Minimum Graduation Requirements for M.S. in Animal & Range Sciences

Current MSU Division of Graduate Education policy specifies a six year limit on coursework for M.S. degrees. Students must have a minimum 3.0 GPA for their cumulative program and last semester of attendance.

Minimum 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.

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. In addition to departmental requirements candidates must fulfill the requirements of the Division of Graduate Education. The general requirements include:

1. In addition to requirements set forth by the Divsion of Graduate Education PhD students must complete the following:
1. 3 credits of ARNR 507 (within the PhD period).
2. A graduate (400– or 500–level) course in experimental design and 2 graduate statistical methods courses must be completed within the Master’s and PhD program.
2. The major professor and the student’s graduate committee will determine additional specific course requirements for completion of the Ph.D. degree.
3. Students must choose either the Animal Science option or the Range Science option.

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 (3 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 full 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

By the time a student completes a M.S.. in Animal & Range Sciences, 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.

A. Proficiency Requirements for Animal Science Emphasis

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)

B. Proficiency Requirements for Range Science Emphasis

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)

C. Proficiency Requirements for Biological Science Emphasis

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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