Environmental Toxicology
Graduate Coordinator: Dr. Russell Carr
R2008 Wise Center
Box 6100
Mississippi State, MS 39762-6100
Telephone: 662-325-1417
E-mail: tia.perkins@msstate.edu
Admission Criteria
To be admitted to the Ph.D. graduate program in Environmental Toxicology, the applicant must have at least a bachelor's degree from a fully recognized four-year institution of higher learning and preferably an M.S. in a related field of study. The scholastic record for all undergraduate, graduate, and professional school coursework will be reviewed and should exceed a minimum GPA of 3.00 for undergraduate work; GPA of 3.00 for any graduate work; GPA of 2.75 for the four years of the veterinary curriculum, if applicable. Also required are three reference letters, a minimum TOEFL score of 550 PBT (79 iBT) or IELTS score of 6.5 for international students where English is not the primary language, and if a Graduate Record Examination score is available, those scores will be considered.
Provisional Admission
In special circumstances a student who does not meet admission criteria may be admitted provisionally if approved by the Graduate Program Advisory Committee. See Provisional Admission under Admission In this publication for provisional requirements.
Academic Performance
If a student does not show satisfactory progress toward meeting academic, research, and/or dissertation requirements, his/her performance will be reviewed in a meeting with the student’s graduate committee. This committee may recommend a change in the student's program or recommend that the student be dismissed from the graduate degree program in the College of Veterinary Medicine. Preliminary exams and the proposal are to be completed and approved/submitted by the end of year three in the program; either one can be completed first. Both must be completed for admission to candidacy. Students must follow all guidelines outlined in the Graduate Catalog.
Doctor of Philosophy in Environmental Toxicology (for students with a master's degree)
| CVM 9000 | Research in Veterinary Medicine | 20 |
| Three seminar courses (CVM 8011 or equivalent) 1 | 3 | |
| Two statistics courses 1,2 | 6 | |
| Graduate-level courses (at least 12 hours of all coursework must be at 8000-level) or additional CVM 9000 credits 3 | 31 | |
| Total Hours | 60 | |
- 1
Equivalency of seminars and coursework is determined by the student’s graduate committee.
- 2
Previous graduate level statistics courses can satisfy this requirement with approval of the student’s graduate committee. Transfer of credit for any previously taken courses is subject to the MSU Graduate Catalog policy. Graduate-level statistics courses that have counted towards a previous degree can satisfy this policy but will not be calculated towards the Ph.D. coursework hours.
- 3
Coursework taken at the M.S. level will be counted toward the 24 hours required if approved by the Ph.D. graduate committee.
The student must pass a preliminary examination which covers the major and supportive fields and a final examination which is a defense of the dissertation. In addition, the student must present an open seminar of the dissertation research prior to the oral final examination. The student must adhere to the University and College regulations regarding his/her graduate program.
Doctor of Philosophy in Environmental Toxicology (for students with a bachelor's but no master's degree)
| CVM 9000 | Research in Veterinary Medicine | 20 |
| Three seminar courses (CVM 8011 or equivalent) 1 | 3 | |
| Two statistics courses 2 | 6 | |
| Graduate-level coursework | 15 | |
| Additional graduate-level coursework and/or CVM 9000 credits 3 | 46 | |
| Total Hours | 90 | |
- 1
Equivalency of seminars and coursework is determined by the student’s graduate committee.
- 2
Previous graduate level statistics courses can satisfy this requirement with approval of the student’s graduate committee. Transfer of credit for any previously taken courses is subject to the MSU Graduate Catalog policy. Graduate-level statistics courses that have counted towards a previous degree can satisfy this policy but will not be calculated towards the Ph.D. coursework hours.
- 3
Students must have 24 hours of graduate coursework to graduate with a Ph.D. in Environmental Toxicology.
The student must pass a preliminary examination which covers the major and supportive fields and a final examination which is a defense of the dissertation. In addition, the student must present an open seminar of the dissertation research prior to the oral final examination. The student must adhere to the University and College regulations regarding his/her graduate program.
