University of Georgia

Infectious diseases pose a major threat to human health and economic development, both directly and indirectly, by impacting food production and the environment. Novel threats appear as existing pathogens resist current control measures and new agents emerge. Students will be exposed to the science of infectious diseases across the range of biological scales, from molecules and cells to populations, including pathogens and their hosts.

The objective of the Undergraduate Certificate in Infectious Diseases is to provide:

  1. Practical and theoretical knowledge of infectious diseases as viewed by multiple disciplines within the biological sciences
  2. Graduates qualified to satisfy local and regional demand for employees knowledgeable about theoretical and practical aspects of infectious diseases

Requirements and Coursework

How To Apply

The Undergraduate Certificate in Infectious Diseases is open to any currently enrolled UGA undergraduate students who wish to apply to the program. There are no application deadlines for the certificate.

Application to the certificate is a two-step process:

  1. Complete the Application to the Undergraduate Certificate in Infectious Diseases. This QuestionPro form will be routed to the program coordinator, who will notify you of your acceptance into the certificate program.
  2. Apply for the Undergraduate Certificate in Infectious Diseases in Athena.
    • Login to Athena
    • Under the Student tab/card, click My Programs menu item
    • In My Programs, click Add Certificate button
    • Select the Undergraduate Certificate in Infectious Diseases
    • Confirm your selection

Program Requirements

The Undergraduate Certificate in Infectious Diseases requires a minimum of 12 credit hours of courses, and students must obtain at least a “C” (2.0) in the certificate courses to be successful.

Courses / Program of Study

A list of required courses for this certificate is available at the UGA Bulletin. 

The below listing is current as of 3/2026.

Required Courses (6-8 hours):

Group 1: Select one of the following courses:

  • IDIS 3100(H): People, Parasites, and Plagues (3 hours)
  • IDIS 3200: Infectious Disease Treatment and Prevention (3 hours)

Group 2: Select one of the following courses:

  • MIBO 2500(E): Microbiology and Health Care (3 hours)
  • MIBO 3500: Introductory Microbiology (3 hours)
  • CBIO(MIBO)(IDIS) 4100/6100-4100D-6100D: Immunology (4 hours)
  • MIBO(IDIS) 4220/6220: Pathogenic Bacteriology (3 hours)
  • CBIO(IDIS) 4500/6500: Medical Parasitology (3 hours)
  • POPH(MIBO)(IDIS) 4650/6650: Introduction to Virology (3 hours)

Elective Courses (6 + hours):

Choose at least 6 hours of courses not taken above:

  • IDIS(POPH) 3110: Food Animal Infectious Diseases (3 hours)
  • IDIS 3200: Infectious Disease Treatment and Prevention (3 hours)
  • IDIS 3210: Special Topics in Vector Ecology and Vector-Borne Disease (1 hour)
  • IDIS 3300: Exploration of Infectious Diseases (1 hour)
  • ECOL(IDIS) 3820: Evolutionary Medicine (3 hours)
  • IDIS 4000: Current Topics in Infectious Diseases (1 hour)
  • POPH(IDIS) 4010/6010-4010L/6010L: Vector Ecology Field Course (4 hours)
  • EPID 4070(E): Fundamentals of Epidemiology (3 hours)
  • CBIO(MIBO)(IDIS) 4100/6100-4100D-6100D: Immunology (4 hours)
  • POPH 4125/6125: Infectious and Vector-Borne Diseases Associated with Wildlife in a Changing World (3 hour)
  • ECOL(BIOL)(IDIS) 4150/6150-4150L/6150L: Population Biology of Infectious Diseases (4 hours)
  • IDIS(NUTR) 4200/6200: We Are What We Eat! How Your Gut Influences Your Overall Health (3 hours)
  • MIBO(IDIS) 4220/6220: Pathogenic Bacteriology (3 hours)
  • CBIO(IDIS) 4500/6500: Medical Parasitology (3 hours)
  • POPH(MIBO)(IDIS) 4650/6650: Introduction to Virology (3 hours)
  • POPH(IDIS) 4750/6750: Decoding Disease: Computational Tools for Pathogen Analytics (3 hours)
  • IDIS 4960R: Faculty-Mentored Undergraduate Research I (3-4 hours)
    • or IDIS 4970R: Faculty-Mentor Undergraduate Research II (3-4 hours)
    • or IDIS 4980R: Faculty-Mentor Undergraduate Research III (3-4 hours)
    • or IDIS 4990R: Undergraduate Research Thesis (or Final Project) (3-4 hours)

Completing the Certificate

Please follow the steps below so that credit for the certificate is applied to your UGA transcript.

  1. When nearing completion of the required coursework for the certificate program, complete the Final Program of Study.
  2. Upon receipt of your Final Program of Study, the program coordinator will confirm course eligibility and send you the exit questionnaire.
  3. Upon receipt of the exit questionnaire, the program coordinator will confirm all certificate requirements have been met.
  4. The final step is to apply for graduation from the certificate program in Athena.

Contact Information

Jennifer leyting

Jennifer Leyting

Department of Infectious Diseases

706.542.0389 office

Department of Infectious Diseases

Improving health through research and education.

Learn more

going beyond the expected