Program Description
The Department of Animal Science offers graduate programs leading to the Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy degrees in Animal Science, or the Doctor of Philosophy degree in Biological Sciences. Faculty and graduate students are actively involved in basic and/or applied research in the fields of nutrition, reproductive physiology, muscle biology, animal breeding, meat science, and animal production.
With the multi-disciplinary approaches towards production efficiency, product enhancement, and natural resources management, graduate students gain strong skill sets. The graduate programs are administered in collaboration with the Departments of Animal Science, Dairy Science, Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, and Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering. The Department is committed to providing graduate students with quality educational and research experiences and preparing them to meet the challenges of a competitive job market upon graduation.
This program allows for considerable latitude in the education and training of students. Identification of a major professor with resources to support the student’s thesis project is required for unconditional acceptance into the program. An advisory committee will be formed for each student. The advisory committee will work with the student to design a unique and individualized plan of study to meet the interests and needs of the student. While the training of most students is largely directed to a single discipline represented within one of the participating departments, cross-discipline training is available and encouraged.
Facilities
Training and experience in research methods are among the most important facets of a well-rounded graduate student education. Excellent facilities and large herds and flocks of livestock are available for Animal Science research at South Dakota State University. To ensure continued access to modern research facilities in the future, a major effort is underway to renovate or replace livestock production research facilities. A facility for ruminant nutrition is presently under construction, and funding has recently been approved for a new swine research facility. A new facility for sheep physiology and management research is in the planning stages. Renovation of off-campus research facilities is also a priority. Plans are also being implemented for on-campus construction of multi-departmental facilities to house research related to environmental stress of plants and animals.
Student Engagement and Support Opportunities
The department conducts cutting edge research that creates opportunities for graduate students. Qualified students may apply for a Graduate Research Assistant position and the Darwin Britzman Graduate Assistant Scholarship.
