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 Qualtrics 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.  Select Infectious Diseases from the drop down.

The below listing is current as of 11/2024.

Required Courses (6-8 hours):

Select one of the following courses:

  • IDIS 3100(H): People, Parasites, and Plagues (3 hours)
  • ECOL(BIOL) 4150/6150-4150L/6150L: Populations Biology of Infectious Diseases (4 hours)

Select one of the following courses:

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

Elective Courses (6-8 hours):

Choose two courses not taken above:

  • CBIO(MIBO)(IDIS) 4100/6100-4100D-6100D: Immunology (4 hours)
  • CBIO 4500/6500: Medical Parasitology (3 hours)
  • ECOL 3820: Evolutionary Medicine (3 hours)
  • EPID 4070(E): Fundamentals of Epidemiology (3 hours)
  • IDIS(POPH) 3110: Food Animal Infectious Diseases (3 hours)
  • IDIS(NUTR) 4200/6200: We Are What We Eat! How Your Gut Influences Your Overall Health (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)
  • MIBO(POPH) 4220/6220: Pathogenic Bateriology (3 hours)
  • POPH(MIBO)(IDIS) 4650/6650: Introduction to Virology (3 hours)
  • POPH(IDIS) 4010/6010-4010L/6010L: Vector Ecology Field Course (4 hours)
  • POPH 4125/6125: Infectious and Vector-Borne Diseases Associated with Wildlife in a Changing World (3 hour)
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.

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