Research-Based MS
Pathobiology; Infectious Disease, Immunology, Cancer, and Epidemiology
Thesis and On-Campus
On This Page
About the Program
Whether you aspire to pursue a PhD, enhance your qualifications for professional school, or launch a career, the MS in Pathobiology program offers the foundation and experiences you need to thrive. The two-year program focuses on the disciplines of infectious disease, immunology, and epidemiology, and creates a unique educational experience in preparation for careers in academics, industry, and public service. A minimum number of required courses creates the opportunity for an individualized program of study. Experiences go beyond the classroom and laboratory to include participation in career-building activities, along with participation in local, regional, and national scientific conferences.
This degree will help prepare students for careers in academics, public service, and industry. The degree can also be used as a stepping stone to entry into the Pathobiology PhD program.
Areas of Research
Infectious Disease
Immunology
Cancer
Epidemiology
Through a flexible, research-driven curriculum, students gain a deep understanding of the mechanisms of disease across a wide range of species. You’ll work closely with internationally recognized faculty mentors, using cutting-edge research techniques designed to develop sound technical, computational, and critical thinking skills.
Students benefit from:
- Personalized Mentorship: One-on-one guidance from faculty committed to your academic and professional success.
- Hands-On Research Opportunities: Access to state-of-the-art laboratories and facilities applied to research to find technical solutions to important problems.
- Flexible Curriculum: Coursework is complemented by electives across the broader University of Illinois system.
- Professional Development: Training in scientific communication, grant writing, and career planning will prepare you for diverse paths in academia, industry, and government.
- Collaborative Environment: A supportive community that fosters innovation, teamwork, and lifelong connections.
Program Details & Degree Requirements
The MS degree includes 32 credit hours, delivered on campus. The duration of the program is approximately 2 years.
Total of 32 credit hours
- At least 20 credit hours at the 400 level or higher
- At least 12 credit hours of PATH courses
- At least 12 credit hours of PATH 599 (Research Thesis)
- Completion of required courses
- Biostatistics (minimum of 2 credit hours)
- Journal club (minimum of 2 credit hours)
- Responsible Conduct of Research (PATH 523, 2 credit hours)
- Scientific Writing (PATH 513, 3 credit hours)
- Introduction to Research Methodology (PATH 490, 3 credit hours)
- Participation in the PATH EXPO (fall semester) and Research Day (spring) conferences
- Completion of final exam and submission of thesis
Learning Experience
The MS degree consists of four parts, which form the Learning Experience. Each part contributes the productive participation in the modern workplace.
1. Participate in a curriculum covering contemporary topics in infectious disease. Required and elective courses form the foundations for conducting research and the development of problem-solving skills.
2. Master research that addresses contemporary challenges in understanding and controlling diseases of animals and humans. Research skills include understanding and mastering research tools supported by computer applications.
3. Immerse in a social experience, which features presenting research results and ideas at local, regional, and national conferences. At the beginning of each year, students participate the Graduate Student Expo, which includes presentations by students followed by a picnic.
4. Develop an array of written and verbal skills in research communication techniques.
Tuition
This program follows the graduate college base rate. These rates are subject to change each year.
- On-campus Graduate Base Rate 2024- 2025 Academic Year:
- Resident: $14, 052 per year + fees*
- Non-resident/international: $30,356 per semester + fees*
* Tuition and fees are direct costs charged by the university. The cost of attendance also includes indirect cost allowances for food, housing, books, supplies and other expenses. You will not be billed by the university for these costs unless you live in university housing.
We strongly recommend using the Illinois Cost Calculator for an estimated cost of attendance. To calculate the estimated cost of your semester bill:
- Select your residency status
- Select ‘Graduate’ as your student level
- Select the first term you anticipate enrolling for the estimated costs
- Choose ‘VMS Pathobiology– MS’ as the program
Research Opportunities
Infectious Disease: Virology
Keith Jarosinski, PhD, conducts research on Marek’s disease virus (MDV) in chickens. This disease is responsible for more than $1 billion in losses each year. MDV is also an excellent model for studying the transformation and metastasis of lymphoid tumors and for understanding the transmission of chickenpox.
