Academic Programs Catalog

College of Veterinary Medicine

Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences

Robert Charles Fowkes-Gajan, Chairperson

The Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences offers courses designed to meet the needs of the professional program in veterinary medicine and post–D.V.M. clinical training programs that provide the basis for specialty board certification in various areas such as dermatology, diagnostic imaging, emergency and critical care, ophthalmology, internal medicine, cardiology, anesthesiology and surgery.

Many members of the faculty participate in graduate training at the master's and doctoral level through the interdepartmental program in Comparative Medicine and Integrative Biology.

Several colleges and departments within Michigan State University cooperate in offering interdepartmental Doctor of Philosophy degree programs with majors in cell and molecular biology, genetics, and neuroscience, which are administered by the College of Natural Science. For additional information, refer to the statement on the doctoral programs in the College of Natural Science section of this catalog.

 


Graduate Study


Small Animal Clinical Sciences - Master of Science

The department offers advanced studies leading to the Master of Science degree. The program is designed primarily for graduate veterinarians in the residency training program in the department.

Emphasis in the program is placed on clinically oriented research which is well supported by the facilities available and the clinical case volume. Graduates of this program will find opportunities in all areas of practice, teaching, and research.

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

Admission

The candidate must possess a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree or its equivalent and have the potential qualifications for graduate study. Licensure to practice veterinary medicine in the State of Michigan is usually required.

Requirements for the Master of Science Degree in Small Animal Clinical Sciences

The student must complete 30 credits under Plan A (with thesis).

Supporting courses may be taken in such areas as anatomy, pathology, physiology, pharmacology, microbiology, immunology, nutrition, parasitology, statistics, virology, chemistry, and animal genetics.

Academic Standards

Three grades below a 3.0 in graduate courses will remove a student from degree candidacy.

Transfer Credits

As many as 9 semester credits of graduate work (excluding research and thesis credits) may be transferred from other institutions, upon approval of the department chairperson, the Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Studies, and the student's guidance committee.

 


Post-D.V.M. Clinical Training Programs

These programs are supported by the clinical service activities of a highly specialized faculty utilizing the facilities and support staff of The Veterinary Teaching Hospital.

 


Internships

The department offers thirteen–month rotating internships designed to provide general clinical training for the post—D.V.M. student as well as to provide a basis for further specialty training. Selection of trainees is normally made through the National Internship–Residency Matching Program.

 


Residencies

Residencies designed to meet the training requirements for specialty board certification are currently offered in dermatology, internal medicine, and surgery. The dermatology residency is two years in length and the others are three years in length with yearly evaluation of progress and continuance based on trainee performance. Concurrent work toward the Master of Science degree is encouraged. Selection of trainees is normally accomplished through the National Internship Residency Matching Program.