The Department of Animal Science offers graduate
programs leading to the Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy
degrees with a major in Animal Science. At the M.S. level, areas
of concentration are nutrition, functional genomics, breeding physiology
(reproductive, mammary, and metabolic), animal health and well-being,
and management, with orientations towards beef cattle, dairy cattle,
swine and poultry. The areas of anatomy, systemic physiology (blood,
cardiovascular, and neural), and histology are also available through
our links with the College of Veterinary Medicine. The Ph.D. program
offers concentrations in animal nutrition, functional genomics,
animal physiology, and animal health and well-being. All first-
and second-year students are required to enroll in the seminar course,
AS596 (M.S.) or AS696 (Ph.D.) each spring term.
The Master's Program
For admission to the M.S. program, a student must
have obtained a 3.0 grade-point average on a 4.0 scale (or a 3.0
each term during the junior and senior years) in a completed undergraduate
degree program in one of the animal sciences or in a related area.
The student must submit evidence (letters of recommendation, personal
interview, etc.) that indicates ability to complete requirements
for the M.S. degree. Prerequisite courses may be required if the
student has insufficient undergraduate background. If the student
has an unsatisfactory grade-point average, acceptance may be on
a probationary basis, and a minimum of 9 hours of graduate coursework
must be completed during the first term with a minimum grade-point
average of 3.0 for admission to the M.S. program.
The program requires a thesis based original research
and the completion of at least 24 hours of graduate coursework,
of which at least 14 hours must be taken in courses numbered at
or above the 500 level, and a minimum of 6 hours of thesis. Included
in the course requirement are 1 hour of AG 512 (Teaching Internship),
and minimum of 3 hours in statistics. These statistics courses must
be chosen from the 400, 500, or 600 level of courses approved for
use in the Intercollegiate Graduate Statistical Program (ICGSP).
The remainder of the coursework will be selected jointly by the
student and the major professor, depending on the student's area
of concentration and professional objectives.
The advisory committee will consist of the major
professor, a faculty member of Animal Science, who will act as chairperson
of the committee, and minimum of two other faculty members, one
of whom may be outside of the Animal Science Department. The advisory
committee approves the student's coursework and research problem,
and conducts the final oral examination, which consists of a comprehensive
oral examination and a defense of the thesis.
The Doctoral Program
The doctoral program requires a minimum of 48 semester
hours of coursework beyond the B.S. and a minimum of 24 hours of
doctoral research and dissertation (AS 600). The 48 hours of coursework
must include:
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A minimum of 16 hours in related fields outside
of animal science.
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At least 24 hours of credit at the 500 and
600 level, exclusive of doctoral research and dissertation,
of which a minimum of 6 hours must be at the 600 level. Students
in the nutrition, functional genomics, physiology, or anatomy
concentration must complete at least 12 hours credit at the
500 and 600 level in the respective concentration or closely
related area.
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A minimum of 1 hour of AG 512 (Teaching Internship)
in addition to that required at the M.S. level.
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A minimum of 6 hours in 400, 500, or 600 level
statistics courses approved for the ICGSP. A minimum of 5 faculty
members constitutes the student's advisory committee, or which
at least one must be outside Animal Science. The major professor
is the chairperson. The student and the major professor select
a program of study depending on the student's area of concentration
and professional goal. The advisory committee approves the coursework
and the dissertation research proposal, conducts the comprehensive
written and oral examination and the final dissertation defense
examination.
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