Animal and Dairy Sciences

College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

Dr. Vance Watson, Dean

Dr. Terry E. Kiser, Department Head

P.O. Box 9815

4025 Wise Center

662-325-2802

tkiser@ads.msstate.edu

Admission Criteria—The Animal and Dairy Science program offers graduate study toward the Master of Science in Agriculture with concentrations in Animal Nutrition and Animal Science, and toward the Master of Science in Agricultural Life Sciences with concentrations in Animal Physiology and Genetics.  Doctor of Philosophy programs in Nutrition, Food Science, Animal Physiology, and Genetics are also available through the interdisciplinary programs (refer to the specific interdisciplinary program of study elsewhere in the Graduate Bulletin for program-specific guidelines in addition to those listed here). 

Admission Criteria—A minimum of 3.00 GPA is required for the Animal Physiology concentration.  An applicant is required to submit Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores, and an international applicant is required to have a 575 TOEFL score. 

Program of Study—The program of study is developed by the student and his/her major professor with approval by the student’s graduate committee and in accordance with the guidelines of the Office of Graduate Studies, CALS, and/or interdisciplinary program requirements. 

Provisional Admission—Provisional admission requirements may be indicated by the student’s major professor or imposed by the Office of Graduate Studies in accordance with University admission policies. 

Academic Performance—The Department of Animal and Dairy Sciences applies the academic performance standards of the Office of Graduate Studies and CALS.  Students are referred to these criteria for provisional admission, contingent admission, academic performance, and dismissal policies. 

Prerequisite and Core Courses—The student should refer to the interdisciplinary concentration descriptions for any prerequisite or core course requirements that would be part of the program of study for Animal Physiology, Animal Nutrition, and Genetics.  Specifically for the M.S. degree in Agriculture with a concentration in Animal Science, the student must have completed or will be required to complete in addition to the graduate course work, the following courses:  Animal Breeding, Animal Nutrition, Animal Reproduction, Meats Processing, and an animal production species-specific course, or equivalent course work, at the undergraduate or graduate level.  Additionally, core courses as part of the program of study must include ST 8114, a graduate level biochemistry course (three hours minimum), and a graduate level physiology course (preferably ADS 6000 or 8000 level). 

Completion Requirements—M.S. thesis and Ph.D. candidates are required by the Department  Animal and Dairy Sciences to submit a written proposal of the intended research area during the first year of the graduate program, in addition to the submission of an annual progress report of research, teaching, extension and service activities, and a final written and oral presentation of the thesis or dissertation work.  For Ph.D. candidates, an oral and written preliminary/comprehensive examination will be administered by the student’s graduate committee in accordance with the Office of Graduate Studies guidelines prior to the submission or defense of dissertation research. 

Graduate Courses—Course prerequisites are noted in parentheses.

ADS 6113      Swine Science (ADS 1114). 3 hours

ADS 6115      Animal Nutrition (CH 2503 and CH 2501 or CH 4513 and CH 4511). 5 hours

ADS 6123      Animal Breeding ( PO 3103). 3 hours

ADS 6212      Livestock Evaluation (ADS 3213). 2 hours

ADS 6213      Livestock Nutrient Requirements and Formulation of Rations. 3 hours

ADS 6232      Advanced Livestock Evaluation (ADS 6212). 2 hours

ADS 6243      Composition and Chemical Reactions of Foods (CH 1053 and 2503, or equivalent) [same as FST 6243]. 3 hours

ADS 6314      Meats Processing [same as FST 6314]. 4 hours

ADS 6323      Beef Cattle Science (ADS 1114). 3 hours

ADS 6333      Equine Exercise Physiology (ADS 3232). 3 hours

ADS 6611      Practices in Physiology of Reproduction (BIO 1504) [same as PHY 6611]. 1 hour

ADS 6613      Physiology of Reproduction (BIO 1504 ) [same as PHY 6613]. 3 hours

ADS 6623      Physiology of Lactation (BIO 1504) [same as PHY 6623]. 3 hours

ADS 6814      Dairy Farm Management (ADS 1114). 4 hours

ADS 6990      Special Topics in Animal and Dairy Science. 1-9 hours

ADS 7000      Directed Individual Study. 1-6 hours

ADS 8233      Advanced Breeding (ADS  4123/6123 or PO 4303/6303, ST 8114). 3 hours

ADS 8243      Advanced Physiology of Reproduction (ADS 4613/6613 or equivalent) [same as PHY 8243]. 3 hours

ADS 8423      Meat Science (CH 4513/6513 or equivalent and MIC 2404 or equivalent) [same as FST 8423]. 3 hours

ADS 8433      Bone, Muscle, and Fat Deposition  in Animals (BCH 4613/6613) [same as PHY 8433]. 3 hours

ADS 8453      Statistical Genetics (ST 8114, ADS 4123/6123) [same as GNS 8453]. 3 hours

ADS 8633      Homeostatic Regulation and Physiological Stress (PHY 6514 and PHY 8134 or consent of instructor) [same as PHY 8633]. 3 hours

ADS 8811      Advanced Seminar. 1 hour

ADS 8821      Advanced Seminar. 1 hour

ADS 8831      Advanced Seminar. 1 hour

ADS 8833      Dairy Farm Management (ADS 1114). 3 hours

ADS 8990      Special Topics in Animal and Dairy Science. 1-9 hours