Therefore, proposals to piggyback courses are given special attention by department or program and college or school committees and the Administrative Board of the Graduate School before being recommended for approval. The professional veterinary medicine courses are at the 800-level and are available only to students in the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine program. They are taught by faculty of the College of Veterinary Medicine. All master's degrees require a minimum of thirty hours of credit. In most programs the student is given a great amount of latitude in the selection of courses.
Some programs require a minor, and most programs allow one.
When there is a minor, approximately one third of the courses are from the minor. Even when there is not a designated minor, students often choose to take up to one third of their courses in supporting areas. All master's students are required to develop a Plan of Work, which is agreed to by the advisor and other members of the advisory committee, recommended by the director of graduate programs, and approved by the dean of the Graduate School. Most master's programs require a three-member advisory committee and a final oral examination. There are a few master's programs in an option referred to as Option B, which requires only one member on the advisory committee.