Faculty research interests and areas of expertise are broad, and include the development and evaluation of herd and flock health programs, disease surveillance, the optimization of disease control programs, and the provision of health care to livestock, poultry, aquatic, and companion animal populations. The advanced training program in epidemiology and preventive medicine prepares students for research and teaching in colleges and universities or for research and administration of applied preventive medicine programs in private and governmental sectors. Within the general discipline of epidemiology, the department seeks to adapt courses of study and research to individual needs of students or the sponsoring agency.
International studies are a special strength of the department.
Currently, international students from Argentina, Uganda, Cambodia, Ethiopia, Somalia, China, Mozambique, and Brazil are pursuing graduate degrees in the department. The M.S. and Ph.D. are offered as departmental concentrations in the veterinary medical sciences degree program. Acceptance into the Ph.D. program without an M.S. degree is possible, but the candidate must have exceptional qualifications. With the exception of core courses in epidemiology and experimental statistics, study plans are designed to meet the needs of the individual student and may include advanced study in areas such as ecology, food science, community health, animal science, agricultural economics, molecular biology, virology, immunology, and parasitology. In some cases, international students may be allowed to undertake research studies in their home country, depending on the significance of local problems and the facilities available.