Cornell University Registrar

Graduate Field

Comparative Biomedical Sciences

Program Description

The master of professional studies (MPS) in veterinary parasitology is a one-of-a-kind flexible enriched virtual based program that can be completed over one to four years. It combines coursework with clinically oriented hands-on labs and a capstone project in the student’s area of interest. Veterinarians, professionals in the veterinary and animal health field, technicians and pre-veterinary students will gain an in-depth understanding of the impact of parasites on pets, production animals and wildlife, especially in the face of growing treatment challenges, emerging zoonoses and expanding distributions of parasites and vector-borne diseases. Concentrations in clinical, research and conservation parasitology enable students to specialize within the broader veterinary parasitology field. Graduates of the MPS program will be competitive for upper-level positions in industry, federal and state government, academia, and other graduate level studies, with many students continuing their education in a veterinary or doctorate-level setting.

For more information, visit the M.P.S. website.

Admission is open only to U.S. citizens, permanent residents, and individuals with current valid U.S. immigration status. Individuals who would require immigration status and sponsorship to enter the U.S. are not eligible for this hybrid degree. Please note that no student status visa(s) or student immigration documentation can be issued at this time.

Concentrations

• Clinical veterinary parasitology
• Research veterinary parasitology
• Conservation veterinary parasitology

Program Information

• Program Mode of Delivery: Distance Education
• Program Location: Ithaca, NY
• Minimum Credits for Degree: 36

Program Requirements

• Minimum Semesters for Degree: 3

Field Specific Milestones

• Field progress review after the first year
• Two capstones and a final presentation required

Course Requirements

To complete the program in 1 calendar year, students must earn a minimum of 12 credit hours each semester (fall, spring, and summer) for a total of 36 credits. This includes core course work, in-person laboratories in the spring, and elective courses. Eighteen (18) credit hours of core courses, four (4) credit hours of laboratory work and fourteen (14) elective credit hours are required. Students may also choose to pursue their studies at a more moderate pace to accommodate other professional and personal commitments. For additional details, read our program handbook.

In the final semester, students will be required to complete a literature review-based capstone project with guidance from program faculty.

Core Courses

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
VETMI 7456	Veterinary Pharmacology and Antiparasitic Agents	2
VETMI 7418	Parasite Diagnostic Methods	2
VETMI 7435	The U.S. Government and Animal Health	1
VETMI 7440	Parasites of Domestic Animals	4
VETMI 7449	Scholarly Writing and Critical Review of Scientific Literature	2
VETMI 7420	Parasite Identification Methods 1	1.5
VETMI 7421	Applied Parasite Identification and Diagnosis 1	1.5
VETMI 7454	Parasitology Seminar	1
VETMI 7436	Capstone Project I: Exploring the Literature 2	2
VETMI 7446	Capstone Project II: Systematic Literature Review 3	4
VETMI 7455	Parasitology Identification and Diagnostics: Skills Assessment	1
Total Hours		22

¹

On campus lab.

²

Students take VETMI 7436 in their penultimate (second-to-last) term; the course is offered all terms. 

³

Students take VETMI 7446 in their final term; the course is offered all terms.

Elective Courses 

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
14 credits required from:
VETMI 7457	Veterinary Ectoparasites and Vectors	3
VETMI 7441	Parasitism in Wildlife and Zoo Animals	2
VETMI 7458	Drug Discovery and Vaccines: The Process and Parasiticides	2
VETMI 7459	Clinical and Applied Parasitology: Dogs and Cats	3
VETMI 7460	Clinical and Applied Parasitology: Cattle and Sheep	3
VETMI 7423	Clinical Parasitology Cases: Production Animals	1
VETMI 7424	Clinical Parasitology Cases: Companion and Laboratory Animals	1
VETMI 7432	Anthelmintic Resistance and Integrated Parasite Control	2
VETMI 7433	Statistics for Surveillance, Diagnostic Test Development and Efficacy Studies	2
VETMI 7434	Product Development, Regulations and Approval Process	2
VETMI 7448	Histopathologic Interpretation of Parasites in Host Tissues 1	1
VETMI 7461	Parasites Without Boundaries	2

¹

Online synchronous.

