POLICIES AND PROCEDURES MANUAL FOR GRADUATE

POLICIES AND PROCEDURES MANUAL FOR

GRADUATE STUDENTS

DEPARTMENT OF VETERINARY CLINICAL SCIENCES

SCHOOL OF VETERINARY MEDICINE

PURDUE UNIVERSITY

Approved by VCS Faculty on August 30

, 2010

Amended by VCS Graduate Program Committee on May 8

, 2013

Graduate students in the department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences are governed by the rules

in effect at the time of enrollment. If a rule changes while the student is in the program, the

student may elect to be governed under the new rule in effect or under the version of the rule

in effect at the time of first enrollment:

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CONTENTS

* Click to follow link to desired section

PAGE

THE GRADUATE PROGRAM ............................................................................. 4

Application Procedures and Addresses ....................................................... 4

Financial Support .......................................................................................... 5

Admission requirements ............................................................................... 7

Administrative Structure .............................................................................. 8

Graduate Program Committee (GPC) Responsibilities............................. 9

Graduate Student Responsibilities .............................................................11

Major Professor (Advisor) Responsibilities ..............................................12

Advisory Committee Responsibilities ........................................................13

THE M.S. DEGREE (non-thesis) .........................................................................15

Minimum Requirements for the M.S. non-thesis Degree ........................15

Major Professor (Advisor) and Advisory Committee ..............................16

Examination .................................................................................................17

THE M.S. DEGREE (thesis) .................................................................................18

Minimum Requirements for the M.S. thesis Degree ................................18

M.S. thesis requirements .............................................................................19

Major Professor (Advisor) and Advisory Committee ..............................20

Examination .................................................................................................22

THE Ph.D. DEGREE .............................................................................................24

Minimum Requirements for the Ph.D. Degree .........................................24

Ph.D. dissertation (hereafter referred to as thesis) requirements ..........26

Major Professor (Major Advisor) and Advisory Committee ..................27

APPENDIX 1 Evaluation of Academic Progress ...............................................31

APPENDIX 2 Checklist for the M.S. Degree .....................................................32

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APPENDIX 3 Checklist for the Ph.D. Degree ....................................................33

APPENDIX 4 Guiding Standards for Advising and Mentoring Graduate

Students at Purdue University....................................................................33

APPENDIX 5 M.S. / Ph.D. Research Proposal Rubric Evaluation ..................33

APPENDIX 6 M.S. Thesis &. Defense Exam Rubric Evaluation .....................33

APPENDIX 7 Written & Oral Preliminary Examination/Oral Proposal

Presentation Rubric Evaluation for Ph.D. Candidacy .............................33

APPENDIX 8 Ph.D. Dissertation & Defense Exam Rubric Evaluation ...........33

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THE GRADUATE PROGRAM

As a unit of the Graduate School of Purdue University, the department of Veterinary Clinical

Sciences (VCS) offers graduate programs leading to the Master of Science (M.S.) non-thesis

degree and the M.S. thesis degree. The department also offers the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)

degree with oversight provided by the Graduate School. Graduate training in translational

research may be pursued in a number of fields related to clinical and basic sciences, including

Anesthesiology and Pain Management, Behavior, Cardiology, Clinical Epidemiology and

Population Medicine, Dentistry, Diagnostic Imaging (Radiology), Large Animal Internal

Medicine, Large Animal Surgery, Oncology, Ophthalmology, Production Medicine (Ruminant

and Swine), Radiation Oncology, Small Animal Internal Medicine, Small Animal Surgery,

Theriogenology and Veterinary Homeland Security. The VCS department, along with the

Veterinary Teaching Hospital, has state of the art facilities, equipment and infrastructure for

studying the health and diseases of animals, conducting clinical trials and translational research.

The primary goal of the advanced degree program is to prepare students for successful careers in

academia, research, specialty clinical practice, government, or industry. Criteria for

recommending granting of the M.S. degree (non-thesis and thesis) are demonstrated ability to:

(1) understand the scientific method; 2) effectively communicate in their field of study; (3) think

critically and creatively about problems in their field of study; and (4) conduct their activities in

an ethical and responsible manner. In addition, for successful completion of the M.S. thesis

degree candidates will be able to apply the scientific method and conduct research using the

abilities listed above. For successful completion of the Ph.D. degree, candidates are also

expected to plan and conduct original research, and engage in scholarship and other creative

endeavors. Students can focus their studies and research in any of the fields listed above.

The VCS Residency programs, designed to train veterinarians for specialty clinical practice, are

combined with the graduate program. While the requirements for the M.S. non-thesis or thesis

degree can usually be completed in a shorter time period (2 years), the duration of a combined

Residency/M.S. program is usually three years, reflecting the time required to satisfy the

objectives of both programs. The duration of a combined Residency/Ph.D program should be a

minimum of five years, reflecting the time required to satisfy the objectives of both programs.

Directions for completing the application process are described below, and applications must be

approved by both the Graduate School of Purdue University (www.grad.purdue.edu) and the

Graduate Program Committee (GPC) and Head of the department of VCS.

Application Procedures and Addresses

Prospective applicants should contact the department head or a faculty member of VCS before

starting the application process, in order to determine whether a suitable research training

position and financial support are available. Applicants to the VCS graduate program must apply

to the Graduate School at Purdue University. The application will be forwarded to the VCS GPC

for review and approval.

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The VCS contact address is:

Head, Dept. of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Attention: Graduate Program Administrator

Purdue University

Lynn Hall of Veterinary Medicine, Room 1352

625 Harrison St.

West Lafayette, IN 47907-2026

Email: jsheely@purdue.edu

For additional information, contact the VCS office, Telephone 765-494-9900, or visit

www.vet.purdue.edu/vcs/.

Following approval of the application by the VCS GPC, the applicant will be contacted by the

VCS office in order to complete the application documents which include: (1) letter of intent

(one to two pages), (2) curriculum vitae, (3) official transcripts from each university that the

applicant has attended, and (4) three letters of recommendation evaluating the applicant's

potential for graduate studies. Applicants to the combined Residency/M.S. program do not need

to submit a second copy of requirements (1), (2), (3), and (4) to the VCS department as long as

they have submitted the same information as part of their application to the residency training

program. However, it should be noted that an additional requirement for application to the

graduate program is that in part (3) the application must include official transcripts from each

university that the applicant has attended and not just the official transcript from the veterinary

college or school.

