Master of Agriculture with a concentration in Animal and Dairy Sciences

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This degree is an innovative approach to joining the demands of employers wanting employees with advanced degrees with customizable degree plans to meet the interests and time demands of students. The program is a unique way to build the knowledge base and academic proficiency of students who would like to further their education in a professional school.

Who should pursue this degree?

Students interested in obtaining jobs in a whole host of areas, including Extension work, teaching, sales, marketing, finance or production should pursue this degree.

Tuition & Fees

Tuition per credit hour	$558.50
Instructional Support Fee per credit hour	$25.00

Tuition and fees listed are subject to change and do not include all possible charges. Additional fees may apply. Please refer to the master class schedule for individual course charges.

What are some potential careers?

An advanced degree in Animal and Dairy Sciences can afford you numerous career opportunities. Many companies involved in animal agriculture are seeking individuals who bring the experience of advanced coursework and the ability to conduct and interpret research to their businesses. In addition to jobs in the animal feeding, breeding, production and health management industries, an advanced degree in Animal and Dairy Sciences can also give you an advantage in the basic and molecular sciences.

What are some potential careers?

Program Structure

The program curriculum is based on a total of 30 credit hours. The program is 100% online. Master of Agriculture students must also successfully complete a defense style oral examination, which can be done over WebEx.

All courses are offered on the spring, fall and summer semester rotation. Students must discuss course availability with the Director of the program prior to each registration period.

Requirement	Suggested Course	Credit Hours
Graduate Seminar	Animal and Dairy Sciences Seminar (ADS 8111) repeatable	1
Journal Club	Animal and Dairy Sciences Journal Club (ADS 8441) repeatable	1
Statistics	See graduate coordinator for a list of approved courses	3
Biochemistry	Nutritional Biochemistry of Livestock Species (ADS 8333), Principles of Biochemistry (BCH 6013)	3
Directed Individual Study	Student will enroll with major advisor and complete scholarly work	3
Graduate level coursework within the Department of Animal and Dairy Sciences	See course rotation table for suggested courses.	13
Graduate level coursework outside of the Department of Animal and Dairy Sciences	See graduate coordinator for a list of approved courses	6
Total Hours: *at least 12 hours at the 8000 level		30

Course Rotation

Fall	Spring	Summer
ADS 6533 Current Literature	ADS 6513 Companion Animal Management	ADS 6114 Animal Nutrition
ADS 6723 Introduction to Animal Microbial Ecosystem¹	ADS 6713 Human Animal Bond/Shelter Management	ADS 6513 Companion Animal Management
ADS 7000**	ADS 7000**	ADS 6523 Interenet Management of Livestock Species
ADS 8111 Seminar in Animal and Dairy Sciences*	ADS 8004 Method of Data Analysis in Animal Science	ADS 6633 Immunology and Diseases of Domestic Animals
ADS 8133 Endocrine Secretions¹	ADS 8111 Seminar in Animal and Dairy Sciences	ADS 6713 Human Animal Bond/Shelter Management
ADS 8162 Monogastric Nutrition¹	ADS 8441 Journal Club in Animal and Dairy Sciences	ADS 7000**
ADS 8243 Advanced Physiology of Reproduction		ADS 8333 Nutritional Biochemistry
ADS 8243 Advanced Reproduction²		ADS 8423 Advanced Meat Science²
ADS 8533 Beef Cattle Production Systems Management²

*Repeatable
**Will enroll with major advisor and complete scholarly work
¹Taught in odd-numbered years e.g.: 2025, 2027, 2029 etc.
²Taught in even-numbered years e.g.: 2024, 2026, 2028 etc.

Admissions Requirements

Applications for the degree programs are reviewed three times a year. The application deadlines for those semesters are as follows:

Fall Semester – August 1
Spring Semester – December 1
Summer Semester – May 15

Students seeking full admission into the Master of Agriculture with a concentration in Animal and Dairy Sciences program should apply as a classified student. Non-degree seeking students wishing to take classes offered through the Online program should apply as an Unclassified student.

An applicant for admission to graduate study must hold a bachelor's degree from a fully recognized four-year educational institution that has unconditional accreditation with appropriate regional accrediting agencies. They must meet the admission requirements of the Graduate School and the Master of Agriculture with a concentration in Animal and Dairy Sciences.

Regular admission to graduate study in the program requires a minimum grade point average (last four semesters of undergraduate work) of 3.00/4.00. When a student is deficient in one of the criteria cited, the student's application, nevertheless, may be considered for admission based on the strength of other materials contained in the student's application.

The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) scores are NOT required for entry into this program.

Attention International Students

International students are required to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and score greater than 550. Detailed information regarding international applications can be found in the Graduate Catalog. Questions regarding international applications can be addressed to the Office of the Graduate School at gradapps@grad.msstate.edu.

