Interdepartmental Honours Program in Immunology (IHI)

 Application  |  U1 Complementary Courses  |  U2 Complementary Courses  |  U3 Complementary Courses

 

The IHI program is a 75-credit program involving the Departments of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, and Physiology, and it incorporates elements from each of these disciplines. Since immunology is a key area of biomedical research and is critical to our understanding of the patho-physiology of many immune-mediated diseases, the program provides an excellent foundation for students interested in pursuing a career in biomedical research and/or medicine.

The program consists of 48 Required credits in basic science courses, including cell and molecular biology, microbiology and immunology, biochemistry and physiology. There are also 27 Complementary credits which allow for specialization in immunology and related disciplines. To graduate from IHI, students must have a minimum CGPA of 3.30 and must pass five immunology courses (MIMM 214, MIMM 314, MIMM 414 , PHGY 419D1D2, PHGY 513, and one of BIOC 503, MIMM 509, PHGY 531) with a minimum grade of B

The coordinators of the program are heather.melichar [at] mcgill.ca (Dr. Heather Melichar), judith.mandl [at] mcgill.ca (Dr. Judith Mandl )andanastasiya.nyzhnyk [at] mcgill.ca ( Dr. Ana Nijnik)

PDF icon ihi_prospective_student_info_session_-_apr_10_2024.pdf

The IHI Research Project

One of the core components and most rewarding and challenging aspects of the IHI is the Immunology Research Project (PHGY 419D1D2) course. Each student conducts their own independent research project under the supervision of a professor of immunology and participates in all aspects of the project on a collaborative basis with the supervisor and other members of the supervisor’s laboratory. Students gain a first-hand understanding and appreciation of biomedical research by contributing to the design of meaningful experiments, by collecting, analyzing and interpreting the experimental data, and by giving oral presentations and submitting written reports of their work.

A list of approved supervisors can be found here PDF icon potential_research_supervisors.pdf

If you are considering a supervisor not on the list you must contact your course coordinator for approval.

Student Eligibility

To be admitted to the IHI program,  a student must have a) completed the 6 U1 IHI Required Courses, b) obtained a grade of B or higher in MIMM 214, c) taken at least 27 U1 credits, and d) achieved a CGPA of 3.30 or higher. Students may enter the program from Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, Physiology, and other biomedical departments such as Anatomy and Cell Biology or Pharmacology and Therapeutics. Since enrolment is limited, admission may be denied if demand exceeds the number of available places. If places are available students may also be admitted up to the end of their U2 year.

Application Process

Prospective applicants to the IHI program must carefully review all eligibility and program requirements before beginning the application process. To apply, students must complete the following steps:

1. Fill out the IHI online application form.
2. Upload a CV as a single PDF file (maximum 3 pages) to the application form.

Upon submitting the application, applicants will receive an acknowledgment email confirming receipt of their submission.

For inquiries or assistance, please email undergrad2.physiology [at] mcgill.ca (subject: IHI%20Program) or undergrad.microimm [at] mcgill.ca (subject: IHI%20Program) .

Applications are scheduled to open during the Winter 2025 term

Required Courses (48 credits)

U1 Required Courses (20 credits)

Course # Title Credits
BIOL 200 Molecular Biology 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

Molecular Biology  

BIOL 201 Cell Biology & Metabolism 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

or

BIOC 212 Molec Mechanisms of Cell Funct 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

Cell Biology and Metabolism

 

Molecular Mechanisms of Cell Function 

3
 


3

CHEM 212 Intro Organic Chemistry 1 4 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

Organic Chemistry 1 4
CHEM 222 Intro Organic Chemistry 2 4 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

                 
Organic Chemistry 2 4

MIMM 211 Introductory Microbiology 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

or

PHGY 209 Mammalian Physiology 1 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

Introductory Microbiology

 

Mammalian Physiology 1

3

 

3

MIMM 214 Intro Immun: Elem of Immunity 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

Introduction to Immunology 3

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U2 Required Courses (13 credits)

ANAT 261 Intro to Dynamic Histology 4 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

 
Introduction to Dynamic Histology 4
BIOC 311 Metabolic Biochemistry 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

Metabolic Biochemistry 3
BIOC 312 Biochemistry of Macromolecules 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

Biochemistry of Macromolecules 3
MIMM 314 Intermediate Immunology 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

Immunology 3

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U3 Required Courses (15 credits)

PHGY 531 Topics in Applied Immunology 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

Topics in Applied Immunology 3
PHGY 419D1 Immunology Research Project 4.5 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

Immunology Research Project 4.5
PHGY 419D2 Immunology Research Project 4.5 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

Immunology Research Project 4.5
PHGY 513 Translational Immunology 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

Cellular Immunology 3

Complementary Courses (27 credits)

U1 Complementary Courses (6 credits)

3 credits selected from:

BIOL 373 Biometry 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

                  
Biometry 3
MATH 203 Principles of Statistics 1 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

Principles of Statistics 1 3
PSYC 204 Intro to Psychological Stats 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

Introduction to Psychological Statistics 3

plus 3 credits selected from:

ANAT 214 Systemic Human Anatomy 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

                             
Systematic Human Anatomy 3
ANAT 262 Intro Molecular &Cell Biol 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

Introductory Molecular and Cell Biology 3
BIOL 202 Basic Genetics 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

