Elizabeth Davis, Head
​T.G. Nagaraja, Program Director

A-111D Mosier Hall
785-532-4890
Fax: 785-532-2252
krdrew@ksu.edu
https://www.vet.k-state.edu/academics/clinical-sciences/

About the department

The Department of Clinical Sciences offers a graduate program leading to the Master of Science (Veterinary Biomedical Science) degree. Graduate work in clinical sciences may be pursued in several fields of specialization including agricultural practice, anesthesiology, cardiology, equine medicine and surgery, oncology, exotic and wildlife medicine, ophthalmology, radiology, small animal medicine, small animal surgery, and theriogenology. The department, along with the Veterinary Health Center at Kansas State University, has modern facilities and equipment for both basic and applied studies.

The primary goal of graduate study programs in clinical medicine is to prepare students for careers in teaching and research in a clinical specialty area. After completing graduate work, the student will be better prepared to conduct research both independently and as a team member. Adequate training in planning research projects and writing research proposals will give the student the ability to function with teams of scientists from the biomedical field. The student’s experience in clinical teaching and literature study will form the basis for development of future teaching programs within his or her discipline.

A residency program designed to prepare and qualify a veterinarian for specialty boards recognized by the AVMA is usually combined with the graduate program. While a graduate program can be accomplished in a shorter period of time, the duration of combined programs is usually three years. This reflects the minimum time required to satisfy the objectives of each program. Details of an individual residency program can be obtained from the Director of the Veterinary Health Center at Kansas State University. An individually tailored graduate program concurrent with professional veterinary school or for non-DVM applicants can be arranged on an individual basis.

Admission Requirements

In order to be considered for admission, the applicant must FIRST identify, contact, and be accepted by a graduate faculty member within Clinical Sciences. Once the student has been accepted by a graduate faculty mentor, the student should submit the application online.  

Applications will be considered on a rolling basis and admission will follow deadlines set forth by the Kansas State University Graduate School.

Continued Enrollment Requirements

Applicants for graduate study must have a minimum grade average of B. Applicants currently enrolled in the professional veterinary curriculum or those holding a baccalaureate degree will be considered on an individual basis.

A student who has less than a B average, based on individual merit, may be admitted on probationary status. Full standing is attained automatically upon completion of at least 9 hours of course work for graduate credit with grade of B or better and upon the removal of any deficiency which was specified at the time of admission. International students must have a health certificate and an acceptable score on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS).

A graduate student may be denied continued enrollment in the university for any of the following reasons:

1. Failure of a student on probation as a condition of admission to achieve a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 in the first 9 credit hours of graduate level coursework.
2. Failure of a student placed on probation for deficient grades to achieve a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 within 2 semesters for full-time students and within 12 credit hours  for part-time students.
3. Failure to meet published departmental or University requirements.
4. Failure to maintain satisfactory progress toward a graduate degree.
5. Failure in the final degree examination(s).
6. Failure to acquire mastery for the methodology and content in a field sufficient to complete a successful thesis or dissertation.
7. Qualifying for placement on probation a second time, except when the first period of probation is a condition of admission or when the second period is a condition of reinstatement.
8. A recommendation for suspension or expulsion by the Honor Council.

Programs

Professional Certificate

• •  Exotic Animal/Zoological Medicine Veterinary Certificate
• •  Food Animal Veterinary DVM Certificate
• •  Shelter Medicine Veterinary Certificate

Courses

Clinical Science

• •  VCS 938 - General Dentistry
• •  VCS 939 - Supplemental Clinical Small Animal Soft Tissue Surgery
• •  VCS 940 - Small Animal Emergency Rotation
• •  VCS 941 - Supplemental Small Animal Internal Medicine
• •  VCS 942 - Advanced Surgical Experience
• •  VCS 943 - Supplemental Clinical Small Animal Orthopedic Surgery
• •  VCS 944 - Supplemental Small Animal Emergency
• •  VCS 945 - Supplemental Dentistry for Small Animals
• •  VCS 946 - Shelter Operations Consultation
• •  VCS 947 - Advanced Bovine Palpation
• •  VCS 948 - Supplemental Small Animal General Medicine
• •  VCS 949 - Shelter Medicine - Community Outreach
• •  VCS 950 - Problems in Medicine or Surgery