The PATHO•BIOLOGY curriculum is designed for students preparing to enter medical, dental, veterinary, physician assistant, pathologist assistant, Master’s in Nursing (MSN), public health (MPH), and graduate programs. It also supports career pathways in global health, medical biotechnology, biomedical sciences, and a wide range of laboratory, research, and health-related professions.
PATHO•BIOLOGY majors must fulfill several requirements:
- University, including General Education (Common Curriculum)
- College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources (CAHNR)
- Pathobiology (i.e., major requirements)
- If applicable, Professional School (e.g., Medical, Dental, PA, MPH, Veterinary, etc.) or other (e.g., Graduate Programs)
Many courses will fulfill more than one requirement.
PATHO•BIOLOGY major required courses:
- Requirements depend on your assigned catalog year. If you do not know your catalog year, view your Standard Advisement Report report in Student Admin and refer to the 'Catalog Year' section at the top of the report.
- Plans of Study list graduation requirements for the major and you can use them to track your progress toward earning the PATHO•BIOLOGY degree.
- Additional requirements for professional schools and other programs can be found here:
Catalog Years 2023-2024 and Prior (i.e., started Spring 2024 or earlier)
Students who entered or transferred into the Pathobiology major before Fall 2024 must complete the following course requirements. Courses listed in parentheses are no longer offered.
Core Courses:
- PATH 1001 (or PATH 1000)
- PATH 2100 or PNB 2264–2265 or PNB 2774–2775–2776 (or PNB 2274–2275)
- PATH 2710 or PATH 2720 or MCB 2610
- PATH 3810 (or PATH 3100)
- PATH 3820 (or PATH 4300)
Additional Requirements:
- Biochemistry: MCB 2000 or MCB 3010
- Genetics: MCB 2400 or MCB 2410 or ANSC 3121
- One course in Nutrition, Immunology, or Cell Biology: ANSC 1111, NUSC 1165, PATH 3401, MCB 4211, AH 3121, PATH 2800, or MCB 2210
- One of the following PATH courses: PATH 2301, (PATH 3201/3201W), PATH 3401, PATH 3501, PATH 3700, PATH 4000, PATH 4203, or PATH 4230
- Students must pass PATH 3094W or PATH 4197W (or PATH 3201W) to fulfill their writing in the major requirement.
Check the Curriculum Map (graphic representation) of the PATHO•BIOLOGY major required courses, prerequisites, and typical semester offerings.
Catalog Years 2024-2025 and Beyond (i.e., started Fall 2024 or later)
Students who began or transferred into the Pathobiology major in Fall 2024 or later (Catalog Year 2024–2025 and beyond) should consult the Pathobiology (BS) page in the Undergraduate Catalog for the most current degree requirements.
Sample course sequences
PATHO•BIOLOGY students can choose from several focus areas, including Pre-Professional Health Sciences (Pre-MED, Pre-DENTAL, Pre-PA, Pre-VET, Pre-Pathologist Assistant, Pre-MSN), Global Health, and Medical Biotechnology. Sample course sequences are provided below to help you plan your classes and identify an effective course progression based on your goals.
The following are suggested course sequences for PATHO•BIOLOGY students:
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These sample plans do not account for AP, ECE, or other college transfer credits earned during high school or after.
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Students should adjust their course plans in consultation with their academic advisor to reflect individual goals and prior credit.
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We recommend aiming for an average of 15 credits per semester. A minimum of 12 credits is required each semester to maintain full-time student status.
PATH 1001. Diseases, Medicine, and Social Determinants of Health. (3 Credits)
Introduction to the biology of disease, with an emphasis on health and medicine. Topics include disease mechanisms, defense responses, and sociological factors influencing disease.
Content Areas: CA3: Science & Technology
Topics of Inquiry: TOI3: Div, Equity, Soc Just, TOI6: Science & Empirical Inq
Offered: Fall semester
Modality: In person (with online synchronous option for regional campus students)
Instructor: Dr. Wunder
PATH 1100E. One Health: People, Animals, Plants, and the Environment. (3 Credits)
Exploration of health concepts and ecosystems where people, animals, plants, and the environment interconnect and impact each other.
