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 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)
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 meats 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.
Combined programs: Qualified students are encouraged to apply to the combined degree program. Acceptance into the program will allow both a bachelor’s degree and master’s degree with a savings of 1 semester.
Degrees Offered with a Major in Animal Sciences
- Doctor of Philosophy
- without a concentration
- concentration in Animal Molecular and Cellular Biology
- Master of Science
- without a concentration
Requirements for these degrees are given in the Graduate Degrees section of this catalog.
Animal Sciences Departmental Courses
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ANS 5446 | Animal Nutrition | 3 |
| ANS 5935 | Reproductive Biology Seminar and Research Studies | 1 |
| ANS 6040 | Concepts in Applied Ethology | 3 |
| ANS 6288 | Experimental Techniques and Analytical Procedures in Meat Research | 3 |
| ANS 6312C | Applied Ruminant Reproductive Management | 4 |
| ANS 6313 | Current Concepts in Reproductive Biology | 2 |
| ANS 6379L | Techniques Genetics | 2 |
| ANS 6387 | Genetic Analysis of Complex Traits in Livestock | 3 |
| ANS 6447 | Ruminant Nutrition | 4 |
| ANS 6449 | Vitamins | 3 |
| ANS 6452 | Principles of Forage Quality Evaluation | 3 |
| ANS 6458 | Advanced Methods in Nutrition Technology | 3 |
| ANS 6636 | Meat Technology | 3 |
| ANS 6637 | Quantitative Microbial Risk Assessment of Pathogens in Food Systems | 3 |
| ANS 6702 | Physiology of the Mammary Gland and Lactation | 2 |
| ANS 6704 | Mammalian Endocrinology | 2 |
| ANS 6705 | Muscle Physiology | 1 |
| ANS 6707 | Growth Physiology in Farm Animals | 1 |
| ANS 6711 | Current Topics in Equine Nutrition and Exercise Physiology | 2 |
| ANS 6714 | Current Topics in Microbial Physiology in Animals | 1 |
| ANS 6715 | Gastrointestinal and Feed Microbiology | 3 |
| ANS 6716 | Physiology in Farm Animals | 1 |
| ANS 6718 | Nutritional Physiology of Domestic Animals | 2 |
| ANS 6723 | Mineral Nutrition and Metabolism | 3 |
| ANS 6750 | Reproductive Physiology in Farm Animals | 1 |
| ANS 6751 | Physiology of Reproduction | 3 |
| ANS 6767 | Advanced Endocrinology | 3 |
| ANS 6775 | Essentials of Livestock Immunology | 1 |
| ANS 6905 | Problems in Animal Science | 1-4 |
| ANS 6910 | Supervised Research | 1-5 |
| ANS 6932 | Special Topics in Animal Science | 1-3 |
| ANS 6933 | Graduate Seminar in Animal Science | 1 |
| ANS 6936 | Graduate Seminar in Animal Molecular and Cell Biology | 1-2 |
| ANS 6939 | Animal Molecular and Cellular Biology Journal Colloquy | 1 |
| ANS 6940 | Supervised Teaching | 1-5 |
| ANS 6942 | Supervised Extension in the Animal Sciences | 1-3 |
| ANS 6971 | Research for Master's Thesis | 1-15 |
| ANS 7979 | Advanced Research | 1-12 |
| ANS 7980 | Research for Doctoral Dissertation | 1-15 |
| PCB 6816 | Thermal Physiology | 1 |
Additional Courses for Major Credit in Animal Sciences
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| AEB 5326 | Agribusiness Financial Management | 3 |
| AEB 6385 | Management Strategies for Agribusiness Firms | 3 |
| AEB 7182 | Agricultural Risk Analysis and Decision Making | 3 |
| FOS 5205 | Current Issues in Food Safety and Sanitation | 3 |
| FOS 5225C | Principles in Food Microbiology | 4 |
| FOS 5437C | Food Product Development | 3 |
| FOS 5732 | Current Issues in Food Regulations | 3 |
| FOS 5126C | Psychophysical Aspects of Foods | 3 |
| FOS 6226C | Advanced Food Microbiology | 4 |
| FOS 6315C | Advanced Food Chemistry | 4 |
| FOS 6317C | Flavor Chemistry and Technology | 3 |
| FOS 6355C | Instrumental Analysis and Separations | 5 |
| FOS 6428C | Advanced Food Processing | 4 |
| FOS 6455C | Industrial Food Fermentations | 3 |
| HUN 5447 | Nutrition and Immunity | 3 |
| HUN 6245 | Advanced Human Nutrition | 3 |
| HUN 6301 | Nutritional Aspects of Lipid Metabolism | 3 |
| HUN 6305 | Nutritional Aspects of Carbohydrates | 3 |
| HUN 6321 | Proteins and Amino Acids in Nutrition | 4 |
| VME 5244 | Physiology: Organ Systems | 4 |
College of Agricultural and Life Sciences Courses
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ALS 5156 | Agricultural Ecology Principles and Applications | 3 |
| ALS 5905 | Individual Study | 1-4 |
| ALS 5932 | Special Topics | 1-4 |
| ALS 6046 | Grant Writing | 2 |
| ALS 6166 | Exotic Species and Biosecurity Issues | 3 |
| ALS 6921 | Colloquium on Plant Pests of Regulatory Significance | 1 |
| ALS 6925 | Integrated Plant Medicine | 4 |
| ALS 6931 | Plant Medicine Program Seminar | 1 |
| ALS 6935 | Topics in Biological Invasions | 3 |
| ALS 6942 | Principles of Plant Pest Risk Assessment and Management | 3 |
| ALS 6943 | Internship in Plant Pest Risk Assessment and Management | 1-10 |
| ANS 6936 | Graduate Seminar in Animal Molecular and Cell Biology | 1-2 |
| BCH 5045 | Graduate Survey of Biochemistry | 4 |
| STA 6093 | Introduction to Applied Statistics for Agricultural and Life Sciences | 3 |
| STA 6329 | Matrix Algebra and Statistical Computing | 3 |
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.