(SVMCS)
The School of Veterinary Medicine offers the M.S. and Ph.D. in veterinary medical sciences with emphasis in clinical sciences. The graduate program of study and research are directed and evaluated by the student’s graduate committee. This committee is composed of at least three members of the graduate faculty. Master’s graduate students must complete a minimum of 30 credit hours of graduate courses, a final examination, and a thesis. At least 12 hours of courses at the 7000 level are required. Research and dissertation credits (VMED 8000) do not count toward the 7000 level requirement.
Course requirements:
- at least 12 hours of graduate work must be at the 7000-level or greater (credits of VMED 8000 do not count toward this total)
- at least 6 hours of research/thesis credit must be completed and maximum of 6 hours counted toward degree
- 2 credit hours of VMED 7004 Introduction to Research
- Statistics Course 7000 level (minimum of 3 credits) from the following EXST 7003, EXST 7004, EXST 7005, PBS 7002 PBS 7312
- at least two credit hours of VCS 7001 (max. of 4) (Seminar)
- at least two credit hours of VCS 7210 (max. of 4) (Journal Review)
- a maximum of 6 credit hours VCS 7003 (Special Topics)
- at least three credit hours from the following VCS 7201-VCS 7215, CBS 7104, PBS 7431, CBS 7109, CBS 7628, ANSC 7051, ANSC 7052
4000 level courses that support general knowledge needed for research and to prepare for the above 7000 level courses are allowed if recommended by the student’s Graduate Advisory Committee (for example Biology 4123 Immunology, Biology 4132 Eukaryotic Molecular Genetics, OCS 4038 Scientific Writing and Collaboration, Biological Engineering 4335 Tissue Engineering)
The preparation of a thesis is an important element in the program leading to the master’s degree. The master’s thesis should demonstrate capacity for research, originality of thought, and facility in organizing materials. Final acceptance of the master’s thesis rests with a student’s graduate committee.
The thesis must be successfully defended in a final defense and examination. A request for the final examination must be submitted to the Graduate School by the student’s department chair at least three weeks prior to the proposed examination date and by the current semester deadline, if the student is a candidate for a degree (see the academic calendar for all pertinent dates). The student should visit the Graduate School the semester before planned graduation for deadlines and procedures concerning requests for final examination. The examining committee, must have copies of the thesis at least two weeks prior to the final examination. Typically, the final examination is an oral examination following the thesis defense. The thesis defense takes the form of a seminar, open to attendance by any interested parties. Following the seminar, the graduate student and the examination committee will convene and discuss the thesis, asking questions of the graduate student.
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