ETS is providing home testing for the TOEFL iBT test, and MSU is encouraging students to take advantage of this testing option. For those students applying who have taken the TOEFL within five years of the semester they plan to enroll and are unable to access the TOEFL iBT test from home, we will accept your previous test scores.

Admission Options

Domestic/International Classified Admissions
Domestic Unclassified Admissions
International Unclassified Admissions

Provisional Admissions
Readmission
Transfer Credit

Domestic/International Classified Admissions

Submit online application. You will choose Master of Agriculture with a concentration in Animal and Dairy Sciences as your Program of Study and Online Education as your campus.
Statement of Purpose
Three letters of recommendation
- You will be asked to submit three names and three email addresses of individuals you are using as references. Once you click submit, these individuals will be sent an email from MSU, which will provide a link to an online form for completing their recommendations.
One official transcript showing bachelor’s degree or progress toward degree. (For international students, please submit a copy in native language along with translated copies, if appropriate.)
One official transcript showing ALL work after bachelor’s degree. (For international students, please submit a copy in native language along with translated copies, if appropriate.)
- Electronic transcripts should be sent to: gradapps@grad.msstate.edu Mississippi State University, Graduate School. Only one copy of an electronic transcript is required.
- Paper Transcripts Address (USPS):
  Mississippi State University
  The Office of the Graduate School
  P.O. Box G
  Mississippi State, MS 39762
- Physical Street Address (for DHL, Fed Ex, UPS, DHS, etc.):
  Mississippi State University
  The Office of the Graduate School
  175 President Circle
  116 Allen Hall
  Mississippi State, MS 39762
Payment of $60 non-refundable application processing fee for domestic students.
Payment of $80 non-refundable application processing fee for international students.
Once you are admitted, you will receive an email with complete instructions on registering for classes and contacting your advisor

Domestic Unclassified Admissions

Only NINE (9) hours of course work taken as an "Unclassified Student" can be applied toward a degree program. All Unclassified students should submit a classified application once they have reached the maximum of nine hours. Full admission into the Master of Agriculture with a concentration in Animal and Dairy Sciences online program will be based upon successful completion of all classified admissions requirements.

If you are applying unclassified, select "Graduate School - Unclassified" as the college.

Submit online application
One official transcript showing bachelor’s degree or progress toward degree. (For international students, please submit a copy in native language along with translated copies, if appropriate.)
One official transcript showing ALL work after bachelor’s degree. (For international students, please submit a copy in native language along with translated copies, if appropriate.)
- Electronic transcripts should be sent to: gradapps@grad.msstate.edu Mississippi State University, Graduate School. Only one copy of an electronic transcript is required.
- Paper Transcripts Address (USPS):
  Mississippi State University
  The Office of the Graduate School
  P.O. Box G
  Mississippi State, MS 39762
- Physical Street Address (for DHL, Fed Ex, UPS, DHS, etc.):
  Mississippi State University
  The Office of the Graduate School
  175 President Circle
  116 Allen Hall
  Mississippi State, MS 39762
Pay $60 non-refundable application processing fee

PLEASE NOTE
In general, students who are not admitted into a degree program are not eligible for student financial aid funds. For more information please visit Student Financial Aid to see if you will be eligible or not while taking courses as an Unclassified graduate student.

International Unclassified Admissions

If you are applying unclassified, select "Graduate School - Unclassified" as the college.

Submit online application
TOEFL or IELTS scores are required for international students.
One copy of academic records showing degree(s) (in native language along with translated copies if appropriate)
One official transcript showing bachelor’s degree or progress toward degree. (For international students, please submit a copy in native language along with translated copies, if appropriate.)
One official transcript showing ALL work after bachelor’s degree. (For international students, please submit a copy in native language along with translated copies, if appropriate.)
- Electronic transcripts should be sent to: gradapps@grad.msstate.edu Mississippi State University, Graduate School. Only one copy of an electronic transcript is required.
- Paper Transcripts Address (USPS):
  Mississippi State University
  The Office of the Graduate School
  P.O. Box G
  Mississippi State, MS 39762
- Physical Street Address (for DHL, Fed Ex, UPS, DHS, etc.):
  Mississippi State University
  The Office of the Graduate School
  175 President Circle
  116 Allen Hall
  Mississippi State, MS 39762
Must obtain application approval from the Dean of the Graduate School
Payment of $80 non-refundable application processing fee for international students.

