Veterinary Medical Sciences
(VMSC)
Note: Some courses in this program may require the use of animals. Please see the statement on Animal Care and Use and the Policy Statement for Students in the Appendix.
Abstract
The Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine (VMRCVM) is the only truly regional veterinary college in the United States. The College was established as a joint venture between two major land grant universities, the University of Maryland and Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech). The College has three major campuses: The Avrum Gudelsky Veterinary Center in College Park, Maryland, the Marion Scott Dupont Equine Medical Center in Leesburg, VA, and the main teaching hospital and research facility at Blacksburg, Virginia. The Maryland campus of the VMRCVM focuses on research, education and outreach, and our faculty provide a myriad of related services throughout the Mid-Atlantic region. Veterinary teaching hospitals are located in Blacksburg and Leesburg, VA. The Veterinary Medical Sciences (VMSC) Graduate Program in the Maryland campus of the VMRCVM at the University of Maryland College Park (UMCP) is a collaboration in graduate education and research between UMCP and Virginia Tech, providing benefits in education and research from both universities. The VMSC Graduate Program includes faculty with a wide range of research interests: aquatic pathobiology, bacterial pathogenesis, epidemiology, immunology, molecular biology, parasitology, pathology, poultry medicine and health, public health and food safety, public policy, and virology. Only students with a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) or equivalent degree are eligible for admission to the Program. The VMSC Graduate Program offers Master of Science (M.S.) and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degrees.
Admissions Information
Only students with a veterinary degree (DVM or equivalent) are eligible for admission to the VMSC Graduate Program; however, qualified non-veterinary students admitted through other graduate programs, namely Animal and Avian Sciences (ANSC), Molecular and Cell Biology (MOCB) and Food Sciences (FDSC), can work toward their graduate degrees in the research areas offered by the VMSC Graduate Program with all privileges, including selecting graduate faculty advisors within Veterinary Medicine.
A minimum Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale (B or better) and a minimum Graduate Record Examination (GRE) combined score of 1100 (verbal and quantitative) are required. The GRE score for either the verbal or quantitative section should not be less than 400. The analytical score should be between 4 and 6. International applicants are required to have minimum Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) scores of 575 (paper-based test) and 233 (computer-based test).
Application Deadlines
Fall
Spring
Domestic Applicants:
U.S. Citizens and Permanent ResidentsDomestic Applicant Deadlines
Applications must be received by May 1 .
Applications must be received by October 1 .
International Applicants:
Applicants from Outside the U.S. or U.S. Citizens / Permanent Residents with Non-U.S. Credentials
IMPORTANT: International Applicants and U.S. Applicants with Non-U.S. Credentials must follow the domestic deadlines above if they are earlier than the deadlines listed below.
Applicants seeking admission under F (Student) or J (Exchange Visitor) visas
February 1
If Domestic Deadline is after Feb. 1June 1
If Domestic Deadline is after Jun. 1Applicants seeking admission under A, E, G, H, I, and L visas and immigrants
May 1
If Domestic Deadline is after May 1
October 1
If Domestic Deadline is after Jun. 1
U.S. Citizens and Permanent Residents with foreign credentials
May 15
If Domestic Deadline is after May 15
October 31
If Domestic Deadline is after Oct.31Application Requirements
The following materials must be submitted online or by mail to:
Enrollment Services Office-Graduate Admissions
Box G, Mitchell Building
University of Maryland College Park
College Park, MD 20742
- Application form and $60 non-refundable application fee
- Official academic transcripts reflecting undergraduate and graduate work
- TOEFL Scores (for international applicants whose native language is not English)
- 3 Letters of recommendation
- GRE scores (University of Maryland Institution Code is 5814)
- Statement of goals, research interests and experiences
In addition to the above requirements, applicants must submit to the VMSC Graduate Program, a current resume or curriculum vitae.
Degree Requirements
Master of Science (M.S.)
