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Office for Research and Graduate Affairs

Students gain significant research experience in the College-wide masters degree program.

Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences (MS)

The Masters of Science degree program in Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences is designed to emphasize interdisciplinary approaches in biomedical research. Graduates of this program will understand the basic scientific principles related to veterinary and biomedical sciences that can include: physiology, toxicology, pharmacology, pathology, immunology, virology, bacteriology, parasitology, epidemiology, anatomy, and behavior.


The College-wide MS degree program provides many research opportunities to students with or without a DVM degree.

The M.S. program is generally completed in two to three years.

This is a college-wide MS program administered through the Office of the Dean by the Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Affairs. The program is available to all qualified students holding professional degrees as well as to students who have acquired a baccalaureate degree.

 


Programs of study are available in research located in the following academic departments:

Anatomy and Radiology
Infectious Diseases
Large Animal Medicine
Pathology
Physiology and Pharmacology
Population Health
Small Animal Medicine and Surgery

Frequently asked questions:

Q: How do I apply to the program?
Q: What should I include in my personal statement?
Q: What kind of recommendations should I get?
Q: Is there a deadline for applying?
Q: Are there minimum requirements for the GRE or TOEFL scores?
Q: How is financial aid awarded?
Q: What if I do not receive financial aid?
Q: How do I find a major professor?
Q: What is the difference between the Masters of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences and Masters of Science programs in the individual departments?
Q: What is the difference between the Masters of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences and Masters of Avian Medicine or Masters of Food Animal Medicine?
Q: What is holding up my application? Why have I not heard back yet?

Answers:

Q: How do I apply to the program?
A: A completed application consists of a supplemental application form [ click to download the PDF ], statement of interest, resume, official college transcripts, GRE scores and 3 letters of recommendation. All materials except supplemental application, resume, and statement of interest must be submitted through the online application process at the Graduate School’s Web site. Visit http://www.uga.edu/gradschool/admissions/requirements.html for more addmission information. YOU MUST APPLY TO THE GRADUATE SCHOOL BEFORE YOU COMPLETE THE PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS LISTED ABOVE. Submit supplemental application form, statement of interest and resume to vetgrad@uga.edu

Foreign applicants may also be required to submit additional documentation. See the Graduate School’s Web site for a list of supplemental information required for admission.


Q: What should I include in my personal statement?
A: We are most interested with your academic and research background, research interests and professional plans. You should also state whether you will need financial assistance in order to pursue the degree.


Q: What kind of recommendations should I get?
A: Your references (at least three) should fill out the recommendation form required by the Graduate School and attach a letter to it. The references – not you – should mail these directly to the Graduate School.

You should get letters from professors who have taught you and know you well. Their letters should describe your academic work in detail so that the Graduate Committee can be assured that you can complete a rigorous graduate program. If you have done undergraduate research the committee will expect a letter from the professor who supervised that work. Letters from work supervisors may be of value to document your work ethic.


Q: Is there a deadline for applying?
A: Applications can be submitted at any time. However deadlines exist if you want to be considered for financial aid or if you want to start graduate school at a specific time. See the Graduate School’s Web site for deadlines that apply. PLEASE NOTE THAT INTERNATIONAL DEADLINES ARE MUCH EARLIER THAN DOMESTIC DEADLINES.


Q: Are there minimum requirements for the GPA or GRE?
A: We actively seek students who have GPA of 3.5 or more, GRE (Verbal + Quantitative) of 1,100 or more.


Q: How is financial aid awarded?
A: Financial Aid is available from two sources: Graduate School assistantships and assistantships funded by researchers. You must apply for all assistantships through our office. Do not contact the Graduate School about financial support—students who receive support from the Graduate School must be nominated by the Graduate Coordinator.

For Graduate School assistantships, the advisory committee will evaluate the applicants and assign scores to those who apply for financial support. Those whose applications are complete by February 1 will be considered for assistantships funded by the Graduate School. Students not receiving support from the Graduate School may be eligible for a limited number of research assistantships provided by faculty members with funded research projects.


Q: What if I do not receive financial aid?
A: There are a limited number of assistantships available and you may be accepted in to the program without receiving financial aid. If so, you will be responsible for the cost of tuition and your room and board.


Q: How do I find a major professor?
A: Each professor’s research interest can be found on the departmental pages, which are linked from the College Departments Web site. If you want more information about their published research, do a search on PubMed using their last name and initials (example: Lee MD). You can click on each publication to verify whether the research was done at UGA.


Q: What is the difference between the Masters of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences and Masters of Science programs in the individual departments?
A: This program is now the only Masters of Science program offered in the College of Veterinary Medicine. The Masters of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences emphasizes interdisciplinary research that integrates multiple disciplines and approaches. Any faculty member in the College of Veterinary Medicine, who is also a member of the Graduate Faculty, can mentor students in this program.


Q: What is the difference between the Masters of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences and Masters of Avian Medicine or Masters of Food Animal Medicine?
A: Admission to the Masters of Avian Medicine or Masters of Food Animal Medicine requires a DVM degree. These programs are focused on clinical aspects of Avian or Food Animal Medicine. The Masters of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences is a research-based training program that is available to students with a BS or BA degree; a DVM is not required.


Q: What is holding up my application? Why have I not heard back yet?
A: The Graduate Coordinator will periodically post comments on teh online tracking site with an update on the status of their applications. If you have not received any notification, you may e-mail the Graduate Coordinator. However, applications can be stalled if one of the letters of reference, transcripts, or personal statement has not been received. Applications may also be delayed in the Department evaluation.


Contacts

Graduate Coordinator: Dr. Margie D. Lee
Dept. of Population Health
The University of Georgia
953 College Station Road
Athens, GA 30602
Email: vetgrad@uga.edu
Phone: 706.583.0797
Fax: 706.542.5630

ACADEMIC DEPARTMENT
Deans Office, Associate Dean, Research and Graduate Affairs
The University of Georgia
College of Veterinary Medicine
Athens, GA 30602
Phone: 706.542.5734
vetgrad@uga.edu
Web site: www.vet.uga.edu/research/

SCHOOL/COLLEGE
College of Veterinary Medicine
Veterinary Medicine Building
Athens, GA 30602
Phone: 706/542-5734
College Web site: www.vet.uga.edu


This page last updated April 28, 2008.

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