CVM 6021 Essentials of Research Practice & Professions: 1 hour.
One hour lecture. An introduction to fundamental research methodologies, compliance, communication, and basic research ethics to prepare students for becoming a member of a research team
CVM 6023 Infectious Agents I: 3 hours.
(Prerequisites: Enrollment in the professional veterinary degree program and enrollment in a Ph.D program). Two hours lecture. Two hours laboratory. Completion of project assigned by course leader required. Principles regarding immune responses and classification, pathophysiological mechanisms, control/diagnosis of viruses, bacteria, and fungi in veterinary medicine
CVM 6033 Immunology: 3 hours.
(Prerequisite: Enrollment in the professional veterinary degree program and enrollment in a Ph.D program). Three hours lecture. Completion of project assigned by course leader required. Presentation of the principles regarding Immune responses in health and medicine
CVM 6036 Veterinary Physiology: 6 hours.
(Prerequisite: Enrollment in the professional veterinary degree program and enrollment in a PhD program). Completion of project assigned by course leader required. Six hours lecture. Fundamental concepts, principles, and details of veterinary physiology specifically related to cellular, membrane, muscle, cardiovascular, respiratory, urinary, gastrointestinal, endocrine, and reproductive systems
CVM 6134 Aquatic Animal Health Management: 4 hours.
Three hours lecture. Three hours laboratory.(Prerequisite: One course in microbiology and one course in physiology). Fundamentals concepts of preventing , diagnosing and treating economically important diseases in wild and cultured stocks and invertebrates through didactic and laboratory instruction
CVM 6163 Veterinary Parasitology: 3 hours.
(Prerequisite: Enrollment in the professional veterinary degree program). Two hours lecture. Two hours laboratory. Completion of project assigned by course leader required. Presentation of principles essential to the classification, pathophysiological mechanisms, control/diagnosis of parasites of importance in veterinary medicine
CVM 6180 Emergency Prep for Animal Health: 1-5 hours.
Introduction to emergency preparedness concerning health/well-being of animals. Incident Command System (ICS) leading to subjects pertinent to animal health during natural/man-made disasters
CVM 6193 Medical Pharmacology: 3 hours.
(Prerequisites for undergraduates: BIO 3014 or BIO 4514 and BCH 4013 or 4603; Prerequisites for graduates: graduate standing and instructor’s consent). Three hours lecture. This course is an introduction to basic and clinical pharmacology with an emphasis on major drug groups, their mechanisms of action, and therapeutic use
CVM 6223 Pharmacology I: 3 hours.
(Prerequisites: Enrollment in the professional veterinary degree program and enrollment in a Ph.D program). Three hours lecture. Completion of project assigned by course leader required. Molecular basis for absorption, mechanisms of action, metabolism, excretion and toxicity focusing on pharmaceuticals used to treat haemostatic, neoplastic, parasitic, and inflammatory disorders
CVM 6263 Wildlife Diseases: 3 hours.
Two hours lecture. Four hours laboratory, alternate weeks. Effects and management of parasites and diseases in wild bird and mammal populations. (Same as WF 4263/6263)
CVM 6513 Environmental Toxicology: 3 hours.
(Prerequisites: 8 hours biological sciences and 8 hours chemistry). Three hours lecture. The disposition and toxicological effects of environmentally-relevant toxicants (such as agrochemicals, petroleum and industrial pollutants) within organisms, and aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems
CVM 6602 Comparative Endocrinology II: 2 hours.
(Prerequisiste:Enrollment in a veterinary graduate degree program;instructor approval). Two week practicum. An in-depth analysis including the pathophysiology,diagnosis, and treatment of endocrine disease in veterinary species, with emphasis on small animal patients
CVM 6882 Small Animal Gastroenterology: 2 hours.
(Prerequisite: Enrollment in graduate program). Two hours lecture. Through lectures and case-based discussions and assignments, this elective course will provide in-depth understanding of many gastrointestinal, hepatic, and pancreatic disorders in small animal patients. Same as CVM 5882
CVM 6903 Tropical Veterinary Medicine and One Health: 3 hours.