Basic Genetics 3
BIOL 205 Functional Biol of Plnts&Anmls 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

Biology of Organisms 3
BIOL 304 Evolution 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

Evolution 3

CHEM 203 Survey of Physical Chemistry 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

   

or

CHEM 204 Physical Chem/Biological Scis1 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

       

Survey of Physical Chemistry

 

Physical Chemistry/Biological Sciences 1

3

 

3

CHEM 287 Intro Analytical Chemistry 2 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer


and
CHEM 297 Intro Analytical Chem. Lab. 1 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

Introductory Analytical Chemistry

Introductory Analytical Chemistry Laboratory
2

2
COMP 202 Foundations of Programming 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

Foundations of Programming 3
COMP 250 Intro to Computer Science 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

Introduction to Computer Science 3
MATH 204 Principles of Statistics 2 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

Principles of Statistics 2 3
MIMM 211 Introductory Microbiology 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

Introductory Microbiology 3
MIMM 212 Laboratory in Microbiology 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

Laboratory in Microbiology 3
PHGY 209 Mammalian Physiology 1 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

Mammalian Physiology 1 3
PHGY 210 Mammalian Physiology 2 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

Mammalian Physiology 2 3

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U2 Complementary Courses (12 credits)

6 credits selected from

BIOC 220 Lab Meth in Biochem&Mol Biol 1 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

and

BIOC 320 Lab Meth in Biochem&Mol Biol 2 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

or

MIMM 384 Molecular Microbiology Lab 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

MIMM 385 Laboratory in Immunology 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

or

PHGY 212 Introductory Physiology Lab 1 1 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer


and

PHGY 213 Introductory Physiology Lab 2 1 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

and

BIOL 301 Cell and Molecular Laboratory 4 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

Laboratory Methods in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 1

 

Laboratory Methods in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 2

 

Molecular Microbiology Lab

Laboratory in Immunology

 

Introductory Physiology Laboratory 1

 

Introductory Physiology Laboratory 2

 

Cell and Molecular Laboratory

3

 

3

 

3

3

 

1

 

1

 

4

plus 6 credits selected from:

ANAT 365 Cellular Trafficking 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

                                        
Cellular Trafficking 3
BIOL 300 Molecular Biology of the Gene 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

Molecular Biology of the Gene 3
BIOL 314 Molecular Biology of Cancer 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

Molecular Biology of Oncogenes 3
CHEM 302 Intrdctry Organic Chemistry 3 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

Introductory Organic Chemistry 3 3
MATH 222 Calculus 3 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

Calculus 3 3
MATH 315 Ordinary Differential Eqns 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer


or
BIOL 309 Mathematical Models in Biology 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

Ordinary Differential Equations

Mathematical Models in Biology
3

3
MIMM 323 Microbial Physiology 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

Microbial Physiology 3
MIMM 324 Fundamental Virology 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

Fundamental Virology 3
PATH 300 Human Disease 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

Human Disease 3
PHAR 300 Drug Action 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

Drug Action 3
PHAR 301 Drugs and Disease 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

Drugs and Disease 3
PHAR 303 Principles of Toxicology 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

Principles of Toxicology 3
PHGY 311 Channels, Synapses & Hormones 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

Channels, Synapses & Hormones 3
PHGY 312 Resp.,Renal,&Cardio Physiology 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

Respiratory, Renal & Cardiovascular Physiology 3
PHGY 313 Blood,GI,Imm.Syst.Physiol 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

Blood, Gastrointestinal & Immune Systems Physiology 3
PHGY 314 Integrative Neuroscience 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

Integrative Neuroscience 3

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U3 Complementary Courses (9 credits)

3 credits selected from:

BIOC 503 Biochemistry of ImmuneDiseases 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

    
Immunochemistry 3
MIMM 509 Inflammatory Processes 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

Inflammatory Processes 3
MIMM 414 Advanced Immunology 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

Advanced Immunology 3

plus 6 credits selected from:

BIOC 404 Biophysical Methods in Biochem 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

          
Biophysical Chemistry 3
BIOC 450 Protein Structure and Function 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

Protein Structure and Function 3
BIOC 454 Nucleic Acids 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

Nucleic Acids 3
BIOC 458 Membranes & Cellular Signaling 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer


or
ANAT 458 Membranes & Cellular Signaling 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

Membranes and Cellular Signaling

Membranes and Cellular Signaling
3

3
BIOC 503 Biochemistry of ImmuneDiseases 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

Immunochemistry 3
BIOL 520 Gene Activity in Development 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

Gene Activity in Development 3
EXMD 504 Biology of Cancer 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

Biology of Cancer 3
MIMM 413 Parasitology 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

Parasitology 3
MIMM 465 Bacterial Pathogenesis 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

Bacterial Pathogenesis 3
MIMM 466 Viral Pathogenesis 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

Viral Pathogenesis 3
MIMM 509 Inflammatory Processes 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

Inflammatory Processes 3
PHAR 503 Drug Discovery & Development 1 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

Drug Design and Development 1 3
PHAR 504 Drug Discovery & Development 2 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

Drug Design and Development 2 3
PHGY 488 Stem Cell Biology 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

Stem Cell Biology 3
PHGY 531 Topics in Applied Immunology 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

Topics in Applied Immunology 3
PHGY 552 Cellular&Molecular Physiology 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

Cellular and Molecular Physiology 3

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