Foreign applicants must also include in their application to VCS evidence of satisfactory

performance on the TOEFL test (Test of English as a Foreign Language; www.toefl.org) or the

IELTS test (International English Language Testing System; www.ielts.org) for students from

countries where English is not their native language. Applicant must achieve the minimum test

scores set by the Graduate School (see Section III of Policies and Procedures for Administering

Graduate Student Programs available online:

www.gradschool.purdue.edu/downloads/Graduate_School_Policies_and_Procedures_Manual.pdf)

The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) and Graduate Management Aptitude Test (GMAT)

are not required for admission of students with post-baccalaureate or professional degrees. More

information for prospective international graduate students is available at:

www.gradschool.purdue.edu/students/prospective/internationalStudents.cfm#admission

Applicants must also apply electronically to the Graduate School at Purdue University

(www.grad.purdue.edu). A small nonrefundable fee will be charged for your application to the

Graduate School.

Financial Support

Students may apply for University assistantships and fellowships as forms of financial aid to

support graduate study (http://www.gradschool.purdue.edu/funding). Employment is incidental

to graduate study. Students who receive fellowships are not employees and are not obligated to

provide services to the University. The purpose of fellowships is to recognize outstanding

graduate students and to support their education. While there are broad policies and procedures

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covered in this document that may apply to fellowships, in general, these guidelines are intended

to address graduate student employment.

Graduate students who are employed by the University provide services (teaching, research,

administrative/ professional) that further the missions of the University while providing students

with valuable professional experience and financial remuneration in the form of tuition remission

and a salary. These students are considered employees and are subject to the policies and

procedures outlined in the Purdue University Graduate School Fellowship Manual

(http://www.gradschool.purdue.edu/funding).

There are five basic classifications of employment for students who are eligible for a graduate

appointment:

1. Graduate Teaching Assistant: The responsibilities of the Graduate Teaching

Assistant could include any tasks related to the instruction of students. Graduate

Teaching Assistants might have primary responsibility for a course, a recitation section, or a

laboratory section. A Graduate Teaching Assistant might serve as a tutor or might provide

assistance to a faculty member in instruction in a course through such tasks as grading papers,

preparing hand-outs, placing materials on the Web, or assisting in clinical assignments.

2. Graduate Lecturer: The responsibilities of the Graduate Lecturer are similar to those of the

Graduate Teaching Assistant but at a more senior level. Normally Graduate Lecturers teach

courses beyond the 100-level. Appointment to this category is based on demonstrated excellence

in teaching as a Graduate Teaching Assistant and is made at the discretion of the department

head or in a manner consistent with the governance of a particular academic unit when the

following conditions have been met: The graduate student must have passed the preliminary

examination and be classified as a doctoral candidate (Class D); the graduate student is enrolled

in 699 for research credits and has completed all course work on the plan of study; the graduate

student has been a Graduate Teaching Assistant for at least four academic sessions prior to

appointment as a Graduate Lecturer.

3. Graduate Administrative/Professional: Duties that are generally administrative and/or

professional in nature and are assigned to a graduate student staff member fall within the

purview of a Graduate Administrative/Professional. For example, a Graduate

Administrative/Professional might have responsibilities in the library, Office of the Dean of

Students, Intercollegiate Athletics, ITaP, or one of the development offices that are unrelated to

the instruction of students in a course. Assistant coaches should be classified as Graduate

Administrative/Professionals. Graduate student staff who have academic counseling

responsibilities should be classified, also, as Graduate Administrative/Professionals. Graduate

Administrative/Professionals are permitted in academic areas, and many graduate students in

VCS completing a combined residency / M.S. program are employed under this classification.

4. Graduate Research Assistant: A Graduate Research Assistant performs duties related to a

research project or program under the guidance and direction of specific faculty members. Any

graduate student staff member who is assigned to perform research duties should be classified in

the category, regardless of the funding source.

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5. Graduate Aide: Graduate staff at Purdue’s Calumet, Fort Wayne, and North Central

campuses

Assistantships are designed to allow graduate students to obtain income and valuable

professional experience, to enhance the University’s efforts in teaching and research, and to

make certain that the balance between work and study is appropriate. Employment is subject to

the availability of funds.

Assistantships provide a stipend for services that are typically unrelated to the student’s thesis

research. The monthly minimum amount for an assistantship is set annually by the Graduate

School. Assistantships are 0.25, 0.50, 0.75, or 1.0 Full Time Equivalent (FTE) increments and

graduate tuition fees are waived for graduate students with at least a 0.25 FTE appointment.

Graduate students receiving an assistantship must be registered for at least three credit hours of

graduate-level course or research work during the fall and spring semesters and for at least one of

the summer semesters for the entire appointment period and are required to pay University

activity fees (contact VCS office for specific information). Graduate students on a 0.50 FTE

appointment or higher for at least one semester are eligible for participation in the University-

subsidized Graduate Student Staff Health Plan. Graduate students enrolled full-time (8 or more

hours in Fall and Spring semesters, six or more hours in the summer semester) who have paid

their tuition and fees are eligible to receive many Purdue University Student Health (PUSH)

services at no additional charge. International students are limited by law to working a total of 20

hours (i.e. 0.5 FTE) per week for fall and spring semesters. The Graduate Student Employment

Manual should be consulted for more detailed information.

Talented and productive graduate students may also be eligible for university fellowships

(http://www.gradschool.purdue.edu/funding). The purpose of fellowships is to recognize

outstanding graduate students and to support their education. The Graduate Student Employment

Manual should be consulted for detailed information:

www.gradschool.purdue.edu/downloads/Graduate_Student_Employment_Manual.pdf

In general, Purdue employees may not engage in outside employment and receive remuneration

for other outside activities that would conflict with their University duties. Such outside activities

include: connections with businesses, public offices, professional associations, educational

institutions, and foundations. All outside activities should be reported annually on Form 32A

http://www.vet.purdue.edu/secure/vcs/bo/33_Absence%20June2010blank.xls.

