Admission

Program Overview

The CMIB program offers a multidisciplinary course of study designed to address the nationwide need for scientists who understand modern molecular biology in the context of integrated biological systems and can apply this understanding to human and animal health. The program emphasizes investigation of how molecular and cellular events integrate into whole-animal systems, how species differences and similarities can be used to investigate basic biology and disease, and how appropriate animal models can be used in human and animal disease studies. Candidates are expected to develop a firm scientific background in clinical and/or basic biomedical sciences and the conduct of original research. Outstanding candidates are invited to apply for MS or PhD degree programs in the CMIB.

Stipend Support

Stipend support (plus tuition waiver and health benefits ) is available only for PhD candidates and is awarded on a competitive basis. Applications to the program are accepted at any time; however, the deadline for submission of all application materials by applicants seeking stipend support for the 2007-2008 academic year was 15 January 2007.

The deadline for consideration for admission with stipend support in the 2008-2009 academic year is 16 January 2008.

Applicant Qualifications

Outstanding candidates holding a bachelor's or higher degree in life sciences or related fields or a professional medical degree (DVM, DDS, DO, or MD) will be considered for admission. Applicants should have a grade-point average of at least 3.0, have demonstrated fluency in written and spoken English, and have taken the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). Due to the comparative and integrative nature of the program, graduates from other disciplines, such as statistics, bioinformatics, mathematics, and engineering, are also encouraged to apply.

CMIB Faculty

The members of the CMIB faculty are drawn from all units of the College of Veterinary Medicine and have diverse research programs in clinical and basic sciences, including comparative medical genetics and genomics, comparative ophthalmology, comparative orthopedics, emerging infectious disease and food safety, microbial evolution, neuroscience, pharmacology and toxicology, population medicine and epidemiology, pulmonary biology and disease, reproductive biology, and virology. A list of faculty may be viewed at the following website: http://cvm.msu.edu/education/cmib/faculty.htm

Application Process

Applicants must hold a bachelor's or higher degree in life sciences or related fields and have achieved a grade-point average of at least 3.0. As biological sciences interface increasingly with other disciplines such as bioinformatics, mathematics, and engineering, it is possible that students holding degrees in fields other than life sciences may contribute to and benefit from training in comparative medicine and integrative biology. Therefore, the CMIB-Admissions Committee (CMIB-AC) may recommend that degree holders in other fields be admitted if their background is deemed appropriate to a particular research area in the college. The CMIB-AC is chaired by the associate dean for research and graduate studies of the College of Veterinary Medicine and has representatives from each department.

Potential candidates need to apply for admission by completing the university's online "Application for Graduate Study" (4911 is the major code number for the CMIB MS program, and the major code for the PhD program is 4912) and by submitting the required additional application materials as follows. Arrangements should be made with the GRE and TOEFL offices for scores to be directly reported to Michigan State University using University Code 1465 with Department Code 0000. Three letters of recommendation and official transcripts from all universities previously attended should be directly mailed to: The CMIB Program, G-100 Veterinary Medical Center, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824-1314, USA. A printed application form can be requested by e-mail (cmib@cvm.msu.edu) or by phone (517-353-3118). Please note that the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General Test is required of all applicants. TOEFL scores are required for all applicants whose native language is not English.

The CMIB-AC, in conjunction with potential faculty mentors, will determine who will be admitted. An applicant's acceptance will be based upon:

1. Academic record
   (Including grade-point average, quality of previous training, performance on the GRE, and proficiency in English as demonstrated by the TOEFL for applicants whose native language is not English.)
2. Personal statement of professional goals, emphasizing areas of interest
3. Three letters of reference
4. Availability of appropriate mentors