Veterinary Medical Sciences: Ph.D. Program

The PhD program in Veterinary Medical Sciences produces graduates who join the research workforce in academia, government or the private sector in the United States and abroad. Our faculty and PhD students hail from the United States, Latin America and the Caribbean, Asia and Africa, and their presence engenders a truly international, interdisciplinary environment.

Program Structure

The VMS PhD is a 90-credit-minimum program. Most students take a 9-credit course load in the Fall and Spring semesters, along with 6 credit hours (usually of research) over the Summer semester. Students are expected to complete this degree within 4 years. Students may choose, with the approval of their committee and of the Office of Research and Graduate Studies (ORGS), to transfer up to 30 credits of relevant coursework from a MS degree taken at UF or elsewhere. Transferred credits, unless taken as part of the VMS MS program, cannot take the place of required courses. Such transfers must meet the approval of the UF graduate school, and that approval is contingent upon relevance, recency, and the evaluation of an international degree and coursework, if applicable. Much more information on the transfer of credits can be found on our Applications and Admissions page.

Curriculum

Required Courses

VMS Ph.D. Program: Handbook and Forms

Policy compliance is an essential component of your successful PhD experience. Students who have not paid proper attention to UF and CVM policies have found themselves with an unenviable set of options. You can avoid this by reading your program handbook, thereby understanding the program’s requirements, timelines and policies and by asking for help from your PI, department graduate coordinators, peer mentors, the Office of Research and Graduate Studies (ORGS) and the Veterinary Graduate Student Association (VGSA). Contact information for all can be found on our Help from Humans page.