Admission requirements

The GPC is responsible for recommending approval or disapproval of graduate student

applications. In addition to the specific requirements outlined below, the GPC may request

additional requirements such as additional test scores or documentation for an individual

applicant prior to admission.

The VCS Department requires applicants without a post-baccalaureate or professional degree to

provide GRE test scores from within the previous 5 years.

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M.S. degree (non-thesis or thesis)

Admission requirements to the M.S. non-thesis or thesis degree graduate program include a

Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (D.V.M.) degree or equivalent, or an appropriate undergraduate

degree, and a minimum grade point average of 3.0 (based on 4.0 = A). Admission averages are

computed from the entire professional curriculum for those with a D.V.M. or equivalent degree,

or from the undergraduate studies for those without the D.V.M. degree. Applicants with a grade

point average below 3.0 may be considered for admission on conditional status on the basis of

individual merit. Students admitted on conditional status generally have one semester to change

their status to unconditional. Applicants with a graduate degree, and applicants that have

completed some graduate course work, will be evaluated on the basis of their graduate work as

well as their undergraduate or professional record.

Ph.D. degree

Admission requirements to the Ph.D. degree graduate program include a Doctor of Veterinary

Medicine (D.V.M.) degree or equivalent, a M.S. degree or equivalent, or a Bachelor of Science

(B.S.) or Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree or their equivalent, and a minimum grade point average

of 3.0 (based on 4.0 = A). Admission averages are computed from the last degree. Applicants

with a grade point average below 3.0 may be considered for admission on conditional status on

the basis of individual merit. Students admitted on conditional status generally have one semester

to change their status to unconditional. Students seeking to transfer from other graduate

programs will be judged on the basis of past undergraduate and graduate performance.

Administrative Structure

The head of the department of VCS is the head of the VCS graduate program. The department

head reviews the Graduate Program Committee appointments annually at the start of the

academic year. The department head also appoints the chair of the committee for a 3 year term.

The committee is advisory to the department head who ultimately has authority regarding the

graduate program.

The Graduate Program Committee consists of 6 VCS faculty (one of who serves as chair) and 1

VCS graduate student. Faculty members of the committee serve 3-year terms which are

staggered so that two new members are appointed annually. All faculty members of the

committee must be tenured or tenure-track faculty with graduate faculty status. The chair of the

committee must hold a Ph.D. degree (or equivalent), at least 3 faculty members of the committee

must have a Ph.D. degree (or equivalent), and at least 4 faculty members of the committee must

have a Ph.D. or thesis M.S. degree (or equivalent). The VCS graduate student representative

serves a 1-year term and must have completed at least 2 semesters of course work in their

graduate program. Committee members may be reappointed. The final committee therefore

consists of 6 appointed VCS faculty, 1 appointed VCS graduate student, and the Department

Head (ex officio), with the 6 faculty and 1 graduate student having equal voting rights.

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Graduate Program Committee (GPC) Responsibilities

The responsibilities of the Graduate Program Committee are to:

• provide general guidance to the graduate program

• assist the VCS Department or individual VCS faculty in recruiting new graduate students

• make recommendations to the department head of VCS regarding admission of

prospective students into the graduate program.

• provide guidance and counseling as needed for new graduate students before they have

been assigned to a major professor

• provide general guidance or help in administering required examinations

• evaluate VCS graduate student progress on an annual basis, usually in December (see

Appendix 1). This information should be forwarded to the department head by the end of

December and graduate student progress will be discussed in faculty career development

meetings. Based on the documentation and assessment of progress, the GPC should

recommend to the department head whether students should be retained or dismissed

from the graduate program.

• review the VCS annual report documenting the progress of doctoral students for the

Graduate Council.

• prepare with assistance from the VCS office a report annually for the VCS department

summarizing the status of the VCS graduate program. This report will be presented at a

VCS faculty meeting at the start of each academic year and provide information, related

to the previous fiscal year, of the following: (1) number of candidates that applied to open

masters and doctoral positions; (2) number of graduate students that enrolled into masters

and doctoral programs and the total number currently enrolled; (3) number of enrolled

graduate students that left the graduate program and reason for leaving; and (4) number

of graduate students that completed programs (with degree).

• protect the interests of both the graduate student and the institution and act as advocates

for both.

• suggest new course offerings and review and recommend new graduate courses proposed

by faculty i.e. act as the Graduate Courses and Curriculum Committee for the VCS

department.

• recommend policy and procedural changes in the graduate program to VCS faculty.

• Conduct exit evaluations with graduating students or students departing the program.

Procedure for evaluating applications to the graduate program

The application will be evaluated separately by the Graduate Program Committee (GPC) of VCS

and the Graduate School of Purdue University. Communications should be done electronically

whenever possible.

Each GPC member will evaluate the applicant within 1 week of receiving a copy of the

completed application and return a written decision to the committee chair. If returned responses

are unanimous the application will be returned to the department head with the accompanying

written decisions and a recommendation of approval or disapproval of the application. Under

these circumstances the GPC will not formally meet. The committee will meet to discuss any

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application where a unanimous decision was not reached in the returned individual evaluations

and e-mail correspondence did not reach a consensus decision.

The GPC is responsible for recommending approval or disapproval of graduate student

applications. Processed applications will then be sent to the department head at which time the

section head and potential advisor of the graduate student applicant will be notified of the

recommendation. Graduate faculty members who disagree with the decision of the GPC should

discuss their reasons for disagreement with their section head or chair of the GPC. Following

such discussions, the section head or potential advisor of the graduate student applicant can

formally challenge the decision of the GPC by notifying the department head in writing, stating

the reasons for disagreeing with the decision of the GPC. Interested parties have one week from

receipt of the notice to formally challenge the decisions of the GPC. The final decision will then

be made by the department head, who will subsequently inform the GPC of the final disposition

of the application.

Recommendations of the GPC and Graduate School will be forwarded to the department head of

VCS, who will then ensure that the application, the Application Transmittal Checklist (G.S.

