Graduate Program: Doctor of Philosophy
The Department of Animal Science offers graduate programs leading to the Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy with a major in animal science. Major areas of emphases include animal physiology (e.g., ruminant and monogastric nutrition, reproduction, stress or obesity) or health and well-being (immunology, genomics, microbiology, or pre-harvest food safety).
The Doctor of Philosophy Program
The doctoral program requires a minimum of 48 hours of coursework beyond the Bachelor of Science and a minimum of 24 hours of doctoral research and dissertation. The 48 hours of coursework must include:
- A minimum of 16 hours in related fields outside of animal science.
- At least 24 hours 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.
- A minimum of 1 hour of Agriculture and Natural Resources 512 in addition to that required at the Master of Science level.
- A minimum of 6 hours of 500- or 600-level statistics courses approved for the ICGSP.
A minimum of five faculty members will constitute the student’s advisory committee, of which at least one must be outside animal science. The graduate mentor (i.e., major professor) will be the chairperson. The student and graduate mentor select the program of study depending on he student’s area of emphasis and professional goal. The advisory committee approves the program of study and dissertation research proposal, and conducts the comprehensive written and oral examination and final dissertation defense examination.