Animal Sciences

Animal and Veterinary Sciences Graduate Student Learning Goals 2/28/22  

The M.S. degree in Animal Sciences may be earned for a program of study in reproductive physiology, animal health, nutrition or management. For the M.S. degree, a minimum of 30 semester hours, including credit given for the thesis, is required.

• The minimum amount of credit for the thesis is 6 hours and in no case may it exceed 15 hours.
• In addition, a minimum of 12 hours (exclusive of thesis) of 500- and/or 600-level coursework is required.

A non-thesis Master of Professional Studies (M.P.S.) degree in Animal Sciences is also available.

• Requirements for the M.P.S. are 30 credit hours, of which at least 15 hours must be 500 and/or 600-level.
• A minimum of three hours in an “independent study” type course agreed upon with their major advisor.

Upon completion of a project, a written report will be presented to the major professor and a seminar on the project will be presented to the faculty in the area of Animal and Veterinary Science.

• An oral comprehensive examination at the completion of his or her program.
• Courses selected must include a minimum of 12 credits in the Animal and Veterinary Sciences.

In addition, a minimum of 12 hours must be selected in a specialized field of study. The three credit ‘independent study’ type course is to be a short-term research-type project.

The Ph.D. degree may be earned by completing a program of study in Food and Nutrition Sciences or Biological Sciences.

• Thesis research constitutes a major portion of the M.S. and Ph.D. programs.
• Students are required to take Graduate Seminar and Ph.D. students must present four seminars and M.S. students must present three seminars.
• Graduate students will take many of their formal graduate courses in supporting departments, depending upon their specific interests and fields of study.

Research Facilities

Most of the teaching, research, and Cooperative Extension faculty and graduate students are housed in Hitchner Hall, which provides valuable research information to the livestock producers of the state.

These include the Maine Animal Health Laboratory, the Maine Aquatic Animal Health Laboratory, a ruminant parasitology lab, aquaculture research facilities, and a histopathology service lab. Laboratory animals (mice, rats, rabbits, miniature swine) are housed for research in the nearby Laboratory Animal Research Facility.

Research laboratories in Rogers Hall are dedicated to nutrition and reproductive physiology. The J. F. Witter Teaching and Research Farm is at the heart of the Department’s livestock teaching and research programs and is home to:

• 50 Registered Holstein dairy cows and heifers
• 15 Standardbred horses
• 20 Registered Icelandic sheep