University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
2001-2003 Programs of Study Timetables
Course Catalog
contents undergraduate graduate professional search

VETERINARY MEDICAL SCIENCE

Dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine: Victor E. Valli

Veterinary Biosciences

Head of the Department: David R. Gross

Correspondence and Admission Information: Department of Veterinary Biosciences, 3516 Veterinary Medicine Basic Sciences Building, 2001 South Lincoln Avenue, Urbana, IL 61802; (217) 333-2506; E-mail: paceley@uiuc.edu

URL: www.cvm.uiuc.edu/vb/

GRADUATE DEGREE PROGRAMS

The Department of Veterinary Biosciences offers graduate work leading to the degrees of master of science and doctor of philosophy. Areas of specialization include physiology, pharmacology, and toxicology. Each area has a core of required courses supplemented by other courses within the Department of Veterinary Biosciences and from other departments of the Graduate College. Adequate laboratory and animal holding space to conduct the research of the faculty and graduate students is provided in the Basic Sciences Building, Veterinary Teaching Hospitals, and the Veterinary Research Farm.

ADMISSION

Applicants for graduate study in veterinary biosciences must have a minimum grade point average of 3.0 (A = 4.0). Grade point averages will be calculated on the last 60 hours of undergraduate studies for those with or without the D.V.M. degree and on the entire professional women's STUDIES curriculum for those with the D.V.M. degree. Applicants with a graduate degree or with some graduate coursework will be evaluated on the basis of their graduate work as well as their undergraduate or professional records. Qualifications of students must be approved by the dep artment's Graduate Studies Committee.

The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is required and must have been taken within the last five years prior to application. Candidates must score an average in the 80th percentile or higher on each of the three portions of the GRE to be eligible for consideration.

International applicants whose native language is not English must take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). A score of at least 600 on the paper-based test, or 250 on the computer-based test, is required. Those applicants who gain admission on the basis of their academic credentials, but score below 600 on the TOEFL, will be admitted on limited status and required to take the English Placement Test (EPT) upon their arrival. Students are exempt from the TOEFL requirement if they have completed at least two academic years of full-time study at an institution where the language of instruction is English during the five-year period prior to the proposed date of enrollment. Students also nee d to take the Test of Spoken English (TSE) oral exam and score at least 50.

Graduate Teaching Experience

Experience in teaching is considered a vital part of the graduate program and is required as part of the academic work of all Ph.D. candidates in this program.

MASTER OF SCIENCE

The requirements for the degree are eight units of graduate credit, of which a minimum of three units must be in courses at the 400 level, and two of these three units must be in the major field; one-quarter unit of veterinary biosciences seminar credit; a thesis on original research; and a final comprehensive examination.

DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY

The requirements for the degree include 24 units of graduate credit, with at least 16 units (including thesis research) earned in courses meeting on the Urbana-Champaign campus, on the Chicago campus, or in other locations approved by the Graduate College for graduate credit; one-half unit of veterinary biosciences seminar credit; passage of a departmental qualifying examination; passage of the preliminary examination; and a satisfactory original thesis and defense of the thesis in a final examination.

FINANCIAL AID

A limited number of research and teaching assistantships or associate positions are available.

VETERINARY CLINICAL MEDICINE

Head of the Department: H. Fred Troutt

Correspondence and Admission Information: Department of Veterinary Clinical Medicine, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 242 Small Animal Clinic, 1008 West Hazelwood Drive, Urbana, IL 61801; (217) 333-5310; E-mail: h-troutt@uiuc.edu

URL: www.cvm.uiuc.edu/vcm/

Prospective students may contact: Barbara A. Huffman, Education Secretary, (217) 333-5310; Fax: (217) 244-1475; E-mail: bhuffman@uiuc.edu

ADMISSION

Admission requirements include a doctor of veterinary medicine (D.V.M.) degree or equivalent. By petition, non-D.V.M.s may be admitted. Applicants for graduate study in veter inary clinical medicine must have a minimum grade point average of 3.0 (A = 4.0). Admission averages are computed from the entire professional curriculum or from the last 60 hours of undergraduate studies for those without the D.V.M. degree. Applicants with a grade point average between 2.5 and 3.0 may be considered for admission on limited status on the basis of individual merit. Applicants who have a prior graduate degree or who have completed some graduate course work will be evaluated on the basis of their graduate work as well as their under- graduate or professional records. Acceptance of students must be approved by the department's Graduate Committee.

International applicants must submit evidence of satisfactory performance on TOEFL or other tests designed to test proficiency in English. International students must also submit evidence of financial support. Such support should be discussed with the department head before formal application is made.

GRADUATE DEGREE PROGRAMS

The Department of Veterinary Clinical Medicine offers a graduate program leading to the master of science degree. The primary goal of graduate programs in veterinary clinical medicine is to prepare students for careers involving research and/or teaching in a specialty area. Graduate work in veterinary clinical medicine may be pursued in several areas, including anesthesiology, equine medicine and surgery, food animal medicine and surgery, ophthalmology, radiology, small animal medicine, small animal surgery, swine medicine, and theriogenology (animal reproduction). The department, with the teaching hospital, has facilities and equipment for studies of clinical aspects of diseases and other conditions in domestic species.

