All students wishing to apply for this MSc graduate program in Veterinary Pathology must first have a faculty member in the Department of Veterinary Pathology who has agreed to supervise their program. The purpose of this MSc program is to teach students how to do research. These are research degrees and not programs in diagnostic pathology. Qualified students with a DVM degree or without a DVM degree or equivalent may enter this program.

Historically, nearly all students in these programs have been graduate veterinarians. In this MSc program, students learn the processes of science at an introductory level by doing research that largely has been designed by someone else. Full independent research is not expected. Skills and knowledge to be acquired include the following: 

• laboratory techniques
• gathering and analysis of data
• writing and publication
• use of the library
• broad knowledge of the subject area with some specific in‐depth knowledge

The MSc student will not necessarily be an expert in the research area at the end of the program.

These students may choose to spend additional time learning diagnostic skills, but the time required to acquire the skills and expertise of the research scientist can not be reduced to accomplish this additional diagnostic experience. Instead, the duration of the total program must be increased.

Students without DVM degrees may be required to take pathology courses as appropriate to their area of research. Graduates should be able to apply the tools of scientific investigation to well-defined problems. They should be well versed in the fundamentals of scientific research. Students with DVM degrees should have moderate diagnostic knowledge and skills, and students without DVM degrees should have a broad general background in general pathology and related basic biomedical subjects.

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The purpose of this new MSc (Diagnostic Pathology) program is to offer research training in addition to diagnostic training component. Students will be eligible to sit for the certifying examination of the American College of Veterinary Pathologists (ACVP) in addition to research training. Qualified students with a DVM may enter this program. A supervisor is not required at the time of application. In this MSc program, students learn the processes of diagnostics and research. This program is oriented to learning by doing diagnostic work and research under supervision. Full independent research is not expected. Clinical

Qualified students with a DVM may enter this program. A supervisor is not required at the time of application. In this MSc program, students learn the processes of diagnostics and research. This program is oriented to learning by doing diagnostic work and research under supervision. Full independent research is not expected. Clinical

In this MSc program, students learn the processes of diagnostics and research. This program is oriented to learning by doing diagnostic work and research under supervision. Full independent research is not expected. Clinical course work in diagnostic pathology, either anatomic or clinical pathology, is a major component of study for all students. 

Skills and knowledge to be acquired include the following:  

• laboratory techniques 
• gathering and analysis of data
• writing and publication
• use of the library
• broad knowledge of the subject area with some specific in‐depth knowledge

The MSc student will not necessarily be an expert in the research area at the end of the program. Graduates should be able to apply the tools of scientific investigation to well-defined problems. They should be well versed in the fundamentals of scientific research and have fully competent diagnostic knowledge and skills. They should be well on their way to successful writing of the ACVP examination. Note: ACVP eligibility requires three years of training.

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The Master of Veterinary Science (MVetSc) program is oriented to learning by doing diagnostic work under supervision. The program is available only to students with a DVM degree or equivalent. Clinical course work in diagnostic pathology, either anatomic or clinical pathology, is the major component of study for all students. Students majoring in anatomic or clinical pathology may take courses to obtain limited experience in clinical or anatomic pathology respectively. Students majoring in clinical pathology normally also obtain training in surgical pathology.

In the Wildlife Health Option in Anatomic Pathology, students acquire knowledge, skills and experience relevant to the practice of wildlife veterinary medicine. The program uses the core activities of the Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative (Western and Northern Regional Centre) as its "clinic" for practical experience in the practice of wildlife veterinary medicine. The core curriculum includes anatomical pathology of both domestic and wild animals, chemical immobilization, animal handling and drug safety, risk analysis in wildlife health issues, disease surveillance and field investigation of wildlife diseases, and course work in wild animal diseases, statistics and wildlife biology, and a small research project.

The goal of the MVetSc program is to graduate competent, broadly trained diagnosticians in either clinical pathology or anatomic pathology. They should be well on their way to successful writing of the American College of Veterinary Pathologists (ACVP) examination if they choose to do this. Note: ACVP eligibility requires three years of training.

In the Avian Pathology/Medicine option, course work would include epidemiology, pathology, microbiology, nutrition and poultry science. Training is directed at successful writing of the certifying examination of the American College of Poultry Veterinarians (ACPV). The MVetSc degree is not a research degree. The research component of the program is small, giving an introductory encounter. However, the research component is essential to the program. It is intended to provide insights into the strengths and limitations of research data and, thereby, to foster critical evaluation of scientific information.

Research projects for MVetSc students most often will deal with problems in applied, diagnostic veterinary pathology. Some may venture into the pathogenesis of disease, but major experimental studies exceed the intended scope of the research component of the program. Some students may choose to enrol in a PhD program following completion of the MVetSc degree. The MVetSc degree normally requires two years to complete. The application opens September 1 and the deadline is October 15, with MVetSc programs beginning August 15.

Program description

All students wishing to apply for the PhD graduate program in Veterinary Pathology must first have a faculty member in the Department of Veterinary Pathology who has agreed to supervise their program. Interested students should contact the potential supervisors directly prior to making any application, with a curriculum vitae and statement of career goals.  Potential supervisors can be found at https://grad.usask.ca/programs/veterinary-pathology.php#Researchsupervisors.
For more information, contact the Department Graduate Program Co-ordinator at (vetpath.gradstudies@usask.ca) or the Department Graduate Chair (bruce.wobeser@usask.ca).

If a supervisor is identified, the student is then invited to submit an application. In the event that no supervisor is found, the Department of Veterinary Pathology is unable to accept any application. With the recommendation of the unit, direct entry PhD admission is available to exceptionally strong students, who show great promise in terms of academic accomplishments and potential for research.

• A four‐year honours degree, Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) or equivalent, from a recognized college or university in an academic discipline relevant to the proposed field of study
• A cumulative weighted average of at least a 80 per cent (U of S grade system equivalent) in the last two years of study (i.e. 60 credit units)
• Language Proficiency Requirements. Proof of English proficiency may be required for international applicants and for applicants whose first language is not English. Visit the U of S College of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies for more information.

In the PhD program, the degree of expertise and independence expected is much greater than in the MSc program. Independent research with guidance is the main component. Knowledge of the subject area should be both broad and deep. At completion, the PhD graduate should be an expert in the dissertation topic. The place of diagnostic veterinary pathology in the PhD program is variable. Students with DVM degrees should learn the skills of the diagnostic pathologist sufficiently to make use of these important tools of pathology in their research. Also, veterinarians in the PhD program may, upon graduation, seek academic positions that require clinical service and teaching as well as research. These students may choose to spend additional time learning diagnostic skills, but the time required to acquire the skills and expertise of the research scientist cannot be reduced to accomplish this additional diagnostic experience. Instead, the duration of the total program must be increased.

Graduates should be ready to enter junior academic or research positions. They should be capable of independent research and know how to make hypotheses that can be tested. They should have some experience in teaching and in presentation of data at scientific meetings. They should have broad knowledge of general pathology and in‐‐‐depth knowledge of their research field. Those with DVM degrees should have moderate diagnostic skills.

Visit the U of S College of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies for general information about graduate studies. The web site’s Admission Requirements section contains important information for prospective graduate students whose first language is not English.

Program description

2024 Graduate Student Handbook