Infectious Diseases
The MPH concentration in Infectious Diseases provides students with competencies in multiple disciplines including epidemiology, immunology, microbiology, parasitology and vector-borne diseases to address critical problems in the control and prevention of infectious diseases.
Students who complete the concentration will gain special expertise in the pathogenesis, epidemiology and control of infectious diseases appropriate for careers within state health departments, federal agencies or the pharmaceutical industry conducting research in these matters. Students will be exposed to the fundamental concepts underlying the epidemiology and control of a number of infectious diseases affecting global health.
Course of Study
Students are required to take 20 unit hours from the list of courses below with a minimum of 3 units in each of the following five areas: Epidemiology, Microbiology, Parasitology and Tropical Diseases, Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases, and Immunology.
Courses that are listed in multiple areas can only be used to satisfy one area requirement.
| Epidemiology: | |||
| 340.608 | Observational Epidemiology | 4 units | 2nd term [Internet - 3rd term] |
| 340.627 | Epidemiology of Infectious Diseases | 4 units | 2nd term |
| 380.761 | STI in Public Health Practice* | 4 units | 3rd term |
| 340.651 | Emerging Infections | 2 units | 4th term |
| 340.653 | Epidemiologic Inferences in Outbreak Investigations | 3 units | 4th term |
| Microbiology: | |||
| 120.602 | Introduction to Molecular Biology | 4 units | 1st term |
| 260.623 | Fundamentals of Virology | 4 units | 1st term |
| 550.630 | Public Health Biology* | 3 units | 1st term |
| 260.627 | Pathogenesis of Bacterial Infections | 4 units | 2nd term |
| 340.654 | Epidemiology & Natural History\Human Viral Infections* | 6 units | 3rd term |
| 260.624 | Advanced Virology | 4 units | 3rd term |
| 223.689 | Biological Basis of Vaccine Development* | 3 units | 4th term |
| 260.622 | Principles of Bacterial Infection | 3 units | 4th term |
| Prevention & Control of Infectious Diseases: | |||
| 550.630 | Public Health Biology* | 3 units | 1st term |
| 260.636 | Evolution of Infectious Diseases | 3 units | 1st term |
| 223.662 | Vaccine Development and Application | 3 units | 2nd term |
| 260.652 | Principles of Public Health Ecology* | 4 units | 2nd term |
| 223.663 | Infectious Diseases and Child Survival | 3 units | 3rd term |
| 223.687 | Vaccine Policy Issues | 3 units | 3rd term |
| 380.761 | STI in Public Health Practice* | 4 units | 3rd term |
| 340.612 | Epidemiologic Basis for Tuberculosis Control* | 2 units | 3rd term |
| 223.680 | Global Disease Control Programs & Policies | 4 units | 4th term [Internet - 2nd term] |
| 223.689 | Biologic Basis of Vaccine Development* | 3 units | 4th term |
| Parasitology/Tropical Diseases: | |||
| 260.635 | Biology of Parasitism* | 4 units | 3rd term |
| 260.650 | Vector Biology and Vector-borne Diseases* | 3 units | 3rd term |
| 223.682 | Clinical and Epidemiologic Aspects of Tropical Diseases | 3 units | 4th term [Internet - 4th term] |
| 260.656 | Fundamentals of Malaria* | 4 units | 4th term [Internet - 3rd term; consent required for |
| Immunology: | |||
| For students with minimal or no prior background in immunology: | |||
| 260.631 | Immunology, Infection, and Disease* | 3 units | 2nd term |
| For students with some background in immunology: | |||
| 260.611 | Principles of Immunology I | 4 units | 1st term |
| 260.712 | Clinical Immunology | 3 units | 4th term |
*Also fulfills MPH core requirement.
Capstone Experience
The MPH capstone experience in Infectious Diseases is an opportunity for students to apply what they have learned to an infectious disease public health problem. Students are required to register for the 2-unit MPH Capstone Course (XXX.800) in fourth term. Additional units of special studies research (XXX.840) can be completed in third term under the direction of their capstone advisor.
Students will prepare a paper on a specific infectious disease reviewing current key knowledge in the pathogenesis or control of the disease and focus on identifying at least two critical areas in need of additional research or public health solutions. Each paper topic must be approved by the student's advisor based upon a brief outline. Each student will present the working oral presentation in a special MPH symposium in May or an alternative venue approved by the concentration faculty.
Faculty Concentration Directors
Clive Shiff, PhD, Associate Professor, Molecular Microbiology & Immunology, 410-955-1263, cshiff@jhsph.edu
Kenrad Nelson, MD, Professor, Epidemiology, 410-955-1296, kenelson@jhsph.edu
Neal Halsey, MD, Professor, International Health, 410-955-6964, nhalsey@jhsph.edu