Form 26), official transcripts, and proof of degree is submitted to the Graduate School for final

approval. The department head will also notify the applicant. The Notice of Admission will

specify whether unconditional admission or conditional admission has been approved. Students

who do not meet one or more of the minimum requirements for admission may be admitted on

conditional status. The most common reason for conditional status admission is a grade point

average below 3.0 (A = 4.0); such students must maintain a grade point average above 3.0 to

continue past the first semester. Other conditional status conditions include missing academic

transcripts that must be submitted or English language proficiency that must be demonstrated

(see Graduate School web site: http://www.gradschool.purdue.edu/admissions/).

In cases where an applicant is considered acceptable for admission to the graduate program with

a conditional status, the GPC may identify areas of deficiency and recommend courses (and

possibly grade requirements) that would correct the deficiency. If the department head is in

agreement, the department head can either:

a. Specify courses which must be completed with specified minimum grade to remove the

student from conditional status, or

b. Identify only required course areas, and provide the Graduate Student Committee the

responsibility for selecting the courses.

Immediately upon enrollment of a student with conditional status the department head should,

after consultation with the student's advisor, appoint an Advisory Committee. The department

head will communicate to the Advisory Committee the conditions for removal of conditional

status. The Advisory Committee will report to the department head the student's progress

towards removal of the conditional status designation. The department head will decide when the

conditions for removal of conditional status have been satisfied. After a student on conditional

status has satisfied the conditions imposed, the VCS department head will request that the

Graduate School adjust the student’s graduate admission status from conditional to

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unconditional. No advanced degree will be awarded to a student who has not qualified for, and

been granted, unconditional status.

Copies of material pertaining to information, review, and decisions on admissions and similar

correspondence with prospective applicants will be kept on file for 1 year in the VCS department

office.

Graduate Student Responsibilities

The quality and success of the graduate student’s program is ultimately the responsibility of the

student and depends primarily on the energy, talent, and intellectual motivation that the student

applies to their education.

a. It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that all required portions of the application

have been received by the VCS department and the Purdue University Graduate School.

b. Students are expected to be familiar with and adhere to the University procedure and

policies as described in the Graduate School Student Employment Manual

(www.gradschool.purdue.edu/downloads/Graduate_Student_Employment_Manual.pdf)

c. It is the student’s responsibility, upon prior consultation and with the assistance of their

advisor, to schedule meetings of their Advisory Committee at intervals mandated by the

VCS department, and more frequently if needed.

d. The student should provide an updated checklist for the M.S. degree (non-thesis or thesis;

Appendix 2) or Ph.D. degree (Appendix 3) at each Advisory Committee meeting.

e. The student must discuss all proposed courses and course changes with their advisor

before on-line registration, and notify the Advisory Committee of any changes in course

registration.

f. The student must complete all course work, examinations and other degree requirements

in a timely fashion.

g. The student will initiate petitions to the appropriate committee or administrative official,

when indicated.

h. The student must conduct research and scholarly activities in an ethical manner.

i. It is the student’s responsibility to request transfer of credits from previous programs or

universities.

j. The student must ensure that their thesis or dissertation is presented in final draft form to

members of the Advisory Committee and the department head (or designated

representative) by the date agreed upon with the advisor, and not less than two weeks

before the scheduled final examination.

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Failure of the student to meet their responsibilities in the shared student/advisor relationship or to

satisfy the requirements of the VCS department may be grounds for dismissal.

Residents and graduate students (with a Purdue University appointment) may occasionally be

allowed to engage in outside activity. In order for this to happen, the request must first have the

support of the student’s major professor/advisor and their advisory committee. The proposed

activity must be scheduled during non-working hours and be seen to enhance the educational

program of the student and to not interfere with timely and satisfactory progress in their program.

The student also must file a Form 32A and obtain approval by the Department Head, Dean of the

School, and President of the University prior to engaging in outside activities. Students must be

properly licensed to practice for the proposed activity and they will need to arrange for their own

professional liability insurance coverage. Residents and graduate students will not be allowed to

engage in outside activities (act as a consultant) in the specialty field of their ongoing training.

(Excerpt from SVM Administrative Document #37)

Major Professor (Advisor) Responsibilities

The major professor (advisor) and the graduate student constitute the fundamental unit of

graduate education. The quality of graduate work depends upon their relationship and scholarly

attitude. Appendix 4 (Guiding Standards for Advising and Mentoring Graduate Students at

Purdue University) describes the standards to which all members of the graduate faculty should

aspire.

The major professor (advisor) shall have the following responsibilities:

a. To meet with the student before he/she begins course work to assist in orientation of the

student and in planning the student’s tentative course program.

b. To discuss with the student, and recommend to the department head, the names of faculty

members to be appointed to the Advisory Committee, according to guidelines for the

VCS and Purdue University Graduate School M.S. (non-thesis and thesis) and Ph.D.

programs.

c. To assist the student in arranging meetings of the appropriate Advisory Committee to

assess the student's progress.

d. To guide thesis research of students for whom they serve as advisor, both in content and

timeliness. Informal assignment by the advisor of responsibility for guidance of thesis

research to another member of the VCS faculty should be avoided. If it is apparent that

such reassignment of responsibility is in the best interests of the student, a formal request

for change in advisor should be considered, and directed to the department head.

e. To read and revise draft forms of the thesis and scholarly manuscripts in a timely fashion.

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Advisory Committee Responsibilities

Advisory Committees usually serve as the Examination Committee for students undertaking the

M.S. (thesis) or Ph.D. degrees. Advisory Committees have the following responsibilities:

1. To assist the major professor (advisor) in graduate student orientation and planning the

student's program of course work.

2. To meet with the major professor and graduate student at intervals mandated by the VCS

department and the Purdue University Graduate School (and more frequently if needed)

to assess the student's progress at least annually. A copy of the Evaluation of Academic

Progress (see Appendix 1) should be filed in the VCS department office within 2 weeks

of this meeting.

3. To approve the proposed research project(s) (thesis M.S. and Ph.D. degrees) for

completion within an agreed time frame.

4. To formally examine the student in written or oral form as required for conferment (thesis

M.S. and Ph.D. degrees)

5. To read and revise the final form of the thesis (thesis M.S. and Ph.D. degrees) in a timely

fashion.

Procedures for Review of Academic Progress

The GPC will meet at least once during the academic year (usually late in the Fall semester) for

the purpose of a formal review of academic progress of all graduate students in the department.

