Academic Programs Catalog

College of Veterinary Medicine

Comparative Medicine and Integrative Biology

Comparative Medicine and Integrative Biology - Doctor of Philosophy

The College also offers the Doctor of Philosophy degree focused on depth of understanding across disciplines, acquisition of research skills and the conducting of original research.

The objective of the first two years of the program is to acquire and/or document a high degree of competence in fundamental and basic biomedical sciences and to develop research skills. This objective is achieved through specific course requirements and laboratory research.

Students may elect to take their comprehensive exam after completion of at least 12 credit hours of course work. The comprehensive examination consists of the submission of a written research proposal, and an oral presentation of the dissertation proposal to the student's guidance committee. 

In addition to meeting the requirements of the university and of the College of Veterinary Medicine, students must meet the requirements specified below.

Requirements for the Doctor of Philosophy Degree in Comparative Medicine and Integrative Biology

The student must complete a minimum of 18 credits of non-research courses, with at least 12 credits in courses at the 800 level and above.

In rare cases, a student may lack sufficient background in certain areas and may be asked to complete collateral courses at the 400 or 500 level. Credits earned in such collateral courses are not counted towards the degree.

Students must complete the following requirements for the degree:
1. At least two enrollments in:
VM 820 Current Topics in Comparative Medicine and Integrative Biology  2
2. At least 14 credits in electives that are approved by the student's guidance committee and that include at least one course from each of four major areas: molecular life sciences, integrative biology, pathology, and statistics and epidemiology.
3. The following course (24 to 36 credits):
    VM 999 Doctoral Dissertation Research
4. Successfully defend the doctoral dissertation.
5. Fulfill the Graduate School requirement for Responsible Conduct of Research, Scholarship and Creative Activity (RCRSCA).