The Comparative Biomedical Sciences (CBMS) graduate program emphasizes an integrated approach to contemporary biology that combines molecular and cellular techniques with the analysis of complex whole animal systems. Faculty provide exceptional graduate and undergraduate interdisciplinary research training opportunities in core areas of animal and human health including immunology, molecular and cellular biology, physiology, neuroscience, genomics, oncology, virology, medical technology, infectious diseases and toxicology and pharmacology. They also contribute extensive public services, both nationally and internationally, within related faculty disciplines.
The graduate program serves as a focal point for graduate research training in the School of Veterinary Medicine (SVM) and is administered by the Department of Pathobiological Sciences. Trainers in CBMS have their tenure homes in all four departments of the School of Veterinary Medicine as well as in the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences (CALS), the School of Medicine and Public Health (SMPH), the College of Engineering, and the College of Letters & Science. Faculty in the CBMS program also serve in or interface with other campus training programs including bacteriology, biocore, cellular and molecular biology, endocrinology and reproductive physiology, medical microbiology and immunology, molecular and environmental toxicology, and the Primate Center.
Currently, there are over 100 faculty trainers in the Comparative Biomedical Sciences program. Affiliate faculty outside the School of Veterinary Medicine have their tenure homes in the Departments of Anatomy, Animal Sciences, Biochemistry, Dermatology, Entomology, Human Oncology, Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Medicine, Neurosurgery, Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Population Health Sciences, Radiology, and Surgery. The program is currently comprised of approximately 55 graduate students, most of whom are pursuing the Ph.D. degree. The program is recognized as a premier research and graduate training program for students with or without a degree in veterinary medicine.
Please consult the table below for key information about this degree program’s admissions requirements. The program may have more detailed admissions requirements, which can be found below the table or on the program’s website. Graduate admissions is a two-step process between academic programs and the Graduate School. Applicants must meet the minimum requirements of the Graduate School as well as the program(s). Once you have researched the graduate program(s) you are interested in, apply online. |
| Fall Deadline | January 1 |
| Spring Deadline | June 1 |
| Summer Deadline | January 1 |
| GRE (Graduate Record Examinations) | Not required but may be considered if available. |
| English Proficiency Test | Every applicant whose native language is not English or whose undergraduate instruction was not in English must provide an English proficiency test score and meet the Graduate School minimum requirements (https://grad.wisc.edu/apply/requirements/#english-proficiency). |
| Other Test(s) (e.g., GMAT, MCAT) | n/a |
| Letters of Recommendation Required | 3 |
Admission is competitive. Applicants must hold a B.S., DVM., M.S., M.A. or M.D. from an approved institution and have a strong background in biology and chemistry. Applications are judged on the basis of previous academic record, graduate record exam (GRE) scores, letters of recommendation, and the personal statement. Before admission, most students must be accepted by an eligible program faculty member who agrees to serve as the major professor. A limited number of students may be offered rotations. Applications for summer (June) or fall (September) admission must be received by January 1, and spring (January) applications must be received by June 1. Historically, most students start in the fall semester.
Graduate School Resources
Resources to help you afford graduate study might include assistantships, fellowships, traineeships, and financial aid. Further funding information is available from the Graduate School. Be sure to check with your program for individual policies and restrictions related to funding.
Program Resources
Most graduate students receive financial support through fellowships, research assistantships through their major professor, and/or National Research Service Awards. Faculty in the program are PIs for Training Grants (Parasitology and Vector Biology Training Program, Comparative Biomedical Sciences Research Training for Veterinarians, and Research Training for Veterinary Medical Students) for which students with the appropriate background and credentials may compete.
Minimum Graduate School Requirements
Review the Graduate School minimum academic progress and degree requirements, in addition to the program requirements listed below.
