertation electronically | Refer to published deadlines from the Graduate School website |
| 15. Graduation | Ceremony information is available from the Graduate School website |