Semester Plan 

Year 1 (Fall)

• VETMI 7456 Veterinary Pharmacology and Antiparasitic Agents
• VETMI 7418 Parasite Diagnostic Methods
• VETMI 7435 The U.S. Government and Animal Health
• VETMI 7440 Parasites of Domestic Animals
• VETMI 7457 Veterinary Ectoparasites and Vectors

Year 1 (Spring)

• VETMI 7449 Scholarly Writing and Critical Review of Scientific Literature
• VETMI 7420 Parasite Identification Methods
• VETMI 7421 Applied Parasite Identification and Diagnosis
• VETMI 7441 Parasitism in Wildlife and Zoo Animals
• VETMI 7458 Drug Discovery and Vaccines: The Process and Parasiticides
• VETMI 7459 Clinical and Applied Parasitology: Dogs and Cats
• VETMI 7460 Clinical and Applied Parasitology: Cattle and Sheep

Summer

• VETMI 7423 Clinical Parasitology Cases: Production Animals
• VETMI 7424 Clinical Parasitology Cases: Companion and Laboratory Animals
• VETMI 7432 Anthelmintic Resistance and Integrated Parasite Control
• VETMI 7433 Statistics for Surveillance, Diagnostic Test Development and Efficacy Studies
• VETMI 7434 Product Development, Regulations and Approval Process
• VETMI 7448 Histopathologic Interpretation of Parasites in Host Tissues
• VETMI 7461 Parasites Without Boundaries

All Terms

• VETMI 7454 Parasitology Seminar
• VETMI 7436 Capstone Project I: Exploring the Literature
• VETMI 7446 Capstone Project II: Systematic Literature Review
• VETMI 7455 Parasitology Identification and Diagnostics: Skills Assessment

University Graduation Requirements

Requirements for All Students

In order to receive a Cornell degree, a student must satisfy academic and non-academic requirements.

Academic Requirements

A student’s college determines degree requirements such as residency, number of credits, distribution of credits, and grade averages. It is the student’s responsibility to be aware of the specific major, degree, distribution, college, and graduation requirements for completing their chosen program of study. See the individual requirements listed by each college or school or contact the college registrar’s office for more information.

Non-academic Requirements

Conduct Matters. Students must satisfy any outstanding sanctions, penalties or remedies imposed or agreed to under the Student Code of Conduct (Code) or Policy 6.4. Where a formal complaint under the Code or Policy 6.4 is pending, the University will withhold awarding a degree otherwise earned until the adjudication process set forth in those procedures is complete, including the satisfaction of any sanctions, penalties or remedies imposed.

Financial Obligations. Outstanding financial obligations will not impact the awarding of a degree otherwise earned or a student’s ability to access their official transcript. However, the University may withhold issuing a diploma until any outstanding financial obligations owing to the University are satisfied.

Learning Outcomes

Students in this program will gain a broad understanding of parasitology, including basic knowledge of the biology and taxonomy of parasites, as well as clinical aspects of infections such as disease processes in the animal, diagnostics and treatment methods. In addition, important component of the program is developing the student’s understanding of the role of government agencies in animal health and the interactions required with such agencies with respect to parasite prevention, treatment, and control. With this base of knowledge it is expected that upon completion of the program, students will be able to:

• Apply knowledge of parasite biology to predict host exposure, response and disease progression
• Assess the complex interplay between parasites, their hosts and the environment
• Interpret, combine, apply and draw hypotheses from findings in parasitology literature
• Utilize acquired proficiencies for the investigation of familiar and unfamiliar parasitic infections in differing and expanding environments
• Communicate effectively with expert and non-expert audiences using diverse media
• Graduates with a clinical concentration will be able to develop a diagnostic plan and identify interventions to address parasitic diseases in support of animal and public health
• Graduates with a research concentration will be able to design studies that meet the regulatory requirements for registration of endo- and ecto-parasiticides
• Graduates with a conservation concentration will be able to evaluate wildlife health based on parasite population diversity and infection intensity and contribute to intervention measures

Admissions

Application Requirements and Deadlines

Application Deadlines

Fall, May 15

Requirements Summary

• Statement of purpose
• Curriculum vita or resume
• Two letters of recommendation
• Undergraduate or professional degree transcript
• English language proficiency requirement for all applicants

Admission is open only to U.S. citizens, permanent residents, and individuals with current valid U.S. immigration status. Individuals who would require immigration status and sponsorship to enter the U.S. are not eligible for this hybrid degree. Please note that no student status visa(s) or student immigration documentation can be issued at this time.

Admissions Contact Information

Email: vetparasite-mps@cornell.edu
Campus Address: C5 181 Veterinary Medical Center
Website: http://www2.vet.cornell.edu/mps-parasitology