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 open for individuals with a B.S., M.S., D.V.M. or equivalent.

• Master's degree (MS) information and course requirements

For veterinarians, the department offers opportunities for the PhD in veterinary pathology to emphasize one of five areas. PhD requires 72 graduate credits (12 credits from outside major field).

• Anatomic pathology
• Clinical pathology
• Cellular and molecular pathology
• Parasitology
• Toxicology

For veterinarians, the department offers a combined residency/Ph.D. program. Veterinarians can also enroll in a graduate program without a residency.

Non-veterinarians can emphasize either cellular and molecular pathology or parasitology. These programs involve research, coursework (classes), and participation in graduate seminars.

Graduate Contact Point

Dr. Douglas E. Jones , VMD, PhD
Associate Professor
Director of Graduate Education of Veterinary Pathology

Mailing Address:
College of Veterinary Medicine
Iowa State University
Ames, IA 50011

Phone: 515-294-4682
Fax: 515-294-5423
E-mail: jonesdou@iastate.edu

Veterinary Pathology Orientation Manual
for Graduate Students
(pdf documents)

Entire Document

Below is a current list of what is included within the Veterinary Pathology Orientation Manual for Graduate Students

• Welcome
• Index
• Introduction
• Website Resources
• General and Miscellaneous Information
• Seminars
• Study Sets
• MS and PhD Examinations
• Criteria for success in the program of study
• Post Mortem: General Information
  - Procedures for Submitting Tissues for Microbiologic Tests (Bacteriology, Virology, Toxicology, Rabies, West Nile Virus)
• Biopsy and Post-Mortem Service Rotations: General Information
  - Fixation
  - Accessions
  - Demineralization
  - Processing
  - Case Reports - VADDS
  - Diagnosis Coding
  - Special Stains
  - Primary Antibodies Available
  - Immunohistochemical Charges
• Clinical Pathology Laboratory: General Information
  - Sample Submission Protocols

Learning Outcomes Statement

The Department of Veterinary Pathology offers M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Veterinary Pathology with specialization in Veterinary Clinical Pathology, Cellular and Molecular Pathology, and Veterinary Parasitology. All graduates from the Department of Veterinary Pathology's graduate program have expertise in a particular area of research, including research techniques, and scholarly activity (writing/publications/seminars).

Graduates specializing in Veterinary Pathology that emphasize professional practice can identify and interpret gross and histologic lesions, understand the pathogenesis of diseases important to various animal species, including domestic animals, and understand the pathology and pathogenesis of disease from a comparative medicine standpoint.

Graduates specializing in Veterinary Clinical Pathology can assess and interpret hematological and cytological specimens from various animal species, understand the pathogenesis of diseases important to various animal species, including domestic animals, and understand the pathology and pathogenesis of disease from a comparative medicine standpoint. Those graduates with Education emphasis can set up and/or support programs for learning enhancement.

Graduates specializing in Veterinary Parasitology can identify the major types of parasites and parasitic diseases in various animal species and understand comparative parasitology.

Graduates specializing in Cellular and Molecular Pathology can understand cell injury and perform experimentation on cellular injury as well as the mechanistic basis of disease.

In addition, Graduates are expected to understand societal and ethical issues in their discipline, and to be able to communicate this expertise in seminars, meetings, and other scholarly activities such as written reports, peer-reviewed publications, grants, and/or with engagement in professional practice. Those engaged in diagnostic pathology training are expected to meet the eligibility requirements for board certification by the American College of Veterinary Pathologists.

Procedures for Outcome Assessment

The Department of Veterinary Pathology requires all students to continually and actively make progress toward completion of their degree as defined in the graduate student handbook. The core activities in the graduate plan provide constant measures of learning outcomes, as students successfully complete required coursework, develop a research (or project for non-thesis MS) plan, arrange a POS committee in conjunction with their major professor, successfully complete their preliminary examination, complete the research/project requirements and write the results in a form acceptable to the POS committee. Furthermore, because they work closely with faculty in every-day research and clinical settings, our graduate students are constantly provided with opportunities to receive day-to-day, or even minute-by-minute feedback on their performance. In addition, in most cases, students will generate peer-reviewed publications, present work at meetings, and contribute significantly to teaching through lectures, presentations, contributing to laboratory discussions, as well as to professional practice through diagnostic reports, communication with clients. The thesis or dissertation of students is reviewed by their POS committee. During their education/training, students are required to attend seminars, complete an appropriate course in ethics, and participate in other scholarly activities appropriate for the educational experience. The department tracks the job placement of graduates in order to gauge the marketability, competitiveness and overall success.