The OSU Center for Veterinary Health Sciences offers programs in which students may simultaneously pursue the DVM degree and a graduate degree (M.S. or Ph.D).

Dual DVM/MS Degree

The M.S. degree may be earned with 30 credit hours beyond a bachelor's degree or 21 credit hours beyond the D.V.M. degree, including not more than six credit hours for research and thesis. The Plan of Study is designed to meet the student's needs in the discipline chosen, but will include two credit hours of seminar (VBSC 6110), three credit hours of graduate-level molecular biology/ biochemistry approved by the student’s Advisory Committee and the Graduate Coordinator, and three credit hours of statistics. After completing the coursework, research and thesis, the student must pass a final oral examination covering the thesis and related coursework.

Dual DVM/PhD Degree

The PhD degree may be earned with 60 credit hours in the Dual DVM/PhD program which includes not more than 45 credit hours for Research and Thesis (VBSC 6000), three credit hours of seminar (VBSC 6110), six credit hours of graduate-level molecular biology/ biochemistry approved by the student’s Advisory Committee and the Graduate Coordinator, and six credit hours of statistics. Written and oral qualifying examinations are required. Students must prepare a research proposal and complete a dissertation based on original research. The 60 credit hour PhD degree is contingent upon the successful completion of the DVM program. If the student does not complete the DVM program, the PhD will require the usual 90 credit hours beyond the bachelor's degree.

Special Funding for Dual DVM/PhD Degree Program

The OSU Center for Veterinary Health Sciences has a special Predoctoral Institutional Research Training Grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to support the training of veterinary students for careers in research. This grant enables and supports students who have completed their second year of the DVM professional program to spend one full year in the Veterinary Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program (VBSC) working toward a Ph.D. degree. After the one year spent doing research full-time, the student then re-enters the professional DVM program to complete the DVM degree. Once the DVM degree is completed the student will then resume his/her studies toward the Ph.D. degree which usually requires another 1-2 years of study and research. The goal is to train veterinarians in biomedical research to meet the national need for comparative medicine researchers. Financial support for the student accepted into the Predoctoral Institutional Research Training Grant Program includes a generous stipend, full tuition, medical benefits and an allowance for books and other items needed for the graduate degree program.