VMS - Pathobiology, MS

for the degree of Master of Science in Veterinary Medical Science - Pathobiology

The Department of Pathobiology offers graduate programs leading to the degree of Master of Science. Areas of specialization include epidemiology, infectious diseases, immunology, virology, bacteriology, anatomic pathology, and clinical pathology. Each specialty area has a core of required courses supplemented by other courses within the Department of Pathobiology 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 the Department of Pathobiology 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 without the D.V.M. degree and on the entire professional curriculum for those with the D.V.M., or equivalent, 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 department’s Graduate Admissions Committee.

The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is required and must have been taken within the last five years prior to application. Usually, successful candidates 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 need to take the Test of Spoken English (TSE) oral exam and score at least 50. We are not accepting applications for the M.S./D.V.M. program at this time.

Specialization in Infectious Diseases
The Department of Pathobiology offers an area of specialization in infectious diseases. The program is flexible and provides the student with proficiency in several areas of epidemiology, immunology, parasitology, virology, bacteriology and molecular pathogenesis of infectious disease and ecology of infectious diseases. 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 Anatomic, Clinical and Zoo Pathology
The Department of Pathobiology offers an area of specialization in anatomic, clinical, and zoo pathology. These programs are residency programs available to qualified graduate veterinarians. Veterinarians entering this specialization will be specifically trained in pathology so they can function as competent and innovative professionals and assume leadership roles in academia, government, and industry. Students electing this area must have completed coursework in the D.V.M. curriculum. The program of study for each student in these specializations 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.

Joint Degree Program
Students accepted into the Veterinary Medical Scholars Program can complete a D.V.M. and Ph.D. simultaneously.

Faculty Research Interests
Expertise in the Department of Pathobiology spans epidemiology, immunology, parasitology, virology, bacteriology and comparative pathology. Through its multidisciplinary approach, the department addresses complex problems in biomedical and veterinary sciences. Research emphasizes multi-host disease systems, with the goal of improving human and animal health at the individual and population levels in a broad social and environmental context. Specific areas of research interest include:

Molecular mechanisms of infection, host-pathogen interactions, and immunity
Strategies for vaccine design and disease control
Experimental pathology
Molecular virology
Bacteriology
Cancer biology
Spatial and contextual aspects of health and illness, combining human, animal, and ecosystem health
Mathematical modeling of infectious diseases to promote disease control
Foreign animal disease prevention, preparedness, and response

Training Programs, Centers and Institutes
Our faculty provide undergraduate and graduate instruction in molecular virology, infectious diseases, epidemiology, bacteriology, parasitology and anatomic and clinical pathology. They also participate in interdisciplinary training programs including the Emergent Behaviors of Integrated Cellular Systems (EBICS) Center, the Division of Nutritional Sciences , Beckman Institute, and the Institute for Genomic Biology. Pathobiology faculty also lead the Anatomical and Clinical Pathology Residency Program, which prepares graduate veterinarians for the certifying examination of the American College of Veterinary Pathologists (ACVP).

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.

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

for the degree of Master of Science in Veterinary Medical Science - Pathobiology

For additional details and requirements refer to the department's graduate degree requirements and the Graduate College Handbook.

Course List
Code	Title	Hours
Thesis Option
PATH 590	Seminar	1
PATH 524	Biostatistics	4
Electives		0-27
PATH 599	Thesis Research (0 min applied toward degree)	0
Total Hours	Thesis Option	32



Non-Thesis Option
PATH 590	Seminar	1
PATH 524	Biostatistics	4
Electives		27
Total Hours	Non Thesis Option	32

Other Requirements

Grad Other Degree Requirements
Requirement	Description
Other Requirements may overlap
Final comprehensive examination
Minimum 500-level Hours Required Overall:	12 (8 in PATH)
Minimum GPA:	3.0

for the degree of Master of Science in Veterinary Medical Science - Pathobiology

Graduates of the MS program in Pathobiology will:

Demonstrate comprehensive knowledge of their chosen sub-discipline that forms the foundation of scientific study in infectious diseases of humans and animals.
Formulate ideas and concepts and perform hypothesis-driven research beyond the current boundary of knowledge to make substantive contributions to the field.
Demonstrate mastery in scientific techniques and methodology and data analysis.
Use effective written and oral communication skills to deliver complex ideas to students in classrooms and to general public.
Be prepared to perform high-quality research in academia, industry, or government agencies in an ethical and professional manner.

for the degree of Master of Science in Veterinary Medical Science - Pathobiology

College of Veterinary Medicine
College of Veterinary Medicine website
Dean: Peter D. Constable
242 Small Animal Clinic
1008 West Hazelwood Drive
Urbana, IL 61802
217-333-5310

Department of Pathobiology
Director of Graduate Studies: Dongwan Yoo
Department of Pathobiology website
2522 Veterinary Medicine Basic Sciences Building, 2001 South Lincoln Avenue, Urbana, IL 61802
(217) 333-2449

Admissions
Karen Nichols
Graduate College Admissions & Requirements

Course Catalog

VMS - Pathobiology, MS

Other Requirements

Print Options