Program Description

The Department of Animal Science, Food and Nutrition offers programs of study leading to the Master of Science degree with a major in animal science. Programs may be designed in the various disciplines of nutrition, reproductive physiology, biotechnology and/or growth and development with emphasis on beef cattle, dairy cattle, horses, or swine. Other animal or cell culture systems are sometimes used as research models.

Admission to programs administered by the Department of Animal Science, Food and Nutrition must be approved by the department. Application forms will be provided upon request from the department. Applicants must have the registrar of each college previously attended send official transcripts directly to the Graduate School.

Minimum requirements for students entering the master's degree in program are: (a). a Bachelors degree in Animal Science, Dairy Science, Biological Science, or related field; (b) a minimum 3.0 cumulative undergraduate GPA (A=4.0); (c) 1200 total score on Graduate Record Exam (GRE) with a score of at least 400 on two of the three general categories; (d) Statement of Research Interests; (e) Three letters of recommendation (at least two from undergraduate professors); (f) A minimum of 3 credit hours in upper–level organic chemistry with at least a C grade. Students can be admitted with a GPA under 3.0 on a conditional basis and must enroll in a minimum of seven hours of structured courses at the 400-500 level during their first semester and achieve a B or better in each course or be dropped from the program. Organic chemistry deficiencies can be made up with undergraduate courses at SIUC as part as the student's graduate course work. However, undergraduate courses cannot be given graduate credit.

Minimum requirements for the master's degree may be fulfilled by satisfactory completion of 30 semester hours of graduate credit, with a minimum of 15 hours in animal science, a minimum of 15 hours of 500-level graduate courses, and at least 8 hours outside the College of Agriculture. A maximum of two animal production related courses (ANS 409, 430, 465, 485) may be counted for graduate credit. Additional University requirements are stated in the SIUC Graduate Catalog. Specific required course work include:

a. Two semesters of ANS 581 (Seminar).

b. Two semesters of Graduate-level Statistics (i.e. EPSY 506, 507, 508)

c. Deficiencies in Organic Chemistry if any.

d. A minimum of one semester of upper-level biochemistry.

A maximum of two semesters involvement in laboratory and/or classroom teaching is also required. This requirement is to give candidates an opportunity to gain experience in teaching.

Each student will be mentored by a member of the Animal Science, Food and Nutrition Faculty designated the major professor. The major professor will serve as the research mentor and academic advisor. A graduate advisory committee will be selected with consultation of the major professor. The committee will consist of no fewer than three graduate faculty members. Two members of the committee must be from the Animal Science, Food and Nutrition Faculty, and one of the members of the committee must be from outside the department. The major professor will chair the student's graduate committee.

All candidates are required to conduct original research resulting in a thesis. Participation in other research within the department is encouraged to provide a broader experience. Each master's degree candidate must pass a comprehensive oral examination covering all graduate work including the thesis.

Students interested in animal science at the doctoral level can be admitted to a program of study leading to the Ph.D. degree in physiology. The program, in the Department of Physiology, is adequately flexible to allow students to emphasize such areas as behavioral science, endocrinology, metabolism, microbiology, physiological genetics, or reproductive physiology. For admission requirements and program description the student should consult the physiology department and the Graduate Catalog.

Information concerning admission policies, requisites for graduation, and availability of financial assistance for graduate study in animal science may be obtained from Department of Animal Science, Food and Nutrition, Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Carbondale, IL 62901-4417 or requested online here

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Graduate Student Handbook

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Graduate Faculty Biographies

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Current Graduate Students

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SIU College of Agriculture Home Page
SIUC Animal Science, Food & Nutrition Home Page
Revised 10/17/00, TAW