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Graduate study in laboratory animal medicine consists of
basic training in methodology and the development of scholarship and
research capabilities within the specialty. The general plan is one that
provides a broad, basic foundation upon which the individual can build a
career in teaching and research and/or in the professional direction of
research animal facilities.
The research orientation requires a basic knowledge of
comparative medicine, which is taught in a core curriculum of lectures.
These are designed to review and update fundamental concepts, provide new
information, and guide assimilation of such material. Frequent
student-faculty discussion supplements formal courses and enables
students and faculty to evaluate course content and efficiency of
presentation. Laboratory exercises are used as a method of emphasizing a
concept or for the development of necessary technical skills. In
addition, conferences, seminars, and discussions supplement all aspects
of the program. The program normally requires a minimum of two years for
completion and meets the educational requirements stipulated by the
American College of Laboratory Animal Medicine.
The Department of Comparative Medicine
The Department of Comparative Medicine is a basic
science, academic department of the College of Medicine and is staffed by
veterinarians specialized in laboratory animal medicine and veterinary
pathology. We provide comprehensive health care for the 10 - 15 different
species of laboratory animal patients that are used by over 100
scientists/clientele within the College of Medicine and the medical center. The service program
includes the animal care and husbandry; clinical veterinary medicine,
clinical, gross, and microscopic veterinary pathology, surveillance of
spontaneous animal diseases, post-operative and intensive care, technical
assistance and consultation with investigators and students. We serve to
protect the animals, the investigators, and the institution with regards
to all laws and regulations that pertain to the use of research animals.
We strive to increase the body of scientific knowledge concerning the
range of variation of normal and abnormal structure, function, and
behavior in the species of animals used primarily for teaching and
research purposes. We work in a multidisciplinary fashion with all other
departments in the College of Medicine.
The Master of Science degree with a major in Laboratory
Animal Medicine is research-oriented and requires a minimum of 30 credit
hours in the major subject, including thesis research. Although the program
follows the general pattern laid down by the graduate school, the
requirements are sufficiently flexible to permit students to adapt them
to their particular interests and needs.
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