Certificate in Veterinary Medical and Biomedical Sciences

Certificate Details

The Certificate in Veterinary Medical and Biomedical Sciences program in the LSU Vet Med Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences is designed to further develop the scientific knowledge and problem-solving abilities of the student. In this non-research certificate program, students expand their knowledge of the physiological sciences that comprise the core curriculum. Related sciences studied in advanced elective courses complete the program.

Who is this certificate for?

This certificate program is for students who want to enhance their competitiveness for admission into veterinary medicine programs, graduate and other medical and professional degree programs, or for career opportunities in biomedical, animal, or public health fields.

What will students learn?

The certificate program study plan involves coursework in Veterinary Physiology, Microscopic Anatomy (histology), and Cell Biology that are the department’s core and electives in Basic and Applied Anatomy, Histology and Developmental Anatomy, Neuroscience, and Biomedical Cell and Molecular Biology. Full-time certificate program students should complete their study plan within two semesters with an accumulation of 16 to 18 credit hours.

The core courses are the same courses taken by our first-year veterinary students, so successful completion can ease the first-year course load if the student is subsequently admitted into the professional program or enters other academic programs. Depending on the institution and program, these graduate-level courses may also be transferrable toward the requirements of an advanced degree program such as an MS or Ph.D.

Admission Requirements

Admission into our certificate program requires completion of a bachelor’s degree program from an accredited institution, a grade point average of at least 3.00 on a 4.0 scale in all undergraduate work and graduate work already completed, and an acceptable GRE score.

How to Apply

Applicants will be evaluated by the Comparative Biomedical Sciences Department Advisory Committee. 

Apply to the Certificate Program

Tuition and Fees

Graduate tuition costs for the certificate program and its associated fees are located on the LSU Budget and Planning page under Tuition and Fees >Graduate, or can be determined at the Graduate School's Cost Calculator page. Students usually take 8 hours one semester and 9 during the other semester.

Contact

Brooke Dubansky, PhD

Graduate Certificate Advisor and Professor

Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences

(225) 578-9202

bdubansky@lsu.edu   

Certificate Requirements

Overview

A Graduate Certificate in Veterinary Medical and Biomedical Sciences can be obtained by earning a minimum of a 3.0 grade point average in 16 to 18 credit hours taken from a core curriculum plus electives selected in consultation with the program advisor. There is no research component. The core curriculum focuses on the physiological sciences, but alternative focus areas may be considered depending on the student’s goals.

Core Courses

CBS 7203 Cell Biology and Histology (3)

CBS 7632 Veterinary Physiology I (3)

CBS 7633 Veterinary Physiology II (3)

CBS 7634 Veterinary Physiology III (2.5)

Elective Courses (partial listing)

CBS 7200 Basic and Applied Anatomy I (3.5)

CBS 7201 Basic and Applied Anatomy II (3)

CBS 7202 Basic and Applied Anatomy III (4)

CBS 7204 Histology and Developmental Anatomy (4)

CBS 7631 Neuroscience (3)

CBS 7104 Biomedical Cell and Molecular Biology (3)

Graduate Certificate Disclosure

While licensure or certification may be available in your field of study, our program does not directly lead to licensure or certification upon graduation. The professional preparation you receive in our program may contribute to the educational requirements for licensure in certain areas of veterinary medicine and may assist you in such pursuits; however, the licensing authority and requirements for specific areas of veterinary medicine falls under the jurisdiction of the licensing board for the state, territory, or foreign entity in which the individual practices. If you intend to pursue such credentialing in your state or elsewhere, we strongly advise you to contact the applicable state credentialing authority to familiarize yourself with its specific requirements. 

My Complaint Wasn’t Resolved by LSU

In the event that you have exhausted all informal and formal procedures through LSU at the institutional level, you may submit a written complaint to the Louisiana Board of Regents or to SACSCOC. They will attempt to facilitate a resolution. See below for details:

Students can file a complaint (after going through the grievance policies of the institution) to SACSCOC using the following form sent via postal mail to:

President

Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges

1866 Southern Lane

Decatur, GA 30033-4097

SACSCOC Complaint Form

And to the state authorization agency (if a distance education student and is unable to resolve the complaint through the grievance policies of the institution) using the following form to:

Louisiana Board of Regents

P.O. Box 3677

Baton Rouge, LA

70821-3677

ATTN: SARA Student Complaints

LA SARA COMPLAINT FORM