Program Information

The Department of Animal Sciences offers the degrees of Master of Science (thesis and non-thesis) and Doctor of Philosophy in Animal Sciences with emphasis in beef or dairy cattle, swine, or equine.
Minimum requirements for these degrees are given in the Graduate Degrees section of this catalog.

The following informal specializations are available:

• Breeding, genetics and genomics
• Behavior
• Management
• Immunology
• Nutrition (nutritional physiology, nutrient metabolism, and feedstuff utilization)
• Physiology (environmental, lactational, muscle and reproductive)
• Molecular biology (embryology, endocrinology, and genetics)
• Meat science (meat processing, meat quality, muscle biology, and food safety)

Available formal concentration areas appearing on the transcript are listed here.  

A student may work on a problem covering more than one area of study. Animal resources (beef cattle, dairy cattle, horses, swine, sheep, and laboratory animals) are available for use in various research programs. Nutrition, physiology, immunology, and meat laboratories are available for detailed chemical and carcass quality evaluations, and excellent computer facilities are available. Special arrangements may be made to conduct research at the various branch agricultural experiment stations throughout Florida.

Departmental and program prerequisites for admission to graduate study include a sound science background, with basic courses in microbiology, biology, mathematics, and chemistry. All courses in the animal sciences program area are acceptable for graduate credit as part of the candidate’s major.

The Graduate School restricts graduate students from pursuing minors in academic units that contribute major credit toward their degree program. Therefore, graduate students majoring in Animal Sciences cannot pursue a minor in Food and Resource Economics, Food Science and Human Nutrition, Medicine-Biochemistry, and Veterinary Medical Sciences. In addition, undergraduate credits at the 3000–4000 level in the major of any of these listed academic units are not eligible to count toward degree requirements.

Combination Degree Program

Qualified students are encouraged to apply to the combination degree program. Acceptance into the program will allow both a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree with a savings of one semester.  Please contact the academic unit for more information regarding this opportunity.  

Degrees Offered with a Major in Animal Sciences

• Doctor of Philosophy
  • without a concentration
  • concentration in Animal Molecular and Cellular Biology 
    • optional second concentration in Domestic Animal Genomics
  • concentration in Domestic Animal Genomics
  • concentration in Reproductive Biotechnology 
• Master of Science
  • without a concentration
  • concentration in Domestic Animal Genomics
  • concentration in Reproductive Biotechnology 

Requirements for these degrees are given in the Graduate Degrees section of this catalog.

Doctoral Program Requirements

The Ph.D. program represents independent mastery of a field of knowledge and the successful pursuit of an independent research program.  Requirements for the Ph.D. are more flexible and varied than those of other degrees. The general requirement is that the program be unified with clear objectives, and approved by the student's supervisory committee. A total of 90 credits and a dissertation are required to complete this degree.

Master's Program Requirements

Requirements for the M.S. with a thesis include a research project with a minimum of 30 credit hours of which six are research credits (ANS 6971).  Each student develops a degree plan that must be approved by their supervisory committee with final approval from the graduate coordinator.  The M.S. non-thesis option is primarily designed for those students who are seeking opportunities in a field where research is not required for employment.  A minimum of 32 credits is required to complete this degree.  Each student develops a degree plan that must be approved by the student's supervisory committee with final approval from the graduate coordinator.  

For more information visit https://animal.ifas.ufl.edu/graduate/ 

Animal Sciences Departmental Courses

Additional Courses for Major Credit in Animal Sciences

College of Agricultural and Life Sciences Courses

Animal Sciences (PHD)

SLO 1     Principles of Animal Sciences     
Identify, interpret, and discuss the principles of the animal sciences with a deeper mastery of a chosen specialization.

SLO 2     Employ Scientific Methods         
Employ scientific methods to critically appraise and devise solutions to problems in the animal sciences

SLO 3     Solve Problems and Generate New Information
Propose and deploy scientific methods to solve problems and generate new information.

SLO 4     Prepare Grants for Funding         
Prepare grants for extramural funding during their PhD program.

SLO 5     Professional Behavior   
Display ethical conduct and interact with others with honesty, cultural sensitivity, and respect.

SLO 6     Effective Communication            
Communicate effectively in professional situations.

Animal sciences (MS)

SLO 1     Principles of Animal Sciences     
Identify, interpret, and discuss the principles of the animal sciences with a deeper mastery of a chosen specialization.

SLO 2     Apply Scientific Methods             
Apply scientific methods to problems in the animal sciences and develop new solutions to such problems.

SLO 3     Problem Solving Skills    
Propose and deploy scientific methods to solve problems and generate new information.

SLO 4     Professional Behavior   
Display ethical conduct and interact with others with honesty, cultural sensitivity, and respect.

SLO 5     Communicate Effectively             
Communicate effectively in professional situations.