Guidelines for the Master of Science Degree
(Please also consult the CMIB handbook. )

The program leading to the degree of master of science is designed to develop an integrative approach to research in clinical, cellular, and molecular problems in comparative medicine and integrative biology. The program emphasizes development of a firm scientific background in clinical and basic biomedical sciences and the conduct of in-depth original research.

Guidance Committee

Upon admission to the program, the CMIB-AC will appoint a temporary advisor from the CMIB faculty. Within six months after entrance into the program, the student must select a major advisor from the CMIB faculty, after consultation with the CMIB director. The student, in consultation with the major advisor, will then select a guidance committee consisting of at least four members: the major advisor and at least two other faculty members must be from CVM; the fourth faculty member may be from CVM, another college at MSU, or another institution; and at least two of the committee members must be from the CMIB program. The guidance committee will serve throughout the student's MS program. Substitutions, replacements, or additions to the committee may be made upon written approval of the CMIB director.

Program Description

The College of Veterinary Medicine offers a master of science program in comparative medicine and integrative biology. Plan A consists of (1) prescribed course work to develop an understanding of major concepts in comparative medicine and integrative biology as well as to acquire comprehensive knowledge of a major field and related subjects, (2) original research of an important problem in human and animal health or biology, (3) a thesis, and (4) a final oral examination. Plan B consists of (1) prescribed course work, and (2) a final oral examination.

Course Requirements for Master of Science

Plan A (with thesis)

Course requirements include a minimum of 30 approved graduate course credits with at least 12 of these credits (excluding thesis credits) at the 800 and 900 levels. A minimum of 10 credits in master's thesis research (course number VM 899) is required for students in Plan A. In addition, all students are required to take EPI 827: The Nature and Practice of Scientific Integrity, which includes training in the ethical conduct of research and VM 820: Current Topics in Comparative Medicine and Integrative Biology. To develop a depth of understanding across disciplines, all Plan A students are required to take at least one approved course in statistics (STT 421, STT 422, or PHM 980) and at least 1 course from 2 of the following 3 major areas: 1) molecular life sciences, 2) integrative biology, and 3) pathology.

A minimum of 18 credits of non-research courses is required, with at least 12 of these credits at the 800 level or above. All students are required to take the following 2 courses:

Course # Title When Offered # of Credits
EPI 827* The Nature and Practice of Scientific Integrity Spr; every year 3
VM 820 Current Topics in Comparative Medicine and Integrative Biology Spr; every year 2
* With permission from the program director, the student may substitute another course or a seminar series focusing on the responsible conduct of research, such as the one offered by the Graduate School to meet this requirement. See the Responsible Conduct of Research section on the Graduate School website.

To develop a depth of understanding across disciplines, all students are required to take at least one course from each of the 3 major areas as defined below as well as a set of elective courses as recommended by their guidance committee. Suitable courses for each area are indicated below. Other courses may be included in each area as they are developed or as deemed appropriate by the guidance committee.

1. Molecular life sciences
The list below serves as a general guide and other courses may be appropriate to include in this section. Students should check with the program director for suitability of other options for this section.
Course # Title When Offered
# of Credits
BMB 801 Molecular Biology Fall; every year
3
BMB 802 Metabolic Regulation and Signal Transduction Spr; every year
3
BMB 831 Physiological Biochemistry Spr; even years
4
BMB 960 Selected Topics in Biochemistry Fall, Spr; every year
1-2
MMG 825 Cell Structure and Function Spr; every year
3
MMG 835 Eukaryotic Molecular Genetics Spr; every year
3

2. Integrative Biology
The list below serves as a general guide and other courses may be appropriate to include in this section. Students should check with the program director for suitability of other options for this section.

Course #

Title

When Offered

# of Credits

PSL 828

Cellular and Integrative Physiology

Spr; every year

4

PSL 511

Veterinary Physiology

Spr; every year

5

PSL 980

Problems in Physiology

Fall, Spr, Sum; every year

1-4
PHM 819 Principles of Drug-Tissue Interaction Sum, every year
1-2

PHM 821

Principles of Systemic and Integrated Pharmacology and Toxicology

Spring; every year

2

KIN 812

Cardiovascular, Respiratory, and Metabolic Responses to Exercise

Spr; even years

3

KIN 813

Neuromuscular and Endocrine Responses to Exercise

Spr; odd years

3

PSL 827

Physiology and Pharmacology of Excitable Cells

Fall; every year

4

PSL 839

Systems Neuroscience

Spring; every year

4

PSL 841

Advanced Endocrine Physiology and Pharmacology

Fall; every year

4

PSL 885

Vertebrate Neural Systems

Spring; odd years

3

3. Pathology
The list below serves as a general guide and other courses may be appropriate to include in this section. Students should check with the program director for suitability of other options for this section.

Course #

Title

When Offered

# of Credits

ANS 807

Advanced Food Toxicology

Fall, even years

3

HNF 840

Human Nutrition and Chronic Diseases

Fall, odd years

3

HNF 891

Topics in Human Nutrition

Fall, Spr, Sum, every year

variable

MMG 461

Molecular Pathogenesis

Spring, every year

3

MMG 813

Molecular Virology

Spring, even years

3

MMG 851

Immunology

Fall, odd years

3

MMG 861

Advanced Microbial Pathogenesis

Fall, even years

3

PDI 812

Advanced Clinical Chemistry

Spr, even years

2

PDI 820

Advanced Human Hematology

Fall, even years

2

PDI 851

Advanced General Pathology

Fall, even years

3

PDI 852

Advanced General Pathology Laboratory

Concurrently with PDI 851

1

PDI 854

Advanced Clinical Pathology

Spring, even years

3

PDI 856

Concepts in Toxicologic Pathology

Sum, odd years

2

Electives

Electives including non-research and seminar courses will be determined by the guidance committee.

Plan B (without thesis)

Course requirements include a minimum of 30 approved graduate course credits with least 18 of these credits (excluding VM899 credits) at the 800 and 900 levels. Up to 4 credits in master's thesis research (course number VM 899) is permitted. In addition, all students are required to take EPI 827: The Nature and Practice of Scientific Integrity, which includes training in the ethical conduct of research, and VM 820: Current Topics in Comparative Medicine and Integrative Biology. To develop a depth of understanding across disciplines, all students are required to take at least one approved course in statistics (STT 421, STT 422, or PHM 980) and at least one course from each of the 3 major areas defined under plan A.

Plan A Research and Thesis Requirements

The student is expected to conduct comparative biomedical research, and to complete and defend a master's thesis. Research credit requirements will consist of at least 8 credit hours of master's thesis research. The written thesis must be based upon original scholarly research. It must contribute new knowledge to the scientific community and result in, or be deemed by the student's advisory committee to have sufficient data for, one or more research papers in peer-reviewed scientific journals. It is the student's responsibility to meet calendar schedules and regulations established by Michigan State University and provide members of the guidance committee ample time, no less than 4 weeks, for a review of the thesis prior to the defense.

Guidelines for the preparation of the thesis are outlined in the Graduate School's booklet entitled A Formatting Guide: Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations, which is available in departmental offices, the Dean's Office, and the Graduate School office. All guidelines outlined in this booklet must be followed. In addition, the guidance committee may require a specific method for organizing a thesis. The student will submit a bound copy of the completed thesis to each committee member and to the CMIB director.

Examinations

A master of science degree candidate is required to pass a final oral examination that covers course work in the major and supporting fields (Plans A and B), and a defense of the thesis (Plan A). The examination for the master's degree is administered by the guidance committee. The thesis defense will consist of a public lecture followed by an oral examination in which the student will defend the thesis and knowledge of related scientific areas. A notice inviting all faculty members in the CVM and participating departments to attend the final examination will be circulated one week prior to the examination date. The form, scope, and time of the examination will be determined by the guidance committee. Results of the examination will be determined by the guidance committee by simple majority vote.

Academic Standards

Each student must adhere to the university and college regulations regarding his or her graduate program as outlined in the university's academic programs catalog. A 3.00 cumulative grade-point average for all courses counted toward the master's degree is required. In addition, three grades below a 3.0 in courses counted toward the master's degree will remove the student from degree candidacy.

Unsatisfactory Progress

If a student does not show satisfactory progress toward meeting academic, research, or thesis requirements, his or her performance will be reviewed in a meeting with the guidance committee. This committee may recommend a change in the student's program or recommend that the student be dismissed from the degree program. Dismissal recommendations will be forwarded to the CMIB director.

Time Limit

While most students are expected to complete the requirements within 2-3 years, they are required to complete all requirements within 6 calendar years from the beginning of the first semester in which credit was earned toward the MS degree.
 
Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine