Typical Course of Study
Accelerated (5th year) Master of Science Degree with a thesis
Transfer in 6 graduate level credits and have experience in the area you are planning to pursue.
| Summer 1 | Research - no credits | ||
| Fall Semester | Credits | Spring Semester | Credits |
| Journal Club | 1 | Journal Club | 1 |
| Seminar | 1 | Seminar | 1 |
| ABBS Major Course | 3-4 | ABBS Core Course | 3 |
| Thesis Reseach | 5 | Independent Study (ANIMLSCI 696 literature review for thesis) |
3-4 |
| Thesis Research | 5 | ||
| Total | 10-11 | Total | 13-14 |
| Committee should be formed and should meet |
|||
| Summer 2 | Complete Research and Defend Thesis |
Traditional Master of Science Degree with a thesis
| Year 1 | |||
| Fall Semester | Credits | Spring Semester | Credits |
| Journal Club | 1 | Journal Club | 1 |
| Seminar | 1 | Seminar | 1 |
| ABBS Major Course | 3-4 | ABBS Core Course | 3-4 |
| Thesis Research | 4 | Thesis Research | 5 |
| Total | 9-10 | Total | 10-11 |
| Committee Formed | Committee meets before third semester |
||
| Summer | |||
| Research | |||
| Year 2 | |||
| Fall Semester | Credits | Spring Semester | Credits |
| Journal Club | 1 | Committee meets at beginning of semester and thesis outline is presented. |
|
| Seminar | 1 | Independent Study (ANIMLSCI 696 Literature review for thesis) |
|
| ANIMLSCI 697S | 1 | Write Thesis | |
| Thesis Research | 5 | ||
| Total | 8 | Total | 3-4 |
| Summer | |||
| Defend Thesis |
Traditional Master of Science Degree without a thesis
| Year 1 | |||
| Fall Semester | Credits | Spring Semester | Credits |
| Journal Club | 1 | Journal Club | 1 |
| Seminar | 1 | Seminar | 1 |
| ABBS Major Course | 3-4 | ABBS Core Course | 1 |
| Independent Study | 4 | Independent Study | 5 |
| Total | 9-10 | Total | 10-11 |
| Committee Formed | Committee meets before third semester |
||
| Summer | |||
| Research | |||
| Year 2 | |||
| Fall Semester | Credits | Spring Semester | Credits |
| Journal Club | 1 | Journal Club | 1 |
| Seminar | 1 | Seminar | 1 |
| ANIMLSCI 697S | 1 | ||
| Independent Study | 5 | ||
| ABBS Major Course | 3 | Presentation to Committee | |
| Total | 11 | Total | 2 |
| May Graduation |
Doctor of Philosphy Degree
| Year 1 | |||
| Fall Semester | Credits | Spring Semester | Credits |
| ABBS Journal Club | 1 | ABBS Journal Club | 1 |
| ABBS Seminar | 1 | ABBS Seminar | 1 |
| ABBS Major* Course | 3-4 | ABBS Major* Course | 3-4 |
|
Independent Study |
6 | Independent Study (PhD rotation) |
6 |
| Total | 11-12 | Total | 11-12 |
| Year 2 | |||
| Fall Semester | Credits | Spring Semester | Credits |
| ABBS Journal Club | 1 | ABBS Journal Club | 1 |
| ABBS Seminar | 1 | ABBS Seminar | 1 |
| ABBS Core* Course | 3-4 | ABBS Core* Course | 3-4 |
| Dissertation Research | 9 | Dissertation Research | 9 |
| ANIMLSCI 697S | 1 | ||
| First Committee meeting | |||
| Preliminary Comprehensive exam by September |
|||
| Total | 15-16 | Total | 14-15 |
| Year 3 | |||
| Fall Semester | Credits | Spring Semester | Credits |
| ABBS Journal Club | 1 | ABBS Journal Club | 1 |
| ABBS Seminar | 1 | ABBS Seminar | 1 |
| ABBS Major* Course | 3-4 | Optional ABBS Major* Course | 3-4 |
| Dissertation Research | Dissertation Research | ||
| Prospectus Outline by September |
|||
| Total | 7-8 | Total | 11-12 |
| Year 4 and onwards | |||
| Fall Semester | Credits | Spring Semester | Credits |
| ABBS Journal Club | 1 | ABBS Journal Club | 1 |
| ABBS Seminar | 1 | ABBS Seminar | 1 |
| Dissertation Research | Dissertation Research | ||
| Committee meets each year | |||
| Total | 2 | Total | 2 |
* Major and Core courses can be taken in any order, but two Core and three Major courses must be completed.
- Students work full time on their research projects under the guidance of their Major Professor regardless of the number of credits they are registered for.
- Students in good standing can obtain an Enrollment Status Override each semester which maintains full time status even when the number of credits taken is below 9 in a given semester. Note: The university “Service Fee” increases with 5-8 credits, and again with more than 9 credits. University residency requirement is 2 consecutive semesters enrolled in 9 or more credits (Fall/Spring semesers only). If taking a 4 credit course, registering for journal club is not required (but participation is).
- Students that receive TA or RA positions have tuition waived (but not fees).
- Students are required to attend Departmental Seminars (ANIMLSCI 792) even when not registered.