The College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences offers a Master of Science In Veterinary Public Health-Epidemiology (VPHE) and Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (VTMD) Combined Degree Program. The combined degree program allows students to simultaneously complete both degrees in less than 4.5 years, providing training for the next leaders in veterinary preventive medicine and public health. Graduates will be well positioned to pursue careers in public health service, regulatory veterinary medicine, academic research, and more. Students must be independently accepted to each degree program, and will form a graduate committee to oversee coursework and directed study activities.

Master of Science in Veterinary Public Health Epidemiology

Doctor of Veterinary Medicine in Veterinary Medicine

Master of Science in Veterinary Public Health Epidemiology

Program Requirements

• Student's Advisory Committee
• Degree Plan
• Credit Requirements
• Transfer of Credit
• Limitations on the Use of Transfer, Extension, and Certain Other Courses
• Non-Thesis Option

Student’s Advisory Committee

After receiving admission to graduate studies and enrolling for coursework, the student will consult with the head of his or her major or administrative department (or intercollegiate faculty, if applicable) concerning appointment of the chair of his or her advisory committee. The student’s advisory committee for the MS degree will consist of no fewer than three members of the graduate faculty, representative of the student’s fields of study and research. The chair or the co-chair of the advisory committee must be from the student’s major department (or intercollegiate faculty, if applicable), and at least one or more of the members must have an appointment to a department other than the student’s major department. The outside member for students in an interdisciplinary program must have an appointment to a department different from the chair of the student’s committee.

The chair, in consultation with the student, will select the remainder of the advisory committee. The student will interview each prospective committee member to determine whether he or she is willing to serve. Only graduate faculty members located on Texas A&M University campuses may serve as chair of a student’s advisory committee. Other graduate faculty members located off campus may serve as a member or co-chair (but not chair) with a member as the chair. The chair of the committee, who usually has immediate supervision of the student’s research and thesis, has the responsibility for calling required meetings of the committee and for calling meetings at any other time considered desirable.

If the chair of a student’s advisory committee voluntarily leaves the University and the student is near completion of the degree and wants the chair to continue to serve in this role, the student is responsible for securing a current member of the University Graduate Faculty, from the student’s academic program and located near the Texas A&M University campus site, to serve as the co-chair of the committee. The Department Head or Chair of Intercollegiate faculty may request in writing to the Associate Provost and Dean of the Graduate and Professional School that a faculty member who is on an approved leave of absence or has voluntarily separated from the university, be allowed to continue to serve in the role of chair of a student’s advisory committee without a co-chair for us to one year. The students should be near completion of the degree. Extensions beyond the one year period can be granted with additional approval of the Dean.

If the chair of the student’s advisory committee is unavailable for an extended time in any academic period during which the student is involved in activities relating to an internship, thesis or professional paper, and is registered for courses such as 684, 691, 692 or 693, the student may request, in writing, that the department head appoint an alternate advisory committee chair during the interim period.

The duties of the committee include responsibility for the proposed degree plan, the research proposal, the thesis and the final examination. In addition, the committee as a group and as individual members are responsible for advising the student on academic matters, and, in the case of academic deficiency, initiating recommendations to the Graduate and Professional School.

The committee members’ approval on the degree plan indicate their willingness to accept the responsibility for guiding and directing the entire academic program of the student and for initiating all academic actions concerning the student. Although individual committee members may be replaced by petition for valid reasons, a committee cannot resign en masse.

Degree Plan

The student’s advisory committee, in consultation with the student, will develop the proposed degree plan. The degree plan must be completed and filed with the Graduate and Professional School prior to the deadline imposed by the student’s college or interdisciplinary degree program, if applicable, and no later than 90 days prior to the date of the final oral examination or thesis defense.

A student should submit the degree plan using the online Document Processing Submission System.

A student submitting a proposed degree plan for a Master of Science degree should designate on the official degree plan the appropriate program option.