Major Requirements
MODE OF INSTRUCTION
| Face to Face | Evening/Weekend | Online | Hybrid | Accelerated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yes | No | No | No | No |
Mode of Instruction Definitions
Accelerated: Accelerated programs are offered at a fast pace that condenses the time to completion. Students are able to complete a program with minimal disruptions to careers and other commitments. Evening/Weekend: Courses meet on the UW–Madison campus only in evenings and/or on weekends to accommodate typical business schedules. Students have the advantages of face-to-face courses with the flexibility to keep work and other life commitments. Face-to-Face: Courses typically meet during weekdays on the UW-Madison Campus. Hybrid: These programs combine face-to-face and online learning formats. Contact the program for more specific information. Online: These programs are offered 100% online. Some programs may require an on-campus orientation or residency experience, but the courses will be facilitated in an online format. |
CURRICULAR REQUIREMENTS
| Minimum Credit Requirement | 30 credits |
| Minimum Residence Credit Requirement | 16 credits |
| Minimum Graduate Coursework Requirement | Half of degree coursework (15 credits out of 30 total credits) must be completed graduate-level coursework; courses with the Graduate Level Coursework attribute are identified and searchable in the university's Course Guide (https://registrar.wisc.edu/course-guide/). |
| Overall Graduate GPA Requirement | 3.00 GPA required. |
| Other Grade Requirements | Students must earn a B or above in all major coursework. |
| Assessments and Examinations | After the committee is chosen, the student must submit certification paperwork that details the intended coursework plan, the committee members’ names and signatures, a short explanation of why they were chosen and an appended research plan. Certification plans will be reviewed and approved by the program academic committee. Students are expected to meet with their committee at least once per year until degree completion. Candidates are required to author a thesis based on original work, or, at the option of the major professor and with the approval of the thesis committee, the equivalent in the form of a substantial paper suitable for publication. The thesis or paper must be approved by the student's committee at least two weeks prior to the final examination. A final public presentation, followed by an oral exam in front of their committee and official deposit of the thesis with the Graduate School is not required. |
| Language Requirements | No language requirements. |
Required Courses
- 9 didactic credits (6 credits of advanced coursework may be transferred as approved by your thesis committee and the academic committee provided they are defined as graduate level). Credits from undergraduate courses taken at UW-Madison may be transferred if at the graduate level.
- 1 credit of PATH-BIO 930 Advanced Seminar (research seminar)
- For students who enter fall 2016 or later: Masters students must register for two semesters of PATH-BIO 930 Advanced Seminar and present once during their second semester. MS students will take the course P/S/U (Progress/Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory) if not presenting.
- 19 (minimum) research 990 credits
- Thesis or publishable work approved by your major professor and committee (official deposit is not required) of work based on original research and defended before your committee.
- Certification submitted and approved by your thesis committee and the academic committee.
Approved and Recommended Courses
The following is a list of core courses taken by many students and recommended courses that are appropriate to specific research areas. These courses are suggestions only; the student and their committee ultimately decide the best coursework plan for each student's specific program, with final approval from the program's academic committee. Students are responsible for determining that the coursework chosen meets the Graduate School's criteria for graduate work.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Recommended Course | ||
| SURG SCI 812 | Research Ethics and Career Development | 2 |
| Any other science-based ethics course | ||
| Core Courses | ||
| These courses are chosen by many students to fulfill their major coursework plan | ||
| GENETICS 466 | Principles of Genetics | 3 |
| PATH-BIO/HORT 500 | Molecular Biology Techniques | 3 |
| PATH-BIO/M M & I 773 | Eukaryotic Microbial Pathogenesis | 3 |
| BIOCHEM 501 | Introduction to Biochemistry | 3 |
| BIOCHEM/GENETICS/MICROBIO 612 | Prokaryotic Molecular Biology | 3 |
| BIOCHEM/GENETICS/MD GENET 620 | Eukaryotic Molecular Biology | 3 |
