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Open Access

The Future of Undergraduate Immunology Education: Can a Comprehensive Four-Year Immunology Curriculum Answer Calls for Reform in Undergraduate Biology Education?

Louis B. Justement and Heather A. Bruns
ImmunoHorizons November 1, 2020, 4 (11) 745-753; DOI: https://doi.org/10.4049/immunohorizons.2000086
Louis B. Justement
Department of Microbiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294
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Heather A. Bruns
Department of Microbiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294
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  • FIGURE 1.
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    FIGURE 1.

    Overview of the backward design approach for creating the curriculum infrastructure to support learning outcomes.

    Identification of the attributes desired in graduates of an undergraduate immunology curriculum directs the creation of the program learning outcomes (PLOs) and subsequent development of educational activities and assessments that demonstrate the development of competencies as students progress through the program.

  • FIGURE 2.
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    FIGURE 2.

    The bull’s-eye approach for framing content delivery in the curriculum.

    Core topics form the basis of content knowledge within the curriculum, which is then expanded upon and applied as students progress through the core course sequence.

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    Table I. Core science courses in the immunology major
    Year 1Year 2Year 3Year 4
    FallSpringFallSpringFallSpringFallSpring
    Introduction to Chemistry IIntroduction to Chemistry IIIntroduction to Biology IIOrganic Chemistry IIPhysics IPhysics IIMicrobial Pathogen–Immune System InteractionImmune-Mediated Diseases
    Calculus IIntroduction to Biology IOrganic Chemistry IGeneticsFundamentals of BiochemistryBiostatistics
    Current Topics in ImmunologySeminars in ImmunologyBiology of MicroorganismsFoundations in Immunology: The Innate Immune SystemFoundations in Immunology: The Adaptive Immune System
    Introduction to the Immune System
    Recommended time frame for research (minimum of two semesters)
    • This is a recommended academic plan for alignment of science courses and immunology core courses across a four-year curriculum.

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    Table II. Content objectives of the curriculum
    Program Content Objectives
    Introduction to immunology
    Innate immune responses
    Lymphocyte development and activation
    Humoral and cell-mediated immune responses
    Mucosal immunity
    Immunopathologies
    Immunodeficiencies
    Infectious disease and vaccines
    Immunologic methods and experimental systems
    Immunotherapies
    • The content objectives identify the principal subject areas covered in the core course sequence.

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    Table III. Topics covered in the core courses of the immunology major
    Introduction to immunology
     Basics of hematopoiesis
     Categories of cell types, characteristics, and functions
     Anatomy of the lymphoid organs and tissues
     Trafficking of leukocytes throughout the body
     Properties of receptor–ligand interactions
     Characteristics of signaling molecules and tyrosine-dependent pathways
    Innate immune responses
     Functional elements: barriers, cells, tissues, and soluble mediators
     Characteristics, functions, and activation mechanisms of innate immune cells
     Pattern recognition receptors, pathogen/damage–associated molecular patterns
     Mechanisms of extravasation, phagocytosis, and pathogen destruction
     Function and components of the inflammatory response
     Activation and functions of the acute phase response
     Activation, regulation, and functions of the complement system
     Cooperation of complement and the inflammatory response in the elimination of pathogens
     The role of NK cells and the IFN response in eliminating viral pathogens
     Processes performed by innate immune cells that result in the activation of the adaptive response to a pathogen
    Lymphocyte development and activation
     Functional components of lymphocyte AgR
     Organization and expression of lymphocyte AgR genes
     BCR and TCR gene rearrangements
     Processes of B and T cell development from a stem cell to a mature cell
     Structure, function, and expression patterns of classical MHC molecules
     The role of APC and Ag processing and presentation pathways in T lymphocyte activation
     Mechanisms of B cell activation by T-independent and T-dependent Ags
     Ab structure, structural isoforms, isotypes, and Ag–Ab interactions
    Humoral and cell-mediated immune responses
     T-independent B cell responses
     T-dependent B cell responses, linked recognition, generation of high-affinity Ab production, and class switching
     Ab-mediated effector functions
     The role of APC and cytokines on the differentiation of T cell subsets
     CD4+ T cell–mediated functions
     CD8+ T, NK, and NKT cell functions
     Characteristics and function of memory responses
    • The core topics that form the basis of the content delivery frame are listed in this table.

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    Table IV. Assessment map for the immunology major
    Core Course Sequence
    Program Learning OutcomesAssessmentsIntroductionInnateAdaptiveHost–PathogenImmune DisordersResearch
    Acquire appropriate content knowledge
    Content examinationXX
    Communicate effectively
    Presentations (VALUE rubric)XXX
    Written reports (VALUE rubric)XX
    Research project thesisX
    Research project presentationX
    Work well as part of a team
    Group presentationsXXX
    Team-based learning activitiesXX
    Develop problem-solving, critical thinking, scientific inquiry, and quantitative reasoning skills
    Information literacy assignmentsXXX
    Data analysis assignmentsXX
    ResearchX
    Behave professionally and ethically
    Class attendance and participationXXXXX
    Conduct in research trainingX
    • Recommended assessments in the core courses of the major aligned with the program learning outcomes.

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ImmunoHorizons: 4 (11)
ImmunoHorizons
Vol. 4, Issue 11
1 Nov 2020
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The Future of Undergraduate Immunology Education: Can a Comprehensive Four-Year Immunology Curriculum Answer Calls for Reform in Undergraduate Biology Education?
Louis B. Justement, Heather A. Bruns
ImmunoHorizons November 1, 2020, 4 (11) 745-753; DOI: 10.4049/immunohorizons.2000086

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The Future of Undergraduate Immunology Education: Can a Comprehensive Four-Year Immunology Curriculum Answer Calls for Reform in Undergraduate Biology Education?
Louis B. Justement, Heather A. Bruns
ImmunoHorizons November 1, 2020, 4 (11) 745-753; DOI: 10.4049/immunohorizons.2000086
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