Department of Animal Science Graduate Program- Prospective Students

    The Department of Animal Science at the University of Connecticut has a diverse faculty, offering a wide range of educational opportunities for students. The internationally renowned faculty and staff are committed to recruiting talented graduate students, and to providing them with an unparalleled educational experience. As the academic success of our students is very important, faculty and staff carefully mentor each student's progress throughout their program.

    The Plan A Master of Science degree requires the completion of a research laboratory-based thesis, and is recommended for students who intend to continue toward the PhD or wish to pursue a career in research and development, in consultation with their major advisor and the advisory committee. Students pursuing the MS or PhD in Animal Science shape a curriculum of courses most suited to their needs. Several "typical" curricula are described below in the areas of Animal Genetics and Genomics, Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Food Microbiology and Safety, Meat Science and Animal Physiology.

    ANSC Graduate Student Nicole Tillquist at the ASAS National Conference

    The MS Program

    The MS program offers the following areas of concentration: Animal Genetics and Genomics, Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Food Microbiology and Safety, Meat Science and Animal Physiology. Master of Science students are required to conduct thesis research (Plan A - thesis) or attain a comprehensive understanding in one of the above outlined areas (Plan B – non-thesis)
    Plan A (thesis option) MS students must complete a minimum of 30 credits, a minimum of 21 credits of advanced coursework, with no more than 3 of these credits coming from independent studies or ANSC 5692. A minimum of nine credits must include GRAD 5950 or GRAD 5960.

    Required Courses. ANSC 5693 and 5694. The plan of study shall consist largely of courses at the 5000 level or above. No more than six credits of coursework at the 3000 or 4000 level may be counted towards the degree.

    Plan B (non-thesis option) MS students must complete a minimum of thirty (30) credits, of which a minimum of twenty-four (24) credits must include formal coursework, and a minimum of four (4) credits must include research (ANSC 5692) or independent study (ANSC 5699).
    Plan B MS students are exempt from the ANSC 5694 requirement, but must complete ANSC 5693 once.

    Additional Requirements

    All Plan A MS students who receive assistantship support are required to assist with one course per year of enrollment as part of their professional development. The ANSC Graduate Studies Committee is responsible with assigning courses.
    Note: Plan B MS students are exempt from this requirement.

    Department of Animal Science MS Requirements
    University Academic Regulations – Standards and Degree Requirements
    The Crandall Fellowship (CF)- Available to outstanding young scholars applying to master's programs.  The award consists of a service-free fellowship providing a $20,000 annual stipend for two years (MFA is for three years).

    The PhD Program

    The Doctor of Philosophy degree is offered in Animal Science. Several areas of concentration are offered within the Animal Science Field of Study including: Animal Genetics and Genomics, Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Food Microbiology and Safety, Meat Science and Animal Physiology. The PhD degree requires demonstrated capabilities for conducting independent research plus related scholarly attributes. All graduate students receiving assistantship support are required to assist with the teaching of one (1) course per year of enrollment as part of their professional development.

    Each PhD plan of study must include thirty (30) credits of course work beyond the baccalaureate degree or its equivalent, or at least fifteen (15) credits beyond the master’s degree or other advanced degree in the same or a closely related field of study. All Ph.D. students must complete one credit of ANSC 5693 (Graduate Presentation Skills) and two credits of ANSC 5694 (Seminar). Students who have previously completed one credit of ANSC 5693 are exempt from that requirement. In addition to these course credit requirements, students must complete coursework necessary to satisfy the foreign language or related area requirements as prescribed by the Graduate School. In addition to this coursework, satisfactory completion of at least fifteen (15) credits of GRAD 6950 – Doctoral Dissertation Research or Grad 6960 – Full-Time Doctoral Dissertation Research is required.

    Additional Requirements

    All PhD students who receive assistantship support are required to assist with one course per year of enrollment as part of their professional development. The ANSC Graduate Studies Committee is responsible for assigning courses.

