The department offers programs leading to the Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy degrees with a major in Animal Sciences. Areas of study include reproductive biology, nutritional and mammary gland biology, molecular genetics, heat stress physiology, and racetrack management. Department faculty also participate in interdisciplinary graduate committees on genetics, nutritional sciences, physiological sciences and cancer biology in offering the Ph.D. degree. All applicants are expected to submit a detailed statement of professional goals, three letters of recommendation from persons who are in a position to predict the applicant’s potential as a graduate student, and scores from the Graduate Record Examination (both verbal and quantitative.)

Master of Science (non-thesis option): Admission to the M.S. program depends on completion of a bachelor’s degree with a major in animal, biological, chemical, or physical sciences. Typical students have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher (on a 4.0 scale). Undergraduate preparation must include 3 units of college-level algebra (calculus recommended); one year each of general biology and organic chemistry (laboratories in each recommended); and one upper-division course in animal behavior, animal biotechnology, animal growth, animal physiology, animal nutrition, meat science and muscle biology, animal production/management, or meat/dairy products. In addition, depending on the selected area of study, at least one course from the following will be required: anatomy, physiology, advanced animal breeding and genetics, advanced cellular and molecular biology, animal endocrinology and physiology, analytical chemistry, biochemistry, calculus, organic chemistry laboratories, physics, or statistics.

Master of Science (non-thesis) with Racetrack Management Option: The requirements for admission include a bachelor’s degree in any field of study with no specific undergraduate coursework designated. Along with the application, a detailed statement of professional goals, three letters of recommendation, and scores from the Graduate Record Examination (verbal and quantitative) must be submitted. A minimum of 30 graduate units are required for the degree; a total of 15 units of specialized undergraduate coursework may be required in addition to the 30 graduate credit hours. A minimum of 30 units are required for the degree. All units of coursework in the major field of study must be at the 500-level or above, and up to 6 units of 400-level courses can be applied to the program of study if not used toward an undergraduate degree. One half of the required units must be in courses in which regular grades (A, B, C) have been earned. Students must complete a minimum of 3 units of statistics coursework, 3 units of business coursework, and 2 units of seminar (AN S596). At least 5 graded units must be from courses offered by the department. Additional requirements for completion of the degree will be determined by the major professor and graduate advisory committee. Students transferring to the university with graduate credits from other universities can petition to apply up to 6 graduate credits toward a M.S.; however, only graded courses are acceptable and the transfer credits must be approved by the Graduate Committee and the Graduate College. Under special circumstances students may be admitted with deficiencies, and they can complete necessary undergraduate courses, without graduate credit, during the graduate program

Master of Science (thesis option): Admission to the MS program (thesis option) depends on completion of a Bachelor’s degree with a major in animal, biological, chemical, or physical sciences. Typical students admitted have a Cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher (4.0 scale). Undergraduate preparation must include 3 units of college-level algebra (calculus recommended) and 1 year each of general biology and organic chemistry with laboratories in each. Advanced courses in animal science (e.g. animal behavior, animal nutrition, meat science), anatomy and physiology, physics, analytical chemistry and biochemistry are recommended. Under special circumstances students may be admitted with deficiencies, and they can complete necessary undergraduate courses, without graduate credit, during the graduate program. A minimum of 30 units are required for the degree. All units of coursework in the major field of study must be at the 500-level or above, and up to 6 units of 400-level courses can be applied to the program of study if not used toward an undergraduate degree. One half of the required units must be in courses in which regular grades (A, B, C) have been earned. Students must complete a minimum of 3 units of statistics, 3 units of physiology, and 2 units of seminar (AN S596). At least 5 graded units must be from courses offered by the department. Additional requirements for completion of the degree will be determined by the major professor and graduate advisory committee. Students transferring to the university with graduate credits from other universities can petition to apply up to 6 graduate credits to the major in this program; however, only graded courses are acceptable and the transfer credits must be approved by the Graduate Committee. A thesis (6 units credit) that reports research that is suitable for publication in a peer reviewed journal article is required of all students. Following the final examination, the candidate submits the thesis to the Graduate College (approved and accepted by the department). A bound copy of the thesis is required by the department.

Doctor of Philosophy: Students are usually admitted to the Ph.D. program after completing the Master’s degree. Students with MS degrees from other universities are encouraged to apply. Either a BS degree or a BA degree with a Master’s degree in animal, biological, chemical, or physical sciences is recommended. The MS requirement may be waived for unusually qualified candidates, but a MS degree is strongly recommended. Students must have a Cumulative GPA or 3.0 or higher (4.0 scale) in their MS coursework. Courses required for admission include: One semester (3 units) of biochemistry, general physiology and statistical methods and one year (8 units) of organic chemistry with laboratory. Under special circumstances applicants admitted may have a limited number of deficiencies. Students transferring to the university with graduate credits from other universities can petition to apply up to 12 graduate credits to the major in this program; however, only graded courses are acceptable and the transfer credits must be approved by the Graduate Committee and the Graduate College. The equivalent of at least six semesters of full-time graduate study is required for the PhD degree. A minimum of 36 units of coursework in the area of the major subject, 9 units of the minor subject, and 18 units of dissertation must be completed. Graduate credit earned at other approved institutions, if accepted by the major department and the Graduate College, may be counted towards the requirements of this degree. Students must meet the minimum requirements established for the Master’s degree in Animal Sciences. Additional required graduate courses are: 3 units of statistical design; 3 units of biochemistry (a grade of C or above must be earned if an undergraduate level course is taken); and 2 units of seminar (AN S596). All required units of credit in the major must be at the 500-level or above at the University of Arizona (or, in the case of transfer units, the equivalent at other institutions). Six units of 400-level credit taken at the university may be used in the minor but will not receive graduate credit or be calculated in the graduate GPA. At least 23 units must be in courses in which regular grades (A, B, C) have been earned. A maximum of 10 units of individual studies (599, 699, 900) will be allowed toward the degree. Additional requirements for completion of the degree will be determined by the major professor and student’s graduate advisory committee but must included a minimum of six units from departmental graduate courses.