Agriculture and Natural Resources > ANSC
Menu

Current Students

Current Graduate Students

Requirements & Benchmarks  |  Courses  |  Research Proposal  |  Forms  |  Links

Master's Program

Master of Science Degree in Animal Sciences Requirements:

  • 6 hours of thesis research credit (ANSC799)

  • 24 credit hours of graduate level coursework including graduate level statistics course (typically BIOM 601)

  • Research Ethics course or CITI training

  • 1 hour of either ANSC624 or ANSC625 (graduate seminar)

    More Information

 

Benchmarks to Master's Degree

Master's Degree timeline benchmarks

PhD Program

Doctor of Philosophy Degree in Animal Sciences Requirements:

PhD in Animal Sciences requirements, with MS in Animal Science or related field from a US accredited University:

  • 12 credit hours of ANSC899 (Dissertation research credit) plus

  • Graduate level statistics course (typically BIOM 601) if not taken during MS studies

  • Research Ethics course or CITI training

  • 2 hours of ANSC seminar (see ANSC Graduate Handbook for details)

  • Any additional coursework as determined by advisory committee (see ANSC Graduate Handbook for details)

OR PhD in Animal Sciences requirements, without MS degree:

  • 12 credit hours of ANSC899 (Dissertation research credit) plus

  • 24 credit hours of graduate level coursework including

  • Graduate level statistics course (typically BIOM 601)

  • Research Ethics course or CITI training

  • 2 hours of ANSC seminar (see ANSC Graduate Handbook for details)

    More Information

 

Benchmarks to PhD Degree

PhD Degree timeline benchmarks

Graduate Courses

The animal science department offers a variety of advanced courses for its graduate students, including topics such as immunology, animal welfare, biotechnology, and infectious diseases.

ANSC Graduate Courses

Graduate students are encouraged to take 600 level courses from at least two of the following areas:

Genetics & Cell Biology

  • ANSC688G Animal Biotechnology Recombinant DNA Laboratory [winter term]
  • ANSC627 Molecular and Quantitative Genetics

Nutrition & Metabolism

  • ANSC630 Animal Metabolism
  • ANSC688O Special Topics; Nutritional Aspects of Metabolic Disease

Physiology & Health

  • ANSC644 Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology
  • ANSC688J Special Topics; Zoonotic Diseases and Control
  • ANSC688I Special Topics; Comparative Vertebrate Immunology

* Note: Courses at the 400 level also can count towards a graduate degree. These courses can be used to fill gaps in a student’s knowledge. Please note that at least 12 hours of the 24 hours of required coursework need to be at the 600 or higher level. ANSC Graduate students must have at least 6 hours of coursework with the ANSC designation. Please see ANSC Graduate Handbook for a full description of course requirements, which include a graduate level statistics, research ethics, and ANSC seminar.

Research Proposal Guidelines

All ANSC graduate students must present to their advisory committees a thesis (M.S.) or dissertation (Ph.D.) research proposal for approval during the initial stages of their graduate studies. Learn more on your research proposal guidelines. 

ANSC Research Proposal Guidelines

Forms for Graduate Students

All completed forms should be sent to ansc-gradprogram@umd.edu.
Please include your name in the file name (e.g., committeeform_YourName.pdf)

Master's Students

Form
(click on form name)		DueNotes
Graduate Research Assistant Mutual  Expectations FormDue: Beginning of AssistantshipTo be updated as needed
Graduate Teaching Assistant Mutual Expectations FormDue: Each Semester of AssistantshipOne for each semester and course in which you serve as a teaching assistant. Evaluations portion of form due at the end of the semester.
Committee FormDue: 1st Semester 
Nomination to Graduate Faculty Information FormDue: 1st SemesterOnly for committee members not currently a member of the graduate faculty.
Plan of StudyDue: 2nd Semester 
Research Proposal and Coversheet FormDue: 2nd Semester 
Advisory Committee Meeting ReportDue: After Every Committee Meeting 
Student Annual Progress Report (.docx / .pdf)Due: AnnuallyFor GEC meeting
Advisor’s Report Form (.docx / .pdf)Due: AnnuallyFor GEC meeting
Nomination of Thesis Committee FormDue: Six Weeks Before Oral ExamThe Report of the Examining Committee will be generated automatically with the submission of the Nomination of Committee form.
Graduate Defense Outcome Assessment FormDue: After Thesis DefenseFor committee chair to fill out after defense.
Approved Program FormDue: Before Graduation 
Thesis & Dissertation FilingDue: Before GraduationRead Graduate School page carefully!


All completed forms should be sent to ansc-gradprogram@umd.edu.

PhD Students

Form
(click on form name)		DueNotes
Graduate Research Assistant Mutual Expectations FormDue: Beginning of AssistantshipTo be updated as needed
Graduate Teaching Assistant Mutual Expectations Form Due: Each Semester of AssistantshipOne for each semester and course in which you serve as a teaching assistant. Evaluations portion of form due at the end of the semester. 
Committee FormDue 1st Semester 
Nomination to Graduate Faculty Information FormDue 1st SemesterOnly for committee members not currently a member of the graduate faculty
Plan of StudyDue 2nd Semester 
Research Proposal and Coversheet FormDue 3rd Semester 
Advisory Committee Meeting ReportDue After Every Committee Meeting 
Student Annual Progress Report (.docx / .pdf)Due Annually For GEC meeting
Advisor’s Report Form (.docx / .pdf)Due AnnuallyFor GEC meeting
GOA Expectations FormDue Before Prelims 
GOA Prelim Assessment FormDue After PrelimsCompleted by committee chair
Application for Admission to Candidacy FormDue After Prelims 
PhD Teaching Requirement FormDue: Before Completion of Program 
Nomination of Dissertation Committee FormDue Six Weeks Before DefenseThe Report of the Examining Committee will be generated automatically with the submission of the Nomination of Committee form.
Graduate Defense Outcome Assessment FormDue After DefenseFor committee chair to fill out after defense.
Doctoral Student SurveysDue Before Graduation 
Thesis & Dissertation FilingDue: Before GraduationRead Graduate School page carefully!


All completed forms should be sent to ansc-gradprogram@umd.edu.

Links for Graduate Students

Graduate School

University Links

Student Assistantships & Awards

All our Assistantships, Awards, and financial aid information is now on our Assistantships and Awards page:

ANSC Assistantships & Awards

Thesis & Dissertation Submission

For additional information, visit the Handbook and FAQs page for answers to questions and to get The Animal Sciences Program's Graduate Handbook that covers all of the information students need to know regarding our policies, regulations, and program requirements.

 

Handbook & FAQs

College of Agriculture and Natural Resources
© 2018-2025 College of Agriculture and Natural Resources | AGNR Home
Web Accessibility | Privacy Policy

University programs, activities, and facilities are available to all without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, age, national origin, political affiliation, physical or mental disability, religion, protected veteran status, genetic information, personal appearance, or any other legally protected class.