This is a three weeks study abroad course in tropical veterinary medicine and One Health. The course meets face to face in Uganda and will cover a variety of topics and include lectures, laboratories, and hands on experiential learning in both indoor and outdoor field conditions
CVM 6905 Pre-Uganda Study Abroad: 5 hours.
Five hours lecture. This course addresses several topics over the spring semester aimed at preparing students for the CVM 5906 and CVM 4906/6906 Tropical Veterinary Medicine and One Health summer study abroad In Uganda course
CVM 6990 Special Topics in Veterinary Medicine: 1-9 hours.
Credit and title to be arranged. This course is to be used on a limited basis to offer developing subject matter areas not covered in existing courses. (Courses limited to two offerings under one title within two academic years)
CVM 6991 Preparations for Study Abroad in Uganda: 1 hour.
(One hour lecture). This course is designed to prepare students for CVM 4906/6906 – Tropical Veterinary Medicine and One Health study abroad in Uganda. It will cover a broad variety of topics to prepare students for international travel and experiences. to discuss the various course topics
CVM 7000 Directed Individual Study in Veterinary Medicine: 1-6 hours.
Hours and credits to be arranged
CVM 8011 Seminar: 1 hour.
One hour lecture. A seminar which provides the student with a forum for presentation of current topics in veterinary medical research
CVM 8013 Poultry Virology: 3 hours.
Description of the viruses of importance. Topics on individual agents: morphology, classification, character of disease, epizootiology, pathogenesis, immunity, cultivation, diagnosis, prevention, control, and zoonotic potential
CVM 8031 Current Topics in Molecular Mechanisms of Disease: 1 hour.
1.5 hours discussion. The molecular biology of pathogens, hosts and their interactions are covered by students presenting recently published papers. This course can be taken six times
CVM 8033 Poultry Histopathology: 3 hours.
Three hours lecture. Microscopic Anatomy and diagnosis of major poultry diseases. Tissues histologic reactions to injury from physical-mechanical, genetic-base, metabolic, viral, bacterial, protozoan insults. Writing histopathology reports
CVM 8041 Advanced Clinical Radiology Seminar: 1 hour.
(May be repeated for credit). (Prerequisite:Course leader approval). A Bi-weekly seminar to present, discuss, and interpret radiographic, ultrasound, CT scan, and other advanced diagnostic imaging findings of current and archived clinical cases
CVM 8051 Advanced Clinical Pathology Seminar: 1 hour.
(May be repeated for credit).(Prerequisite:Course leader approval). Bi-weekly seminar to present, discuss, and interpret body fluid analysis,cytology, biopsy, toxicology, and /or necropsy findings and other findings of current and archived clinical cases
CVM 8061 Small Animal Surgery Literature Seminar: 1 hour.
One hour seminar. Weekly seminar focusing on current literature pertaining to small animal surgery
CVM 8071 Small Animal Internal Medicine: 1 hour.
(Prerequisite: Enrollment in the M.S. or Ph.D. program in Veterinary Medical Sciences.) One hour credit per semester. Repeatable course (students are able to repeat the course a total of 9 times). Graduate students and faculty in the Clinical Sciences Department will review and study physiology, pathophysiology, diagnostics, and treatments of commonly encountered small animal internal medicine diseases and medical conditions enhance the training of the graduate students
CVM 8081 Clinical Sciences Journal Review: 1 hour.
(Prerequisite: Enrollment in the M.S. or Ph.D. program in Veterinary Medical Sciences). One hour of credit per semester. Repeatable course (students are able to repeat the course a total of 9 times). Graduate students and faculty in the Clinical Sciences Department will review and study current and relevant peer-reviewed journal articles to enhance the learning and training of the graduate students
CVM 8091 Current Topics in Production Animal Medicine: 1 hour.
(Prerequisite: Consent of Instructor). 1.5 hour discussion. A weekly seminar to address issues of current interest in production animal medicine (i.e., cattle, swine, poultry, aquaculture). May be repeated four times for credit
CVM 8101 Case Studies in Scientific Research Ethics: 1 hour.
One hour seminar. Practical application of research ethics using case scenarios to direct discussions on data ownership plagiarism, authorship, conflict of interest, and other regulatory compliance related issues. (Same as PHI 8101 )
CVM 8105 Avian Externship: 5 hours.
(Prerequisite: Consent of instructor). Extensive field experience with poultry companies is provided. Breeder, pullet, layer, and broiler management, ration formulation, poultry inspection, and hatchery practices are emphasized
CVM 8113 Advanced Diseases of Poultry: 3 hours.
Three hours lecture. Advanced study of the major poultry diseases; the mechanisms of each disease, diagnosis, prevention and control
CVM 8134 Advanced Fish Diseases: 4 hours.
Prequisite: CVM 6134 or permission).Three hours lecture. Three hours laboratory. Detailed investigations into the mechanisms involved in the development and management of infectious and non-infectious diseases in fish
CVM 8153 Histopathology of Fish Diseases: 3 hours.
(Prerequisite:CVM 4134/6134 or equivalent). Three hours seminar. Study of the pathophysiology response of fish to a variety of environmental,infectious,parasitic, and neoplastic diseases based upon histologic interpretation of case materials
CVM 8190 Aquatic Diagnostic Investigation: 1-9 hours.
(Prerequisite: CVM 6134, equivalent, or consent of instructor). Variable hours prcticum. (May be repeated for credit). A practical exercise in diagnosis and therapeutic recommendation for health management and maintenance in aquatic animal medicine
CVM 8201 Medical Physics I: 1 hour.
(Prerequisite: DVM or equivalent or instructor approval). One credit hour. Course will cover medical physics, including X-ray production, interaction with matter, grids and collimators, film systems, digital systems, and fluoroscopy. Classes will consist of lecture and discussion, with student participation expected
CVM 8211 Medical Physics II: 1 hour.
(Prerequisite: CVM 8201 or instructor approval). One hour lecture. Course will cover medical physics, including MRI physics, image weighing, sequences, artifacts, and safety. Classes will consist of lecture and discussion, with in class participation expected
CVM 8301 Advanced Topics in Comparative Immunology: 1 hour.
1.5 hours discussion. Current controversies, discoveries, and experimental approaches in comparative immunology will be covered by students' presentations. This course can be taken 4 times for repeated credit
CVM 8303 Advanced Immunology: 3 hours.
(Prerequisite: BIO 6413 or equivalent or consent from the instructor). Three hours lecture. Advanced theory and concepts of immunology, structure and function of immune mechanisms are discussed in detail
CVM 8323 Zoonotic Disease in Public Health: 3 hours.
Three hours lecture. Major zoonotic diseases affecting humans,their role in bioterrorism and CDC category A and B disease are studied, with focus on epidemiology and prevention
CVM 8333 Food Safety and Security in Public Health: 3 hours.
(Prerequisite: enrolled in graduate school,MPH program, or consent of instructor.)Three hours lecture. Epidemiology and risk factors of illness from microbial food contaminates. Pre and post-harvest interventions will be addressed. (Same as FNH 8333)
CVM 8343 Biosecurity in Environmental Health: 3 hours.
(Prerequisite: Enrolled in graduate school or permission of instructor).Three hour lecture.Application of biosecurity principles, focusing on food producing animals, especially relating to bioterrorism and foreign animal disease
CVM 8403 Principles of Pharmacology and Pharmacokinetics: 3 hours.
Three hours lecture. This course addresses basic principles of how the body reacts to the presence of a drug or toxin and the mathematical expression of drug residues
CVM 8503 Epidemiology/Biostatistics: 3 hours.
(Prerequisite: ST 8114) Three hours lecture. Fundamental principles of descriptive and analytical epidemiology
CVM 8513 Applied Veterinary Epidemiology: 3 hours.