A recommendation of satisfactory progress is usually based on 2 to 3 years for completion of the

M.S. degree (non-thesis and thesis) and 5 to 6 years for completion of the Ph.D. degree.

1. The student’s Advisory Committee will forward a recommendation of satisfactory, needs

improvement, or unsatisfactory to the GPC. If progress is determined to need

improvement or be unsatisfactory, the GPC will recommend the conditions under which

the student will be permitted to continue in the graduate program, or recommend a

termination date if the student is not allowed to continue in the program. This

recommendation will be forwarded to the student, major professor, other members of the

Advisory Committee, and department head.

2. The department head may agree or disagree with the GPC, and following consultations

with the student, the student’s major professor, and the chair of the GPC, the department

head’s decision will be final.

3. The student, their major professor (advisor), Advisory Committee, and the GPC will be

informed in writing of the department head’s decision.

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4. Students have the right to appeal within 30 days following notification of the decision of

the department head.

The chair of the GPC is available for discussions of any issues related to the student’s graduate

program. Such discussions are confidential.

Graduate student support resources:

Any member of the GPC is available to discuss any concern that a VCS graduate student may

have on any aspect of their program. The Peer Ombudsman Office was created to serve as a

resource for graduate students to receive peer feedback on any issues related to graduate

education at Purdue. There are three Peer Ombudsmen that regularly meet with students to

discuss a host of topics including relationship issues with major professors, sources of funding

and adequate housing options. The Peer Ombudsmen are neutral persons that will listen, provide

information, offer options, seek explanations, make referrals, and advise regarding rights and

responsibilities. If you would like to share, and perhaps, make better a concern that you have

about your graduate education, please contact the Peer Ombudsmen through the Graduate

School website (http://www.gradschool.purdue.edu/ombuds).

GradShare is a free online resource to help you make the most of the graduate school experience

by offering expert advice and peer discussions pertaining to topics such as: Dissertation

Development, Teaching, Financial Aid/Grants, Work-Life Balance, Research, Career

Development. To learn more about GradShare visit the site at http://www.GradShare.com

It is the responsibility of the graduate student to initiate contact or voice any concern to the GPC

committee or the Peer Ombudsman Office.

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THE M.S. DEGREE (non-thesis)

To obtain the Master of Science (M.S.) non-thesis degree in the VCS department, the candidate

must fulfill all requirements of the Graduate School and department. The Graduate School

requirements are stated in the Policies and Procedures for Administering Graduate Student

Programs and are available online

www.gradschool.purdue.edu/downloads/Graduate_School_Policies_and_Procedures_Manual.pdf.

The departmental requirements are: demonstrated ability to: (1) understand the scientific method,

(2) think critically and creatively about problems in their field of study; (3) effectively

communicate in their field of study, and (4) conduct their activities in an ethical and responsible

manner. These requirements are met, in part, by completion of required course work. Training in

teaching is considered to be part of graduate education and the student will participate in the

teaching program; however, the extent of participation will be determined for each graduate

student.

Minimum Requirements for the M.S. non-thesis Degree

The credit requirements for the M.S. non-thesis degree are in accordance with those of the

Graduate School. The minimum is 30 total credit hours of course work, with credit being

given for courses with a grade of C- or better. Full-time study is regarded as 8 credit hours

during fall and spring semesters and 6 credit hours during summer semester, with 18 credit hours

being the maximum course work load in fall and spring semesters. Students must register for a

minimum of 6 credits in the Fall and Spring semesters, and a minimum of 3 credits in the

Summer semester in order to maintain part-time graduate student status. This represents a

minimum of 30 credit hours for a 2-year program and 45 credits for a 3-year program.

International graduate students must be registered for 8 credit hours during fall and spring

semesters in order to fulfill the immigration requirement of full-time graduate student status (6

credit hours if receiving a 0.50 FTE assistantship). Graduate students who are non-native

speakers of English must demonstrate minimum writing proficiency in English. The TOEFL or

IELTS score will be used in determining whether to enroll the student in ENGL 62100 (Written

Communication for International Graduate Students).

Course work requirements must be met, under normal circumstances, within five years of being

admitted to the Graduate School. Research credits cannot be used to meet course work

requirements. Graduate courses taken as pass/not pass or satisfactory/unsatisfactory cannot be

used to meet course work requirements. A current listing of courses approved to be offered at all

Purdue campuses is maintained by the Office of the Registrar (click link “Search the Course

Catalog” on following web site: https://mypurdue.purdue.edu/cp/home/loginf).

Course work must be appropriate to meet the needs of the student in his or her chosen field, as

determined by the advisory committee and approved by the head of the department, the dean of

the School of Veterinary Medicine, and the dean of the Graduate School. The plan of study

should include a primary area of study (e.g. Large Animal Medicine) and may include a related

area or areas that are chosen on the basis of the student’s interests and needs. The Graduate

School regards the plan of study as an individualized curriculum designed by the advisory

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committee to assist the student in achieving his or her educational objectives. Changes in the

plan of study must be accompanied by a brief rationale in the space provided on the form.

Specific departmental course work requirements are:

• At least 3 semesters of VCS 62000 – Seminar in Clinical Medicine and Surgery (1 cr./sem.

when a seminar is given): Seminars provide a forum for faculty and graduate students to

discuss current concepts and research results in clinical medicine and surgery, and other

aspects of veterinary medicine.

• Two semesters/year of VCS 63000 – Current topics in Veterinary Clinical Sciences: One-

two hour sessions organized and conducted weekly by VCS residents, with

input/discussion from the attending VCS faculty. Alternating weekly topic sessions may

include journal club and morbidity and mortality patient rounds or other topics

appropriate to the specialty.

• VCS60300 – Introduction to clinical research, trials and translational research (1 cr.)

• VCS 60400 – Animal models in translational research” (Graduate Council approval

pending; 1 cr.)

• One biostatistics course such as CPB 62500 – Clinical biostatistics (2 cr.),

CPB 62300 – Microcomputer applications in clinical and biomedical research (3 cr.),

STAT 50300 – Statistical methods for biology (3 cr.) or STAT 51400 – Design of

experiments (3 cr.)

• Complete the online research ethics training available through the Collaborative

Institutional Training Initiative program (https://www.citiprogram.org) during the first

semester of study.