Additional coursework may be added to the approved degree plan by petition if it is deemed necessary by the advisory committee to correct deficiencies in the student’s academic preparation. No changes can be made to the degree plan once the student’s Request for Final Examination or Request for Final Examination Exemption is approved by the Graduate and Professional School.

Credit Requirement

A minimum of 36 semester credit hours of approved coursework is required for the Non-Thesis Option.

Ordinarily the student will devote the major portion of their time to work in one or two closely related fields. Other work will be in supporting fields of interest. When pursuing a combination degree with the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree, 6 credit hours will be double counted to complete the combination degree program.

Transfer of Credit

A student who has earned 12 hours of graduate credit in residence at Texas A&M University may be authorized to transfer courses in excess of the limits prescribed below upon the advice of the advisory committee and with the approval of the Graduate and Professional School. Courses taken in residence at an accredited U.S. institution or approved international institution with a final grade of B or greater may be considered for transfer credit if, at the time the courses were completed, the courses would be accepted for credit toward a similar degree for a student in degree-seeking status at the host institution. Otherwise, the limitations stated in the following section apply. Coursework in which no formal grades are given or in which grades other than letter grades (A or B) are earned (for example, CR, P, S, U, H, etc.) is not accepted for transfer credit. Courses appearing on the degree plan with grades of D, F or U may not be absolved by transfer work. Credit for thesis research or the equivalent is not transferable. Credit for coursework submitted for transfer from any college or university must be shown in semester credit hours or equated to semester credit hours. An official transcript from the university at which the transfer coursework was taken must be sent directly to the Office of Admissions.

Courses used toward a degree at another institution may not be applied for graduate credit. If the course to be transferred was taken prior to the conferral of a degree at the transfer institution, a letter from the registrar at that institution stating that the course was not applied for credit toward the degree must be submitted to the Graduate and Professional School.

Grades for courses completed at other institutions are not included in computing the GPA.

Limitations on the Use of Transfer, Extension, and Certain Other Courses

Some departments may have more restrictive requirements for transfer work. If otherwise acceptable, certain courses may be used toward meeting credit-hour requirements for the master’s degree under the following limitations.

1. The maximum number of credit hours which may be considered for transfer credit is the greater of 12 hours or one-third (1/3) of the total hours of a degree plan. The following restrictions apply:
   • Graduate and/or upper-level undergraduate courses taken in residence at an accredited U.S. institution, or approved international institution with a final grade of B or greater will be considered for transfer credit if, at the time the courses were completed, the student was in degree-seeking status at Texas A&M University, or the student was in degree-seeking status at the institution at which the courses were taken; and if the courses would be accepted for credit toward a similar degree for a student in degree-seeking status at the host institution.
   • Courses previously used for another degree are not acceptable for degree plan credit.
2. The maximum number of credit hours taken in post-baccalaureate non-degree (G6) classification at Texas A&M University which may be considered for application to the degree plan is 12.
3. A zero credit 684 or 685 course is only allowed for non-thesis option master's students. A zero credit 681 course can be used for either thesis or non-thesis option master’s students. Other courses, including 691 (Research) hours, are not eligible for zero credit.
4. Not more than 12 hours may be used in any combination of the following categories:
   • Not more than 8 hours in the combination of 691 (Research), 684 (Professional Internship), or SOPH 680 may be used. Under normal circumstances, non-thesis masters students may not use 691 hours on their degree plan. However, for non-thesis masters students who are using 691 hours on the degree plan, see the Non-Thesis Option section on the Program Requirements page in the graduate catalog for the degree they are pursuing.
   • Not more than 8 hours of 685 (Directed Studies) may be used.
   • Not more than 3 hours of 690 (Theory of Research) may be used.
   • Not more than 3 hours of 695 (Frontiers in Research) may be used.
5. A maximum of 2 hours of 681 (Seminar).
6. A maximum of 9 hours of advanced undergraduate courses (300- or 400-level).
7. For graduate courses of three weeks’ duration or less, taken at other institutions, up to 1 hour of credit may be obtained for each five-day week of coursework. Each week of coursework must include at least 15 contact hours.
8. Continuing education courses may not be used for graduate credit.
9. Extension courses are not acceptable for credit.

