300 | 400 | Graduate Courses

Veterinary Pathology
Claire B. Andreasen, Chair of Department
Distinguished Professors: Cheville
Professors: Ackermann, Carson, Haynes, Hopper, Hyde, Moon, Myers, Osweiler
Professors (Collaborators): Brogden, Meador, Murray
University Professors (Emeritus): Kluge
Professors (Emeritus): Daniels, Greve, Hagemoser, Holter, Jeska, Ledet, Miller, Niyo, Seaton, Stahr
Associate Professors: Andreasen, Bender, Halbur, Janke, Jarvinen, Larson, Sorden, Yaeger
Assistant Professors: Beetham, Brockus, Fales, Hostetter, Jones
Assistant Professors (Collaborators): Palmer
Instructors (Adjunct): Greenlee, Grubor, Jones, Meyerholz, Preast
Lecturers: Danielson, Mills, Vermeer

Professional Program of Study

For the professional curriculum in veterinary medicine leading to the degree doctor of veterinary medicine, see Veterinary Medicine, Curriculum.

The Department of Veterinary Pathology offers a systematic study of basic disease mechanisms with emphasis on the changes in cells, tissues, organs, and body fluids associated with disease. The theory and practice of veterinary pathology, veterinary clinical pathology, veterinary parasitology, veterinary toxicology, and related disciplines provide the basis for accurate diagnosis and a rational approach to the treatment and prevention of animal diseases.

Graduate Study
The department offers work for the degree master of science and doctor of philosophy with a major in veterinary pathology. As an option, students within the veterinary pathology major may choose an area of specialization in cellular and molecular pathology, veterinary clinical pathology, veterinary toxicology, or veterinary parasitology. The master of science degree is available on a thesis or nonthesis basis in the veterinary pathology major with or without an area of specialization.

Graduates have a broad understanding of veterinary pathology and related disciplines. They are able to communicate with clinicians, other scientists, and other colleagues on scientific matters, and with the general public on science policy matters that relate to veterinary pathology.

Graduates are able to address complex problems facing the agricultural and biomedical sciences, and are able to make appropriate diagnoses and investigations of animal diseases. They consider ethical, social, legal and environmental issues, and are skilled at carrying out research, communicating research results, and writing concise and persuasive grant proposals.

A minor in veterinary pathology requires a minimum of 12 graduate credits at the Ph.D. level and 8 graduate credits at the M.S. level. These credits must be from departmental courses. Additionally, a faculty member from the department must be a member of the student's program of study committee.

A veterinary degree (doctor of veterinary medicine or equivalent) is required for the major in veterinary pathology and Veterinary Clinical Pathology. Other specializations do not required the veterinary degree. A minimum score of 550 is required on the TOEFL examination for students whose native language is not English. Scores on the standardized Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General Test are required of students not having a veterinary degree from the United States or Canada. The GRE General Test is strongly recommended for all other applicants. The foreign language requirement will be determined by the student's program of study committee with the approval of the departmental chair. The Graduate English Examination is a graduate college requirement for native English speakers.

The M.S. thesis degree in veterinary pathology, with or without an area of specialization, requires a minimum of 30 graduate credits. Following completion of all other requirements, a comprehensive final examination is administered covering all graduate work including the thesis. The examination is typically oral, but a written component may be specified by the program of study committee. The degree candidate must submit a thesis, including at least one manuscript suitable for publication, to the major professor at least one week prior to the final examination. The departmental requirement for graduate courses includes 3 credits of basic biological sciences (biochemistry, genetics, cell biology), 4 credits of statistics (Stat 401), 4 credits of systemic pathology (from V Pth 570 or 571), 1 credit of postmortem pathology (V Pth 551) 1 credit of seminar (V Pth 605), and a significant number of research credits (V Pth 699).

The M.S. nonthesis degree in veterinary pathology, with or without an area of specialization, requires a minimum of 40 graduate credits including at least 10 graduate credits earned outside the department. Every nonthesis master's degree program requires evidence of individual accomplishment demonstrated by completion of a creative component, special report, or scientific study. A minimum of 3 credits of such independent work (V Pth 599) and a practical diagnostic examination (V Pth 606) corresponding to the area of specialization are required on every program of study. The final examination is comprehensive and consists of written and oral questions. The departmental requirement for graduate courses includes those for the M.S. thesis degree plus additional courses corresponding to the area of degree emphasis of specialization. Contact the department for a more complete list of requirements and information on areas of specialization.

The Ph.D. degree in veterinary pathology, with or without an area of specialization, requires a minimum of 72 graduate credits including at least 12 graduate credits earned outside the department. A minor is encouraged, but not required. The preliminary examination, consisting of written and oral components, is comprehensive and not restricted to the content of graduate courses. The degree candidate must submit a dissertation, including at least two manuscripts suitable for publication, to the major professor at least one week prior to the final examination. The final examination is primarily a defense of the dissertation, but it may include questions on other areas of specialized knowledge. The department also offers a combined DVM/PhD program designed for completion of courses for the PhD degree in Veterinary Pathology simultaneously with study in the professional curriculum in the College of Veterinary Medicine. Contact the department for a more complete list of requirements for the Ph.D. degree and information on areas of specialization.

