PHD, Animal Science

The Department of Animal Science offers graduate degree programs leading to the Master of Agriculture, Master of Science, and Doctor of Philosophy degrees in Animal Science. Faculty expertise exists for a focus on genetics, breeding, physiology, reproduction, nutrition, biochemistry, physiology, environment, management, microbiology, meat science and further processed meats, and marketing for all livestock species. Continual growth in the animal science industry requires students with technical knowledge/expertise to manage a successful animal agriculture-based enterprise.

Laboratories available for graduate research include animal well-being cytogenetics, genomics, food technology, meat science, nutrition, molecular biology and reproductive physiology. The Robert Justus Kleberg, Jr. Animal and Food Science Center provides 39 laboratories for research and graduate training. Special equipment available in these laboratories or in readily accessible facilities, such as at the Computing Services Center, offer a wide array of opportunities for study and research.Dairy, beef, horse and swine herds and sheep and goat flocks at the main station or at research centers afford opportunities to study various problems in physiology, breeding, management, nutrition and production. The Rosenthal Meat Science and Technology Center, equipped to fabricate and process all meat foods on a semi-commercial scale, is available for research problems. Texas A&M AgriLife Research projects in all subject matter fields offer opportunities for graduate students to participate in current research activities.

A major objective of the Department is to offer degree programs that provides knowledge, skills and training to gain employment in research, teaching, extension, or industrial operations. Our goal is to develop critical thinkers and problems solvers to bridge the gap between fundamental animal science research and its practical application to the production of livestock and their products.

Doctor of Philosophy

The training of competent future animal science researchers, operators, educators, and leaders is essential to discover and disseminate new knowledge, information, and technologies that sustain animal agriculture production systems to meet world animal protein demands. A comprehensive, multidisciplinary, competency- based curriculum is the cornerstone of the Texas A&M University Department of Animal Science Graduate Training Program and allows for each student to work with their graduate committee in order to design a degree and research plan that best meets their long-term objectives. The final basis for granting the degree shall be the candidate's grasp of the subject matter of Animal Science and a demonstrated ability to do independent research. In addition, the candidate must have acquired the ability to express thoughts clearly and convincingly in both oral and written form. The degree is not granted solely for the completion of coursework, residence and technical requirements, although these must be met. For a student who has completed a master's degree, a DDS/DMD, DVM or MD at a U.S. institution, a minimum of 64 hours is required on the degree plan for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. For a student who has completed a baccalaureate degree but not a master's degree or a U.S. DDS/DMD, DVM or MD, a minimum of 96 hours is required on the degree plan for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. This program is designed to train, develop and educate future cohorts of trained animal scientists well equipped to address national and international challenges facing animal agriculture.