We strongly recommend that graduate students take a course / workshop in technical writing

such as: VCS Scientific writing workshop; Graduate School workshops (“How to publish in

academic journals”).

To maintain good standing in the graduate program a student must have a cumulative grade point

average of at least 3.0 (A = 4.0). The student is also expected to earn S grades for research

registration.

Major Professor (Advisor) and Advisory Committee

For graduate students completing a combined clinical residency and graduate degree program,

the appropriate section head will be assigned as their temporary advisor immediately upon

commencement of clinical duties. In consultation with the resident/graduate student, the faculty

will then select a major professor (advisor), who will be a faculty member in their clinical

service unit and has graduate faculty status; the major professor can be another faculty member

in VCS if none of the faculty in the clinical service unit is member of the Graduate Faculty.

Members of the Graduate Faculty are tenure-track faculty members at Purdue University who

have been nominated by the head of the graduate program and the dean of the SVM for

appointment to the Graduate Faculty. Generally, clinical faculty may serve on graduate

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committees but may not serve as the major professor. Under these circumstances, clinical faculty

may be appointed as “special” graduate faculty members (see Policies and Procedures for

Administering Graduate Student Programs, Section I, page 6 available online at:

www.gradschool.purdue.edu/downloads/Graduate_School_Policies_and_Procedures_Manual.pdf).

Selection of an advisor must be done within 6 months of starting the program.

The major professor is responsible for supervising the student’s graduate program. The student

and the major professor will select the Advisory Committee, which will contain a minimum of 3

people (including the major professor), and the Advisory Committee must be appointed before

submission of the Plan of Study. At least 3 members, as well as the majority (51%), of the

Advisory Committee must be members of the Graduate Faculty. Members of the advisory

committee should be faculty who can provide help, guidance and support for the student with

reference to the individual area of research. The Advisory Committee and the student must

submit a plan of study no later than 8 weeks after the beginning of the second semester of study.

The plan of study may be amended as required after initial approval. Subsequently, the Advisory

Committee must meet with the student at least once per year. The student’s classification will be

changed from Class M (Master’s Student) to Class B (Master’s Candidate) once the plan of study

for the M.S. degree is approved by the Advisory Committee, Chair of the Graduate Program,

Department Head, and Dean of the Graduate School.

Examination

A final examination is not required for the M.S. non-thesis degree.

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THE M.S. DEGREE (thesis)

To obtain the Master of Science (M.S.) thesis degree in the VCS department, the candidate must

fulfill all requirements of the Graduate School and department and pass the final M.S.

examination. The Graduate School requirements are stated in the Policies and Procedures for

Administering Graduate Student Programs and are available online

www.gradschool.purdue.edu/downloads/Graduate_School_Policies_and_Procedures_Manual.pdf.

The departmental requirements are demonstrated ability to: (1) understand and apply the

scientific method; 2) effectively communicate in their field of study; (3) think critically and

creatively about problems in their field of study; (4) conduct their activities in an ethical and

responsible manner; and (5) conduct research using the abilities described above. These

requirements are met, in part, by completing required course work and conducting research

activities. Training in teaching is considered to be part of graduate education and the student will

participate in the teaching program; however, the extent of participation will be determined for

each graduate student.

Minimum Requirements for the M.S. thesis Degree

The credit requirements for the M.S. thesis degree are in accordance with those of the Graduate

School. The minimum is 30 total credit hours, with credit being given for courses with a grade

of C- or better. Fewer than 30 credit hours of course work may be listed on the plan of study for

a thesis option M.S. degree, providing there is a total of at least 30 hours of course work and

research credits. Full-time study is regarded as 8 credit hours during fall and spring semesters

and 6 credit hours during summer semester, with 18 credit hours being the maximum course

work load in fall and spring semesters. Students must register for a minimum of 6 credits in the

Fall and Spring semesters, and a minimum of 3 credits in the Summer semester in order to

maintain part-time graduate student status. International graduate students must be registered for

8 credit hours during fall and spring semesters in order to fulfill the immigration requirement of

full-time graduate student status (6 credit hours if on a graduate staff appointment). Graduate

students who are non-native speakers of English must demonstrate minimum writing proficiency

in English. The TOEFL or IELTS score will be used in determining whether to enroll the student

in ENGL 62100 (Written Communication for International Graduate Students).

A minimum of 15 credit hours of course work is required. Course work requirements must be

met, under normal circumstances, within five years of being admitted to the Graduate School.

Research credits cannot be used to meet course work requirements. Graduate courses taken as

pass/not pass or satisfactory/unsatisfactory cannot be used to meet course work requirements. A

current listing of courses approved to be offered at all Purdue campuses is maintained by the

Office of the Registrar (click link “Search the Course Catalog” on following web site:

https://mypurdue.purdue.edu/cp/home/loginf).

Course work must be appropriate to meet the needs of the student in his or her chosen field, as

determined by the advisory committee and approved by the head of the department, the dean of

the School of Veterinary Medicine, and the dean of the Graduate School. The plan of study

should include a primary area of study (e.g. Large Animal Medicine) and may include a related

Purdue University is an equal access/equal opportunity/affirmative action university.

If you have trouble accessing this document because of a disability, please contact PVM Web Communications at [email protected].

area or areas that are chosen on the basis of the student’s interests and needs. The Graduate

School regards the plan of study as an individualized curriculum designed by the advisory

committee to assist the student in achieving his or her educational objectives. Changes in the

plan of study must be accompanied by a brief rationale in the space provided on the form.

Specific departmental course work requirements are:

• At least 2 semesters of a seminar series, one of which must be VCS 620 (45-min

presentation) and 2 research presentations / seminars such as: VCS 62000, CPB 69700,

conference presentation, or other appropriate forum

• Two semesters/year of VCS 63000 – Current topics in Veterinary Clinical Sciences: One-

two hour sessions organized and conducted weekly by VCS graduate students, with

input/discussion from the attending VCS faculty. Alternating weekly topic sessions may

include journal club and morbidity and mortality patient rounds or other topics

appropriate to the specialty.

• VCS60300 – Introduction to clinical research, trials and translational research (1 cr.)

• VCS 60400 – Animal models in translational research” (Graduate Council approval

pending; 1 cr.)

