Master's Degree for DVMs

General Information VPTH Graduate Program

General Requirements for the MS Degree in Veterinary Pathology

  • MS thesis requires 30 graduate credits
  • MS nonthesis requires 40 graduate credits (10 credits from outside department)
  • MS nonthesis requires a minimum of 3 credits of V PTH 599:Creative Component Research
    Section A, anatomic pathology; Section B, parasitology; Section D, clinical pathology

Course Requirements for the MS thesis or MS nonthesis

General Course Requirements with minimum credit requirements (in bold)

Biological Sciences 3 Cr
BBMB 420: Mammalian Biochemistry Cr. 3
BBMB 404: Biochemistry I Cr. 3
BBMB 405: Biochemistry II Cr. 3
BBMB 411: Techniques in Biochemical Research Cr. 4
BBMB 542 A,B,C: Introduction to Molecular Biology Techniques. Cr.1, A=DNA , B=Protein , C=Cells
GEN 409: Molecular Genetics. Cr. 3
MCDB 511/GDCB 511: Advanced Molecular Genetics Cr. 3
MCDB/GDCB 528: Advances in Molecular Cell Biology Cr. 3
VMPM 575: Immunology. Cr. 3
VMPM 520: Principles of Immunology. Cr. 3

Ethics 1 Cr
GR ST 565: Responsible Conduct of Research in Science and Engineering. Cr. 1

Statistics 4 Cr
STAT 587:Statistical Methods for Research Workers Cr. 4

Postmortem Pathology Lab 1 Cr - Required or optional depending on specialization
V PTH 551: Post-mortem laboratory Cr. 1-3

Systemic Pathology 8 cr
*V PTH 570, VPTH 571: Systemic Pathology I (Cr. 4), II (Cr. 4)

Seminar 1 Cr
V PTH 605:Thesis or dissertation defense seminar Cr. 1

Diagnostic Interpretation R Cr
V PTH 606: Case material evaluation for preliminary (PhD) or MS (as determined, if applicable) Cr. R
(Corresponding to Anatomic Pathology, Clinical Pathology, or Parasitology)

Additional Available Elective Courses

TOX 501: Principles of Toxicology Cr. 3
VMPM 608: Molecular Virology Cr. 3
VDPAM 551: Post-mortem/Advanced Veterinary Diagnostic Pathology Cr. 1-3
HG ED 561: College Teaching Cr. 3
VPTH 530: Teaching and Learning Veterinary Medical Education Cr. 3
VPTH 660: Pathogenesis of Persistent Infections Cr. 2

Additional Course Requirements by Area of Specialization**

MS Thesis

Veterinary Anatomic Pathology
V PTH 550 Surgical Pathology Laboratory Cr 1
V PTH 604 Pathology Case Seminar Cr 1

Veterinary Clinical Pathology
V PTH 604 Pathology Case Seminar Cr 1
V PTH 549 Clinical Pathology Laboratory Cr 2
V PTH 550 Surgical Pathology Laboratory Cr 1
V PTH 590D Special Topics Cr 1-4

Veterinary Parasitology
V PTH Diagnostic Parasitology Laboratory Cr 2
V PTH 576 Veterinary Parasitology Cr 4

MS Non-Thesis

Anatomic Pathology
V PTH 550 Surgical Pathology Laboratory Cr 1
V PTH 604 Pathology Case Seminar  Cr 1
V PTH 599 Creative Component Research Cr 3

Clinical Pathology
V PTH 549 Clinical Pathology Laboratory Cr 2
V PTH 550 Surgical Pathology Laboratory Cr 1
V PTH 604 Pathology Case Seminar Cr 1
V PTH 590D Special Topics Cr 1-4
V PTH 599 Creative Component Research Cr 3

Veterinary Parasitology
V PTH 548 Diagnostic Parasitology Laboratory Cr 5
V PTH 576 Veterinary Parasitology*** Cr 4
V PTH 660 Pathogenesis of Persistent Infections Cr 2
V PTH 599 Creative Component Research Cr 3

*Requirements for VPTH 570 and VPTH 571 may be waived by the department chairperson for students with residency training or ACVP certification; test-out is also available on request.
**Credits are additional to those listed under general requirements.
***Not available for graduate credit to students who are dually enrolled in DVM and graduate programs.