After completing graduate work, the student will be able to conduct research both independently and as a team member. Ad- equate training in planning research projects and writing research proposals will give the student the ability to function with teams of scientists from various areas of the biomedical field. Experience in clinical teaching and literature study will form the basis for the student's development of teaching programs within his or her discipline.

A residency program, designed to train a veterinarian for specialty clinical practice, can be combined with the graduate program. While a graduate program can be accomplished in a shorter time period, the duration of combined programs is usually three years, reflecting the time required to satisfy the objective of each program. Details of the residency program can be obtained from the head of the Department of Veterinary Clinical Medicine.

MASTER OF SCIENCE

The requirements for this degree include completion of a thesis that conforms to the requirements of the Department of Veterinary Clinical Medicine.

The credit requirements for the master's degree are in accordance with those of the Graduate College. The minimum is eight units; no more than three units of thesis credit may be included in any eight-unit pro gram. At least three units must be in 400-level courses (exclusive of 499 and 490) and two of the three units must be in the student's major field of study. To maintain good standing in a graduate pro- gram, a student must have a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0 (A = 4.0). One statistics course is required.

The candidate must complete all requirements of the department and the Graduate College and pass the stipulated examinations. The final M.S. examination consists of a presentation of the thesis in the form of a departmental seminar (VCM 490). The seminar is followed by an oral examination administered by the candidate's committee and the department head. The student must demonstrate the ability to design and conduct independent research in order to be granted the M.S. degree.

GRADUATE TEACHING EXPERIENCE

Experience in teaching is considered a vital part of the graduate program and is required as part of the academic work of all M.S. candidates in this program.

FIN ANCIAL AID

A limited number of teaching associate positions are available.

Veterinary Pathobiology

Head of the Department: Wanda Haschek-Hock

Correspondence and Admission Information: Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, 2522 Veterinary Medicine Basic Sciences Building, 2001 South Lincoln Avenue, Urbana, IL 61802;
(217) 333-2449;
E-mail: c-manuel@uiuc.edu
URL: www.cvm.uiuc.edu/vp/

GRADUATE DEGREE PROGRAMS

The Department of Veterinary Pathobiology offers graduate programs leading to the degrees of master of science and doctor of philosophy. Areas of specialization include epidemiology, immunology, microbiology, parasitology, anatomic pathology, clinical pathology, and toxicologic pathology. Each specialty area has a core of required courses supplemented by other courses within the Department of Veterinary Pathobiology and from other departments of the Graduate College.

ADMISSION

Applicants for graduate study in veterinary pathobiology must have a minimum grade point average of 3.0 (A = 4.0). Applicants with a grade point average between 2.75 and 3.0 may be considered for admission on a probationary status on the basis of individual merit. Grade point averages will be calculated on the last 60 hours of undergraduate studies for those without the D.V.M. degree or on the entire professional curriculum for those with the D.V.M. degree. Applicants with a graduate degree or with some graduate coursework will be evaluated on the basis of their graduate work as well as their undergraduate or professional record. The departmental average Graduate Record Examination (GRE) score is 1800. The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) minimum is 590 on the paper-based test, or 243 on the computer-based test. Admission for spring semester is possible. Qualifications of students must be approved by the department's committee on admission of graduate students.

Gr aduate Teaching Experience

Experience in teaching is considered a vital part of the graduate program and is required as part of the academic work of all Ph.D. candidates in this program.

MASTER OF SCIENCE

The requirements for the master's degree are (1) eight units of credit, of which three units must be in Veterinary Pathobiology, and three units of 400 level courses with one and one-half units in Veterinary Pathobiology; (2) one-quarter unit of Veterinary Pathobiology seminar credit; (3) one unit of statistics; (4) a thesis on original research or a publishable manuscript; and (5) a final comprehensive examination.

DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY

The requirements for the degree are (1) 24 units of credit (eight units toward the Ph.D. degree are allowed for an M.S. degree completed elsewhere), 12 units of which (including thesis research) must be in the Department of Veterinary Pathobiology and three units in other departments of the Graduate College; (2) one unit of statis tics; (3) one-half unit of Veterinary Pathobiology seminar credit; (4) satisfactory completion of a communicative skills requirement; (5) passage of the preliminary and prospectus examinations; and (6) a satisfactory original thesis and defense of the thesis in a final examination.

SPECIALIZATION IN INFECTIOUS DISEASES

The Department of Veterinary Pathobiology offers an area of specialization in infectious diseases. The program is flexible and provides the student with proficiency in several areas of microbiology, parisitology, epidemiology, immunology, and molecular genetics. Students electing this area should have completed coursework in basic genetics, biochemistry, and microbiology. The program of study for each student in the specialization is decided individually. Interested students should direct inquiries and applications to the department.

Specialization in Toxicologic Pathology

The Department of Veterinary Pathobiology offers an area of specialization in toxicologi c pathology. This program is an integration of pathology and toxicology, which can range from animal models to biochemical toxicology in an experimental setting. Veterinarians entering this specialization will be specifically trained in toxicologic pathology so they can function as competent and innovative professionals and assume leadership roles in academia, government, and industry. Students electing this area should have completed coursework in the D.V.M. curriculum. The program of study for each student in the specialization is decided individually. Interested students should direct inquiries and applications to the department. Students completing the specialization will be qualified to take the ACVP Board examinations during the program.

FINANCIAL AID

A limited number of teaching and research assistantships or associate positions are available.