• One biostatistics course such as CPB 62500 – Clinical biostatistics (2 cr.),

CPB 62300 – Microcomputer applications in clinical and biomedical research (3 cr.),

STAT 50300 – Statistical methods for biology (3 cr.), or STAT 51400 – Design of

experiments (3 cr.)

• At least one course in the responsible conduct of research before thesis defense, such as:

o CPB 61800 – Ethical issues in biomedical research (2 credits)

o GRAD 61200 Responsible conduct of research (1 credit)

o PSY 46400 – Responsible conduct of scientific research (3 credits);

o Graduate students are also encouraged to participate in Grad School

workshops/seminars: RCR series for students in Life Sciences (on-line modules;

http://www.gradschool.purdue.edu/RCR/).

• Public seminar related to thesis defense.

We strongly recommend that graduate students take a course / workshop in technical writing

such as: VCS Scientific writing workshop; Graduate School workshops (“How to publish in

academic journals”).

A course in teaching is recommended but not required. To maintain good standing in the

graduate program a student must have a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0 (A = 4.0).

The student is also expected to earn S grades for research registration.

M.S. thesis requirements

The thesis must be original and include at least one paper written in a format suitable for

publication in a peer-reviewed scientific journal. The thesis must conform to the requirements of

the Graduate School and the department. The Graduate School requirements for the thesis are

stated in the Policies and Procedures for Administering Graduate Student Programs and A

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Manual for the Preparation of Graduate Theses

(www.gradschool.purdue.edu/downloads/facstaff/graduate-thesis-manual.pdf). The departmental

requirements for the thesis are as follows:

Preliminary Pages: The preliminary pages must include the Title Page, Table of Contents,

List of Tables, List of Figures, and an Abstract.

Text: The text must contain at least 4 chapters. Chapter 1 is named Introduction, which is

a brief (<3 page) introduction to the topic. Chapter 2 is named Literature Review, which

is an in-depth review of the topic. Chapter 3 (and any additional chapters) describes the

original research conducted by the candidate. The final chapter is named Conclusions,

which is a brief (<3 page) summary of the findings and their significance within the

research area. The final chapter should also include suggested areas for future research of

the topic. Because it is strongly encouraged that parts of the thesis be published in an

appropriate journal, Chapters 2 and 3 (and any additional chapters) should be organized

in a style suitable for publication in a scientific journal. Formatting of the chapters should

follow the style of the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association (default

format) or scientific journal selected for publication of the manuscript. The reference list

for each chapter should start on a new page after the article.

Reference Section: References should be cited in a consistent style throughout the thesis.

It is preferable that all references be described in a Bibliography, which is the summary

of source material at the end of the thesis. Alternatively, references may be given at the

end of each chapter instead of at the end of the thesis, in which case the heading should

be List of References or Literature Cited instead of Bibliography.

Appendices: Serious consideration should be given to including additional supporting

material in an appendix or series of appendices at the end of the thesis.

The VCS department is not financially responsible for the typing or printing of the thesis, and

VCS staff is not permitted to assist you with your thesis during regular business hours.

Following a successful final defense examination, the complete and corrected deposit copy of the

thesis, including the completed Thesis Acceptance (G.S. Form 9), must be delivered to the

Thesis/Dissertation Office on or before the last day of classes of the session in which the student

is to graduate.

Major Professor (Advisor) and Advisory Committee

For graduate students completing a combined clinical residency and graduate degree program,

the appropriate section head will be assigned as their temporary advisor immediately upon

commencement of clinical duties. In consultation with the resident/graduate student, the faculty

will then select an advisor, who is usually a faculty member in their clinical service unit and a

graduate faculty; the major professor can be another faculty member in VCS if none of the

faculty in the clinical service unit are members of the Graduate Faculty. Members of the

Graduate Faculty are tenure-track faculty members at Purdue University who have been

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nominated by the head of the graduate program and the dean of the SVM for appointment to the

Graduate Faculty. Generally, clinical faculty may serve on graduate committees but may not

serve as the major professor. Under these circumstances, clinical faculty may be appointed as

“special” graduate faculty members (see Policies and Procedures for Administering Graduate

Student Programs, Section I, page 6 available online at:

www.gradschool.purdue.edu/downloads/Graduate_School_Policies_and_Procedures_Manual.pdf).

Selection of an advisor must be done within 6 months of starting the program.

For graduate students completing a graduate degree without a clinical training program, the

faculty member who agreed to be responsible for their graduate program will be assigned as

major professor immediately upon commencement of graduate studies.

The major professor is responsible for supervising the student’s graduate program. The student

and the major professor will select the Advisory Committee. The committee consists of the

major professor and at least two other faculty members and must be appointed before submission

of the Plan of Study. At least 3 members, as well as the majority (51%), of the Advisory

Committee must have regular graduate faculty certification. It is strongly recommended that at

least 1 member of the Advisory Committee should have a faculty appointment in a department

outside VCS. Members of the Advisory Committee should be faculty who can provide help,

guidance and support for the student with reference to the individual area of research. The

Advisory Committee and the student must submit a plan of study no later than 8 weeks after the

beginning of the second semester of study. Subsequently, the Advisory Committee must meet

with the student at least once per year. The student’s classification will be changed from Class M

(Master’s student) to Class B (Master’s candidate) once the plan of study for the M.S. degree is

approved by the Advisory Committee, Chair of the Graduate Program, Department Head, and

Dean of the Graduate School.

The student must present a written plan of research which contains specific aims, background

and significance, research design and methods including statistical analysis and power analysis

(if indicated), and potential problems to be encountered. The format should follow guidelines for

the NIH R01 grant application. These guidelines can be found at:

http://grants.nih.gov/grants/writing_application.htm (Writing your application / Developing your

research plan). The plan of research must be at least 4 pages in length but no more than 15 pages

and should be submitted no later than the third semester for the M.S. degree. Committee

members will evaluate the plan of research using the rubric provided in Appendix 5.

The student must present an informal seminar of less than 45 minutes to their Advisory

Committee before starting their thesis research; during the seminar the student should: (1)

describe the problem and the significance of the research, (2) define the hypothesis or hypotheses

to be tested, (3) describe the methodology, and (4) state the likely problems to be encountered.

