DVM with Thesis Program (voluntary)

TCSVM students are encouraged to consider preparing a thesis during their first three years of veterinary school. Those who complete a thesis will be acknowledged at graduation, and the achievement will be noted on their academic records. Any student contemplating doing research while in school should consider completing a thesis.

Thesis Proposal

1. Each Student is requested to submit his/her thesis proposal to the Advanced Education Committee (AEC) during the spring of their second year. The Chair of the AEC (currently, Dr. Sawkat Anwer @ x88788, sawkat.anwer@tufts.edu) will communicate the deadline (March/April) to students. An information session will be scheduled at which the necessary information will be communicated to interested students (“late” proposals submitted by 3rd year students by the spring deadline will be considered by the AEC).

2. Thesis Proposal Requirements: The Thesis proposal should be inclusive yet succinct (2 4 pages) and should include the following subheadings and associated information::

1. the specific subject matter and the title

2. the names & signatures of 3 thesis advisors (a primary mentor and 2 advisors) indicating their willingness and commitment to actively advise and direct the student in the development and conduct of the thesis project. This includes the thesis proposal, the research and the written thesis.

3. the proposal will include a detailed description of the thesis project that must include:

1. The "question" and the hypothesis which will be examined a brief background section which highlights the significance of the work to the field.

2. The methodologies to be employed, and the experimental design and the statistical methods for data analysis in sufficient detail to permit evaluation (students/mentors are urged to consult with a biostatistician during the preparation of the proposal).

4. Original, innovative work of a more philosophical nature may be proposed and considered, as well. In such cases, students are urged to contact the Chair of the AEC prior to preparing the proposal.

3. Committee Action: The members of the Advanced Education Committee will review the proposals no later than June 1st and decide whether the proposal is acceptable or unacceptable (deferred/rejected). Unacceptable proposals which require clarification (deferred) can be resubmitted in a timely fashion with modifications for reconsideration by the Advanced Education Committee (AEC). In order for students to proceed with their theses, proposals need to be approved by the AEC. Thesis proposals submitted after the spring deadline may be considered on a case by case basis.

4. A student may, under special circumstances, submit a thesis without having the thesis proposal approved by the AEC. The student should seek approval of the AEC for submitting a thesis without an approved thesis proposal by no later than August 15th of 4th year. The approval process requires a letter from the student explaining the reason for not submitting a thesis proposal and a letter from the mentor describing the thesis project and the involvement of the student. If such a request is approved, the student should follow the guidelines of preparing and submitting a thesis, as described below.

Thesis

1. Preparation: The thesis should be prepared following the thesis preparation instructions (Click here to view the Thesis Preparations Instructions). The Thesis should be based upon the proposal of original research conducted by the student in clinical or laboratory science, and must be carried out while matriculated in the DVM program at TCSVM. Original innovative thought of a more philosophical nature might be approved, as well. Any survey of literature contained within the thesis must be comprehensive, critical, and of a high standard: a simple summary of work by others in any given field is unacceptable. Actual submission to a journal is not compulsory, but is strongly recommended.

2. Submission: The thesis must be submitted, along with the 3 advisors' signatures and a letter from the primary mentor, clearly defining the student's involvement in the project, no later than November 15th of the student's 4th year. The committee will evaluate the thesis and return it to the student for corrections and/or modifications in a timely manner (generally by January 1). The final revised version of the thesis must be returned for final action by March 15th of the student's 4th year. Accepted theses will be placed on permanent file in the Veterinary School library on the Grafton campus. The AEC is the final arbiter of acceptance of a thesis, regardless of whether the work had been accepted or rejected for publication by a journal.

3. Award: An award for The Outstanding Senior Thesis will be given to the student submitting the most accomplished thesis as determined by an independent vote of the AEC faculty. This award is presented at the annual Dean's Dinner.

Thesis Advisory Committee

The advisory committee must be composed of 3 people. The principal mentor must be a full-time faculty member at TCSVM. The other two advisors may be selected from any other source including, but not limited to other schools within Tufts University, faculty members of other universities, and professional personnel in the private or governmental sectors where the student may do his/her electives. Members of the advisory committee should have expertise in the proposed subject of study.

The advisory committee must approve the proposal and the thesis before it is submitted for review by the AEC. A statement of approval together with the signatures of all advisors should appear on the title page of the thesis. A letter from the principal mentor of the advisory committee describing the student's contribution to the project must accompany the initial submission.

Important Details

• March/April, 2nd Year: Submission of Thesis proposal.
• June 1st, 2nd Year: AEC to decide whether proposal is acceptable or unacceptable or needs revisions.
• November 15th, 4th Year: Thesis submitted with the 3 required signatures and letter from primary mentor.
• January 1st, 4th Year: AEC to students with recommendations (acceptance/revisions).
• March 15th, 4th Year: Final revised (if necessary) thesis to be returned to AEC for final action.