Masters degrees in Virology administer training in the study of viruses and their impact on human and animal health, agriculture, and environment.
Specialist topics and related fields include Immunology, Immunotherapy and Pathology. Entry requirements normally include an undergraduate degree in a relevant science subject.
Courses in this field equip you to develop scientific solutions to everyday issues such as epidemiology, global warming, and food shortage. For example, you might focus on human-animal epidemics, recent examples being avian and swine influenza. You will predominantly examine virus taxonomy and evolution through methodologies in molecular biology, genetics, and genomics.
Academic study will include a scrutiny of host-pathogen relationships, analysing diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of infectious diseases through mechanisms such as vaccine and drug development. You will hone this knowledge through practical tasks, developing skills in lab testing, tissue culture examination, DNA sequencing, and bioinformatics.
Traditional careers include roles in veterinary medicine, healthcare, and food security. More exotic careers may include roles in biotechnical industries, wildlife conservation or foreign aid. Your knowledge would also be valuable for policy-making within government agencies, NGOs and charities.