Program Overview

Master of Science in Animal & Rangeland Sciences

The Master of Science in Animal & Rangeland Sciences is a graduate program offered by the Department of Agriculture, Veterinary & Rangeland Sciences.

Admission

An essential criterion for admission to the master's program is the agreement of a GPARS graduate faculty member to serve as a student's advisor. Prospective students must correspond with potential advisors early in the application procedure as no students are accepted in the absence of the agreement by a faculty member to serve as advisor.

Additional Admission Requirements

• Students who seek admission to the program should have a cumulative grade-point average of 2.75.
• Each student must have an advisor among the GPARS faculty before they are accepted into the Program.
• Students must meet a set of coursework requirements consistent with career objectives in either animal science or rangeland ecology and management.
  • Students emphasizing animal science must have completed a degree in (or similar to) animal science or veterinary science, or complete course work in physical sciences (6 credits), organic chemistry or biochemistry (6 credits), and biology, agriculture or natural resources (24 credits, including genetics, anatomy, physiology, soils, hydrology, ecology or plant or animal science).
  • Students emphasizing rangeland ecology and management must have completed the equivalent of a bachelor's degree in animal science, rangeland science, or a closely related area.
• In selecting applicants, the Animal & Rangeland Sciences Graduate Selection Committee will consider the prospective student's statement of purpose, undergraduate and graduate transcripts, and three letters of recommendation.

Application Deadline

Applications may be reviewed at any time. However, to receive full consideration for fall admission, all application materials should reach the department by February 1. For spring admission, please provide all materials by November 1.

Master of Science Graduation Requirements

• Students for the M.S. in Animal & Rangeland Sciences (ARS) must satisfy the general requirements of the Graduate School.
• Students must select an M.S. graduate committee consisting of at least three members of the graduate faculty, including the advisor.
• Courses should be selected to complement the student's fields of interest and enhance his or her conceptual and research skills.
• Required Core Curriculum:
  • AGSC 790 Animal and Rangeland Science Seminar (1 unit)
  • A graduate-level statistics class (3 units)
• For graduate students with an emphasis in the Animal Sciences, choose two of the three following courses or others approved by their committee:
  • AGSC 606 Advanced Nutrition Management
  • AGSC 610 Sheep Management
  • AGSC 618 Cattle Production & Management
• For graduate students with an emphasis in Rangeland Science, choose two of the three following courses or others approved by their committee:
  • REM 608 Rangeland Ecosystems
  • REM 698 Rangeland Restoration Ecology
  • AGSC 613 Rangeland Livestock Interactions
• Each candidate makes a formal prospectus presentation (study plan) and later in their program will publicly defend their thesis (Plan A) or professional paper/project (Plan B) to the public and their advising committee.

Degree Plans

There are three different degree plans available:

• Plan A (30 credits) includes a thesis on original research.
• Plan B (30 credits) replaces the thesis with a non-thesis, a project, a professional paper or report, and/or portfolio option.
• Plan B online (30 credits) focuses on further professional development of interested candidates.

Plan A

• Includes a research thesis: (30 units minimum).
• Of these 30 units, at least 9 units must be at the 700-level and at least 20 graduate units must be earned at the University.
• Six to 10 thesis units (i.e., AGSC 797) must be included in the total.

Plan B Non-Thesis

• (30 units minimum).
• Of these 30 units, at least 12 must be at the 700-level and at least 18 units must be earned at the University.
• No more than two professional papers, a project, or portfolio units (i.e., AGSC 796) may be included in the total.

Plan B Non-Thesis Online/Hybrid

• (30 units minimum).
• Of these 30 units, at least 12 must be at the 700-level and at least 18 units must be earned at the University.
• No more than two units for a professional paper, project, or portfolio (i.e., AGSC 796) may be included in the total.
• All courses are by Zoom or Microsoft Teams and are held either synchronously or asynchronously by agreement with the instructor.

Thesis or Professional Paper Defense

Each candidate will be required to make a formal prospectus (study plan) presentation to their committee. Each student will write and defend in public their thesis or professional paper. The student's advising committee will pass judgment about the quality and sufficiency of the thesis or professional paper and its defense. The thesis must also be accepted by the graduate school.