Veterinary Pathology

The Department of Veterinary Pathology offers graduate courses and training programs that lead to either an MS or PhD in Veterinary Pathology. The programs are for individuals who have already earned a DVM or equivalent. In certain circumstances, a student with a BS or MS may be considered for the graduate program. The department also offers a minor in Veterinary Pathology for MS and PhD students and is open to students with or without a DVM degree.

General Information on the MS Degree in Veterinary Pathology

• Foreign language requirement determined by student's program of study (POS) committee.
• Graduate English Examination required by the Graduate College.
• MS thesis requires 30 graduate credits.
• MS nonthesis requires 40 graduate credits (10 credits from outside department).
• MS nonthesis requires a minimum of 3 credits of Creative Component Research (VPTH 599).
• PhD requires 72 graduate credits (12 credits from outside major field).

Course Requirements for the M.S. thesis or nonthesis

MS Thesis

• Surgical Pathology Lab (550) 1 Cr
• Pathology Case Seminar (604) 2 Cr
• Vet Clinical Pathology
• Pathology Case Seminar (604) 2 Cr
• Clinical Pathology Lab (549) 2 Cr
• Veterinary Toxicology
• Principles of Toxicology (TOX 501) 3 Cr
• Veterinary Parasitology
• Diagnostic Parasitology Lab (548) 2 Cr
• Veterinary Parasitology (576) 4 Cr

MS Non-Thesis

• Surgical Pathology Lab (550) 1 Cr
• Creative Component Research (599) 3 Cr
• Pathology Case Seminar (604) 3 Cr
• Veterinary Parasitology
• Diagnostic Parasitology Lab (548) 5 Cr
• Veterinary Parasitology (576)*** 4 Cr
• Creative Component Research (599) 3 Cr
• Pathogenesis of Persistent Infections (660) 2 Cr

*Requirements for VPTH 570 and VPTH 571 may be waived by the department chairperson for students with residency training or ACVP certification; test-out is also available on request.
**Credits are additional to those listed under general requirements.
***Not available for graduate credit to students who are dually enrolled in DVM and graduate programs.

• Iowa State requires a degree it considers comparable to a US bachelor’s or higher degree from a regionally accredited college or university prior to beginning graduate studies. (For foreign institutions, that would be recognition by the Ministry of Education.) 
• Our graduate application form is only available online. The $100 application fee for international students is nonrefundable. If you prefer not to pay the application fee by credit card, you may complete and print the online application, and attach your personal check. All checks should be in US dollars and made payable to Iowa State University.
• Grade Point Average (GPA)
• Statement of Purpose
• Online Recommendations
• Internet Based TOEFL (iBT) 79, Paper-Based TOEFL (PBT) 550
• IELTS 6.5
• Graduate Records Examination (GRE)
• Financial Statement