Skill Codes: COMP: Environmental Literacy
Content Areas: CA3: Science & Technology
Topics of Inquiry: TOI4: Environmental Literacy, TOI6: Science & Empirical Inq
Offered: Spring semester
Modality: In person (with online synchronous option for regional campus students)
Instructor: Dr. Wunder
PATH 1201. Exploring Careers in Pathobiology. (2 Credits)
Exposure to the Pathobiology major and careers in Pathobiology through interactions with professionals in relevant careers, training in basic laboratory safety and research compliance, and development of a personalized career journal.
Offered: Fall semester
Modality: In person (with online synchronous option for regional campus students)
Instructor: Dr. Szczepanek
PATH 1202. Fundamental Biomedical Laboratory Techniques. (2 Credits)
Hands-on, basic biomedical research laboratory techniques with an emphasis on chemical and biological safety, as well as laboratory proficiency.
Offered: Spring semester
Modality: In person (one lab session per week)
Instructor: Prof. Tulman
PATH 2095. Special Topics. (1-6 Credits)
Credits, prerequisites and hours as determined by the Senate Curricula and Course Committee.
Enrollment Requirements: Prerequisites and recommended preparation vary.
May be repeated for credit
Offered: Selected semesters only
Modality: Varies
Instructor: Varies
PATH 2100. Anatomy and Physiology of Animals. (4 Credits)
A study of the anatomy and physiology of animals with reference to pathological changes of the component parts of the body.
Enrollment Requirements: BIOL 1107 or equivalent.
Offered: Fall semester
Modality: In person (includes one lab session per week)
Instructor: Dr. Reinhardt
PATH 2200. Modern Biomedical Laboratory Techniques. (3 Credits)
Comprehensive project-based laboratory course utilizing a variety of modern biomedical techniques to identify an unknown pathogen and express antigens for vaccine and diagnostic assay development. Topics covered include next-generation sequencing, CRISPR gene editing, mRNA technology, gene cloning and expression, protein purification and analysis, immunoassay, and reverse transcription quantitative PCR development.
Enrollment Requirements: BIOL 1107 or equivalent.
Offered: Fall semester
Modality: In person (two lab sessions per week)
Instructor: Prof. Tulman
PATH 2301. Health and Disease Management of Animals. (3 Credits)
Designed for students who plan to own and work with domestic animals. Its purpose is to develop student competence in disease management and to foster an intelligent working relationship with their veterinarian. The course will cover a systematic study of infectious and noninfectious diseases of domestic animals from the standpoint of economy and public health.
Enrollment Requirements: BIOL 1107 or equivalent.
Offered: Spring semester
Modality: In person
Instructor: Dr. Reinhardt and Dr. Bushmich
PATH 2710. Medical Microbiology: Bacteria and Fungi. (4 Credits)
Fundamental biology of pathogenic bacteria and fungi including host-pathogen interactions and microbiological laboratory techniques.
Enrollment Requirements: BIOL 1107 or equivalent.
Offered: Fall semester
Modality: In person (includes two lab sessions per week)
Instructors: Dr. Khan (lecture) and Prof. Tulman (laboratory)
PATH 2720. Medical Microbiology: Viruses and Parasites. (4 Credits)
Fundamental biology of medically relevant viruses and parasites including host-pathogen interactions and microbiological laboratory techniques.
Enrollment Requirements: BIOL 1107 or equivalent.
Offered: Spring semester
Modality: In person (includes two lab sessions per week)
Instructors: Dr. Garmendia (lecture) and Prof. Tulman (laboratory)
PATH 2800. Medical Cell Biology. (3 Credits)
Foundations of cellular structures and molecular basis of disease, from essential components of eukaryotic cells to cellular responses to injury and disease.
Enrollment Requirements: BIOL 1107 or equivalent.
Offered: Fall semester
Modality: In person with an online synchronous option available, including for regional campus students.
Instructor: Dr. Reinhardt
PATH 3093. Foreign Studies in Pathobiology. (1-15 Credits)
Special topics taken in a foreign study program.
May be repeated for a total of 15 credits
PATH 3094W. Seminar. (2 Credits)
Enrollment Requirements: ENGL 1007 or 1010 or 1011.
May be repeated for credit
Skill Codes: COMP: Writing Competency
Offered: Fall and Spring semesters
Modality: In person
Instructor: Dr. Verardi
PATH 3095. Special Topics. (1-6 Credits)
Topics and credits to be published prior to the registration period preceding the semester offerings.
