All content © 2013 - 2023 Arizona Board of Regents on behalf of the University of Arizona
*Starting for Fall 2021 applicants and forward, the Animal and Comparative Biomedical Sciences MS degree is the MS program formally known as Animal Science. If you were wishing to apply to the Animal Science Graduate Program, please apply to this program instead.
The Animal and Comparative Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program provides our students with an opportunity to perform research that spans from molecular biology and whole animal physiology to meat and dairy production to studies on the business of horse racing. This broad range of interests and expertise provides our students with a unique opportunity to learn with a diverse group of colleagues as they develop skills that will help them as they train for a career in academia, the pharmaceutical industry, or animal production.
The School of Animal and Comparative Biomedical Sciences offers programs leading to a Doctor of Philosophy degree with a major in Animal Sciences. Th program provides students with an opportunity to gain hands-on experience while working with distinguished faculty in state of the art facilities. Areas of study include:
School of Animal and Comparative Biomedical Sciences
The School of Animal and Comparative Biomedical Sciences (ACBS) brings together animal scientists, veterinarians, microbiologists and others to offer the strongest possible programs in research, education and outreach. This school was formed in order to offer more integrated research and educational opportunities in the animal and biomedical sciences.
College of Agriculture & Life Sciences
University of Arizona - Main - Tucson
Required documents/standarized tests from applicants:
Prerequisite courses:
1 semester (3 units) of Biochemistry
1 semester (3 units) of General Physiology
1 semester (3 units) of Statistical Methods
English language proficiency as required by the Graduate College:
https://grad.arizona.edu/admissions/requirements/international-applicants#english-proficiency
Limited numbers of Graduate Assistantships (GTA) are available through the School of Animal and Comparative Biomedical Sciences.
Domestic Applicants: January 5th
International Applicants: December 15th
International applicants will not be considered for conditional admission by this program.
4832
63
General Course Requirements***:
36 units in the area of major subject which must include**:
>9 units (or as defined by the minor ) in the area of minor subject
18 units of ACBS 920 (Dissertation)
*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, their equivalent at other institutions.)
**Must include a minimum of five units from departmental graduate courses
*** At least 22 units must be in courses in which regular grades (A, B, C) have been earned. Graduate credit earned at other approved institutions, if accepted by the major department and the Graduate College, may be counted toward the requirements of this degree. Up to 30 units of credit counted toward one or more master’s degrees earned at UA or elsewhere may be counted toward the Ph.D requirements.
ACBS 500A Animal Anatomy and Physiology 3
ACBS 500B Animal Anatomy and Physiology 3
ACBS 503R Biology of Animal Parasites 3
ACBS 505 Principles of Livestock Health Management 3
ACBS 509 Environmental Physiology of Domestic Animals 3
ACBS 510 Animal Toxicology 3
ACBS 519 General Immunological Concepts 4
ACBS 520 Meat Animal Composition 3
ACBS 523 Mechanisms of Disease 4
ACBS 527R General Mycology 3
ACBS 528L Microbial Genetics Laboratory 2
ACBS 528R Microbial Genetics 3
ACBS 531 Equine Nutrition and Management 3
ACBS 532 Comparative Immunology 3
ACBS 533 Advanced Racing Laws and Enforcement 3
ACBS 541 Racing Organizational Structure and Financial Management 3
ACBS 542 Racing Business, Strategies and Global Perspectives 3
ACBS 543 Research Animal Methods 3
ACBS 545 Nutritional Physiology and Metabolic Biochemistry 3
ACBS 549 Diseases of Wildlife 3
ACBS 554 Host-Microbial Interactions 3
ACBS 556 Aquaculture 3
ACBS 557 Medical-Veterinary Entomology 3
ACBS 565 Shrimp Pathology 3
ACBS 570 Interactions of Animals, Humans, and Ecosystems 3
ACBS 571 Risk Assessment, Management, and Communication 3
ACBS 572 Advanced Dairy Herd Management 3
ACBS 581 Principles of Applied Companion Animal Behavior 3
ACBS 582 Applied Companion Animal Behavior in Practice 3
ACBS 583 Principles of Applied Primate Behavior and Captive Management 3
ACBS 584 Applied Captive Primate Behavior in Practice 3
ACBS 587 Molecular Endocrinology 3
ACBS 593 Internship 1-6
ACBS 595B Current Topics in Metabolic Disease 1
ACBS 598B Senior Capstone: Current Issues in the Animal Racing Industry 1
ACBS 599 Independent Study 1-6
ACBS 611 Comparative Virology 3
ACBS 660 Infectious Disease Epidemiology 3
ACBS 670 Molecular Aspects of Animal Growth and Development 3
ACBS 693 Internship 1-8
ACBS 696A Research Seminar 1
ACBS 699 Independent Study 1
ACBS 900 Research 1-8
Comprehensive Examination and Advancement to Candidacy
Before advancement to candidacy for the degree, the student must pass a general comprehensive examination in the chosen field of study. The comprehensive exam will be held when essentially all course work has been completed, not later than three months prior to the date of the final oral examination. This examination will test the student's general knowledge of Animal & Comparative Biomedical Sciences and will test in greater depth fields of specialization within the major and minor subjects of study. The comprehensive examination consists of two parts, a written portion covering the major and minor fields and, no later that two months after the successful completion of the first of these portions, an oral portion which shall be conducted before the student's committee.
The Dissertation Proposal
In the semester following the comprehensive exams, students should complete and present to the Dissertation Committee a proposal that provides a compelling rationale and research plan for the dissertation topic. The goal is to develop a rigorous and feasible experimental plan that will serve as a guide for the dissertation research. Upon completion of this research proposal the student must write and defend his/her dissertation to the Dissertation Committee.
Student must select a minor in consultaion with their major advisor. Course requirements will be determined by students major and minor advisor with approval by the student's graduate committee. A minimum of 9 units in the minor area of study must be completed.
Please refer to the Graduate Student Handbook for students who are pursuing this program of study.
| Program-level Information | |
|---|---|
| Application Acceptance Rate | 33.33% |
| Avg. Time-to-degree (years) | n/a |
| Department-level Information | |
| Enrollment Percent Male | 8.33% |
| Enrollment Percent Female | 91.67% |
| Enrollment Percent International | 29.17% |
| Enrollment Percent URM | 37.5% |