Welcome to the Department of Veterinary Science Graduate Program

The Department of Veterinary Science offers the Master of Science and the Doctor of Philosophy degrees in Veterinary Science with specialization in pathology, virology, microbiology, parasitology, immunology, immunogenetics, reproductive physiology, and pharmacology with emphasis on the horse. The requirements for acceptance into the program are listed under Admission.

The University of Kentucky offers advanced study in 90 program areas awarding doctoral degrees in 56 fields, master's degrees in 94 fields, and 3 specialist degrees. Currently, more than 6,450 graduate students per year are enrolled in these degree programs and other advanced study programs which are centrally administered by the Graduate School http://www.research.uky.edu/gs/. Prospective students can make an application under Admission. There are separate application forms for Domestic and International students.

Contact Dr B. Fitzgerald, Director of Graduate Studies for a graduate information package or for further information. bfitz@uky.edu

Goals

The overall goal of the research program in Veterinary Science has been to improve our understanding of the biology of Equidae. Emphasis has been placed on investigation of the causes and mechanisms which affect the production and performance of horses, regardless of breed. One goal of the program is to provide opportunities for graduate students to develop the skills necessary to become competent scientists who are creative, critical and independent thinkers with the contemporary skills and knowledge to perform independent research and to effectively communicate their results.

Students enrolled in the Master of Science program will gain comprehensive knowledge in the field of specialization through advanced course work and an introduction to research methods. The candidate is expected to demonstrate sufficient comprehension and mastery of the principles of scientific investigation to frame a question related to the field of interest and to design and execute an investigation which will provide a valid answer, presented in the form of a thesis. This program is generally completed in 2 years.

The Doctor of Philosophy program is research oriented, enabling the student to become a self-educating and creative scholar. This degree implies that the individual has demonstrated the capacity to frame an interrelated series of questions and to design and execute an appropriate series of investigations. Research projects are expected to either answer all of the questions or illuminate the area of inquiry in such a way that the resulting dissertation and publications will constitute a definitive contribution to science. This program is generally completed in 4-5 years.

top of page

Admission

All applicants meeting the minimum requirements of The Graduate School will be considered for acceptance. Each applicant is considered individually and acceptance into the program depends a great deal on the background and interest of the applicant and our ability to provide a quality program in the area of interest.

Applicants with strong academic backgrounds are preferred. Undergraduate course preparation should include biology, chemistry and statistics (experimental design). Students accepted into the program should have an appropriate degree from an accredited institution, a minimum grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale and a combined score (verbal plus quantitative) on the Graduate Record Examination of not less than 1100. Applicants with lesser qualifications will be accepted only on the recommendation of a graduate faculty member who is willing to serve as the research advisor for the student.

Many of the requirements for students in our program are identical to the Graduate School requirements as stated in the Graduate School Bulletin. Students are expected to obtain a copy of the Bulletin, review its contents and assume their responsibilities once accepted into the program.

top of page

Financial Assistance

A limited number of funded fellowships and research stipends are available by competition through the Department and/or the University. These funds reflect the generosity of our notable sponsors, specifically the Markey Trust Support for the Maxwell H. Gluck Equine Research Center, The Maxwell and Muriel Gluck Fellowship in the Department of Veterinary Science, The Paul Mellon Graduate Student Support Endowment, Geoffrey C. Hughes Fellowships and Ft. Dodge Animal Health Graduate Fellowship in Veterinary Science.

Most students, however, are supported through extramural grant funds awarded to individual faculty members. All students are encouraged to apply to extramural sources for fellowship monies to support their programs and those with superior academic qualifications and high GRE scores will be nominated for institutional fellowships.

top of page

Course and Grade Requirements

Students enrolled in the MS program must meet the Graduate School Requirements of at least 24 units of coursework, 12 of which must be at the 600 or 700 level and 9 of this 12 in Veterinary Science Department courses. Both MS and PhD students must take a year of graduate level biochemistry (CHE 550, 552) and statistics (STA 570) or demonstrate equivalent coursework completed elsewhere.

Curriculum requirements for each PhD student will be designed in concert with the needs of the individual after discussion with the major advisor and the advisory committee. Students in the MS program must enroll in at least 1 semester of Departmental Seminar (VS770) and students in the PhD program must enroll in 2 semesters of VS770. Lists of recommended courses are attached.

Students enrolled in MS and PhD programs must meet the standards of The Graduate School concerning grades to remain in good standing and to retain their stipends. SEE THE BULLETIN for policy statements regarding probation, dismissal and retention.

top of page

Procedures and Suggested Timetables

Master of Science Degree Students

1. Schedule an orientation meeting with the Director of Graduate Studies. This person will serve as your advisor until a major professor has been selected, if you have not already aligned with one because of funding considerations.

2. Identify a faculty member to serve as major professor/research advisor. This should be accomplished during the first semester and must be done within the first year.

