Offered by: College of Agriculture, Animal and Veterinary Science Department
The Master of Science degree program in Agriculture with a subplan in Animal Science provides students the opportunity to enhance their knowledge and competence in a selected area of specialization and encourages individual study and research. The curriculum is designed to expose students to research techniques and the use of scientific literature, and to prepare them for positions of responsibility in animal production, business, or related animal industries. The attainment of a master’s degree also permits qualified candidates to pursue further specialized training, gain entrance to professional schools, or to pursue a Ph.D. degree. The degree program also allows an internship through which students may complement theoretical and technical studies and assure industrial orientation. Students in this program may pursue one of several areas of animal science: animal nutrition, animal breeding, meat science, or physiology.
www.cpp.edu/~avs
Cord Brundage, Graduate Coordinator
Admission to the Program
An applicant for admission to the Master of Science program in Animal Science must have a baccalaureate degree in an animal related field and an undergraduate grade point average of 3.0 for unconditional admission. All applicants must have a major professor within the department that has agreed to serve as their mentor prior to admission. In addition, the Department of Animal and Veterinary Sciences must have received three letters of evaluation from individuals familiar with the applicant’s academic qualifications and potential as a graduate student. Applicants not meeting these standards may be conditionally admitted with the approval of the Department of Animal and Veterinary Sciences. The conditional student must comply with the requirements of the conditional admission within one semester of admission to the master’s program. Students must also comply with any University requirements for admission to a graduate program. Admission to the program does not admit a student to candidacy for a degree.
Requirements
The degree program shall include a minimum of 30 semester units of which at least 18 units shall be in graduate 5000 and 6000-level courses. Deficiencies in undergraduate preparatory coursework must be made up in addition to the 30 semester units required for the degree.
The student along with an appointed advisory committee will develop a program and thesis topic by the end of the second semester in a selected area of animal science based on the student’s interest and preparation. The student’s approved program will include required basic core courses, a selection of additional courses in an emphasis, electives, independent study, and a thesis.
Animal and Veterinary Science courses to be selected with consent of the student’s major professor from normally from 4000, 5000 and 6000 level courses with no more than 14 units from 4000 level courses. Students may take 3000 level courses outside of the department as needed with approval by the Graduate Coordinator. No more than 9 units of acceptable graduate credit may be transferred from another graduate institution. No more than 9 units taken through Extended University may be used on a contract. No more than 9 units of acceptable graduate credit may be petitioned by an undergraduate student. A total limit of 9 transfer, Extended University, and/or units petitioned for graduate credit may be included on a master’s contract. The stipulated time limit of 7 years applies to all of the above.
A grade point average of 3.0 (B) or better must be maintained in all upper-division undergraduate and all graduate courses. A grade point average of 3.0 (B) or better must be maintained in all core courses.
Admission to the program does not admit a student to candidacy for a degree. Advancement to Candidacy is required for registration in AVS 6960 and the awarding of the M.S. degree. In order to advance to candidacy for the Master of Science in Agriculture with the Animal Science subplan/option, a student must: (1) pass the Graduation Writing Test or have it waived; (2) achieve a GPA of 3.0 (B) or better for at least 35 contract units.
A final oral examination covering the thesis project and the candidate’s area of specialization must be successfully completed.
Candidates must complete a formal thesis. The thesis must be presented, defended, and submitted for binding in accordance with university regulations during the semester in which the candidate expects to graduate.
The candidate must be enrolled in the university during the semester of graduation.
Return to: