Immunology and Infectious Disease Major
Destroy disease, build a career.
The Immunology and Infectious Disease Major is a rigorous science-based major that provides a foundation to understand the immune system and how it combats pathogens and fights disease. Our graduates get right to work with careers in research and sales in the biotech and pharmaceutical industries. Others pursue advanced degrees for future careers in medicine, research, and public health.
A small corner of the medical world that opens big doors everywhere.
Immunology and Infectious Disease starts with a strong foundation in math, biology, chemistry, and physics—the cornerstone sciences of any biomedical study. Then we take you on an intense, deep dive into the complex network of immune cells and how they respond to infection. We use all the tools science has to offer to understand the immune system—how it develops and functions, when and why it fails, the role of drugs and vaccines, and the epidemiology of infectious disease.
Our grads are uniquely poised to transition directly into the workforce as medical scientists (immunologists, biologists, and bacteriologists). Our focus on the immune system helps prepare students for the broader challenges of medical school, graduate school, and schools of public health.
IID is the right major if you’re:
- Interested in med school, vet school, dental school, pharmacy school, or advanced degrees in other biomedical fields
- Driven to make a difference researching the causes of future pandemics and allergies and how the immune system can fight infections and diseases like cancer
- Someone who thrives in an encouraging, collaborative environment
See the University Bulletin for details on program requirements, suggested academic plan, and more.
Ag Journeys
“I like my program because it focuses on humans.”
–Marissa Moran
Get out of the classroom and into the fight.
Our faculty are the best in the business, and they’ll be the first to tell you that classroom learning should just be a starting point.
If you’re interested in studying immunology because you want to make a difference, you’ve come to the right place. Our faculty conduct important, cutting-edge research and they want to get you into the lab, learning firsthand. How do you get involved? Just ask. And regardless of your interest, there are student-led, faculty-guided clubs, internships, externships, and international opportunities to put your education in a real-world, professional context.
Craft your experience.
Related clubs and teams
- Biomedical Sciences Club
- One Health Club
- Pre-Med Club
- Pre-Vet Club
- Vaccinate America Club
- Ag Advocates
- See all clubs and teams
Recent internships
- Biotech and pharmaceutical companies like Regeneron and Merck
- National Institutes of Health
- Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
- Penn State Hershey Pediatric Oncology Translational Research Lab
- National Environmental Public Health, supported by CDC
- National Center for Toxicological Research through the FDA
- Undergraduate research with Penn State Ag Sciences
Popular study abroad
- Anatomy and Art, Italy
- Science (pre-med and research), Dublin, Ireland
- Medical humanities, Oxford, London
- Pre-med summer, Grenada
- Anatomy in Italy: Cadavers, Culture, and Science!
- Masaryk University: Research Abroad in Brno, Czech Republic
- Organic Chemistry or Physics, Dublin, Ireland
A practical, workforce-ready degree—and a college experience you’ll love.
Penn State Immunology and Infectious Disease grads walk off the stage at graduation and into medical schools and stellar careers all over the world. You can harness the power of a truly unique education at one of the world’s most prestigious universities.
Our alumni out in the world
- Careers in medicine after attending medical school
- Ph.D. biomedical researchers addressing questions in immunology, bacterial and viral pathogenesis, and other fields
- Master of public health (M.P.H.) working for local, state, and national public health agencies
- Pharmacists
- Veterinarians
- Dentists
- Researchers in the biotech and pharmaceutical industries
- Sales and marketing in the biotech and pharmaceutical industries
- Epidemiologists
- Healthcare professionals—nurses, physician assistants, and other allied health fields
- Biotech and biomedical patent law
Immunology and Infectious Disease Career Options
A Penn State Immunology and Infectious Disease degree paves the way to a career you want in medicine, health, and biomedical research. Program alumni are thriving in exciting roles across the world. Here are a few examples:
Biomedical researcher
An advanced degree—a Ph.D. in immunology or a related field—opens the door to a career as a biomedical scientist. Ph.D. researchers seek to understand how diseases cause damage and develop new treatments to cure diseases.
What will I do?
- Design and carry out experiments to investigate the causes of diseases
- Develop and test new therapies
- Publish findings in medical and scientific journals
- Train new scientists
Medical doctor
After medical school, a doctor is someone who maintains or restores human health through the practice of medicine.
What will I do?
- Diagnose and treat patients suffering from different diseases or injuries in a hospital or in private practice
- Constantly update your medical knowledge though continuing education
- Perform clinical research in an academic setting to develop new treatments and test new drugs
Public Health Officer
After obtaining a master of public health (M.P.H.), public health officials work at the local, state, and national levels to direct health policy, investigate disease outbreaks, and seek solutions to improve public health.
What will I do?
- Track the origins of an infectious disease outbreak
- Educate communities on new public health measures such as increasing vaccine awareness
- Work in government to develop public health policies
Positions in Biotech and the Pharmaceutical Industry
Graduates with a B.S. in Immunology and Infectious Disease can work in research and sales positions in biotech and the pharmaceutical industries.
What will I do?
- Use research skills to work as a research technician designing and performing experiments
- Design new packaging and safety inserts for new drugs
- Work in sales, using your knowledge of immunology to sell new drugs to doctors
Immunology and Infectious Disease Students in the News
May 24, 2021
Penn State project enriches the student experience while documenting pandemic
The Data 4 Action project is providing new and impactful opportunities for a growing group of students working as research assistants while assess the biological, psychological and social functioning of Penn State students and community members during the pandemic.
Read More
January 19, 2021
College of Agricultural Sciences students earn internship awards
Thirteen Penn State students have been selected as College of Agricultural Sciences Alumni Society 2020 Internship Award winners. The award, which includes a $1,000 stipend, was established to encourage students to participate in a credit or noncredit educational internship program that relates to their field of study.
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March 12, 2020
Immunology and Infectious Disease student offers a new vision of agriculture
With an eye on her future, Marissa Moran, a junior majoring in Immunology and Infectious Disease in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences, plans to become an optometrist.
Read More
November 12, 2018
Early choices set Scholar alumna down life-changing path in medicine
Schreyer Scholar alumna and Penn State MD/PhD student Kristin Lambert aspires to practice bench-to-bedside medicine and to mentor current honors students.
Read More
Explore more
Resources
- Admissions
- Tuition and Financial Aid
- Scholarships
- Student Life
- Study Abroad
- Internships
- Entrepreneurship and Innovation
See the University Bulletin for details on program requirements, suggested academic plan, and more.
Contact
- Director of Student Recruitment and Activities
- Email mnm11@psu.edu
- Office 814-863-3942