Provisional Admissions

A student who has not fully met the requirements stipulated by the University and the department for admission to graduate study may be granted admission as a degree-seeking graduate student with provisional status. Such student must have as his/her initial objective advancement to regular status. A provisional student must receive a 3.00 GPA on the first nine hours of graduate level courses on the program of study taken at Mississippi State University (transfer hours or unclassified graduate hours will not apply) in order to achieve regular status. If a 3.00 is not attained, the provisional student will be dismissed from graduate study.

Readmission

Once enrolled in graduate study, a student who fails to meet the continuous enrollment requirement must complete an Application for Readmission to register for classes. Continuous enrollment is defined as enrollment in two of three semester terms (Fall, Spring, or Summer) with Fall enrollment required. Students who have not been enrolled for a period of three years or longer and are in good academic standing, are eligible to reapply to through the Lapsed Student Program. Readmission is not guaranteed and must be approved by the Department Head, Academic Dean, and Dean of the Graduate School. Interested students or academic departments should contact the Graduate School for more information.

Transfer Credit

Students may transfer up to twelve (12) hours of graduate level credits from regionally accredited institutions. The decision to grant transfer credit is made by the advisor and the student’s graduate committee. If you wish to transfer credits, contact your advisor. You will need to provide an official transcript showing the courses you wish to transfer.

Major Professors

Students should identify and contact a major professor with their area of interest.

Leyla Rios de Alvarez

Assistant Professor

Research:

Small ruminant production, feeding, welfare
Nutrition-parasite interaction in small ruminants
Plant extracts / Bioactive forages for parasite control in sheep and goats

Derris Burnett

Associate Professor

Research:

Molecular Approaches to Improve Muscle Composition and Meat Quality
Prenatal Programming of Postnatal Growth and Body Composition
Depot-Specific Adipose Tissue Development
Nutrient Partitioning and Metabolic Flexibility in Muscle and Adipose Tissue

Clay Cavinder

Professor

Research:

Effects of nutrition and exercise on reproductive efficiency of the stallion and mare

Peixin Fan

Assistant Professor

Research:

Understanding the host-microbe interactions in different niches of livestock
Identifying microbial markers to predict animal phenotypic traits
Developing microbiome-based strategies to improve animal health
Production, and welfare
Antimicrobial resistance and preharvest food safety

Jean M.N. Feugang

Associate Research Professor

Research:

Biology of mammalian gametes and embryos
Post-collection semen manipulation (i.e., in vitro analyses, purification, and cryopreservation)
Non-invasive luminescence and fluorescence bioimaging
Nanotechnology in animal production, reproduction, and disease prevention
Various biological techniques are employed:
1. cell and embryo culture;
2. biochemical and cellular assays (i.e., ELISA and apoptosis analyses);
3. proteomics (protein isolation, western-blot, and high-throughput approach);
4. transcriptomics (DNA/RNA isolation, PCR, and high-throughput approach);
5. Biophotonic imaging (bioluminescence and fluorescence).

Kelsey Harvey

Assistant Professor

Research:

Applied beef cattle management
Stage-specific nutrient interventions to improve productive and health responses
Heifer development

Brandi Karisch

Milton Sundbeck Endowed Associate Extension/Research Professor

Research:

Improving efficiency of beef production
Applied beef cattle management

Jamie Larson

Professor

Research:

Improving reproductive efficiency in dairy and beef cattle
Studying heat stress and reproduction physiology
Understanding the role of hormones in early embryonic death
Looking at the effects of dam nutritional stress on her offspring

Caleb Lemley

Associate Professor

Research:

Reproductive endocrinology and developmental programming in livestock
Environmental influence on dam fertility and conceptus development
Developing in vitro systems to examine reproductive and nutrient transferring tissue physiology
Microbiome of the reproductive tract

Shengfa Liao

Associate Professor

Research:

Nutrient regulation of animal growth/development and health
Diet/feed evaluation for swine production
Swine model for human nutrition and health
Molecular biotechnoloy

Marcus McGee

Assistant Clinical Professor

Research:

Precision Livestock Management technology
Animal Behavior/ Animal Welfare
Effects of stress on animal performance
Non-invasive monitoring techniques

Molly Nicodemus

Associate Professor

Research:

Understanding the normal gait mechanics of the performance horse
Identifying gait parameters that may indicate lameness in the performance horse
Determining the influence of training and training devices on performance horses
Studying the development of equine gait mechanics through aging
Looking at the interaction between the rider and equine gait mechanics
Evaluating the impact of animal assisted activities and therapy on physical, psychological, and cognitive disabilities

Jane Parish

Professor and Interim Head,
North MS Research and Extension Center

Research:

Forage systems for beef production
Applied beef cattle management

Trent Smith

Associate Professor

Research:

Estimation of genetic parameters in performance, carcass, and consumer related traits in beef cattle
Evaluation of beef breeds, breed types, and mating systems

Amanda Stone