Academics

About the program

An integral part of the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine and the Virginia Tech Graduate School, the Biomedical and Veterinary Sciences (BMVS) graduate program was initiated in 1986. In contrast to many departments and colleges across campus, a single, multidisciplinary graduate program at VA-MD Vet Med is recognized by the Graduate School as a graduate department.

The goal of BMVS program is to train students to be creative and sophisticated research scientists in fields associated with biomedical research. The program's association with VA-MD Vet Med allows students the unique opportunity to explore both basic research, advanced pre-clinical animal model studies, natural clinical disease in animals, and translational research impacting both veterinary and human patients and populations.

The BMVS graduate program encourages collaborative, multidisciplinary research to achieve optimal health outcomes for people, animals, and the environment. To that end, the program emphasizes acquisition of a foundation of knowledge, research skills, and wet or dry laboratory experience essential to implementing independent research projects and formulating experimental and observational approaches that solve contemporary and anticipated problems in the biomedical and health sciences.

A basic philosophy of graduate education in Biomedical and Veterinary Sciences is flexibility. Programs of study — courses, laboratory and field research, clinical experiences, and teaching opportunities — are tailored to meet the individual student's needs, depending on academic background, professional experience, and career goals. The college prides itself on its high quality of faculty mentoring, advising, and support services.