10. For non-distance degree programs, no more than 50 percent of the non-research coursework required for the program may be completed through distance education courses.

11. To receive a graduate degree from Texas A&M University, students must earn one-third or more of the credits through the institution’s own direct instruction. This limitation also applies to joint degree programs. 

Exceptions will be permitted only in unusual cases and when petitioned by the student’s advisory committee and approved by the Graduate and Professional School.

Non-Thesis Option

For non-thesis option students, a final comprehensive examination may be required. 

A student must pass a final examination by dates announced each semester or summer term in the Graduate and Professional School Calendar. To be eligible to take the final examination, a student’s GPA must be at least 3.000 for courses on the degree plan and for all courses completed at Texas A&M which are eligible to be applied to a graduate degree, and there must be no unabsolved grades of D, F or U for any course listed on the degree plan. To absolve a deficient grade, the student must repeat the course at Texas A&M University and achieve a grade of C or better. All coursework on the degree plan must have been completed with the exception of those hours for which the student is registered. For thesis-option students, an approved thesis proposal must be on file in the Graduate and Professional School according to published deadlines prior to the final examination or submission of the request for exemption from the final examination.

A request to schedule the final examination must be submitted to the Graduate and Professional School via ARCS a minimum of 10 working days in advance of the scheduled date for the examination. The Graduate and Professional School must be notified in writing of any cancellations. A student may be given only one opportunity to repeat the final examination for the master’s degree and that must be within a time period that does not extend beyond the end of the next regular semester (summer terms are excluded).

The final exam cannot be held prior to the mid point of the semester if questions on the exam are based on courses in which the student is currently enrolled. If a student has completed all required degree plan coursework, the student is not required to be registered for classes in the semester the final examination is administered (unless they hold an assistantship). For specific final examination requirements, a student should check the program requirements for the degree in which they are pursuing. 

The student’s advisory committee will conduct this examination. The student’s department will promptly report the results of the Final Examination to the Graduate and Professional School via the Academic Requirements Completion System (ARCS) within 10 working days of completion of the final examination. If an approved committee member substitution (one only) has been made, their approval must be submitted to the Graduate and Professional School via ARCS.

If the program requires the advisory committee to include at least one external member – with an appointment to a department other than the student’s major department – and the substitution is for the sole external member of the advisory committee, then the substitute must also be external to the student’s major department. In extenuating circumstances, with approval of the Graduate and Professional School, an exception to this requirement may be granted.

A student pursuing the non-thesis option is not allowed to enroll in 691 (Research) for any reason and 691 may not be used for credit toward a non-thesis option Master of Water Management and Hydrological Science degree. A maximum of 4 credit hours of 684 (Professional Internship), 8 credit hours of 685 (Directed Studies), and up to 3 credit hours of 690 (Theory of Research) or 695 (Frontiers in Research) may be used toward the non-thesis option Master’s degree. In addition, any combination of 684, 685, 690 and 695 may not exceed 25 percent of the total credit hour requirement shown on the individual degree plan. All requirements for the non-thesis option Master’s degree other than those specified above are the same as for the thesis option degree.

Doctor of Veterinary Medicine in Veterinary Medicine

The professional curriculum in veterinary medicine is a four-year program. During the first three years, classes are scheduled on a semester basis. The fourth-year curriculum consists of 14 weeks of basic core rotations and 34 weeks of elective clinical rotations or career alternative electives or externship. The fourth-year curriculum allows students to choose a species directed career, i.e., equine, companion animal, rural/mixed animal, production, or a career alternative track.

Below is the degree plan for the MS/DVM combination program.  While the individual degree programs require a total of 213 credit hours, this degree plan allows 6 hours of public health related coursework to apply for credit towards completion of both the Master of Science in Veterinary Public Health and Epidemiology and the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine professional degree.