Minor work is recommended in other departments in the College of Veterinary Medicine or departments or programs in other colleges. The department participates in the interdepartmental program in immunobiology and the interdepartmental major in toxicology. (See Index.)

Courses open for nonmajor graduate credit: 478.

Courses Primarily for Professional Curriculum Students
V Pth 342. General Pathology. (Dual-listed with 542.) (3-2) Cr. 2. S.8 weeks. Offered second half semester only. Prereq: First-year classification in veterinary medicine. Basic pathology with emphasis on disease in animals.

V Pth 372. Systemic Pathology. (2-3) Cr. 3. F. Prereq: 342. Response to injury by each body system.

V Pth 376. Veterinary Parasitology. (Dual-listed with 576.) (3-3) Cr. 4. F. Prereq: Second-year classification in veterinary medicine. Parasitic diseases of domestic animals and their control.

V Pth 377. Case Study III. (0-4) Cr. 2. F. Prereq: Second-year classification in veterinary medicine. Clinical applications of the basic sciences taught concurrently in the fall semester of the second year curriculum in veterinary medicine.

V Pth 401. Basics of Medical Terminology. (1-0) Cr. 1. F. 8 weeks, offered second half semester only. Discussion of prefixes, suffixes, and roots (mostly from Latin and Greek) that comprise medical terms.

V Pth 408. Clinical Pathology Interpretation. (1-0)
Cr. 1. S. Prereq: 425. Interpretation of laboratory data on a series of clinical cases supplemented by current literature review.

V Pth 409. Introduction to Veterinary Cytology. (1-0) Cr. 1. S. Prereq: Second or third-year classification in veterinary medicine. Description and interpretation of cellular preparations from tissues and body fluids.

V Pth 410. Llama Medicine. (1-0) Cr. 1. S. Prereq: Second or third year classification in veterinary medicine. Introduction to basic camelid medicine, including anatomy, behavior, restraint, handling, husbandry, herd health, common diseases, surgical conditions, and anesthesia protocols.

V Pth 422. Special Pathology. (3-3) Cr. 4. S. Prereq: 372. Pathogenesis of diseases in domestic animals.

V Pth 425. Clinical Pathology. (1-4) Cr. 3. F. Prereq: 372. Principles of clinical hematology and clinical chemistry in domestic animals.

V Pth 456. Necropsy Laboratory Practicum. Cr. 1 each time taken. Prereq: Fourth-year classification in veterinary medicine. Practicum in postmortem examination and diagnosis.

V Pth 457. Clinical Pathology Laboratory Practicum. Cr. 1 each time taken. Prereq: Fourth-year classification in veterinary medicine. Methodology in clinical chemistry, hematology and cytology; practice in interpretation of laboratory data.

V Pth 478. Global Protozoology - Molecular Biology of Protozoa. (Dual-listed with 578, same as Ent 478) (2-1) Cr. 3. F. Prereq: Permission of instructor. Analysis of cellular systems, molecules, and organelles of pathogenic protozoan parasites. Emphasis is placed on processes and systems that are unique to protozoa, are important to understanding vector-parasite-host biology/ecology, or are targets of disease prevention/treatment programs for international disease control. Nonmajor graduate credit.

V Pth 490. Independent Study. Cr. arr. Prereq: Permission of instructor and department chair.

Courses Primarily for Graduate Students, Open to Qualified Undergraduate Students

V Pth 542. General Pathology. (Dual-listed with 342.) (3-2) Cr. 2. S. 8 weeks, offered second half semester only. Prereq: Graduate classification and BMS 330, 332, or Zool 322; for graduate credit. Basic pathology with emphasis on disease in animals.

V Pth 548. Diagnostic Parasitology Laboratory. (0-3 to 0-9) Cr. 1 to 3. F.S.SS. Prereq: 376 or 576. A laboratory experience in the technical and applied aspects of veterinary parasitology.

V Pth 549. Clinical Pathology Laboratory. (0-3) Cr. 1 each time taken. F.S.SS. Prereq: 457. Laboratory procedures and clinical interpretations with emphasis on hematology, cytology, and clinical chemistry. Offered on a satisfactory-fail grading basis only.

V Pth 550. Surgical Pathology Laboratory. (0-3 to 0-9) Cr. 1 to 3 each time taken. F.S.SS. Prereq: 422, 570 or 571. Diagnosis of lesions in biopsy specimens; classification of neoplasms. Course includes rotation through departmental biopsy service and review of selected cases from departmental archives. Offered on a satisfactory-fail grading basis only.

