Immunology

Study in Immunology is offered by the Discipline of Infectious Diseases and Immunology in the Sydney Medical School. Units of study in this minor are available at standard and advanced level.

About the minor

The immune system is an integrated network of cells and specialised organs that can respond to external and internal threats. It can be mobilized to protect humans from infections and cancer while simultaneously being the underlying mechanism of major acute and chronic pathologies.

The Immunology minor examines how it is that our immune system can be both the cause and the cure of disease in humans and animals. This is important, as an understanding of immunological and pathological mechanisms allows us to think about how our immune system can be manipulated to prevent and treat disease. This minor draws together studies in immunology, pathology, microbiology, biology, biochemistry, and physiology.

Studies in immunology are important because they are leading to advances in clinical medicine and clinical science, including helping develop new vaccines and immuno-therapies. In addition, immunological techniques are widely used in biology, endocrinology, microbiology, cell and molecular biology, neurobiology and genetics.

Requirements for completion

A minor in Immunology requires 36 credit points, consisting of:
(i) 6 credit points of 1000-level core units
(ii) 6 credit points of 1000-level selective units
(iii) 6 credit points of 2000-level core units
(iv) 6 credit points of 2000-level selective units
(v) 12 credit points of 3000-level core units

Pathway through the minor

The requirements for a minor in Immunology are spread out over three years of the degree.

A sample pathway for the Immunology minor (over three years of a degree) is listed below.

Sample pathway: Immunology minor (36 credit points)

Please Note. This sample progression is meant as an example only. Depending on unit prerequisites, students may be able to complete these units in a different sequence from that displayed in the table above.

For details of the core and selective units of study required for the minor please refer to the Immunology (minor) section of the unit of study table, Table S, in this handbook.

Contact and further information

W sydney.edu.au/medicine/infectious-diseases-immunology/contact/

Address:
Infectious Diseases and Immunology
Level 5 (East), Charles Perkins Centre hub (D17)
University of Sydney NSW 2006

Associate Professor Scott Byrne
E

Learning Outcomes

Students who graduate from Immunology will be able to:

1. Grasp the fundamentals of immunology and pathology and be able to apply these to a range of disease contexts
2. Understand how the cells and molecules of our immune system cooperate to keep us healthy and fight disease
3. Understand the common generic pathophysiological responses to pathological stress in disease
4. Understand that our immune system can be both the cause and the cure of pathology in humans and animals
5. Understand the cellular and molecular basis of the pathogenesis of a diverse range of human diseases
6. Think about how our immune system can be manipulated to prevent and treat disease
7. Understand that immunology can be applied to the development of novel diagnostic pathology assays
8. Show competency in a range of valuable immunological and pathological techniques/skills
9. Apply immunological and pathological approaches to address a diverse range of pathological problems
10. Appreciate that various therapeutic approaches that target cells and molecules of our immune and other organ systems are leading to breakthroughs in human disease detection, treatment and management.