May be repeated for credit
Offered: Selected semesters only
Modality: Varies
Instructor: Varies
PATH 3099. Independent Study. (1-6 Credits)
Special problems in connection with departmental research programs and diagnostic procedures for diseases of animals. Some suggested topics are histopathologic laboratory procedures, clinical hematology, diagnostic bacteriology, diagnostic parasitology.
May be repeated for credit
Offered: Fall and Spring semesters
PATH 3401. Immunobiology. (3 Credits)
Principles of basic and clinical immunobiology; phylogeny and ontogeny of the immune response, characteristics of the immune response, cellular and humoral immunity; central and peripheral lymphoid tissues; mechanisms of immunologic injury and immunologic diseases; comparative and veterinary immunology; transplantation and tumor immunology.
Enrollment Requirements: BIOL 1107 or equivalent.
Offered: Spring semester
Modality: In person
Instructor: Dr. Verardi
PATH 3501. Diagnostic Techniques for the Biomedical Sciences. (2 Credits)
Theoretical basis and practical exposure to modern laboratory methods used in the biomedical sciences for disease diagnosis.
Enrollment Requirements: BIOL 1107 or equivalent.
Offered: Spring semester
Modality: In person (one lab session per week)
Instructor: Dr. Risatti
PATH 3700. Emerging Infectious Diseases and Pandemics. (3 Credits)
Mechanisms of emergence that different pathogens have used to cause disease in new hosts.
Offered: Spring semester
Modality: In person (with online synchronous option for regional campus students)
Instructor: Dr. Szczepanek
PATH 3810. Systems Pathophysiology I. (3 Credits)
Organ-based study of human and animal diseases. Use of gross, microscopic, and physiologic evidence to diagnose disease. Topics covered include respiratory, cardiovascular, hematopoietic, lymphoid, musculoskeletal, and urinary systems.
Enrollment Requirements: Recommended preparation: Previous coursework in Cell Biology. PATH 3810 and PATH 3820 can be taken in any order.
Offered: Fall semester
Modality: In person with an online synchronous option available, including for regional campus students.
Instructor: Dr. Mishra
PATH 3811. Systems Pathophysiology I Laboratory. (1 Credit)
Inquiry-based laboratory course on systems pathophysiology, using gross, microscopic, and physiologic evidence to diagnose diseases of the respiratory, cardiovascular, hematopoietic, lymphoid, musculoskeletal, and urinary systems.
Enrollment Requirements: PATH 3810, which may be taken concurrently.
Offered: Fall semester
Modality: In person (one lab session per week)
Instructor: Dr. Mishra
PATH 3820. Systems Pathophysiology II. (3 Credits)
Organ-based study of human and animal diseases. Use of gross, microscopic, and physiologic evidence to diagnose disease. Topics covered include central nervous, skin, hepatobiliary, endocrine, and digestive systems.
Enrollment Requirements: Recommended preparation: Previous coursework in Cell Biology. PATH 3810 and PATH 3820 can be taken in any order.
Offered: Spring semester
Modality: In person with an online synchronous option available, including for regional campus students.
Instructor: Dr. Mishra
PATH 3821. Systems Pathophysiology II Laboratory. (1 Credit)
Inquiry-based laboratory course on systems pathophysiology, using gross, microscopic, and physiologic evidence to diagnose diseases of the central nervous, skin, hepatobiliary, endocrine, and digestive systems.
Enrollment Requirements: PATH 3820, which may be taken concurrently.
Offered: Spring semester
Modality: In person (one lab session per week)
Instructor: Dr. Mishra
PATH 3830. Chronic and Inflammatory Diseases. (3 Credits)
Investigation of chronic and inflammatory diseases like asthma, arthritis, and cancer, enabling students to identify risk factors, describe disease mechanisms, and design diagnostic and therapeutic treatment plans that address socioeconomic, cultural, and access-related factors.
Enrollment Requirements: Recommended preparation: A course in physiology such as PATH 2100, or PATH 3810, or PATH 3820, or PNB 2250, or PNB 2264-2265, or PNB 2774 - PNB 2776, or equivalent.
