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
First year
CHEM1XX1 and 6 credit points from a selection of BIOL1XX7 and BIOL1XX8 (MEDS1X01 is only available to students enrolled in the medical science stream).
Second year
IMMU2101 (MIMI2X02 in 2019) and 6 credit points from a selection of BCMB2X01 and IMMU2X11 (BMED2404, MEDS2004 and MEDS2003 only available to students enrolled in the medical science stream).
For Medical Science stream students: BMED2404 (MEDS2004 in 2019) and 6 credit points from a selection of MEDS2003 and IMMU2X11. Please note, BMED and MEDS units are only offered to Medical Science stream students.
Third year
Core: IMMU3102/3902 (IMMU3X11 in 2019), IMMU3202/3903 (IMMU3X12 in 2019).
In your third year you must take at least one designated project unit.
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
T +61 2 9351 7308
Professor Nicholas King
E
T +61 2 9351 4553
Learning Outcomes
Students who graduate from Immunology will be able to:
- Grasp the fundamentals of immunology and pathology and be able to apply these to a range of disease contexts
- Understand how the cells and molecules of our immune system cooperate to keep us healthy and fight disease;
- Understand the common generic pathophysiological responses to pathological stress in disease
- Understand that our immune system can be both the cause and the cure of pathology in humans and animals;
- Understand the cellular and molecular basis of the pathogenesis of a diverse range of human diseases;
- Think about how our immune system can be manipulated to prevent and treat disease
- Understand that immunology can be applied to the development of novel diagnostic pathology assays
- Show competency in a range of valuable immunological and pathological techniques/skills
- Apply immunological and pathological approaches to address a diverse range of pathological problems
- 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.