During the first semester the student selects an advisor, and with the help of the advisor forms an Advisory Committee with the approval by the program's Graduate Education Committee. By the end of the second semester with the advice of the Advisory Committee, the student files a proposed schedule of course work including at least one credit of seminar (VMSC 698). A minimum of 24 semester with hours of graduate courses and six hours of thesis research credit (VMSC 799) is required for the degree. No less than 12 credits should be from courses 600 level or higher; no less than 12 credits earned in the major subject. Three credits of graduate biometrics or biochemistry and one seminar credit (VMSC 698) are required. No more than two credits of special problem (VMSC 699) are acceptable as part of the 24 required course credits. Students must maintain an overall GPA of 3.0 or better in courses taken for graduate credit. The committee may require remedial courses if the student enters with inadequate prerequisites or deficiencies in undergraduate program. By the end of the second semester, a thesis research proposed must be approved and filed. The student must present the thesis in a public seminar and pass a final oral examination given by the Advisory Committee. A final copy of the thesis must be submitted to the Program Office. Students with adequate undergraduate training usually complete the master's degree within two years.
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
Only applicants with an M.S. degree (and a D.V.M. or equivalent veterinary degree) will be admitted to the Ph.D. program. In exceptional cases, admission to the Ph.D. program without an M.S. degree may be considered but these candidates must meet a minimum of 24 hours of course work. Ph.D. candidates who have previously completed the M.S. degree must meet the minimum course requirements of 12 credits, and a minimum of twelve dissertation research credits (VMSC 899). Two additional seminar credits (VMSC 698) are required.
Students are required to register for one seminar credit (VMSC 698) each academic year. Two seminar credits will be counted toward degree requirements. All students are expected to attend seminars regularly.
Students are required to take a written and oral comprehensive examination and to submit and defend their Ph.D. dissertation in partial fulfillment of the doctoral degree (see below).
During the first semester, the student selects an advisor and with the help of the advisor forms an Advisory Committee. The Advisory Committee and the student must meet by the end of the second semester to approve the student's plan of study. By the end of the second semester the student will submit to the Advisory Committee a dissertation research proposal. An oral and written comprehensive examination is required for advancement to candidacy. Prior to the final dissertation, an oral examination is required for advancement to candidacy. Prior to the final dissertation oral examination, the candidate must present a public seminar. The final copy of the dissertation must be submitted to the Program Office. The Ph.D. degree is normally completed within five years or three years after the M.S. degree.
Facilities and Special Resources
The Avrum Gudelsky Veterinary Center, the University of Maryland home of the VMRCVM, lies in the heart of Maryland's thriving biotechnology community, and is near Maryland's major university research campuses and government laboratories, including the USDA Beltsville Agriculture Research Center, the National Institutes of Health, and Walter Reed Armed Forces Institute of Pathology. The Center contains 32,000 square feet of research and support laboratories, including animal care facilities. The 10,000 square-foot research laboratories are fully equipped with state-of-the-art facilities for molecular biology research, cell culture facilities, and a sophisticated electron microscope suite. Approximately 18,000 square feet of space comprise a Biological Safety Level-3 facility and facilities for large and small animals, laboratory animals, and poultry. The poultry unit has 15 rooms for housing poultry, each equipped with 20 poultry isolators to contain any infectious pathogens and maintain a disease-free environment. The animal facility has a fully equipped necropsy room designed for postmortem analysis. The animal facility within the department is also home to the Aquatic Pathobiology Program. The program maintains over 3,000 sq. ft. of multiple flow-through and recirculating systems housing various freshwater and marine species. Eleven 150-gallon high-density polyethylene tanks, used for holding specially prepared or hauled water, are available for culture and testing of freshwater, marine and estuarine organisms with consistent water quality. In addition, there is are isolated experiment rooms, two toxicological bioassay suites, a dedicated necropsy room, a modern research laboratory, a machine and glass shop, a behavioral toxicology computer laboratory. This specialized facility provides an excellent environment to study aquatic organisms.