Three hours lecture. Applications of qualitative veterinary epidemiology in animal and human health. Includes uses of epidemiologic methodology in field investigations and disease control programs
CVM 8523 Organ Systems Toxicology I: 3 hours.
Three hours lecture. The course covers an in depth understanding of toxic responses of the liver, kidney,lung, cardiovascular, blood, and immune system
CVM 8533 Organ Systems Toxicology II: 3 hours.
Three hours lecture. The course covers an in depth understanding of toxic responses of the nervous, reproductive, endocrine,eye and skin systems
CVM 8543 Mechanisms of Toxic Action: 3 hours.
Three hours lecture. The course covers the basic mechanisms underlying the toxicity of chemicals in animals
CVM 8552 Foreign and Emerging Animal Diseases: 2 hours.
(Prerequisites: not open to students who have completed CVM 5133). Study of the recognition,treatment, and prevention of economically important animal diseases considered foreign to the US. Overview of factors affecting emerging animal diseases
CVM 8614 Helminthology: 4 hours.
(Prerequisite: BIO 1144 or consent of instructor). Three hours lecture. Three hours laboratory. This course will cover current concepts in morphology and identification, life cycle, and host-parasite relationships of helminthic parasites
CVM 8624 Protozoology: 4 hours.
(Prerequisite: BIO 1504 or equivalent). Three hours lecture, two hours laboratory. This course will cover the morphology and identification, life cycles, epidemiology and control of protozoans in vertebrates
CVM 8701 Veterinary Histopathology Seminar: 1 hour.
(Prerequisite: CVM 5044 or consent of instructor). (Course can be repeated for credit). One hour lecture. A weekly seminar to present and discuss current topics relevant to veterinary pathology and diagnostic medicine. Emphasis on the characterization of disease using histopathology
CVM 8721 Gross Veterinary Pathology Seminar: 1 hour.
(Prerequisite:CVM 5044 or consent of instructor). One hour seminar. Weekly seminar on the gross pathologic lesions of diseases. Emphasis will be on classical diseases and gross changes encountered and brief discussion of pathogenesis and etiology. (May be repeated for credit)
CVM 8733 Pathological Basis of Disease: 3 hours.
(Prerequisite:Acceptance to Dual Degree DVM/MS Program or Consent of instructor ). Three hour lecture. The course covers basic mechanisms of disease in mammals. Topics include cellular and organism response to inflammatory, hemodynamic,genetic, immunological, and neoplastic disorders
CVM 8743 Emerging Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses: 3 hours.
(Prerequisite: Acceptance to dual degree program or consent of instructor). Three hours seminar. An advanced discussion of emerging and currently relevant veterinary health issues with emphasis on zoonoses
CVM 8790 Laboratory Diagnostic Services: 1-9 hours.
Variable hours practicum. (May be repeated for credit). Experimental training in laboratory investigation of animal health-related problems to include pathological, microbiological, parasitic, and toxicological problems
CVM 8801 Seminars in Veterinary Anesthesiology: 1 hour.
(Prerequisite: DVM or equivalent degree, or permission from instructor). One hour seminar. Topics include physiology and pharmacology in veterinary anesthetic practice, anesthesia equipment, and anesthetic techniques. (May be repeated nine times)
CVM 8802 Canine Theriogenology: 2 hours.
(Prerequisite: Consent of instructor.) Two hours practicum. Advanced study of canine reproduction. Review of basic diagnostics and procedures followed by an introduction to assisted reproductive technology (ART)
CVM 8805 Adv Sm Anim Clinic Neuro: 5 hours.
(Prerequisite: Must already have registerable veterinary degree and consent of instructor). Five hours practicum. Ad- vanced-level study of neurologic disease in small animals, with an emphasis on case management, oral and written presentation skills, and student teaching
CVM 8812 Equine Reproductive Ultrasound: 2 hours.
(Prerequisite: Consent of instructor.) One hour lecture. Two hours laboratory. Advanced study of ultrasound diagnostics of the equine urogenital systems in the male and female
CVM 8822 Advanced Surgical Techniques: 2 hours.
