Animal Science

Program | Faculty | Courses

Web site: www.umass.edu/vasci/

The graduate program in Animal Science includes studies in mammalian and avian biology with options in (a) genetics, (b) reproductive physiology and developmental biology, and (c) immunology and infectious diseases. Students planning to major in any one of these fields must have a strong background in biology and chemistry, or be prepared to remedy undergraduate deficiencies without graduate credit. Requirements for both the M.S. and Ph.D. degrees include courses in the animal sciences offered by the department, courses in statistics, and in supporting areas of molecular and cellular biology offered by such departments as Biology, Chemistry, Biochemistry, and Microbiology. Available research material includes a number of domestic species. In addition to the Ph.D and master's degree with thesis research, the department offers a non-thesis M.S. degree based upon completion of 30 credits of appropriate coursework. Teaching is considered an important component of graduate education and all master's and Ph.D. candidates are required to teach a minimum of one semester.