The Avrum Gudelsky Veterinary Center also houses the College Park diagnostic laboratory of the Maryland Department of Agriculture and the drug-testing laboratory of the Maryland Racing Commission. This co-location facilitates active collaboration in both applied and basic research on diseases of animals.
The Center for Agricultural Biotechnology (CAB) of the University of Maryland comprises state-of-the-art molecular biology and engineering research facilities. CAB's DNA sequencing facility and DNA microassay technology service are available to the campus research community. Extensive information for DNA sequence analysis, image analysis and production of publication-quality graphics are accessible through the CAB area networks. Several of the VMSC program's faculty have joint appointments and research collaborations with CAB.
The Laboratory for Biological Ultrastructure in the Department of Biology is equipped with a transmission and scanning electron microscope, a confocal light microscope, ultramicrotomes, and equipment for freeze-fracture studies. The Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics has a Fluorescence-Activated Cell Sorter for supporting cell biology research.
The campus has Central Animal Resource Facilities (CARF) for maintaining laboratory animals to facilitate animal research.
Extensive library facilities are available on campus. In addition, the College Park campus is close to the National Agricultural Library (NAL) and the National Library of Medicine (NLM). The Library of Congress and the National Archives, along with several other libraries of biomedical research and academic institutes, are located within a short driving distance.
Computer facilities at the University of Maryland are outstanding. Veterinary Medicine provides computer access to all faculty and graduate students. Students are provided with e-mail accounts and free Internet access. The campus maintains both Unix and mainframe systems, and access to supercomputers for specific research projects. Software for graphics, modeling, statistics, and the analysis of molecular data is readily available.
The College Park campus is also ideally situated near a number of federal agencies involved in veterinary medical sciences. Collaborative initiatives are underway with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's Centers for Veterinary Medicine (CVM) and Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN); U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Services (APHIS), Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), Agricultural Research Service (ARS), and Beltsville Agriculture Research Service (BARC); National Institutes of Health (NIH); Walter Reed Armed Forces Institute of Pathology (AFIP); World Bank; and Pan American Health Organization (PAHO). Scientists from some of these agencies have adjunct appointments with the College of Veterinary Medicine and participate on students' graduate committees.
Financial Assistance
A number of graduate assistantships are available and awarded to candidates with strong academic records.
Teaching Assistantships, Research Assistantships, Scholarships, and Fellowships are available on a competitive basis. Research Assistantships (RAs) are 12-month appointments and Teaching Assistantships (TAs) are 10-month appointments. Benefits for each assistantship include stipends, ten credits of tuition remission per semester, and health benefits. Generally, student assistantships are offered for two years for an M.S. degree and four years for a Ph.D. degree.
Sources of funding include the VMRCVM; Maryland Agricultural Experiment Station; Maryland Cooperative Extension; College of Agriculture and Natural Resources; Graduate School open-nomination and block grant fellowships (for recruitment of new students only); University diversity fellowships; endowed fellowships; and funds from faculty research contracts and grants. Inquiry about the stipends can be made to the VMSC Graduate Program.
Contact Information
Contact the members of the Graduate studies committee and the VMSC graduate program Website http://www.gradschool.umd.edu/catalog/programs/VMSC.html
Dr. Nathaniel Tablante,
Associate Professor and Director, VMSC Graduate Program
Avrum Gudelsky Veterinary Center,
8075 Greenmead Drive,
College Park
MD
20742
Telephone: (301) 314-6810
Fax: (301) 314-6855
nlt@umd.edu
http://www.gradschool.umd.edu/catalog/programs/VMSC.html
Courses: VMSC BIOM BCHM ANSC MICB MOCB
Related Programs and Campus Units
Animal Sciences
Center for Agricultural Biotechnology
Maryland Cooperative Extension & Agricultural Experiment Station
Government and Corporate Veterinary Medicine Center
Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine