The M.S. degree in Animal Sciences may be earned for a program of study in reproductive physiology, animal health, nutrition or management. The Ph.D. degree may be earned by completing a program of study in Food and Nutrition Sciences or Biological Sciences. Thesis research constitutes a major portion of the M.S. and Ph.D. programs. Students are required to take Graduate Seminar (AVS 633). Ph.D. students must present four seminars and M.S. students must present three seminars. Requirements for M.S. and Ph.D. degrees can be found in the General Policies and Regulations of the Graduate School elsewhere in this catalog.

Students interested in pursuing graduate studies in animal nutrition should have undergraduate courses in mathematics, physics, organic chemistry, biochemistry, and quantitative analysis. Training in physiology and biochemistry is desirable for students interested in animal physiology, and some work in statistics is desirable for all graduate students.

Graduate students will take many of their formal graduate courses in supporting departments, depending upon their specific interests and fields of study.

Graduate students appointed to assistantships in the Animal and Veterinary Sciences field devote half time to work in the Department. Complete research facilities are available, including laboratories and animal units, with opportunities for field tests.

The program also offers a non-thesis Master of Professional Studies (M.P.S.) degree in Animal Sciences. Requirements for the M.P.S. are 30 credit hours, of which at least 15 hours must be 500- and/or 600-level. In addition, each student will be required to complete a minimum of three hours in an “independent study” type course within the Department. The M.P.S. student is required to demonstrate competence in chosen fields of specialization during an oral comprehensive examination at the completion of his or her program. Courses selected must include a minimum of 12 credits in the Animal and Veterinary Sciences area of the Department of Biological Engineering. In addition, a minimum of 12 hours must be selected in a specialized field of study. The three credit ”independent study” type course is to be a short-term research-type project. Upon completion of the project, a written report will be presented to the major professor and a seminar on the project will be presented to the Animal Science faculty and students.

Graduate Faculty

Martin R. Stokes, Ph.D. (Glasgow, 1978), Professor and Chair. Ruminant nutrition, silage preservation and utilization, dietary manipulation to maximize animal performance and efficiency. Mechanism of action of enzyme-based silage additives.

Robert C. Bayer, Ph.D. (Michigan State, 1972), Professor. Fisheries and aquaculture nutrition, management and physiology.

Robert C. Causey, Ph.D., D.V.M., (Louisiana State, 1985, University of Minnesota, 1989), Assistant Professor. Equine reproduction, veterinary microbiology.

William R. Congleton, Ph.D. (Kentucky, 1977), Associate Professor. Systems analysis and computer simulation, animal breeding, and factors influencing profit.

Hans Michael Opitz, D.V.M. (Free University of West Berlin, 1964), Associate Extension Educator. Poultry pathology.

Charles R. Wallace, Ph.D. (Florida, 1986), Associate Professor. Reproductive efficiency of livestock.

James A Weber, Ph.D., D.V.M., (Idaho, 1992, Washington, 1994), Associate Professor. Embryo development in livestock, reproductive physiology of horses and cattle.