Requirements for M.S. in Animal & Range Sciences

1. At least one upper level (400 or 500) course in statistics.
2. Two semesters of ARNR 507 – Research Methods.
3. Students must declare either the Animal Science, Range Science or Biology Emphasis:
   • Course requirements for students in the Animal Science Emphasis:
• At least two courses from the Graduate Animal Science block (must be 500 level course)
  
• Course requirements for students in the Range Science Emphasis:
  • At least two courses from the Graduate Range Science block (must be 500 level course)
    
• Course requirements for students in the Biology Emphasis:
  • At least two biology-related 500-level courses in their area of emphasis
  • AND
  • At least one course from the Graduate Animal Science block or Range Science block
  • NOTE: students emphasizing meat science in the Biology Emphasis can substitute BCHM 441–Biochemistry of Macromolecules for one of the two 500-level courses.
  • Graduate Animal Science Block
    ARNR 520 – Nutrient Metabolism in Domestic Animals
    ARNR 521 – Advanced Ruminant Nutrition
    ARNR 523 – Advanced Physiology of Reproduction
    ARNR 524 – Advanced Animal Breeding
  • Graduate Range Science Block
    ARNR 541 – Range Ecophysiology
    ARNR 543 – Riparian Processes and Function
    ARNR 544 – Advanced Grazing Management & Ecology
4. Students must meet the Proficiency Requirements for their emphasis area (see Proficiencies below).

Requirements for Ph.D. in Animal & Range Sciences

The Ph.D. program is based upon an area of specialization in research and intensive coursework that would normally require three years of full-time work beyond the MS degree. Candidates must fulfill the requirements of the College of Graduate Studies. The general requirements include:

1. A minimum of 60 semester credits of coursework beyond the BS degree.
2. A minimum of 18 credits of ARNR 690.
3. The 50 credits of coursework must include:
   • Three credits of ARNR 507
   • A graduate (400- or 500-level) course in experimental design and two graduate statistical methods courses.
4. A minimum of 30 credits must be taken through the regular registration process, on the campus of MSU after admission to the Ph.D. program.
5. Students must be registered for a minimum of three credits during a term that an examination is taken. Registration through Extended Studies does not fulfill this requirement.
6. A maximum of six credits of Individual Problems (570) courses may be included.
7. A maximum of nine credits on a pass/fail basis (excluding 690) may be included. Individual Problems (570) courses may not be taken as pass/fail.
8. Correspondence courses will not be accepted.
9. Age of courses at time of graduation may not exceed 10 years. The maximum time between the comprehensive examination and granting the degree is five years.
10. Students must choose either the Animal Science or the Range Science Emphasis.
    • Course requirements for students in the Animal Science Emphasis:
      • At least three of the following Animal Sciences courses, one of the graduate Range Science courses, plus two additional semesters of graduate (400- or 500-level) Biological Sciences.
      • ARNR 520 - Nutrient Metabolism of Domestic Animals
      • ARNR 521 - Advanced Ruminant Nutrition
      • ARNR 523 - Advanced Physiology of Reproduction
      • ARNR 524 - Advanced Animal Breeding
      • ARNR 525 - Muscle and Growth Biology
    • Course requirement for students in the Range Science Emphasis:
      • At lease three of the following Range Science courses, one of the graduate Animal Science courses, plus two additional semesters of graduate (400- or 500-level) Biological Sciences.
      • ARNR 541 - Range Ecophysiology
      • ARNR 543 - Riparian Processes and Function
      • ARNR 544 - Advanced Grazing Management and Ecology
      • ARNR 553 - Grazing Behavior of Livestock and Wildlife
11. Admission Requirements: Students are expected to have completed the equivalent of a Master of Science degree in Animal Science, Range Science or a closely related area. In selecting applicants, the Animal and Range Sciences Graduate Committee will consider the prospective student’s Statement of Purpose, undergraduate and graduate achievement (university transcripts), GRE scores and letters of recommendation (three required). Applicants judged to have deficiencies in preparation could be admitted provisionally and required to enroll in additional courses to make up the deficiencies. Generally, a minimum GPA of 3.0/4.0 and minimum GRE scores of 450 verbal and 1000 combined verbal and quantitative are required for admission. International students whose native language is not English must submit scores from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) before admission and/or award of an assistantship. These scores must meet the minimum standards required by the College of Graduate Studies at Montana State University.
    

