Biomedical Sciences — MS, PhD
Degree Programs:
All graduate faculty of the College of Veterinary Medicine participate in a college-wide graduate program leading to the master of science and the doctor of philosophy degrees in Biomedical Sciences (BMS or VBMS for curriculum descriptions). Participating departments are Anatomy, Physiology and Pharmacology (APP); Clinical Sciences (DCS); and Pathobiology (PATHO).
Applicants to the program are required to meet entrance standards established by the College’s Graduate Program Committee, the Graduate School, and their intended area of study. Either a baccalaureate degree or the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree or equivalent is required for admission.
The three departmental programs represent the gateway to areas of concentration. The ten BMS concentrations (MS and PhD programs unless otherwise stated): Anatomy (APP), Animal Genetic Disease (PATHO), Animal Parasitology (PATHO), Clinical Sciences (including all DCS Residency Programs, MS only), Infectious Disease (PATHO), Molecular Oncology (multidisciplinary through PATHO), Pathology (Anatomic and Clinical; PATHO), Pharmacology (APP), Physiology (APP), and Veterinary Sports Medicine (DCS, MS only). The BMS program offers specific enrichment activities including seminars and journal clubs, training in grant writing, participation in scientific meetings, and opportunities to present results of research at national and international meetings.
A graduate student advisory committee is appointed by the dean of the Graduate School for each student upon recommendation of the college’s Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Studies. The student’s faculty adviser usually serves as the chair of this committee, and the remaining members, selected from the graduate faculty, should have expertise relevant to the student’s area of study. The advisory committee develops a plan of study which must be submitted to the college’s Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Studies for approval and then to the dean of the Graduate School. Study programs are designed to meet the student’s needs and interests while featuring research training and assuring a strong background in biochemistry, biophysics and/or molecular biology. Original research is required for all BMS graduates. Courses must be selected in conformity with the regulations of the college’s BMS Graduate Program Committee and the Graduate School. For additional information, visit: https://www.vetmed.auburn.edu/.
A dual degree program (DDP) allows students to pursue DVM and graduate degrees simultaneously in a time-and content-integrated manner. Graduates, particularly DVM/PhD graduates, will have strong backgrounds both in veterinary medicine and research so as to be well prepared for successful careers in academia, industry and/or specialty clinics. For the DDP program, students must be admitted into the College of Veterinary Medicine program via application to the Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine and to the graduate program via application to the Auburn University Graduate School. Students already admitted to the Graduate School may apply for admission to the DVM program in order to gain entry to the combined degree program. Such students must meet specific criteria to be allowed to pursue this course of study (https://www.vetmed.auburn.edu/).