College of Veterinary Medicine
Veterinary Diagnostic and Production Animal Medicine
Search Close Search
Apply Graduate Programs
Toggle Menu

MSc Degree – Creative Component

Dr. Brown assisting veterinary student on swine exam

At A Glance

  • 36

    Total Credits

  • 2+

    Years to Complete

  • Options

    In-person or Online Format

Learning Goals

  • No thesis required for coursework-based MSc degrees.
  • Complete 36 credits:
    • At least 19 credits from coursework.
    • Minimum of 3 credits from a special topics course (VDPAM 5900).
  • Special topics course involves one-on-one interaction with a graduate faculty member (usually the major professor), focusing on Veterinary Preventive Medicine.
  • Remaining credits come from research, where students create a novel creative component based on their chosen special topic.

Premier Research and Resources

  • Learn from the #1 Veterinary Diagnostic Lab (VDL) in the U.S., gaining hands-on experience with pioneering disease detection and diagnostic tools.
  • Benefit from a $28 million budget and over 50 expert faculty, preparing you for leadership in sustainable food animal agriculture.
  • Leverage Iowa State’s renowned resources like the Swine Medicine Education Center (SMEC), the Field Epidemiology Team, and the Center for Food Security and Public Health, all designed to give you a competitive edge in your career.
  • Stay at the forefront of veterinary medicine with $19.5 million in funded grants.

Example Program

The following sample program serves as a foundational guide for students enrolled in the core curriculum. It can be customized based on the student’s preferred timeline upon admission and if they choose an area of specialization.

Core Courses

  • STAT 5870: Statistical Methods for Research Workers (4 cr)
  • VDPAM 5280: Principles of Epidemiology and Population Health (3 cr)

Choose at least one applied VDPAM course (2 of 5 required)

  • VDPAM 5600: Ecology of Infectious Disease (3 cr)
  • VDPAM 5620: Applied Diagnostic Technologies (3 cr)
  • VDPAM 5640: Animal Welfare Science and Research (3 cr)
  • VDPAM 5670: Design and Implementation of Field Trials (3 cr)
  • VDPAM 6500: Swine Diagnostic Medicine (4 cr)

Research credits (variable cr)

Required advanced applied statistics courses (select at least 1 of 2)

  • VDPAM 527: Applied Statistical Methods in Population Studies (3 cr)
  • VDPAM 529: Epidemiological Methods in Population Research (3 cr)

Choose at least one applied VDPAM course if not fulfilled (2 of 5 required)

  • VDPAM 5600: Ecology of Infectious Disease (3 cr)
  • VDPAM 5620: Applied Diagnostic Technologies (3 cr)
  • VDPAM 5640: Animal Welfare Science and Research (3 cr)
  • VDPAM 5670: Design and Implementation of Field Trials (3 cr)
  • VDPAM 6500: Swine Diagnostic Medicine (4 cr)

Special topics (3 cr)

Research credits (variable cr)

Areas of Specialization

The VDPAM Graduate Program offers five areas of specialization or “foci” for the Master of Science degrees. Students will have the option to choose an area of specialization or simply follow the core program.

The students electing an area of specialization will major in Veterinary Preventive Medicine. Their graduate transcripts will acknowledge the area of specialization.

The following areas of specialization are offered for our MSc programs:

Core Courses (all required)

Course Description Credits Semester
VDPAM 5280on Principles of Epidemiology and Population Health 3 S
STAT 5101on Statistical Methods for Research Workers 4 S,F
VPTH 5700 Systemic Pathology I 4 F, even
VPTH 5710 Systemic Pathology II 4 F, odd

Required Advanced Applied Statistics Courses (select at least 1 of 2)

Course Description Credits Semester
VDPAM 5270on Applied Statistical Methods in Population Studies 3 F, odd
VDPAM 5290on Epidemiological Methods in Population Research 3 F, even

Required Applied Courses (select at least 3 of 6)

Course Description Credits Semester
VDPAM 5600on Ecology of Infectious Disease 3 S, odd
VDPAM 5620 Applied Diagnostic Technologies 3 F, even
VDPAM 5640on Animal Welfare Science and Research 3 S, even
VDPAM 5670on Design and Implementation of Field Trials 3 F, odd
VDPAM 6500 Swine Diagnostic Medicine 4 F, odd
VPTH 6790 Histopathology of Laboratory Animals 2 S, SS, F
  • on = Available online
  • S = Spring | SS = Summer | F = Fall
  • Odd = offered odd years | Even = offered even years

Core Courses (all required)

Course Description Credits Semester
VDPAM 5280on Principles of Epidemiology and Population Health 3 S
STAT 5101on Statistical Methods for Research Workers 4 S,F
VDPAM 5260 Veterinary Toxicology 3 S
VDPAM 5460 Clinical and Diagnostic Toxicology 3 F, S, SS
ANS 6180 Vitamins and Minerals 2 S

Required Advanced Applied Statistics Courses (select at least 1 of 2)

Course Description Credits Semester
VDPAM 5270on Applied Statistical Methods in Population Studies 3 F, odd
VDPAM 5290on Epidemiological Methods in Population Research 3 F, even

Required Applied Courses (select at least 3 of 6)

Course Description Credits Semester
VDPAM 5600on Ecology of Infectious Disease 3 S, odd
VDPAM 5620 Applied Diagnostic Technologies 3 F, even
VDPAM 5640on Animal Welfare Science and Research 3 S, even
VDPAM 5670on Design and Implementation of Field Trials 3 F, odd
VDPAM 6500 Swine Diagnostic Medicine 4 F, odd
  • on = Available online
  • S = Spring | SS = Summer | F = Fall
  • Odd = offered odd years | Even = offered even years

Core Courses (all required)

Course Description Credits Semester
VDPAM 5280on Principles of Epidemiology and Population Health 3 S
STAT 5101on Statistical Methods for Research Workers 4 S,F
VDPAM 5270on Applied Statistical Methods in Population Studies 3 F, odd
VDPAM 5290on Epidemiological Methods in Population Research 3 F, even
VDPAM 5600on Ecology of Infectious Disease 3 S, odd
VDPAM 5670on Design and Implementation of Field Trials 3 F, odd

Required Applied Courses (select at least 3 of 4)

Course Description Credits Semester
VDPAM 5080 Poultry Diseases 2 S
VDPAM 5640on Animal Welfare Science and Research 3 S, even
VDPAM 5810 Advanced Cow/Calf Production Medicine 2 S
VDPAM 6500 Swine Diagnostic Medicine 4 F, odd

on = Available online

S = Spring | SS = Summer | F = Fall

Odd = offered odd years | Even = offered even years

Core Courses (all required)

Course Description Credits Semester
VDPAM 5280on Principles of Epidemiology and Population Health 3 S
STAT 5101on Statistical Methods for Research Workers 4 S,F
VDPAM 7480 Swine Medicine 2 F, S, SS
VDPAM 7478A Swine Production Management and Consultation 2 F, S
VDPAM 7478B Drug, Vaccination, and Treatment Management for Swine 2 S, SS
VDPAM 7478C Swine Emerging Diseases and Emergency Response Management 2 F, S
VDPAM 6500on Swine Diagnostic Medicine 4 F

Required Advanced Applied Statistics Courses (select at least 1 of 2)

Course Description Credits Semester
VDPAM 5270on Applied Statistical Methods in Population Studies 3 F, odd
VDPAM 5290on Epidemiological Methods in Population Research 3 F, even

Required Applied Courses (select at least 2 of 5)

Course Description Credits Semester
VDPAM 5600on Ecology of Infectious Disease 3 S, odd
VDPAM 5620 Applied Diagnostic Technologies 3 F, even
VDPAM 5640on Animal Welfare Science and Research 3 S, even
VDPAM 5670on Design and Implementation of Field Trials 3 F, odd
VDPAM 6550 Advanced Swine Production Medicine 4 S, odd
  • on = Available online
  • S = Spring | SS = Summer | F = Fall
  • Odd = offered odd years | Even = offered even years

 

Core Courses (all required)

Course Description Credits Semester
VDPAM 5280on Principles of Epidemiology and Population Health 3 S
STAT 5101on Statistical Methods for Research Workers 4 S,F
VDPAM 7465 Animal Welfare 2 F, SS
VDPAM 5640on Animal Welfare Science and Research 3 S
VDPAM 5900 Special Topics: Animal Welfare 3 F, S, SS

Required Advanced Applied Statistics Courses (select at least 1 of 2)

Course Description Credits Semester
VDPAM 5270on Applied Statistical Methods in Population Studies 3 F, odd
VDPAM 5290on Epidemiological Methods in Population Research 3 F, even

Required Elective Animal Welfare Courses (select at least 1 of 2)

Course Description Credits Semester
EEOB 5070 Advanced Animal Behavior 3 S
ANS 5370 Statistical Methods for Research Workers 3 S

Required Applied Courses (select at least 1 of 4 from this or previous tables)

Course Description Credits Semester
VDPAM 5600on Ecology of Infectious Disease 3 S, odd
VDPAM 5620 Applied Diagnostic Technologies 3 F, even
VDPAM 5670on Design and Implementation of Field Trials 3 F, odd
VDPAM 6500 Swine Diagnostic Medicine 4 F, odd
  • on = Available online
  • S = Spring | SS = Summer | F = Fall
  • Odd = offered odd years | Even = offered even years

 

Take the next step

Find a graduate faculty member who aligns with your interests and will agree to fund your research and education. Once you establish your major faculty member, apply to join the VDPAM Graduate Programs and become a leader in solving the health challenges of tomorrow.