Biological Sciences (Ph.D.) - Dairy Science Specialization

Print Degree Planner (opens a new window) |

Program Information
The Dairy Science Department provides research opportunities leading to Masters and PhD degrees. SDSU is one of two universities in the US with a Dairy Science Program that offers Dairy Production and Manufacturing majors. It is equipped with excellent laboratories, and a state of the art dairy processing plant which has the capability of processing fluid milk, cheese, butter, ice cream, concentrated and dried products, and other products. It also has a dairy research and training facility where a herd of 300 Holstein and Brown Swiss cattle for teaching and research is maintained. Metabolism and surgical facilities in the Animal Science Complex, and specialized laboratory equipment the Genomics Lab and other departments on campus, including, Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, and Health and Nutritional Sciences Pprograms are also available. Graduate students accepted in the program will have opportunities to utilize these facilities to develop basic and/or applied research programs in dairy product processing, microbiology, chemistry, food safety, dairy cattle nutrition, metabolism, breeding, microbiology of the rumen, immunology, and management, while interacting with well qualified faculty. The SDSU Dairy Science Program, in collaboration with the Food Science and Nutrition Program at the University of Minnesota and the Food Science and Human Nutrition Program at Iowa State University, is the Midwest Dairy Foods Research Center. This provides graduate students in the manufacturing area a unique opportunity to be involved with current issues and research needs.

Student Engagement and Support Opportunities
An application to the graduate program serves as an application for a graduate assistantship. Qualified applicants may be eligible for financial aid in the form of departmental research assistantships for masters and doctoral students. Graduate assistants pay one-third the resident tuition per credit, per semester for tuition and fees. The department also offers some limited scholarships for qualified students.

Available Options for Graduate Degrees

Doctor of Philosophy 60 Credit Plan
90 Credit Plan

Core Requirements

For details see specific program: PhD in Biological Sciences .

The student, major advisor and Advisory Committee select the discipline specific emphasis area of the biological sciences. The courses will be identified on the student’s Plan of Study no later than the end of the first year of study.

XXX 790 or 890 Seminar Credit: 1 - Selected with advisory committee approval
GSR 601 - Research Regulations Compliance Credit: 1
Minimum of 3 credits of STAT courses numbered 500-level or higher
XXX 898D Dissertation Credits: 30-40 - Students are required to present a seminar on their dissertation

Additional Admission Requirements

GRE: Not required
TOEFL: Department requirement of 550 paper-based, 213 computer-based, 79-80 Internet-based

At least two letters of reference and a personal statement that includes a description of the applicants’ involvement in research, the applicants research interest, and career goals will be required from those applying for spring 2013 and beyond.

General Requirements (PhD)

Graduate students must consult with their advisor before registering for graduate work.

For additional information see Doctor of Philosophy Degree Requirements .