Plan of Study Grid

Summer		Semester Credit Hours
STAT 651	Statistics in Research I	3
VIBS 633	Animal Diseases in Comparative Medicine	3
VIBS 608 or VIBS 685	Epidemiology Methods I or Directed Studies	4
	Semester Credit Hours	10
First Year
Fall
VIBS 681	Seminar	1
VIBS 910	Small Animal Anatomy	4
VIBS 911	Histology	1.5
VIBS 936	Veterinarians in Society	1.5
VSCS 910	Integrated Animal Care I	3
VTPB 910	Veterinary Immunology	2
VTPP 910	Physiology I	6
VTPP 914	Professional & Clinical Skills I	3
	Semester Credit Hours	22
Spring
VIBS 681	Seminar	1
VIBS 912	Clinical Anatomy of Large Animals	3
VIBS 914	Professional & Clinical Skills II	3
VLCS 910	Integrated Animal Care II	2
VTPB 922	Pathology I	3
VTPB 925	Agents of Disease I	4
VTPP 912	Physiology II	5
	Semester Credit Hours	21
Summer
VIBS 608 or VIBS 685	Epidemiology Methods I (if not yet complete) or Directed Studies	4
VIBS 685	Directed Studies	3
	Semester Credit Hours	7
Second Year
Fall
VIBS 681	Seminar	1
VIBS 928	Public Health, Epidemiology and Evidence-Based Medicine	3
VSCS 926	Professional and Clinical Skills III	3
VTPB 930	Agents of Disease II	4
VTPB 927	Clinical Laboratory Medicine-Clinical Pathology	5
VTPB 923	Pathology II	3
VTPP 924	Pharmacology	3
Electives 1		2
	Semester Credit Hours	24
Spring
VIBS 681	Seminar	1
VIBS 948	Didactic Electives in Veterinary Anatomy (21st Century Global One Health)	1
VLCS 924	Diagnostic Imaging & Interpretation I	2
VLCS 926	Professional & Clinical Skills IV	3
VLCS 948	Large Animal Medicine and Surgery Elective (Veterinarians Impacting Their Community)	1
VMID 944	Integrated Animal Care III - Elements of Care	4
VSCS 930	Principles of Anesthesia & Analgesia	3
VSCS 932	Principles of Surgery	2
VTPB 932	Organ Dysfunction: Recognition, Diagnostics and Supportive Care	4
	Semester Credit Hours	21
Summer
ENTO 689	Special Topics in... (One Health Outbreak Investigation)	3
VIBS 615	Food Hygiene	4
VIBS 689	Special Topics in... (Capstone Experience)	2
	Semester Credit Hours	9
Third Year
Fall
VLCS 956	Large Animal Diagnostics & Therapeutics I	3.5
VLCS 925	Diagnostic Imaging & Interpretation II	2
VMID 935	Surgery	5
VSCS 934	Professional & Clinical Skills V	3
VSCS 956	Small Animal Diagnostics & Therapeutics I	4.5
Select one of the following:		2
VLCS 958	Career-Focus Tracking I - Food Animal
VLCS 959	Clinical Focus-Tracking I - Equine
VSCS 958	Clinical Focus-Tracking I - Companion Animal
Career Selective 2		4
	Semester Credit Hours	24
Spring
VLCS 957	Large Animal Diagnostics & Therapeutics II	3.5
VMID 964	Clinical Experience	3
VMID 966	Professional and Clinical Skills VI	4
VSCS 957	Small Animal Diagnostics & Therapeutics II	4.5
Select one of the following:		2
VLCS 960	Clinical Focus-Tracking II - Equine
VLCS 961	Career-Focus Tracking II - Food Animal
VSCS 960	Clinical Focus-Tracking II - Companion Animal
Career Selective 2		2
Public Health Selective (VIBS 988)		2
	Semester Credit Hours	21
Fourth Year
Clinical Track: Alternative 3		48
	Semester Credit Hours	48
	Total Semester Credit Hours	207

¹

Select 2 elective courses during this semester from VIBS 948, VLCS 948, VSCS 948, VTPB 948, and VTPP 948.

