Minimum Requirements for M.S. in Animal & Range Sciences
- At least one upper level (400 or 500) course in statistics.
- Two semesters of ARNR 507 – Research Methods.
- 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
- Students must meet the Proficiency Requirements for their emphasis area (see Proficiences below).
Course Descriptions
| Course Number | Course Title | Credits | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| ARNR 500 | Seminar | 1 cr | Topics offered at the graduate level which are not covered in regular courses. Students participate in preparing and presenting discussion material. |
| ARNR 507 | Research Methods | 1-5 cr | Application of scientific method and research techniques, including design of experiments and use of appropriate statistical procedures. |
| ARNR 520 | Nutrient metabolism of Domestic Animals | 3 cr | Biochemistry of animal nutrition with emphasis on integration of biochemical principles to animal production systems. Nutrients emphasized are proteins, carbohydrates and lipids. |
| ARNR 521 | Advanced Ruminant Nutrition | 3 cr | Physiological and microbial aspects of ruminant digestion and their influence on the metabolism of extraruminal tissues. |
| ARNR 523 | Advanced Physiology of Reproduction | 3 cr | Study of the basic concepts of reproductive process of mammals with special emphasis on the application of recent techniques in solving reproductive problems associated with fertility and infertility. |
| ARNR 524 | Advanced Animal Breeding | 3 cr | Quantitative genetics applied to the improvement of animals. Biometrical relationships among relatives, methods of estimating genetic parameters, application of crossbreeding systems and selection techniques. |
| ARNR 525 | Muscle and Growth Biology | 3 cr | Growth and development of muscle, muscle structure and how growth is controlled by hormones and DNA will be studied. The impact growth manipulation has on the final product, meat, will also be evaluated. |
| ARNR 541 | Range Ecophysiology | 3 cr | Lectures and selected readings on the response of range plants and animals to daily and seasonal changes in their environment, including physiology, animal behavior, and plant population biology. |
| ARNR 543 | Riparian Processes and Function | 3 cr | This course involves an in-depth investigation of the geomorphological physical and biological parameters unique to riparian areas of the Northern Rocky Mountains and Great Plains. Emphasis will be placed on how these parameters interact to create the biotic communities associated with riparian areas. |
| ARNR 544 | Advanced Grazing Management and Ecology | 3 cr | Review of management principles for livestock grazing grasslands and shrublands and their ecological relationship to other areas. Study design and scientific results will be examined to critically review information. |
| ARNR 553 | Grazing Behaviour of Livestock and Wildlife | 2 cr | Behavioral processes of foraging by livestock and wild ungulates; application of theoretical concepts to range livestock production and natural resource management. |
| ARNR 570 | Individual Problems | 1-3 cr | Directed research and study on an individual basis. |
| ARNR 575 | Research or Professional Paper/Project | 1-4 cr | A research or professional paper or project dealing with a topic in the field. The topic must have been mutually agreed upon by the student and his or her major advisor and graduate committee. |
| ARNR 580 | Special Topics | 1-4 cr | Courses not required in any curriculum for which there is a particular one time need, or given on a trial basis to determine acceptability and demand before requesting a regular course number. |
| ARNR 589 | Graduate Consultation | 3 cr | This course may be used only by students who have completed all of their coursework (and thesis, if on a thesis plan) but who need additional faculty or staff time or help. |
| ARNR 590 | Master's Thesis | 1-10 cr | |
| ARNR 690 | Doctoral Thesis | 1-10 cr |
Minimum Requirements for Ph.D. in Animal & Range Sciences
There are no specific minimum course requirements for the Ph.D. program. However, Ph.D. programs must comply with the Division of Graduate Education, including 30 graduate credit hours (18 of which must be dissertation credits) above those required for M.S. Specific requirements are to be decided by the student’ s graduate committee.
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.
- Breeding/Genetics (ARNR 322 – Principles of Animal Breeding or BIOL 301 – Principles of Genetics)
- Physiology/Reproduction (ARNR 321 – Physiology of Reproduction)
- Nutrition (ARNR 320 – Animal Nutrition)
- 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.
- Grazing Management (ARNR 353 – Grazing Ecology and Management)
- Plant Ecology (ARNR 240 – Natural Resource Ecology Or BIOL 303 – Principles of Ecology Or BIOL 534 – Vegetation Ecology)
- Plant Identification (ARNR 350 – Range Vegetation Or BIOL 434 – Agrostology)
- Plant Physiology (PSPP 450 – Plant Physiology Or ARNR 541 – Range Ecophysiology)
- 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.
- Biology (BIOL 213, 214, 215 – Introductory Biology)
- Ecology (BIOL 303 – Principles of Ecology; BIOL 405 – Behavioral & Evolutionary Ecology)
- Chemistry (CHEM 131, 132 – General Chemistry; CHEM 215 - Elements of Organic Chemistry; CHEM 228 – Fundamental Analytical Chemistry; CHEM 311, 312 – Organic Chemistry)
- Biochemistry (BCHM 340 – General Biochemistry)
- Entomology (BIOL 204IN – Insect Biology)
- Food Science / Meat Science (Introductory Food Science or upper division food science or food safety course)