Content Areas: CA3: Science & Technology
Topics of Inquiry: TOI1:Creativity: Des,Expr,Innv, TOI6: Science & Empirical Inq
Offered: Spring semester
Modality: In person (with online synchronous option for regional campus students)
PATH 4000. Bioinformatics in Molecular Epidemiology of Infectious Diseases. (3 Credits)
Basic concepts and terminologies in bioinformatics and infectious disease epidemiology. Hands-on, practical experiences in sequence analysis: database, alignment, phylogenetic analysis, and visualization of data.
Enrollment Requirements: ANSC 3121, MCB 2400, or MCB 2410.
Offered: Spring semester
Modality: Online asynchronous
Instructor: Dr. Barrette
PATH 4197W. Pathobiology Honors Thesis. (3 Credits)
Writing of Honors thesis based on an independent research project in Pathobiology.
Enrollment Requirements: ENGL 1007 or 1010 or 1011; open only to Honors students; instructor consent required.
Grading Basis: Honors Credit
Skill Codes: COMP: Writing Competency
Offered: Fall and Spring semesters
Modality: Varies
Instructor: Thesis advisor (and/or Honors advisor)
PATH 4203. Principles of Antibacterial Development. (3 Credits)
Designed to cover important concepts and pioneering strategies currently being used to develop novel antibacterials.
Enrollment Requirements: MCB 2610, or an equivalent course in general microbiology or bacteriology with consent of the instructor. Open to juniors or higher.
Offered: Selected semesters only
Modality: Varies
Instructor: Varies
PATH 4230. Vaccines and Immunotherapeutics. (3 Credits)
Students develop an understanding of approaches for scientists and engineers to use the immune system to combat infectious and chronic diseases. Both traditional and modern molecular approaches to vaccine and immunotherapy design will be discussed. Students will gain an appreciation for the transition from basic research to practical applications.
Enrollment Requirements: Recommended preparation: Previous coursework in Immunology or equivalent.
Offered: Spring semester (every other year; next planned offering: Spring 2026)
Modality: In person
Instructor: Dr. Szczepanek
PATHO•BIOLOGY offers three graduate degrees:
- Master of Science (M.S.)
- Thesis plan (Plan A)
- Non-thesis plan (Plan B)
- Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Pathobiology, with areas of concentrations in:
- Bacteriology
- Pathology
- Virology
- M.S. degree in Pathobiology with an area of concentration in Veterinary Anatomic Pathology open only to veterinarians (D.V.M/V.M.D. or equivalent) accepted into the residency program in veterinary pathology.
Master of Science
For the areas of concentration in Bacteriology, Pathology, and Virology, students can follow either Plan A (thesis) or Plan B (non-thesis) options.
- For the Plan A, Master of Science degree, 21 credits of coursework and nine credits of GRAD 5950 or 5960 are required.
- For the Plan B, Master of Science degree, 30 credits of coursework followed by a comprehensive exam are required.
- All courses used to meet the degree and concentration requirements must be approved by the student’s major advisor.
For the M.S. degree with an area of concentration in veterinary anatomic pathology, students must take the following courses: PATH 5392, 5394, and 5594.
Doctor of Philosophy
For all areas of concentration, a total of 30 credits of coursework are required.
- All courses used to meet the degree and concentration requirements must be approved by the student’s major advisor.
- In addition, students will give at least three seminar presentations during their tenure (prospectus seminar, near midpoint of their research and dissertation defense).
- The General Exam should be taken within one semester after completing course work.
- A Dissertation Proposal is to be written in the form of an NIH grant proposal and presented in the form of a seminar.
- This is to be completed within six months of passing the general exam.
- Students must at a minimum have one first author publication before completion of their degree.
- The student must present at research seminars once per year.
- The Ph.D. in Pathobiology does not have a related area or foreign language requirement.
PATH 5094. Pathobiology Seminar. (1 Credit)
May be repeated for a total of 10 credits
Offered: Fall and Spring semesters
Modality: In person
Instructor: Dr. Verardi
PATH 5099. Research and Independent Study in Animal Diseases. (1-6 Credits)
May be repeated for a total of 24 credits
Offered: Fall and Spring semesters
Modality: Varies
Instructor: Graduate faculty
PATH 5201. Microbiology of Atypical Bacteria. (2 Credits)
An in-depth presentation of current information on medically significant atypical bacteria, with emphasis on molecular aspects of pathogenesis.