²

Select from courses highlighting veterinary career options in public health and public policy, research, business and practice, lab animal medicine, exotics/zoo/wildlife, and avian/reptiles/pocket pets during this semester including VIBS 988, VLCS 988, VMID 988, VSCS 988, and VTPB 988.

³

See student program manager for a complete list of courses for the Alternative Track.

Fourth Year

The fourth-year curriculum consists of 14 weeks of basic core rotations and 34 weeks of elective clinical rotations or career alternative electives and externships for a total of 48 credit hours. The fourth-year curriculum allows students to choose a species directed career, i.e., equine, companion animal, rural/mixed animal, production, or a career alternative track.

Basic Core Rotations

Anesthesiology (3 weeks)

Diagnostic Imaging (3 weeks)

Radiology (2 weeks)

Laboratory Services (2 weeks)

• Diagnostics

Houston SPCA (2 weeks)

• Animal Welfare and Shelter Medicine

Primary Care Medicine (4 weeks)

Available Rotations¹

Small Animal Medicine

• Dermatology  
• Critical Care
• Emergency
• Dentistry
• Cardiology
• Oncology
• Internal Medicine
• Neurology/Neurosurgery
• Zoological Medicine and Surgery

Small Animal Surgery

• Orthopedic
• Soft Tissue
• Ophthalmology

Large Animal Hospital

• Food Animal Medicine and Surgery/Ambulatory
• Equine Medicine
• Equine Community Practice and Field Services
• Equine Sports Medicine and Imaging
• Equine Soft Tissue Surgery
• Equine Orthopedic Surgery
• Equine Theriogenology
• Small Ruminant
• TDCJ (Texas Department of Criminal Justice)
• VERO Dairy Production
• VERO Rural
• VERO Cow-Calf Palpation
• VERO Feedlot Production 

Alternative Career Electives

Externship

Vacation
 

¹

All rotations are two weeks in length.

Additional Requirements

• Residence
• Continuous Registration
• Time Limit
• Foreign Languages
• Application for Degree

Residence

In partial fulfillment of the residence requirement for the degree of Master of Science, the student must complete 9 resident credit hours during one regular semester or one 10-week summer semester in resident study at Texas A&M University. A minimum of 1 credit hour must be in a non-distance education delivery mode. Semesters during which the student is enrolled in all distance education coursework will not count toward fulfillment of the residence requirement. Upon recommendation of the student’s advisory committee, department head or Chair of the Interdisciplinary Program, if appropriate, and with approval of the Graduate and Professional School, a student may be granted exemption from this requirement. Such a petition, however, must be approved prior to the student’s registration for the final 9 credit hours of required coursework.

Students who are employed full-time while completing their degree may fulfill total residence requirements by completion of less-than-full time course loads each semester. In order to be considered for this, students are required to submit a Petition for Waivers and Exceptions along with verification of their employment to the Graduate and Professional School.

See Residence Requirements.

Continuous Registration

A student in the thesis option of the Master of Science program who has completed all coursework on his/her degree plan other than 691 (Research) is required to be in continuous registration until all requirements for the degree have been completed.

See Continuous Registration Requirements.

Time Limit

All degree requirements must be completed within a period of seven consecutive years for the degree to be granted. A course will be considered valid until seven years after the end of the semester in which it is taken. Graduate credit for coursework which is more than seven calendar years old at the time of the final examination (oral or written) may not be used to satisfy degree requirements.

A student who has chosen the thesis option must have the final corrected copies of the thesis cleared by the Graduate and Professional School within one year of the semester in which the final exam is taken, or a final exam exemption petition was approved. Exams taken in between terms will expire at the end of the term that ended prior to the exam. For example, a final exam taken and passed during the fall 2022 semester will expire at the end of the fall 2023 semester. A final exam taken in the time between the summer and fall 2022 semesters will expire at the end of the summer 2023 semester.

Foreign Languages

No specific language requirement exists for the Master of Science degree.

Application for Degree

For information on applying for your degree, please visit the Graduation section.