The plan of research must be sent to the advisory committee at least 1 week before the informal

seminar. After the seminar the Advisory Committee will convey in writing to the graduate

student that the proposed research project is sufficient for a M.S. thesis. The graduate student

must notify and obtain the written approval of the Advisory Committee for any major changes in

the proposed research project.

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Examination

The final examination will be scheduled with the approval of the student, the major professor

(advisor), and all members of the Advisory Committee. A request for appointment of an

examining committee (G.S. Form 8) must be received by the Graduate School at least 2 weeks

before the proposed examination date. Final examination must be held before the last week of

classes. The first draft of the thesis should be in the hands of the major professor (advisor) at

least six weeks before the end of the semester in which the degree is to be conferred. A copy of

the final draft of the thesis must be distributed to all members of the Advisory Committee and

the department head (or their representative) at least 2 weeks before the examination. The final

draft must bear the written approval of the professor who has directed the research. If the

department head should find the thesis unsatisfactory, they should inform the student, the

advisor, and the Advisory Committee before the final examination.

The final examination will consist of a 45 minute presentation of the dissertation in the form of a

departmental seminar, which is open to the public. The seminar will be followed by an oral

examination administered by the Advisory Committee in a closed session. The oral examination

will focus on material related to the written thesis and presented during the departmental

seminar. The oral examination will be chaired by the major professor. At the completion of the

final examination, the committee chair should present the examination committee with a Report

of the Final Examination (G.S. Form 11). The Advisory Committee must indicate, in the

student’s absence, approval or disapproval and sign the report form. The major professor shall

submit a recommendation to the department head concerning the student’s performance in the

examination. If there is more than one dissenting vote, the examination is judged unsatisfactory.

In the event of an unsatisfactory judgment, the Advisory Committee must decide whether the

student will be permitted to take a second examination and the candidate must wait at least until

the following session to repeat the final examination. If a second examination is held, the

Advisory Committee must be the same as the original one, unless the department head approves

substitution. The second examination must take place within 6 months of the first, and a second

unsatisfactory judgment constitutes dismissal of the student from the VCS graduate program.

A GPC representative, appointed by the department head, shall attend all examinations for M.S.

thesis degree candidates in the department. During the examination, the GPC representative may

ask questions to the student and deliberate with the Advisory Committee. The GPC

representative cannot vote in the final committee decision. The representative shall have the

following responsibilities:

a) To ensure that the student is treated fairly and that the examination meets departmental

standards.

b) To act as a resource for questions on graduate rules and protocols.

c) To approve the format of the thesis.

After the final examination, each committee member will evaluate the candidate’s presentation

using the rubric provided in Appendix 6. The Advisory Committee will convey in writing to the

graduate student if the student passed the final examination. After the examining committee

meets, the student prepares a final copy of the thesis. That copy, called the “deposit” copy,

incorporates all revisions requested by the members of the examining committee. A final copy of

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the thesis should be provided in electronic form to the major professor, other members of the

Advisory Committee, and department head.

Exit survey

The Exit Questionnaire must be completed and submitted before you can receive your thesis

deposit receipt. To access the questionnaire, log on the myPurdue Web site located at

http://www.myPurdue.purdue.edu.

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THE Ph.D. DEGREE

To obtain the Ph.D. degree in the VCS department, the candidate must fulfill all requirements of

the Graduate School and the VCS Department. The Graduate School requirements are stated in

the Policies and Procedures for Administering Graduate Student Programs and are available

online:

www.gradschool.purdue.edu/downloads/Graduate_School_Policies_and_Procedures_Manual.pdf.

The departmental requirements are demonstrated ability to: (1) understand and apply the

scientific method; 2) effectively communicate in their field of study; (3) think critically and

creatively about problems in their field of study; (4) conduct their activities in an ethical and

responsible manner; (5) plan and conduct original research using the abilities described above;

and (6) engage in scholarship and other creative endeavors. These requirements are met, in part,

by completion of required course work. Training in teaching is considered to be part of graduate

education and the student will participate in the teaching program; however, the extent of

participation will be determined for each graduate student. Every candidate for the Ph.D. in VCS

is required to obtain a broad knowledge of basic science and a high degree of expertise in their

area of specialization.

The total elapsed time of a completed Ph.D. degree program at Purdue University, from

admission to the completion of the final examination, shall be no more than eight calendar years.

Extensions of this limitation may be granted by the dean of the Graduate School and/or the

Graduate Council, upon recommendation and justification by the academic department, but may

require reapproval of plans of study and/or retaking of preliminary examinations.

Minimum Requirements for the Ph.D. Degree

The credit requirements for the Ph.D. degree are in accordance with those of the Graduate

School. The minimum is 90 credit hours, with credit being given for courses with a grade of

C- or better. A master’s degree or DVM degree (or equivalent) from any accredited institution

may be considered to contribute up to 30 credit hours toward satisfying the credit hour

requirement at the discretion of the Graduate Program Committee. Full-time study is regarded as

8 credit hours during fall and spring semesters and 6 credit hours during summer semester, with

18 credit hours being the maximum course work load in fall and spring semesters and 9 credits

being the maximum course work load during summer session. Students must register for a

minimum of 6 credits in the Fall and Spring semesters, and a minimum of 3 credits in the

Summer semester in order to maintain part-time graduate student status. International graduate

students must be registered for 8 credit hours during fall and spring semesters in order to fulfill

the immigration requirement of full-time graduate student status (6 credit hours if receiving a

0.50 FTE assistantship). Graduate students who are non-native speakers of English must

demonstrate minimum writing proficiency in English. The TOEFL or IELTS score will be used

in determining whether to enroll the student in ENGL 62100 (Written Communication for

International Graduate Students).

A minimum of 15 credit hours of course work is required. Course work requirements must be

met, under normal circumstances, within five years of being admitted to the Graduate School.

Purdue University is an equal access/equal opportunity/affirmative action university.

If you have trouble accessing this document because of a disability, please contact PVM Web Communications at [email protected].

Graduate courses taken as pass/not pass or satisfactory/unsatisfactory cannot be used to meet

course work requirements. Research credits cannot be used to meet course work requirements. A