Offered: Selected semesters only
Modality: Varies
Instructor: Faculty
PATH 5202. Viral Pathogenesis. (3 Credits)
Review and discussion of recent advances regarding mechanisms involved in the development of viral disease at the virus, host, organ, tissue, cell, sub-cellular and molecular levels. Current advances in virus-host interactions will be discussed, including virulence factors, mechanisms of suppression and evasion of host responses, oncogenesis, persistence, immunopathology, neurotropism, neuroinvasion.
Enrollment Requirements: A course in virology or microbiology and one in biochemistry, with consent of the instructor. Recommended preparation: A course in immunology or pathology.
Offered: Selected semesters only
Modality: Varies
Instructor: Dr. Garmendia and Dr. Risatti
PATH 5203. Principles of Antibacterial Development. (3 Credits)
Important concepts and pioneering strategies currently being used to develop novel antibacterials.
Enrollment Requirements: A course in general microbiology or bacteriology with consent of the instructor.
Offered: Selected semesters only
Modality: Varies
Instructor: Faculty
PATH 5230. Vaccines and Immunotherapeutics. (3 Credits)
Students develop an understanding of approaches for scientists and engineers to use the immune system to combat infectious and chronic diseases. Both traditional and modern molecular approaches to vaccine and immunotherapy design will be discussed. Students will gain an appreciation for the transition from basic research to practical applications.
Enrollment Requirements: PATH 3401 or an equivalent course in immunology.
Offered: Spring semester (every other year; next planned offering: Spring 2026)
Modality: In person
Instructor: Dr. Szczepanek
PATH 5303. Veterinary Pathology Lecture Series. (1-3 Credits)
Lectures on veterinary and comparative anatomic pathology organized by animal species or disease classification utilizing lectures on electronic media in the context of a prescribed plan of study. May be repeated for credit with change in content.
May be repeated for a total of 9 credits
Offered: Selected semesters only
Modality: In person
Instructors: Dr. Mishra and Dr. Reinhardt
PATH 5392. Practicum in Veterinary Anatomic Pathology. (3 Credits)
Service-based learning of veterinary anatomic pathology through gross and histologic evaluation of necropsy and biopsy case material by direct review with faculty pathologists.
Enrollment Requirements: Open only to veterinarians accepted into the residency program in veterinary pathology.
May be repeated for a total of 18 credits
Offered: Fall and Spring semesters
Modality: In person
Instructors: Dr. Mishra and Dr. Reinhardt
PATH 5394. Veterinary Pathology Seminar. (2 Credits)
Blinded examination of gross and histologic lesions with emphasis on lesion recognition, description and disease diagnosis, followed by group discussion of each case.
May be repeated for a total of 12 credits
Offered: Fall and Spring semesters
Modality: In person
Instructors: Dr. Mishra and Dr. Reinhardt
PATH 5401. Immunobiology. (4 Credits)
Principles of basic and clinical immunobiology; phylogeny and ontogeny of the immune response, characteristics of the immune response, cellular and humoral immunity; central and peripheral lymphoid tissues; mechanisms of immunologic injury and immunologic diseases; comparative and veterinary immunology; transplantation and tumor immunology.
Enrollment Requirements: Open with consent of instructor to graduate students, upper-level Honors students, and senior undergrad students with recommended preparation. Recommended preparation: Previous coursework in Biochemistry, Genetics, Cell Biology, and Microbiology.
Offered: Spring semester
Modality: In person
Instructor: Dr. Verardi
PATH 5431. Avian Pathology. (2 Credits)
A comprehensive study of systemic avian pathology, stressing the correlation of pathological changes with clinical and microbiological findings.
Offered: Selected semesters only
Modality: Varies
Instructor: Faculty
PATH 5503. Molecular Approaches to Disease Diagnosis and Prevention. (2 Credits)
Molecular aspects of disease, with emphasis on methodologies and strategies for diagnosis, analysis and prophylaxis.
Offered: Spring semester
Modality: In person
Instructors: Dr. Risatti
PATH 5594. Current Veterinary Pathology Literature. (1 Credit)
Detailed study of current veterinary pathology literature, with particular emphasis on lesions and mechanisms of disease.
May be repeated for a total of 6 credits
Offered: Fall and Spring semesters
Modality: In person
Instructors: Dr. Mishra and Dr. Reinhardt