| BIOCHEM/PHMCOL-M/ZOOLOGY 630 | Cellular Signal Transduction Mechanisms | 3 |
| ZOOLOGY 570 | Cell Biology | 3 |
| PATH 750 | Cellular and Molecular Biology/Pathology | 2-3 |
| PATH 751 | Cell and Molecular Biology of Aging | 3 |
| STAT/F&W ECOL/HORT 571 & STAT/F&W ECOL/HORT 572 | Statistical Methods for Bioscience I and Statistical Methods for Bioscience II | 8 |
| Courses from which Students Build Disciplinary Strength | ||
| Epidemiology | ||
| PATH-BIO 512 | Introduction to Veterinary Epidemiology | 2 |
| POP HLTH/SOC 797 | Introduction to Epidemiology | 3 |
| POP HLTH 802 | Advanced Epidemiology: Etiology and Prevention | 3 |
| Physiology | ||
| AN SCI/DY SCI 434 | Reproductive Physiology | 3 |
| COMP BIO 551 | Veterinary Physiology A (fall) | 4 |
| COMP BIO 506 | Veterinary Physiology B (spring) | 4 |
| ZOOLOGY 611 | Comparative and Evolutionary Physiology | 3 |
| ZOOLOGY/AN SCI/OBS&GYN 954 | Seminar in Endocrinology-Reproductive Physiology | 1 |
| Infectious Disease and Immunology | ||
| PATH-BIO 510 | Veterinary Immunology | 3 |
| PATH-BIO 514 | Veterinary Parasitology | 3 |
| PATH-BIO 517 | Veterinary Bacteriology and Mycology | 4 |
| PATH-BIO 513 | Veterinary Virology | 2 |
| PATH-BIO/M M & I 528 | Immunology | 3 |
| PATH-BIO/M M & I 750 | Host-Parasite Relationships in Vertebrate Viral Disease | 3 |
| PATH-BIO/M M & I 773 | Eukaryotic Microbial Pathogenesis | 3 |
| M M & I/PATH-BIO 720 | Advanced Immunology: Critical Thinking | 3 |
| M M & I/PATH-BIO 790 | Immunology of Infectious Disease | 3 |
| Neuroscience | ||
| COMP BIO 505 | Veterinary Neuroanatomy and Neurophysiology | 3 |
| ZOOLOGY/PSYCH 523 | Neurobiology | 3 |
| NTP/NEURODPT 610 | Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience | 4 |
| NTP/NEURODPT/PSYCH 611 | Systems Neuroscience | 4 |
| Toxiocology and Pharmacology | ||
| COMP BIO 555 | Veterinary Toxicology | 2 |
| Oncology | ||
| ONCOLOGY 675 | Advanced or Special Topics in Cancer Research | 1-3 |
| ONCOLOGY 703 | Carcinogenesis and Tumor Cell Biology | 3 |
| Virology | ||
| PATH-BIO 513 | Veterinary Virology | 2 |
| BIOCHEM/M M & I 575 | Biology of Viruses | 2 |
| ONCOLOGY/PL PATH 640 | General Virology-Multiplication of Viruses | 3 |
| M M & I/PATH-BIO 750 | Host-Parasite Relationships in Vertebrate Viral Disease | 3 |
Graduate School Policies
The Graduate School’s Academic Policies and Procedures provide essential information regarding general university policies. Program authority to set degree policies beyond the minimum required by the Graduate School lies with the degree program faculty. Policies set by the academic degree program can be found below.
Major-Specific Policies
Prior Coursework
Graduate Work from Other Institutions
With program approval, students may transfer no more than 6 credits of advanced graduate coursework from other institutions. These courses may not be used toward the Graduate School’s Minimum Graduate Residence Credit. Coursework earned five or more years prior to admission to a master’s degree is not allowed to satisfy requirements.
UW–Madison Undergraduate
With program approval, students may count up to 6 credits of advanced undergraduate coursework from UW–Madison in lieu of or in combination with credits transferred from another institution. These courses must meet the Graduate School’s criteria as graduate coursework and may not be used toward the 50% graduate coursework requirement unless taken at the 700 level or above.
UW–Madison University Special
With program approval, students may count up to 6 credits of coursework numbered 400 or above taken as a UW–Madison Special student in lieu of or in combination with credits transferred from another institution or as a UW–Madison undergraduate. Coursework taken as a University Special student would not be allowed to count toward the 50% graduate coursework minimum unless taken at the 700 level or above. Coursework earned five or more years prior to admission to a master’s degree is not allowed to satisfy requirements.
ProbatioN
A semester GPA below 3.0 will result in the student being placed on academic probation. If a semester GPA of 3.0 is not attained during the subsequent semester of full or part-time enrollment the student may be dismissed from the program or allowed to continue based on advisor appeal to the Graduate School.
ADVISOR / COMMITTEE
All students must have an advisor prior to final admission. A thesis committee consisting of three members, the advisor plus one program trainer and one outside member, must be chosen by the end of the first semester. The third member may be a scientist, industry expert, or a member of the faculty from another institution.
CREDITS PER TERM ALLOWED
15 credits
Time Constraints
Certification should be completed by the end of the first semester of enrollment.