(Prerequisite: Consent of instructor). Four hours laboratory. Study of advanced principles and surgical skills in the management of clinical patients and the application of advanced surgical skills in veterinary medicine
CVM 8824 Advanced Veterinary Anatomy I: 4 hours.
(Prerequisites: DVM degree and appointment as Resident in the CVM.) Two hours lecture/four hours lab. First of a 2 semester course covering advanced surgical and radiographic anatomy of the forelimb, axial skeleton, thorax, abdomen, head, and neck of domestic animals as applicable to specialty surgical or radiology practice
CVM 8825 Large Animal Urogenital Surgery: 5 hours.
(Prerequisite: Consent of instructor.) Three hours lecture. Four hours laboratory. Urogenital surgery of the male and female in the equine and bovine species
CVM 8832 Advanced Veterinary Anatomy II: 2 hours.
(Prerequisites: CVM 8824, DVM degree and current appointment as Resident in the CVM). One hour lecture. One hour lab. Second of a 2 semester course covering the surgical and radiographic anatomy of the hindlimb, pelvic cavity, and reproductive system of domestic animals, applicable to specialty surgical/radiology practice
CVM 8890 Economic and Performance Medicine: 1-9 hours.
Variable hours practicum. (May be repeated for credit). (Prerequisite: Consent of instructor). Advanced training in the identification and management of health realted problems in commerical food animal production units
CVM 8961 Nobel Topics in Physiology/Medicine and Chemistry: 1 hour.
(Prerequisite:Graduate standing or consent of instructor). One hour seminar. The course will provide historic and current understanding of topics awarded with a Nobel Prize.(Same as GNS 8961 and FO 8961). May be repeated three times for credit)
CVM 8971 Current Topics in Vector Borne and Tropical Diseases: 1 hour.
(Prerequisite: Graduate standing and consent of instructor). One-hour lecture with discussion. Students will critically analyze peer-reviewed publications on current research in vector-borne and tropical diseases caused by agents including bacteria, viruses, protozoa and helminths. This course can be repeated for credit up to four times
CVM 8973 Scientific Writing: 3 hours.
(Prerequisite: Graduate standing and consent of instructor) Three hours lecture. The course provides advanced training in research proposal, grant proposal,and manuscript writing. (Same as ADS 8973 and FO 8973)
CVM 8983 Advanced Biotechnology: 3 hours.
(Prerequisite:BCH 6603,BCH 6613,BCH 6713 or consent of instructor).Three house lecture. Advanced biotechnology course with an emphasis on environmental,biopharmaceutical,industrial, and medical technologies.(Same as FO 8983)
CVM 8990 Special Topics in Veterinary Medicine: 1-9 hours.
Credit and title to be arranged. This course is to be used on a limited basis to offer developing subject matter areas not covered in existing courses. (Courses limited to two offerings under one title within two academic years)
CVM 8991 Principles of Polychromatic Flow Cytometry: 1 hour.
(Prerequisite: BIO 4413/6413 Immunology, CVM 5033 Immunology, or CVM 8303 Advanced Immunology, or by permission of instructor). One hour lecture. An introduction to the basic theory and skills necessary to successfully design, conduct, and analyze a typical polychromatic flow cytometry experiment
CVM 8992 Principles of Polychromatic Flow Cytometry: 2 hours.
(Prerequisite: BIO 4413/6413 Immunology, CVM 5033 Immunology, or CVM 8303 Advanced Immunology, or by permission of instructor). Two hours lecture. An introduction to the basic theory and skills necessary to successfully design, conduct, and analyze a typical polychromatic flow cytometry experiment
CVM 8993 Functional Genomics: 3 hours.
(Prerequisites: BCH 6713 Molecular Biology and ST 6243 Data analysis or consent of instructor). Three hours lecture. Fundamental concepts, technology, and applications of functional genomics, such as microarray, yeast hybrid systems, and RNA inference, emphasizing experimental design, analysis, and applications in biomedical research
CVM 9000 Research in Veterinary Medicine: 1-13 hours.
Hours and credits to be arranged