College of Veterinary Medicine

Master of Science in Veterinary Science

The College of Veterinary Medicine offers graduate work leading toward the Master of Science (M.S.) Degree with a major in veterinary science. Graduate programs may include research and study in anatomy, physiology, pathology, microbiology, immunology, toxicology, and clinical sciences as applied to veterinary medicine. The Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree is required for M.S. degree candidates with major fields of study in pathology or clinical sciences.

You should have broad undergraduate training in biological sciences. Supporting undergraduate course work should also include general physics, general and organic chemistry and mathematics, including calculus. Deficiencies in these areas are not a bar to acceptance but may lengthen the time required to complete the degree program. Candidates normally complete their program in 6-8 terms.

The Required Core

Admission

You must be accepted for graduate study by the College of Veterinary Medicine and the Oregon State University Graduate School.

You will work closely with your major professors in formulating your official program of study and determining your major and minor field of study. You must file a formal program by the beginning of the second term of residence. After being signed by the major and minor professors, the program is forwarded through the Office of the Dean to the OSU Graduate School for final approval. Once officially approved, such a program becomes binding on both you and the institution and may not be changed except by mutual consent.

Credit Requirements

You must complete a program of study totaling at least 45 term hours including thesis and courses approved for graduate credit. Approximately two-thirds of the work (30 term hours) must be in your major and one-third (15 term hours) in your minor. However, the minor field is not always required. A grade point average of 3.00 (B average) is required in both the major and the minor. Grades below 2.00 are not accepted for graduate credit.

The veterinary college faculty has designated three fields (statistics, biochemistry and physiology) of such basic importance that formal graduate study in them is required of all candidates. These required courses may be in addition to the major coursework. Specifically, these requirements are:

Statistics: At least one course in introductory statistics, normally Methods of Data Analysis, ST 511 (4 hours)

Biochemistry: At least 6 hours, normally selected from:

• General Biochemistry
  BB 550, 551, 552 (4, 3, 3 hours)
• Biochemistry
  BB 590, 591, 592 (3 hours each)
• General Biophysics
  BB 581, 582 (3 hours each)

Physiology: One term selected from:

• Principles of Physiology
  Z 530 (4 hours)
• Mammalian Physiology
  Z 531, 532 (4 hours each)
• Veterinary Physiology
  VM 517 (5 hours)

For MS course descriptions, please follow this link to the OSU Catalog.

Seminar

All graduate students are required to enroll in and attend Seminar VM 507 during their first fall term. This seminar serves as an orientation to graduate work, the veterinary college faculty, the university and research techniques.

All graduate students working toward an advanced degree will present a seminar. This is an opportunity for new graduate students to review and present literature concerning their proposed approach to their research. For more advanced graduate students, it is an opportunity to present a progress report or final report on their research.

Transfer Credits

Appropriate graduate courses from other universities will be acceptable to this program. Such credit transfer will be done according to the rules of the Graduate School.

The Research Problem

Your original research problem is normally pursued under the supervision of a faculty member in this College. However, if you wish to investigate research areas outside the scope of the faculty's interest, you may utilize a dual major professor in other departments on campus. Such arrangement must be approved by the Graduate Studies Committee and the Dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine.

Your research problem is defined in conference with the major professor and normally requires a major effort for at least two terms. A thesis is required. Normally, 6-12 hours of credit are allowed for the thesis and other research, although you should register for thesis or research credit each term that you continue your investigation.

Final Examination

The master's degree program is culminated by the formal presentation of your thesis to an examining committee during a final oral examination. Outlines are recommended for preparation and submission of your thesis.