Proficiencies

Proficiency Requirements for Animal Science Emphasis

By the time a student completes a M.S. or Ph.D. in Animal & Range Sciences (Animal Science Emphasis), they must have successfully completed undergraduate or graduate coursework in three of the four areas listed below.  Examples of MSU courses that fulfill these requirements are given.  Students who have successfully completed an equivalent course may apply that course toward the proficiency requirements, subject to the approval of the student’s Graduate Committee.  Undergraduate courses in these categories are not intended to comprise a substantial portion of a student’s graduate curriculum.  These courses should be taken in addition to, not in lieu of, other courses in a graduate program.  While some courses may apply to Requirements for the M.S. in Animal & Range Sciences and Proficiency Requirements, the student’s Graduate Committee must not allow the need to meet Proficiency Requirements detract from a student completing a rigorous graduate degree program.

1. Breeding/Genetics (ARNR 322 – Principles of Animal Breeding or BIOL 301 – Principles of Genetics)
2. Physiology/Reproduction (ARNR 321 – Physiology of Reproduction)
3. Nutrition (ARNR 320 – Animal Nutrition)
4. Production/Management (ARNR 434 – Beef Cattle Management)

Proficiency Requirements for Range Science Emphasis

By the time a student finishes the M.S. degree in Animal & Range Sciences (Range Science Emphasis), they must have successfully completed undergraduate or graduate coursework in four of the five areas listed below.  Examples of MSU courses that fulfill these requirements are given.  Students who have successfully completed an equivalent course may apply that course toward the proficiency requirements, subject to the approval of the student’s Graduate Committee.  Undergraduate courses in these categories are not intended to comprise a substantial portion of a student’s graduate curriculum. These courses should be taken in addition to, not in lieu of, other courses in a graduate program.  While some courses may apply to Requirements for the M.S. in Animal & Range Sciences and Proficiency Requirements, the student’s Graduate Committee must not allow the need to meet Proficiency Requirements detract from a student completing a rigorous graduate degree program.

1. Grazing Management (ARNR 353 – Grazing Ecology and Management)
2. Plant Ecology (ARNR 240 – Natural Resource Ecology Or BIOL 303 – Principles of Ecology Or BIOL 534 – Vegetation Ecology)
3. Plant Identification (ARNR 350 – Range Vegetation Or BIOL 434 – Agrostology)
4. Plant Physiology (PSPP 450 – Plant Physiology Or ARNR 541 – Range Ecophysiology)
5. Vegetation Measurements (ARNR 453 - Habitat Inventory and Analysis)

Proficiency Requirements for Biological Science Emphasis

By the time a student finishes the M.S. degree in Animal & Range Sciences (Biological Science Emphasis), they must have successfully completed a minimum of 15 credit hours in the biological sciences with at least 9 credit hours in upper division course work which may include: biological sciences, chemistry, microbiology, food science, entomology, and ecology.  Examples of MSU courses that fulfill these requirements are given.  Students who have successfully completed an equivalent course may apply that course toward the proficiency requirements, subject to the approval of the student’s Graduate Committee.  Undergraduate courses in these categories are not intended to comprise a substantial portion of a student’s graduate curriculum. These courses should be taken in addition to, not in lieu of, other courses in a graduate program. While some courses may apply to Requirements for the M.S. in Animal & Range Sciences and Proficiency Requirements, the student’s Graduate Committee must not allow the need to meet Proficiency Requirements detract from a student completing a rigorous graduate degree program.

1. Biology (BIOL 213, 214, 215 – Introductory Biology)
2. Ecology (BIOL 303 – Principles of Ecology; BIOL 405 – Behavioral & Evolutionary Ecology)
3. Chemistry (CHEM 131, 132 – General Chemistry; CHEM 215 - Elements of Organic Chemistry; CHEM 228 – Fundamental Analytical Chemistry; CHEM 311, 312 – Organic Chemistry)
4. Biochemistry (BCHM 340 – General Biochemistry)
5. Entomology (BIOL 204IN – Insect Biology)
6. Food Science / Meat Science (Introductory Food Science or upper division food science or food safety course)

Course Descriptions

For a list of course descriptions, click here

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