Raymond (Bob) Rowland, PhD, focuses on developing control measures for porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV). Recent efforts are focused on understanding the role of host genetics in the response of pigs to infection, along with the application of genetic modification techniques for conferring disease resistance.
Ying Fang, PhD, conducts research on understanding pathogenic mechanisms of disease along with development of novel vaccines and diagnostic assays. Current research projects focus on porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV), SARS-CoV-2, swine influenza A virus (SIAV), foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV), and African swine fever virus (ASFV).
Dongwan Yoo, DVM, PhD, utilizes arteriviruses and coronaviruses as models for understanding how innate immunity responds to invading viruses and, in turn, how invading viruses evade the host immune response.
Daniel Rock, PhD, The Rock lab focuses on the pathogenesis of livestock diseases caused by pox and pox-like viruses. Many of the efforts are directed at understanding protective immunity.
Infectious Disease: Bacteriology, Mycology, and Parasitology
Christopher Gaulke, PhD, is a computational biologist who integrates genomic, metabolic, and transcriptomic data from microbes and their hosts to identify the microbial pathways that shape animal and human health.
Lois L. Hoyer, MS, PhD, conducts research on the genomic analysis of fungal pathogens, Candida species, Malassezia species, fungal pathogens of reptiles, and the oomycete pathogen, Pythium insidiosum.
Gee W. Lau, PhD, possesses a keen interest in understanding the interaction of pathogens with the lung. Projects include (i) modulation of airway mucus hypersecretion by Pseudomonas aeruginosa; (ii) molecular mechanisms of the breakdown of the alveolar-capillary barrier by Streptococcus pneumoniae; and (iii) the discovery of novel antimicrobial compounds.
Tauqeer Alam, PhD, analyzes whole genome sequence data from thousands of Staphylococcus and Streptococcus clinical bacterial isolates to identify genes and single nucleotide polymorphisms that contribute to antibiotic resistance.
Gireesh Rajashekara, MVSc, PhD, applies One Health principles for solving disease problems in production animals. One goal is to discover and develop novel antimicrobial approaches to control foodborne and animal pathogens.
Sumiti Vinayak Alam, PhD, utilizes a combination of cutting-edge genetics and animal infection models to understand the molecular mechanisms regulating the pathogenesis of Cryptosporidium parvum, a leading cause of diarrheal disease in young children and neonatal calves. The results are revealing targets for novel drugs and vaccines.
Weiping Zhang, PhD, leads an NIH-funded research program focusing on prevention and pathogenesis of enterotoxigenic E. coli, Shigella, and Vibrio cholerae, the leading causes of diarrhea in humans and animals. One goal is the design and development of cross-protective precision vaccines.
William Witola, BVetMed, MSc, PhD, conducts research on parasitic protozoa and nematodes of medical and veterinary significance, with the goal of identifying and validating new molecular drug targets.
Immunology
Masanori Matsumoto, PhD, focuses on the mechanisms by which the pathogen Staphylococcus aureus causes skin inflammation during atopic dermatitis, a common skin disease. Studies include the application of mouse models to understand immunological mechanisms and develop novel therapeutic approaches.
Som Nanjappa, DVM, PhD, DABT is interested in dissecting the host elements necessary for eliciting immunity to fungal, bacterial, and parasitic pathogens. Mouse models are used to investigate the immunopathology associated with immune responses in tissues.
Taejoon Won, PhD, research is dedicated to the study of the immune system in the heart, with the aim of protecting it against inflammation, which arises following microbial infections, autoimmune responses, or medications. The primary goal is to develop innovative approaches for diagnoses, treatment, and prevention.
Federico Zuckermann, DVM, PhD, is an immunologist who focuses on understanding the pathogenesis of major swine pathogens, such as swine influenza virus and porcine reproductive respiratory syndrome virus at the cellular and organismal levels. Outputs include the development and commercialization of effective vaccines.
Cancer
Timothy M. Fan, DVM, PhD, evaluates the safety, pharmacokinetics, and anticancer properties of new therapeutics for use in companion animals (pet dogs and cats) that develop cancer naturally.
