Comparative Health Sciences is a multi-disciplinary program offering graduate training towards MS and PhD degrees. The program encourages applicants with an interest in complex contemporaneous issues that require multi-disciplinary approaches to be addressed. Faculty involved in the program have interests ranging from microbiology, ecology, immunology, nutrition, food science, bio-engineering, veterinary medicine, public health, human health, bioinformatics, mathematical modeling, microbiome, neuroscience and others.

The program encourages co-mentorship from different disciplines, but also accepts students working in traditional fields. We have a strong international component and diversity of ideas and innovation is valued. Strong student involvement and participation in the program is sought. 

Training involves classes, laboratory research, outreach activities, teaching and direct participation in a seminar series. Students are supported by graduate teaching, graduate assistantships, and scholarships provided by the program. This program is individually designed to support the needs of innovative research. Graduate students are expected to be major participants in the scientific output of the program. 

Requirements

Students enrolled in the MS degree will complete a total of 45 graduate credits, including 12 thesis credits.

  • Required core sequence of courses [11 credits (Biomedical Sciences); 20 credits (Clinical Sciences)]
  • Elective courses relevant to the thesis research agreed to by the student’s committee [22 credits (Biomedical Sciences); 13 credits (Clinical Sciences)]  

For more details see Graduate Program Guidelines for MS below. 

Students enrolled in the PhD degree will complete a total of 108 graduate credits beyond the bachelor’s or professional (DVM, MD) degree.

  • At least 27 coursework credits consisting of: 
    • The required core courses that must be taken during Year 1.
    • The remaining should be relevant to the thesis research and must be agreed to by the thesis committee.
  • At least 36 Thesis credits
  • Sufficient additional Thesis credits to reach 108 total credits.
  • VMB 601 Research Perspectives Lab Rotations (3) (PhD only)
  • ST 511 Methods of Data Analysis (4) OR H 524 Introduction to Biostatistics (4)
  • GRAD 520 Responsible Conduct of Research (2) OR MCB 557 Scientific Skills and Ethics (3)
  • Molecular Tools (VMB 671) (3) 
  • VMB 669 Introduction to Grant Proposal Writing (2)
  • VMB 607 Seminar (1-16)

Elective courses relevant to the thesis research from the VMB listing or other programs agreed to by the thesis committee: 

  • VMB 512 Outreach for Scientists - ONE HEALTH (3)
  • VMB 523 Zoonoses (3)
  • BB 485 Applied Bioinformatics (3)
  • IB 595 Disease Ecology (3)
  • VMB 624 Antibiotic Stewardship (1)
  • VMB 630 Mechanisms of Disease (3)
  • VMB 631 Mathematical Modeling (3)
  • VMB 652 Cancer Systems Biology (3)
  • VMB 670 Systems Biology & Bioinformatics (1)
  • VMB 673 Comparative Immunology (3)
  • VMB 674 Vaccines and New Therapies (3)
  • VMB 603 Thesis (36)
  • VMB 607 Reading & Conference or Seminar/Colloquium (1-16)
  • VMB 501 Research (Non-Thesis Masters)

In addition to the program core curriculum, students will be required to complete option specific curricula, as approved by respective graduate committees. 

Graduate Learning Outcomes and Guidelines

Prospective Students

Curriculum vitae required with application. We strongly recommend contacting potential mentors before applying. For more information about the program, please contact Beth Chamblin. 

The OSU Carlson College of Veterinary Medicine collaborates with other OSU colleges to offer interdisciplinary graduate programs: