General Information

Advanced study in the Department of Veterinary Pathobiology is offered via graduate programs leading to Master of Science and Doctoral degrees, through specialized residencies, and through postdoctoral research appointments. Faculty from the College of Veterinary Medicine, School of Medicine, College of Arts and Science, and College of Agriculture cooperate jointly for graduate study. These programs provide in-depth training to prepare students for careers in teaching, research, diagnostic and government services in veterinary microbiology, immunology, molecular genetics, parasitology, pathology, toxicology, infectious and parasitic diseases, public health, laboratory animal medicine, and other biomedical areas. Training opportunities are varied and depend upon the focus and career goals of the student.

For more information on the application process, please go to the Graduate School homepage by clicking here. You may send all application information to the Graduate school, 210 Jesse Hall.

Graduate Study and Training

The College of Veterinary Medicine offers a Master of Science degree in Biomedical Sciences with a specialization in veterinary pathobiology and/or laboratory animal medicine, which is administered through the Department of Veterinary Pathobiology. The PhD degree is offered by the Area of Pathobiology composed of faculty from the College of Veterinary Medicine, School of Medicine, College of Arts and Science, and College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources. In addition, the Department of Veterinary Pathobiology offers residency programs in pathology and Laboratory Animal Medicine which may be pursued concurrently with either the MS or PhD degrees. Breadth of training is facilitated by faculty collaboration with colleagues at the College of Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital (VMTH), the Research Animal Diagnostic and Investigative Laboratory (RADIL), the Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (VMDL), and with fellow scientists in agriculture, biology, and medicine.

Master of Science degree

The Master of Science degree is offered through the Department of Veterinary Pathobiology and requires 30 credit hours of work including courses, seminars, research, and problems courses. The program includes research in a particular field and defense of a thesis which embodies the results of this work. Certain areas of emphasis require submission of a formal master's thesis while others require preparation of a publishable manuscript.

PhD degree

The PhD requires 72 credit hours of work including a minimum of 15 credits of upper level graduate course work exclusive of research credits. The student must pass a written and oral comprehensive examination in the area of study, and write, present, and defend a dissertation which embodies the results of original and significant investigation by the candidate.

Graduate training relates to the major departmental thrust - application of advanced biotechnology to solving today's most perplexing agricultural, biomedical, and companion animal questions. The faculty of the Department of Veterinary Pathobiology consists of more than 40 scientists engaged in a wide variety of research programs supported by government, foundations, and private industry-sponsored grants and contracts. Research is the foundation of graduate and postdoctoral study and students with the Department of Veterinary Pathobiology can expect to spend 75% of their time engaged in research activities. Upon entering the Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, a student will begin advanced coursework and perform a research rotation to become familiar with several departmental research areas. After the research rotation, the student will choose a major professor in his/her research interest area. An advisory committee with then be chosen to construct a degree program designed to meet the student's individual needs.

The department of Veterinary Pathobiology, in partnership with the faculty from the Molecular Microbiology & Immunology (MMI), offers a comprehensive graduate program leading to the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree. This program provides individualized training that is strongly oriented toward basic research in molecular and cellular biology, immunology and host-parasite interactions. Graduates completing this training are prepared to pursue challenging and rewarding professional careers that involve research and teaching at supervisory levels in both the academic and private sectors. More information regarding this program and links to an online application can be found here.

Catherine M. Vogelweid
Director of Graduate Studies
Veterinary Pathobiology
209-B Connaway Hall College of Veterinary Medicine
University of Missouri - Columbia
Columbia, MO 65211-5120

(573) 884-2082 telephone
(573) 884-5414 fax