理科硕士学位至少需要30个学分，博士学位必须至少72个学分（MS学位不是博士学位课程的先决条件）。学生通常需要两年才能完成MS计划，至少需要三年才能获得博士学位。ISU其他部门和美国农业部三个地方机构的教职员工参加了VMPM的研究生教育和研究计划。VMPM的教职员工在教学和向从事跨学科专业的研究生扩展研究机会方面发挥着不可或缺的作用。
At ISU we are dedicated to your success as a graduate student. As a first step, we have collected information on application requirements as well as links where you can find further information. We encourage you to explore. Learning Goals:<br>Discipline knowledge: Graduates should demonstrate a depth of knowledge in the topics relevant to the area or discipline or area of study, including but not limited to microbiology, immunology, molecular biology and genetics, microbial pathogenesis, epidemiology and microbe-host interactions.<br>Research skills: Graduates are expected to demonstrate competency in design and implementation of experiments to generate data to test specific hypotheses or to develop new experimental approaches. In addition, students should be competent in identifying and using appropriate methods of data analysis and interpretation.<br>Communication skills: Graduates should demonstrate effective oral and written communication skills ideally though opportunities made available through professional societies and closely related to the area of study.<br>Contribution to knowledge: Graduates are expected to make original and substantive contributions to knowledge in the area of study and this knowledge should be disseminated by way of peer-reviewed publications and other presentations.