For the past 30 years, Dr. Chris Chase has taught virology and immunology to undergraduate and graduate students across college campuses. This past summer, he collaborated with Dr. Brian Aldridge to teach a new 3-credit hour course in the Master of Veterinary Science (MVS) curriculum, VCM 515: The Dynamics of the Immune System in the Maintenance and Defense of Health, where he guided a cohort of 20 students through an immersive learning experience in immunology.

“Our approach from day one in the course was that immunity is a major variable in the maintenance of health,” Chase says about the direction he took with the course. Rather than teaching immunology from the classic approach of the three stand-alone tiers of immunity, he centered the course on how immunity is part of an integrated system that works together for positive and negative health outcomes. For practical applications to further students’ critical thinking and problem-solving skills, he integrated casework into the curriculum.

Throughout the course, students are expected to engage in both individual and group activities designed to further their knowledge on immunology. “If you want to understand more about the big picture of immunology and get more practical, hands-on experience problem solving about disease and health, this is the course for you,” Dr. Chase says. While the course is laden with information, students learn to integrate this information into productive discussion during live class sessions.

Sample a course lecture below, and learn more about our MVS program and curriculum here.

Learn more about the Master of Veterinary Science degree here and see what other students are saying about the MVS program.