Master’s degree students who have been absent for five or more consecutive years lose all credits that they have earned before their absence. Individual programs may count the coursework students completed prior to their absence for meeting program requirements, but that coursework may not count toward Graduate School credit requirements.
Grievances and appeals
These resources may be helpful in addressing your concerns:
- Bias or Hate Reporting
- Graduate Assistantship Policies and Procedures
- Hostile and Intimidating Behavior Policies and Procedures
- Dean of Students Office (for all students to seek grievance assistance and support)
- Employee Assistance (for personal counseling and workplace consultation around communication and conflict involving graduate assistants and other employees, post-doctoral students, faculty and staff)
- Employee Disability Resource Office (for qualified employees or applicants with disabilities to have equal employment opportunities)
- Graduate School (for informal advice at any level of review and for official appeals of program/departmental or school/college grievance decisions)
- Office of Compliance (for class harassment and discrimination, including sexual harassment and sexual violence)
- Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards (for conflicts involving students)
- Ombuds Office for Faculty and Staff (for employed graduate students and post-docs, as well as faculty and staff)
- Title IX (for concerns about discrimination)
If a student feels unfairly treated or aggrieved by faculty, staff, or another student, the University offers several avenues to resolve the grievance. Students’ concerns about unfair treatment are best handled directly with the person responsible for the objectionable action. If the student is uncomfortable making direct contact with the individual(s) involved, they should contact the advisor or the person in charge of the unit where the action occurred (program or department chair, section chair, lab manager, etc.). For more information see the Graduate School Academic Policies & Procedures: Grievances & Appeals: https://grad.wisc.edu/acadpolicy/#grievancesandappeals
Procedures for proper accounting of student grievances:
- The student is encouraged to speak first with the person toward whom the grievance is directed to see if a situation can be resolved at this level.
- Should a satisfactory resolution not be achieved, the student should contact the program’s Grievance Advisor or Director of Graduate Study to discuss the grievance. The Grievance Advisor or Director of Graduate Study will facilitate problem resolution through informal channels and facilitate any complaints or issues of students. The first attempt is to help students informally address the grievance prior to any formal complaint. Students are also encouraged to talk with their faculty advisors regarding concerns or difficulties if necessary. University resources for sexual harassment, discrimination, disability accommodations, and other related concerns can be found on the UW Office of Compliance website.
- If the issue is not resolved to the student’s satisfaction, the student can submit the grievance to the Grievance Advisor in writing, within 60 calendar days of the alleged unfair treatment.
- On receipt of a written complaint, a faculty committee will be convened by the Grievance Advisor to manage the grievance. The program faculty committee will obtain a written response from the person toward whom the complaint is directed. This response will be shared with the person filing the grievance.
- The faculty committee will determine a decision regarding the grievance. The Grievance Advisor will report on the action taken by the committee in writing to both the student and the party toward whom the complaint was directed within 15 working days from the date the complaint was received.
- At this point, if either party (the student or the person toward whom the grievance is directed) is unsatisfied with the decision of the faculty committee, the party may file a written appeal. Either party has 10 working days to file a written appeal to the School/College.
- Documentation of the grievance will be stored for at least 7 years. Significant grievances that set a precedent will be stored indefinitely.
OTHER
Most students must be accepted by a major professor in the CBMS Graduate Program before they can be fully admitted to the program. Rotations are offered to a limited number of entering students (1–2) in the fall semester.
Graduate School Resources
Take advantage of the Graduate School's professional development resources to build skills, thrive academically, and launch your career.
- Articulates, critiques, or elaborates the theories, research methods, and approaches to inquiry and/or schools of practice in the field of study.
- Articulates sources and assembles evidence pertaining to questions or challenges in the field of study.
- Assesses and/or applies methodologies and practices in the field of study.
- Articulates challenges involved in practicing the field of study, elucidates its leading edges, and delineates its current limits with respect to theory, knowledge, and/or practice.
- Appreciates the implication of the primary field of study in terms of challenges, trends, and developments in a broader scientific context.
- Demonstrates abilities to apply knowledge through critical thinking, inquiry, and analysis to solve problems, engage in scholarly work, and/or produce creative products.
- Evaluates, assesses or refines information resources or an information base within the field.
- Communicates clearly in styles appropriate to the field of study.
- Recognizes and applies ethical conduct and professional guidelines.
Faculty: See Comparative Biomedical Sciences faculty list.