College of Veterinary Medicine

Outline of PhD Graduate Study

College of Veterinary Medicine
Oregon State University

Admission:

1. A student applies to the Graduate School.
2. The Associate Dean of Instruction (ADI) of the College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM) receives a copy of the application directly from the applicant and another copy of the application with the worksheet from the Graduate School. The ADI circulates a copy of the application among faculty for the possible acceptance. If any faculty is interested in accepting the applicant, he requests the Graduate Studies Committee (GSC) to examine the application for his/her acceptance.
3. The CVM sends the acceptance/rejection notice to the Graduate School. If the applicant is accepted, the ADI sends a letter and a copy of the college graduate studies guideline to the student.

Student's Committee and Major Areas:

1. The student confers with their major professor and selects initial classes. Students should fulfill the requirements early in their course of study.
2. By the fifth term, the student should write a letter to the ADI, indicating at least three major areas of study and at least four names of possible committee members. Two of them must be from the CVM. The possible committee members must reflect proposed major areas.
3. The ADI consults with the GSC and either approves the student's suggestions or suggests changes in a written form.
4. After the approval of the committee, the student submits the names of committee members including a graduate school representative to the Graduate School.

Study Program:

1. The student and their major professor decide on the tentative program. They should make sure that all the requirements of the CVM are met as well as those of the Graduate School.
2. The student arranges a formal program meeting through the Graduate School. The student's program is established at this meeting.
3. The program, signed by the student's committee, is submitted to the ADI. The ADI, in consultation with the GSC, either approves the program or suggests changes.
4. The program is submitted to the Graduate School for their approval.

Preliminary Examination:

1. The student, in consultation with their major professor, decides on the date of the written and oral exam, and notifies the ADI. Normally, elapsed time is two weeks between written and oral exams. The oral exam must be arranged through the Graduate School. The ADI (or representative) serves as a referee of the written examination, arranges the examining room, and solicits questions from the committee members.
2. The ADI or their representative conducts the exam, distributes the answers, and collects graded answers. The student's committee decides the outcome on a PASS/NO PASS basis, and the chair informs the student of the outcome in a written letter. A copy of the letter is sent to the ADI.
3. The oral examination will be conducted according to the guidelines of the Graduate School.

Teaching:

The student and their major professor arrange for at least one formal lecture per year to be delivered by the student. This should be in a graduate or professional level course.