1 GRADUATE COUNCIL MEETING 9 May 2012 102 Kern Graduate ...

D5
Proposal to Add a Non-thesis Track to the Master of Science in Laboratory Animal
Medicine Program
Submitted by:
Ronald P. Wilson, V.M.D., M.S., DACLAM
Professor and Chair
Director, Laboratory Animal Medicine Training Program
Department of Comparative Medicine, MC H054
Penn State College of Medicine
500 University Drive
Hershey, PA
717-531-8460
rwilson2@psu.edu
Statement of Justification:
A non-thesis track is requested for the M.S. degree in Laboratory Animal Medicine. In recent
years, more students applying to and entering our training program in Laboratory Animal
Medicine have advanced graduate degrees (M.S. or Ph.D.) in addition to their professional
veterinary degree. There is little benefit in requiring these students to complete another thesis
research project. In fact, these students are entering our program primarily to increase their
clinical and professional knowledge and experience.
The non-thesis track would be elected by students who do not require completion of a
hypothesis-driven research project to qualify to sit for the specialty board examination
administered by the American College of Laboratory Animal Medicine (ACLAM). Either the
students have already completed a research project leading to a first author publication meeting
the criteria established by ACLAM (http://www.aclam.org/certification/requirements) or will be
completing the research project outside of the program, e.g., corporate or military sponsored
students. To be approved for the non-thesis track, students will be required to submit a written
justification, and if applicable a copy of their first-author publication. The request must be
approved by the Program Director. In lieu of a research project, the student will be required to
write and present a scholarly paper relevant to the field.
Proposed language to include in student handbook:
Non-Thesis Track
The professional goals of some students may be met with a non-thesis M.S. degree. A student
selecting this track must have a faculty member of the Department of Comparative Medicine
serve as his/her advisor and choose a faculty committee of at least two other faculty of the
College of Medicine or the university. A “scholarly paper” of a quality suitable for publication is
required, and up to 9 credits of CMED 596 (Independent Studies) can be earned for this work.
The paper shall extensively review a topic relevant to the fields of laboratory animal medicine or
laboratory animal science. The paper is not submitted to The Graduate School, but a copy will
be retained by the Department of Comparative Medicine. Similar to the thesis research
presentation, the paper will also be presented during the spring semester of the second year.
To be approved for the non-thesis track, students will be required to submit a written
justification, and if applicable a copy of their first-author publication. The request must be
approved by the Program Director no later than the end of the fall semester of the student’s first
year.