Biomedical and Veterinary Medical Sciences-Comparative Biomedical Sciences, Ph.D.

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Biomedical and Veterinary Medical Sciences (PVMCB)

The departmental-level academic course plan for each student will be developed in consultation with and approved by the student’s graduate advisory committee. The committee will include the student’s major advisor and at least three additional members of the graduate faculty such that the LSU Graduate School’s requirements for graduate committees are satisfied. An MS degree is not a requisite for admission to the PhD program.

The degree involves coursework in the student’s area of specialty and completion of an original research project resulting in an acceptable dissertation. The dissertation must demonstrate a contribution to the student’s major field of study and a mastery of research techniques. Sixty hours of credit beyond the baccalaureate or professional degree at the graduate level (in courses numbered 4000 or above) must be earned. The curricular requirements include:

At least 24 hours at the 7000 level or above in courses other than dissertation research (VMED 9000 ), including:

three hours of CBS 7104 Biomedical Cell and Molecular Biology
three hours of CBS 7108 Critical Analysis in Molecular Biology/Medicine
two hours of VMED 7004 Introduction to Research
at least three hours of experimental statistics at the 7000 level
at least six hours in professional curriculum courses selected from:

All candidates for the PhD degree must present a seminar a total of three times, including the final dissertation defense. Students are strongly encouraged to submit the results of their research for publication in peer-reviewed scientific journals.

The student must pass a general exam consisting of written and oral portions and a comprehensive final oral exam.