V Pth 551. Postmortem Pathology Laboratory. (0-3 to 0-9) Cr. 1 to 3 each time taken. F.S.SS. Prereq: 542 or 422. Necropsy techniques of animals with emphasis on gross and microscopic lesions and diagnosis. Offered on a satisfactory-fail grading basis only.
A. Veterinary Pathology
B. Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory

V Pth 554. Ethics in Scientific Research and Writing. (1-0) Cr. 1. Alt. SS., offered 2004. Prereq: Graduate classification. Ethical conduct in biomedical research, criticism, writing, and adherence to regulations. Offered on a satisfactory-fail grading basis only.

V Pth 570. Systemic Pathology I. (2-4) Cr. 1 to 4. Alt. F., offered 2004. Prereq: 342 or 542. Pathology of the respiratory, reproductive, endocrine, musculoskeletal, and cardiovascular systems. Emphasis on pathogenesis and anatomic pathology correlated with interpretive clinical pathology where appropriate.

V Pth 571. Systemic Pathology II. (2-4) Cr. 1 to 4. Alt. F., offered 2003. Prereq: 342 or 542. Pathology of the integumentary, urinary, digestive, lymphoid, and nervous systems and special senses. Emphasis on pathogenesis and anatomic pathology correlated with interpretive clinical pathology where appropriate.

V Pth 576. Veterinary Parasitology. (Dual-listed with 376.) (3-3) Cr. 4. F. Prereq: Graduate classification and 542. Parasitic diseases of domestic animals and their control.

V Pth 578. Global Protozoology - Molecular Biology of Protozoa. (Dual-listed with 478, same as Ent 578) (2-1) Cr. 3. F. Prereq: Permission of instructor. Analysis of cellular systems, molecules, and organelles of pathogenic protozoan parasites. Emphasis is placed on processes and systems that are unique to protozoa, are important to understanding vector-parasite-host biology/ecology, or are targets of disease prevention/treatment programs for international disease control.

V Pth 590. Special Topics. Cr. 1 to 4. F.S.SS. Prereq: Permission of instructor.
A. Veterinary Pathology
B. Veterinary Parasitology
D. Veterinary Clinical Pathology
V Pth 599. Creative Component Research.
A. Veterinary Pathology
B. Veterinary Parasitology
D. Veterinary Clinical Pathology

Courses for Graduate Students
V Pth 604. Pathology Case Seminar. Cr. 1 to 2 each time taken. F.S. Description and interpretation of microscopic lesions and clinical pathology data collected from cases of natural and experimental disease. Offered on a satisfactory-fail grading basis only.

V Pth 605. Current Topics Seminar. Cr. 1 each time taken. F.S.SS.

V Pth 606. Diagnostic Interpretation. Cr. R. F.S.SS. A comprehensive examination in the diagnostic description and interpretation of case materials relevant to veterinary pathology and areas of specialization.
A. Veterinary Pathology
B. Veterinary Parasitology
D. Veterinary Clinical Pathology

V Pth 652. Pathologic Hematology. (2-2) Cr. 3. Alt. S., offered 2004. Prereq: 425. Pathologic changes in blood constituents of domestic animals.

V Pth 653. Research Methods in Pathobiology. (2-0) Cr. 2. Alt. F., offered 2003. Prereq: Permission of instructor. Introduction to laboratory techniques for study of pathologic changes in cells and tissues, including: microscopy, cytochemistry, and molecular pathology techniques. Offered on a satisfactory-fail grading basis only.

V Pth 655. Cellular and Molecular Pathology I. (3-0) Cr. 3. Alt. S., offered 2003. Prereq: Graduate course in biochemistry, genetics, or cell biology. Cellular and molecular mechanisms of cell injury, circulatory dysfunction, and the inflammatory response.

V Pth 656. Cellular and Molecular Pathology II. (3-0) Cr. 3. Alt. S., offered 2004. Prereq: Graduate course in biochemistry, genetics, or cell biology. Cellular and molecular mechanisms of neoplasia and toxicologic pathology.

V Pth 660. Pathology of Parasitic Diseases. (2-0) Cr. 2. Alt. S., offered 2004. Prereq: 372, 376. Pathologic tissue changes caused by parasites and mechanisms of host response.

V Pth 663. Clinical Chemistry. (2-2) Cr. 3. Alt. S., offered 2003. Prereq: 425. The pathophysiology, methodology, and clinical application of laboratory medicine.

V Pth 679. Histopathology of Laboratory Animals. (0-4) Cr. 2. Alt. SS., offered 2004. Prereq: 570 or 571. Study of microscopic lesions in laboratory animals with emphasis on description, etiology, pathogenesis, and diagnosis.

V Pth 699. Research.
A. Veterinary Pathology
B. Veterinary Parasitology
D. Veterinary Clinical Pathology