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Studies & Degrees in Comparative Medicine

Comparative medicine studies disease across species. The American Veterinary Medical Association, quoted by Stanford University, defines it as a discipline in which the similarities and differences in biology among animal species are studied to improve the understanding of the mechanisms of human and animal disease. In practice it is the part of biomedical research that works with animal models, and it links veterinary medicine with human medicine.

Students learn the biology, diseases, behaviour and care of laboratory animals, the design of experiments that use them, and the ethical and legal rules that govern such research. Animal welfare is a central subject. The field is also called laboratory animal science or, for veterinarians, laboratory animal medicine.

Qualifications and levels

Comparative medicine is mostly a postgraduate field. The examples below come from the Department of Comparative Medicine of Stanford University, which teaches at undergraduate, pre-veterinary, graduate, postdoctoral and professional levels.

  • Undergraduate courses. The subject is not usually a bachelor's degree of its own. Students take individual courses within a science degree; Stanford's department offers courses on animal behaviour and on the laboratory mouse in biomedical research, for example.
  • Master's degree. Stanford's Master of Laboratory Animal Science (MLAS) is a two-year graduate programme for students who want a career in biomedical research. It covers animal modelling and biomethodology, laboratory animal science, organisational management, facility design, regulation and compliance, and animal welfare. For 2027 the university announces two pathways, a thesis track and a non-thesis track.
  • Veterinary degree and residency. Veterinarians specialise after their first degree. In the United States a veterinary medicine programme generally takes four years, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, and veterinarians need a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree and a state licence. Stanford then offers a three-year residency in laboratory animal medicine, recognised by the American College of Laboratory Animal Medicine (ACLAM). Completing it satisfies the eligibility requirements for specialty board certification. Applications go through the Veterinary Internship and Residency Matching Program (VIRMP).
  • Externships. Stanford's department also offers externships of four to six weeks to junior and senior veterinary students.
  • Research doctorate. Scientists who lead their own research in this area typically hold a PhD in biology or a related life science, a medical degree, or both.

Where to study

SpainExchange lists one active school for comparative medicine: Stanford University, in Stanford, California. Its Department of Comparative Medicine belongs to the School of Medicine. The faculty's research interests range from epilepsy to infectious diseases, behavioural disorders, genetics and cancer.

Teaching is in English. For international students, Stanford notes that the MLAS programme is on the US Department of Homeland Security list of STEM designated degree programmes, which matters for the 24-month STEM extension of optional practical training after graduation. Admission requirements, deadlines and fees are published on the programme's own pages and should be checked there. Students who look for this subject in other countries will usually find it inside veterinary faculties or biomedical research institutes, under names such as laboratory animal science.

Careers

Stanford states that MLAS graduates find employment in biotech and pharmaceutical companies, academia, government and advocacy groups, or continue to medical or veterinary school. Veterinarians who complete a residency work as laboratory animal veterinarians in biomedical, academic and research centres, where they are responsible for the health and welfare of research animals.

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics does not publish separate figures for comparative medicine. For the two closest occupations, it projects employment of medical scientists to grow 13 percent and employment of veterinarians to grow 9 percent from 2025 to 2035. It adds that candidates sometimes qualify for medical scientist positions with a master's degree and experience.

Frequently asked questions

Is comparative medicine the same as veterinary medicine?

No. Veterinary medicine treats animals as patients. Comparative medicine compares species to understand disease in both animals and humans, and much of it takes place in research laboratories. Many specialists in the field are veterinarians.

Do I need to be a veterinarian to study it?

Not for every route. Stanford's Master of Laboratory Animal Science is a graduate programme for students who want a career in biomedical research, while the residency in laboratory animal medicine is for veterinarians.

How long do the programmes take?

At Stanford the Master of Laboratory Animal Science takes two years and the residency in laboratory animal medicine three years.

Does the course deal with the ethics of animal research?

Yes. Stanford describes its courses as covering ethical considerations, biology and the care of laboratory animals, and animal welfare is one of the focus areas of its master's programme.