Immunology
Immunology is a branch of biology that covers the study of immune systems in all organisms. Immunology charts, measures, and contextualizes the: physiological functioning of the immune system in states of both health and diseases; malfunctions of the immune system in immunological disorders (such as autoimmune diseases, hypersensitivities immune deficiency, and transplant rejection); the physical, chemical and physiological characteristics of the components of the immune system in vitro, in situ, and in vivo. Immunology has applications in numerous disciplines of medicine, particularly in the fields of organ transplantation, oncology, rheumatology, virology, bacteriology, parasitology, psychiatry, and dermatology.
The term was coined by Russian biologist Ilya Ilyich Mechnikov who advanced studies on immunology and received the Nobel Prize for his work in 1908. He pinned small thorns into starfish larvae and noticed unusual cells surrounding the thorns. This was the active response of the body trying to maintain its integrity. It was Mechnikov who first observed the phenomenon of phagocytosis, in which the body defends itself against a foreign body.
Prior to the designation of immunity, from the etymological root immunis, which is Latin for "exempt"; early physicians characterized organs that would later be proven as essential components of the immune system. The important lymphoid organs of the immune system are the thymus and bone marrow, and chief lymphatic tissues such as spleen, tonsils, lymph vessels, lymph nodes, adenoids, and liver. When health conditions worsen to emergency status, portions of immune system organs including the thymus, spleen, bone marrow, lymph nodes and other lymphatic tissues can be surgically excised for examination while patients are still alive.
Many components of the immune system are typically cellular in nature and not associated with any specific organ; but rather are embedded or circulating in various tissues located throughout the body.
* Description and images provided by Wikipedia under CC-BY-SA 3.0 license .
Matching Immunology Colleges
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Yale University
Four or more years; Private not for profit; $59,950 average out-state tuition; $59,950 average in-state tuition |
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Tulane University of Louisiana
Four or more years; Private not for profit; $56,684 average out-state tuition; $56,684 average in-state tuition |
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University of Alabama at Birmingham
Four or more years; Public; $20,400 average out-state tuition; $8,568 average in-state tuition |
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Loyola University Chicago
Four or more years; Private not for profit; $46,410 average out-state tuition; $46,410 average in-state tuition |
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University of Cincinnati-Main Campus
Four or more years; Public; $25,433 average out-state tuition; $10,099 average in-state tuition |
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University of Toledo
Four or more years; Public; $18,388 average out-state tuition; $9,028 average in-state tuition |
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Rush University
Four or more years; Private not for profit; $29,828 average out-state tuition; $29,828 average in-state tuition |
Scholarships for Immunology Majors
Regeneron Science Talent SearchSociety for Science |
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award Up to $250,000 |
deadline November 05, 2026 |
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DescriptionThe Regeneron Science Talent Search is open to especially talented high school seniors. Students will be given the challenge of conducting independent science, math, or engineering research. To be considered, you must submit a maximum 20 - page research report explaining your experiments and conclusions. Research must be the work of a single... View Scholarship Details |
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Edith Nourse Rogers STEM ScholarshipU.S. Department of Veterans Affairs |
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award Up to $30,000 |
deadline Varies |
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DescriptionThe Edith Nourse Rogers STEM Scholarship is available to military veterans and their dependents who are pursuing studies in STEM fields. You must be a recipient of the Post-9/11 GI Bill or Fry Scholarship to be eligible for this award, which acts as an extension to expiring benefits of those programs. View Scholarship Details |
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Jewel Scholars Program - Mount Mary CollegeMount Mary College |
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award $27,000 |
deadline Varies |
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DescriptionThe Jewel Scholars Program is available to entering freshmen and transfer students at Mount Mary College who are majoring in Biology/Biological Sciences or Chemistry. You must demonstrate financial need and have a minimum GPA of 3.0 to be eligible for this award. View Scholarship Details |
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Sturgis FellowshipUniversity of Arkansas |
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award $20,000 |
deadline February 01, 2027 |
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DescriptionThe Sturgis Fellowship is available to incoming freshmen who plan on majoring in the Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Arkansas. You must demonstrate exceptional academic performance to be considered for this renewable award. In addition, you must have a minimum 30 ACT/1320 SAT score and a minimum 3.8 GPA to be... View Scholarship Details |
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Bess Heflin FellowshipUniversity of Texas at Austin, Office of Graduate Studies |
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award $19,000 |
deadline Varies |
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DescriptionThe Bess Heflin Fellowship is open to graduate students at the University of Texas at Austin. You must be studying one of the following programs: plant biology or botany, nutrition, ecology, evolution and behavior, economics, zoology, history, microbiology, cell and molecular biology, government, anthropology, sociology, psychology, biological... View Scholarship Details |
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SEI General ScholarshipSolar Energy International (SEI) |
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award $10,000 |
deadline Varies |
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DescriptionThe SEI General Scholarship is available to students who are interested in furthering their career through renewable energy training. This award will provide solar training tuition fees to hand-selected students to help facilitate their professional development and eventual entry into the solar energy workforce. View Scholarship Details |
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EAGLES Scholarship - PSUPortland State University |
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award $10,000 |
deadline Varies |
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DescriptionThe EAGLES Scholarship is available to junior-level and above students at Portland State University who are pursuing a degree in STEM. To be considered for this renewable award, you must be from an underrepresented background in STEM. Selection is based on academic merit and financial need. Students also receive mentorship from faculty and... View Scholarship Details |
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Big Bang Theory ScholarshipUniversity of California-Los Angeles (UCLA) |
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award $10,000 |
deadline Varies |
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DescriptionThe Big Bang Theory Scholarship is available to undergraduate students majoring in a STEM field at the University of California-Los Angeles. To be considered for this award, you must be a resident of Southern California, demonstrate financial need, and show a strong commitment to STEM studies and extracurriculars. View Scholarship Details |
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Allman Medical ScholarshipMiss America Pageant |
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award Up to $10,000 |
deadline Varies |
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DescriptionThe Allman Medical Scholarship is available to women who are competing at the local, state and or national level of the Miss America competition. You must wish to enter the field of medicine to become a medical doctor to be eligible for this award. Your application will be considered on your GPA, class rank, MCAT score, extracurricular... View Scholarship Details |
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St. David’s Scholar Program - Huston-Tillotson UniversityHuston-Tillotson University |
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award $7,500 |
deadline Varies |
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DescriptionThe St. David’s Scholar Program is available to incoming freshman students at Huston-Tillotson University who intend to pursue health careers. There are a limited amount of spots for rising sophomores to enter the program. This is a renewable award. View Scholarship Details |
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Immunology Related Majors
- Biological and Biomedical Sciences
- Biochemistry
- Biomedical Sciences
- Marine Biology and Biological Oceanography
- Zoology/Animal Biology
- Biology
- Neuroscience
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
- Exercise Physiology and Kinesiology
- Wildlife Biology
- Physiology
- Pharmacology
- Biotechnology
- Genetics
- Molecular Biology
- Anatomy
- Neurobiology and Neurosciences
- Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology
- Microbiology
- Cell Biology and Anatomy
