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MS Non-Thesis Curriculum & Requirements

Core Courses

Required course:

  • VIBS 650 (1 hour) Education in a Veterinary Medical and Biomedical Environment

Three of the five following courses:

One of the two following courses:

  • STAT 651 (3 hours) Statistics in Research I
  • VIBS 607 (3 hours) Applied Epidemiology

Degree Completion Timeline

The Biomedical Sciences (BIMS) MS Non-Thesis degree program requires a minimum of 30 semester credit hours of coursework to graduate.

Minimum full-time course load
Fall and Spring: 9 semester credit hours
Summer: 6 semester credit hours

Students generally complete the program requirements in four semesters (full-time), however, many students complete the program in less time.

Electives

The remaining coursework comprises electives that form a cohesive knowledge base to prepare students for their future careers. Elective courses are often selected from the departments within the School of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences (VMBS); however, some students have also included courses from other departments on campus relating to their professional interests, such as:

  • Animal Science
  • Biochemistry
  • Biology
  • Chemistry
  • Health
  • Management
  • Neuroscience
  • Nutrition
  • Sociology
  • Women & Gender Studies

Students may use a maximum of nine hours of 300 or 400-level courses toward their degree plan, provided the courses have been approved by their faculty mentor. Students generally utilize this option when completing the remaining prerequisites for professional school applications.

Non-Course Requirements

Once admitted to the BIMS MS Non-Thesis degree program, students must:

  • Select a graduate faculty mentor. This person must be a VMBS graduate faculty member who is approved to chair BIMS MS Non-Thesis committees. (First semester)
  • File a degree plan. All courses must be approved by the student’s faculty mentor and meet all requirements set forth by the Texas A&M Graduate & Professional School in the Graduate Catalog. (First semester)
  • Maintain a GPA of 3.000 for all courses in which a grade is awarded to remain in good academic standing throughout the program.
  • Complete a capstone project to earn the degree.