| Degrees
Offered: BS in animal sciences, MS in animal
sciences
The Academic Program
Animal science (ANSC) is the application of
experimental investigation, technology, and other scientific principles
for the advancement of efficient and environmen-tally friendly animal
agriculture. The present program centers around swine, sheep, beef, and
dairy cattle production and pond aquaculture production systems.
Students receive training in both basic and agricultural sciences, as
well as in animal sciences. Unlike most continental United States
institutions, the emphasis of the present program is on tropical
production systems with particular relevance to the Pacific Basin area.
Animal scientists have careers in management and production, food
processing and marketing, veterinary sciences, the pharmaceutical and
feed industries, teaching, extension, and research. These positions
require skills in disciplines such as management, nutrition, genetics,
physiology, meat science, animal health, feed and forage utilization,
engineering, business, marketing, and salesmanship. The animal sciences
program offers the BS and MS degrees.
Undergraduate Study
Bachelor’s Degree
Requirements
• Course work in the
basic sciences, mathematics, economics, and animal sciences including
the following:
AREC 220 or ECON 131
CHEM 161/161L, 162/162L, and 272/272L
ENBI 402/402L
MATH 140 or above
PHYS 151/151L
One of BIOL 171, MICRO 130, SCI 124, or ZOOL 101
• Animal sciences
required courses:
ANSC 200, 201, 244, 301, 321, and 445
Three of the following: ANSC 451, 453, 454/454L, 462, and 472
One of the following production courses: ANSC 431, 432, 433, and 450
• Additional electives
to make a total of 128 credit hours
Because of the diversity among fields of
specialization within animal sciences, specific course requirements will
vary considerably among students. On the recommendation of the
student’s major adviser, courses will be selected from those offered
in animal sciences, as well as in agricultural and resource economics,
biosystems engineering, agronomy and soil science, anatomy and
reproductive biology, biochemistry and biophysics, chemistry,
environmental biochemistry, food science and human nutrition, genetics,
horticulture, information and computer sciences, microbiology,
oceanography, physiology, and zoology.
Graduate Study
Master’s Degree
The MS in animal sciences is offered in the areas of
genetics, nutrition, animal diseases, and physiology. Specialty areas
consist of beef-cattle nutrition and genetics; dairy-cattle nutrition
and physiology (especially the management of cattle in a hot climate);
swine management; reproductive physiology and endocrinology of sheep,
cattle, fish, and swine; muscle biology and meat science; health and
disease; and freshwater shrimp breeding, nutrition, and pond management
systems. Emphasis is on tropical animal science, aquaculture pond
production systems, yield trials, and animal management. Candidates
wishing to specialize in nutrition, animal diseases, reproduction, or
physiology should be strong in chemistry and biochemistry with a good
background in mathematics. Candidates wishing to specialize in animal
breeding should be particularly strong in mathematics, including
statistics, with a good biological background.
Admission Requirements
To be considered for admission to the animal sciences
program, an applicant must (1) hold a bachelor’s degree with a major
in animal science (or the equivalent thereof) from an accredited
institution of higher learning, (2) provide evidence of superior
scholarship in previous academic work, (3) arrange for three letters of
recommendation, (4) submit GRE general and subject (biology) scores, and
(5) obtain admission clearance by the Graduate Division. An applicant
with a bachelor’s degree in a major other than animal or veterinary
sciences who otherwise qualifies for admission will be required to take
ANSC 200 or 201, one production course, and such other undergraduate
courses deemed necessary by the department as essential background to
the applicant’s studies. The ANSC 200 or 201 requirement may be
satisfied through meeting the teaching experience requirement.
Degree Requirements
Two programs leading to the MS degree are available to
graduate students in animal sciences. Students may elect to pursue
either a thesis (Plan A) or non-thesis (Plan B) program. Requirements
are as follows:
Plan A
Students must complete a minimum of 30 credit hours,
including
• At least 12 credits
of course work numbered 600 and above, including 2 credits of ANSC 641
(seminar) and excluding 699 and thesis 700
• A maximum of 3 credits of directed research (ANSC 699)
• 9 credits of thesis research in ANSC 700 with at least 1
credit taken in the final semester
• Remaining credits must be in courses numbered 400 and above
Plan B
A student must complete a minimum of 32 credit hours,
including
• At least 18 credits
in course work numbered 600 and above, including ANSC 641 (seminar) and
excluding 699
• 4 credits of directed research (ANSC 699)
• Remaining credits must be in courses
numbered 400 and above
Candidates must be enrolled during the term in which
the degree is awarded; regular course work or ANSC 500 Master’s Plan B
Studies may be used to meet this requirement. ANSC 500 is offered as a 1
credit course with a mandatory grading of S/NG but does not count toward
meeting degree requirements. |