DVM Thesis Program

TCSVM students are encouraged to consider preparing a thesis during their first three years of veterinary school. The program is voluntary but those who complete a thesis will be acknowledged at graduation with DVM with Thesis noted on their academic records. Any student contemplating or conducting research while in school should consider completing a thesis. In most cases, research conducted under the Summer Research Program can be extended to form the basis of such a thesis.

Thesis Guideline

The thesis should be based upon the proposal of original research conducted by the student in clinical or laboratory science and must include new knowledge in the field of study. A thesis based on survey of literature must be comprehensive, critical and of a high standard; a simple summary of work by others in any given field is unacceptable. The thesis work must be carried out while matriculated in the DVM program at the Cummings School.

Preapproval by AEC

A student planning to submit a thesis should seek approval of the AEC by no later than August 15 of their fourth year. The approval process requires a letter from the student stating:

• The intention to submit a thesis
• The composition of the thesis advisory committee
• A letter from the mentor briefly describing the major findings of the study conducted by the student and how the work meets the AEC guidelines for a thesis

If such a request is approved, the student should follow the guidelines of preparing and submitting a thesis, as described below.

Thesis Advisory Committee

The Thesis Advisory Committee must be composed of three people: the principal mentor who must be a full-time faculty member at the Cummings School, and two other advisors who may be selected from any other source including, but not limited to, other schools within Tufts University. Members of the advisory committee should have expertise in the proposed subject of study.

Preparation and Submission

The thesis should be written according to the style of a journal most appropriate for the field of study. Actual submission to a journal is not compulsory, but is strongly recommended.

The thesis must be submitted no later than November 15 of the student's fourth year. The thesis advisory committee must approve the thesis before it is submitted for review to the AEC. A statement of approval together with the signatures of all three 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.

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 15 of the student's fourth year. Accepted theses will be placed on permanent file in the Webster Veterinary Library.