Epidemiology
Rebecca Smith, DVM, PhD, focuses on forecasting, preventing, and controlling infectious diseases across a wide range of systems. Techniques include mathematical and statistical modeling, quantitative and qualitative sociobehavioral methods, and partnerships with public health and industry.
Csaba Varga, DVM, MSc, PhD, evaluates diseases at the interface of humans, animals, and the environment. Methods incorporate the application of spatial and conventional epidemiological tools to model infectious disease transmission.
James F. Lowe, DVM, MS, DABVP, is dedicated to studying the interplay between management strategies and the occurrence and outcomes of infectious diseases in food animal production systems. He also examines the factors influencing pathogen transmission within and between herds and how management practices affect host responses to disease.
Are you ready to apply?
Graduate College Application
Complete your Graduate College application.
You can start your application at any time and submit it when you have all your required materials.
Indicate your program as “VMS-Pathobiology”, degree “MS”
It is also highly recommended that applicants include faculty member(s) of interest in the Proposed Program of Study section of the application
Academic Credentials (Transcripts)
- Upload unofficial transcripts for each degree-granting institution attended.
- If you have been awarded a degree, then the transcript we receive should list the degree conferred and conferral date.
- For institutions that do not print degree conferral information on transcripts, a separate certificate of degree or diploma should also be uploaded. This may be true for international institutions.
- If you attended an international institution and the academic credentials are not written in English, you must include a translation of all documents.
Resume
Your professional resume should include personal information (name, address, telephone number, and email address), educational background, work experience (start and end dates for each position and a brief description of responsibilities), internship experience, educational training, professional associations, and leadership experiences. Technical resumes are not required. Please limit your resume to 2 pages.
Personal Statement
- Please describe any experiences and/or challenges that may have shaped your intellectual and personal development.
- Provide insight into your potential to contribute to a community of inclusion, belonging, and respect in which scholars with diverse perspectives, abilities, and experiences can learn and collaborate productively and positively.
- Please address any concerns you may have in your application. If, for example, you do not believe that your academic credentials demonstrate your true capabilities, please explain why. Also, describe any gaps in your academic career and work experience or any extenuating circumstances in your profile of which the admissions committee should be made aware.
- If there is something that you would like to highlight that you have yet to discuss in other areas of the application, please do so here.
Academic Statement of Purpose
In 500-1,000 words:
- How has your academic background, including any training, research, or other educational experiences, prepared you for graduate study?
- What are your intellectual interests, and what scholarly questions are you interested in exploring in graduate study?
- Are there any specific faculty members whose research interests align with your own with whom you would like to work?
- How will our program help you achieve your academic and professional goals?
References
- Letters of reference will be submitted electronically in the application system.
- Select letter writers that are familiar with your academic qualifications and/or your research experience(s).
- Each reference letter writer will receive an email asking them to submit their letters in our online system. A secure link will be provided to each reference writer.
Test of English as a Foreign Language
- All applicants whose native language is not English must have a minimum TOEFL iBT score of 79, TOEFL CBT (computer-based exam) score of 213, or TOEFL PBT score of 550.
- TOEFL scores must be less than 2 years old from the proposed entry in order to be valid.
- Students are exempt from the TOEFL requirement if they have completed at least two academic years of full-time study at an institution where the language of instruction is English during the five-year period prior to the proposed date of enrollment.
- If students are admitted as a Teaching Assistants, they will be required to take additional language tests.
- TOEFL scores should be sent electronically from ETS to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign using institution code 1836 (no department code required).
Please see the Graduate College English proficiency exemption policy to learn more about English proficiency testing requirements including scores and accepted tests: Graduate College English Proficiency Requirements for Admission
Application Fee
Once you have submitted your application, you will be required to pay your application fee by credit card. The fee must be paid prior to your program’s deadline, or your application will be unsubmitted. The fee is non-refundable, and your application cannot be reviewed until the application fee has been processed.
The application fee amount is determined by your citizenship and/or visa status.
Domestic applicants are required to submit a $70.00 application fee.
International applicants are required to submit a $90.00 application fee.
Please see the Graduate College for information on application fee waivers: Graduate College Application Fee
Join Us and Apply Today!
For more specifics about application deadlines, admissions requirements, and the learning experience, please visit the individual program website.