    Department of Animal Science PhD Requirements
    University Academic Regulations – Standards and Degree Requirements
    The Harriott Fellowship and the Jorgensen Fellowship - Available to outstanding young scholars applying to doctoral programs.  These awards consists of a service-free fellowship providing a $20,000 annual stipend for five years.

    ANSC Graduate Student Mairui Gao posing alongside chiclet

    ANSC Fields of Study - Typical Curriculum Examples

    Completion of a strong undergraduate degree program, with fundamental training in biology, chemistry, mathematics and statistics, is required for admission to the Animal Science graduate program. Graduate programs in Animal Science often include supporting work in areas such as Pathobiology, Molecular and Cell Biology, and Nutrition, among others.

    The entire application package is evaluated as a whole, and in some cases a weakness in one area may be overcome by strength in another.

    ANSC Graduate Students observing an embryo through a microscope

    Application Process

    If you are considering applying to the Animal Science MS or PhD programs, please visit the links below for detailed instructions. Our graduate programs depend heavily on the appropriate linkage of student and faculty interests. This also applies to the availability of assistantship support (i.e., stipend and tuition remission). There is no separate application for assistantships. The department strongly encourages that applicants visit ANSC faculty bio and research pages and identify a faculty advisor(s) based on the advisor’s research area. Please contact your preferred advisor(s) to discuss the possibility of research prior to applying to be sure they are currently accepting graduate students and if assistantship support is potentially available. Applications that fail to indicate a preferred advisor will not be reviewed. Information regarding English Proficiency and other University requirements and application policies can be found at the Graduate School website by following the link below.

    Application Review Process

    Applications for graduate studies are submitted online through the University of Connecticut Graduate School. Students normally matriculate beginning with the Fall semester, but occasionally, students begin at the start of the Spring semester. The Department of Animal Science reviews complete applications on a rolling basis.

    Application Submission Deadlines

    The Application Submission Deadline is the last day you are able to submit your application for consideration for the program and term for which you are applying. You will not be able to submit an application after these dates for the term to which you are applying. All applications should contain ALL required information (including completed recommendations) by the submission deadline date. Deadlines for fall and spring semesters pertain to both international and domestic students. It is recommended that applications be submitted prior to the submission deadline date to allow time for your recommendations to be submitted and the Department of Animal Science Graduate Committee to process their recommendation. If you miss the application submission deadline for the term to which you're applying, you may change the term for which you are applying or contact the department at animalscience@uconn.edu to close out your application. Applicants can contact the Animal Science Graduate Studies Committee Chair, Dr. Dennis D'Amico with any questions.

    Applicants Requiring a Student Visa

    Applicants who require an F1 visa are encouraged to apply by the preferred deadline indicated below. The primary reason for submitting an early application is that we anticipate the policies and procedures surrounding issuance of student visas will continue to be strict and time-consuming. Please familiarize yourself with parameters regarding deadline dates and terms applicable to students requiring F1.

    Fall Application- Apply here

    Internal fellowship applicants submission date must be no later than January 1. Applicants to the Animal Science graduate program who would like to be considered for the Crandall, Harriott, or Jorgensen Fellowships, must discuss their eligibility with their preferred advisor and check the box to indicate their interest on their application. 

    Preferred application submission date is January 1.

    Application submission deadline is June 1 (absolute deadline for term; applications for this term will not be accepted after this date).
     

    Spring Application- Apply here

    Preferred application submission date is October 1.

    Application submission deadline is November 1 (absolute deadline for term; applications for this term will not be accepted after this date).
     

    Enrollment Deadline

    When you are offered admission to the program, you are given an Enrollment Deadline that is stated in your admission letter. This is the last day you will be able to accept enrollment for entry to the program to which you are applying for that term. If you wish to defer your admission to a subsequent semester, email the department at animalscience@uconn.edu.