The Veterinary Forensics program offers both a Thesis and a Non-Thesis option. Both are 30-credit Master of Science degrees.
Which track is right for you?
- Thesis: Begin or advance your academic career. Writing a thesis is good preparation for future academic work or a Ph.D. program. If you are interested in engaging in supervised research that could be published in scientific journals, the Thesis option is for you!
- Non-Thesis: Explore specialized sub-fields of veterinary forensic science and apply this knowledge to your career. By taking additional electives to reach the 30-credit degree requirement, you will have the opportunity to discover areas of interest in veterinary forensic science. If you are interested in finding your niche and exploring it at a greater depth, the Non-Thesis option is for you!
Thesis vs. Non-Thesis Required Courses
Non-Thesis Option
Choose 5 elective courses to total 15 credit hours of electives.
(Unless otherwise noted, all courses are assigned a letter grade.)
Note: All non-thesis master’s students are required to complete and pass a written and oral final exam in their last semester in order to graduate. Students should be registered for 3 credits (Spring or Fall) or 2 credits (Summer) during the graduating term.
Thesis Option
Earn 15 credit hours of electives, including thesis electives listed below. You may also take additional elective courses in addition to your thesis electives by choosing fewer credit hours per thesis elective course.
(Unless otherwise noted, all courses are assigned a letter grade.)
Thesis Elective Courses
Course Number Course Title Credits Spring Summer Fall
VME6934 Special Topics in Veterinary Forensic Sciences 1-4 X X X
VME6910 Supervised Research 1-5 (S/U) X X X
VME6971 Masters Research 1-6 (6 max) (S/U) X X X
Thesis students must take a minimum of 6 credit hours of VME6971 in order to meet the Graduate School’s thesis requirements. They may take more if they choose. Not all 6 credit hours have to be taken at the same time – you can take all 6 at once, or 3 and 3 across 2 semesters, 3 semesters of 2 credits each, or anything in between. If graduating in Fall or Spring semester, a minimum of 3 credits of VME6971 must be taken in the terminal semester. If graduating in Summer semester, a minimum of 2 credits of VME6971 must be taken in the terminal semester.
The UF Graduate School offers tips and resources for writing your thesis.
http://graduateschool.ufl.edu/about-us/offices/editorial/thesis-and-dissertation/