3. Work with the major professor to form an advisory committee to approve your curriculum and help guide your research. The composition of this committee must be consistent with Graduate School guidelines. A form documenting the approved curriculum must be filed with the Director of Graduate Studies.

4. Continue coursework and initiate research activities. Formulate your research plan for the thesis (a suggested format is appended).

5. Schedule periodic meetings with the advisory committee to ensure continuity in the program. These meetings must be held at least once (preferably twice) a year at the request of the student. A record of the proceedings of each meeting must be filed by the major professor with the Director of Graduate Studies and will become part of the permanent file of the student. You are encouraged to consult with members of the committee (and the university-at-large) for advice outside of the official meeting times.

6. Write a thesis based on the research conducted and submit it to the examining committee, which, for the MS degree, is the same as the advisory committee.

7. Schedule a time for your final examination, which will be a defense of your thesis and a comprehensive examination of subject matter decided upon by the committee. Timing and examination considerations are detailed in the BULLETIN.

8. After you successfully pass the final examination, prepare a final copy of the thesis for submission to The Graduate School. Copies for the major advisor and the library of the Department will be bound at departmental expense. The final copy must be filed within 60 days of the exam. See the BULLETIN.

top of page

Doctor of Philosophy Degree Students

1. Schedule an orientation meeting with the Director of Graduate Studies. This person will serve as your advisor until a major professor has been selected, if you have not already aligned with one because of funding considerations.

2. Identify a faculty member to serve as major professor/research advisor. This should be accomplished during the first semester and must be done within the first year.

3. Work with the major professor to form an advisory committee to approve your curriculum and help guide your research. This should be done as soon as practical, as the committee is not obligated to accept coursework taken prior to its formation or to limit the student's curriculum to such courses. The composition of this committee must be consistent with Graduate School guidelines. A form documenting the approved curriculum must be filed with the Director of Graduate Studies.

4. Continue coursework and initiate research activities. Formulate your research plan for the dissertation (a suggested format is appended).

5. Schedule periodic meetings with the advisory committee to ensure continuity in the program. These meetings must be held at least once (preferably twice) a year at the request of the student. A record of the proceedings of each meeting must be filed by the major professor with the Director of Graduate Studies and will become part of the permanent file of the student. You are encouraged to consult with members of the committee and the university-at-large for advice outside of the official meeting times.

6. When you have completed the majority of your scheduled courses and feel prepared, petition your committee to schedule the Qualifying Examination. Requirements are listed in the BULLETIN. Regardless of the format used for administering the examination, the purpose of the PhD Qualifying Examination “is to verify that students have sufficient understanding of and competence in their fields to become candidates for the degree.” If the advisory committee uses a grant proposal format for the qualifying examination, the following guidelines will apply:

a) You will select and present topics which interest you to the committee.

b) The committee chooses one of the above or presents an alternate topic for you to develop into an NIH or USDA style proposal. Examples of proposals will be available for your review through the Director of Graduate Studies.

c) The proposal topic should be a new research problem not previously considered by you in discussions with faculty advisors. The committee has the responsibility to advise you of the protocol for proposal development.

d) The examination is based on:

1) the quality of the written proposal;

2) the oral presentation and defense of the proposal; and

3) demonstration of a comprehensive knowledge, ability and understanding of the scholarly subject matter in your area of concentration.

Scheduling and reporting requirements are in the BULLETIN.

7. After successful completion of the qualifying exam, you attain "candidate" status and continue your research. Maintain close contact with the advisory committee which will monitor your progress. Schedule meetings at least twice a year.

8. When you and the major professor/committee agree that a point of conclusion has been reached in your research, i.e. the dissertation has been written, request your advisor to petition The Graduate School to schedule the final examination. See the BULLETIN for details and timetables which must be met.

9. After you pass the final exam, turn in the final copy of the dissertation to The Graduate School with the required forms and signatures in a timely fashion (within 60 days). Provide two copies to the department for binding (1 for the major advisor, 1 for the department library).

top of page

Approved Courses

Curriculum - Each course described below may be taken as specifically directed by the student's Advisory Committee. Although students are not limited to these courses, total course requirement will be set forth by the Committee taking into account the background and special interests of the individual student.

top of page

Suggested Proposal Outline

- Literature Review

An up to date review which you can use to clearly document the rationale for the work you are proposing. This search and critical analysis of the literature will prepare you for writing your thesis or dissertation and the resulting document could well serve as the base for its first chapter.

- Hypotheses to be Tested

List the questions to be addressed.

- Approaches to Test the Hypotheses

Experimental Design
Viable Approaches
Strengths and Weaknesses of Each
Technical Considerations
Methods of Data Analysis
Budget
Timetable for Completion
Expected Results and their Significance
Alternate Suggestions if the Unexpected Occurs
Expected Publications

- References

Use the style accepted by The Graduate School for theses and dissertations to save you extra work.

top of page

For more information

If you would like more information mailed to you, send us your name and postal mailing address,

top of page