Animal, Dairy and Veterinary Sciences - PhD

Admission Requirements

Prior to applying, the potential applicant must have a qualified ADVS faculty member agree to accept them into their laboratory and be their major (supervisory) professor. Contact Dr. Lee Rickords with questions.

Applications are processed when we receive them and are reviewed on an ongoing basis. It is highly recommended that you submit all your materials early in the year because the department will begin accepting the top students in March of each year. If the class is not full, we will continue to review applications throughout the year.

General Requirements

All prospective graduate students must apply through the School of Graduate Studies. Refer to the School of Graduate Studies website for admission requirements. Please note that all applicants must meet the following general admission requirements:

• A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college
• A 3.0 GPA as calculated by the School of Graduate Studies. An official transcript must be sent directly to the School of Graduate Studies from each college or university previously attended (except USU).
• Student recommendation request forms (included in application materials) should be used to request three people to submit letters of recommendation directly to the graduate school. Two letters of recommendation should be from faculty from whom you have taken course work.
• International Students: Please visit the School of Graduate Studies website for requirements.​​​​​​​

Department Requirements

Applicants must secure an ADVS faculty member to be their major professor before being accepted into a graduate program. The department strongly recommends the following:

• Applicants for a graduate program in ADVS should have completed a BS undergraduate program with courses similar to the science core of the USU Animal and Dairy Science BS degree. This background includes the following courses and their prerequisites:
  • BIOL 1610  and BIOL 1620  or their equivalents
  • CHEM 1210  and CHEM 1220  or their equivalents
  • MATH 1050  and STAT 2000  or their equivalents
• Applicants with deficiencies in these areas may be admitted to the graduate program subject to the completion of remedial course work specified by the department. Other preparatory courses may be specified by the student’s supervisory committee.

Financial Assistance

Both departmental and research grant support are available to matriculated graduate students on a competitive basis.

The department funds graduate assistantships, which are available on a competitive basis to matriculated graduate students. Completion of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is required to be considered for a departmental assistantship. Applications for graduate assistantships for the following academic year must be submitted by March 1. Students interested in departmental assistantships may contact the graduate programs director.

Acceptance to graduate study in the ADVS department does not constitute a guarantee of financial assistance.

Specializations

• Animal Health and Disease
• Animal Management
• Animal Molecular Genetics
• Animal Nutrition
• Reproduction and Development

General Requirements

• A bachelor’s degree from an accredited U.S. college or university or a similarly recognized international university is required for admission to and completion of a graduate program.
• Graduate students are required to maintain at least a 3.0 GPA for degree-program courses. Grades of C- or lower will not be accepted for a graduate degree.
• The Program of Study for a doctoral degree, if the student has a master’s degree, must include at least 18 semester credits at the level of 6000 or above. If the student does not have a master’s degree, the Program of Study must include at least 30 credits at the level of 6000 or above.
• Courses numbered 5000-5990 are advanced, upper-division courses and a maximum of 12 credits may be used on an approved program of study.
• Coursework below the 5000 level may not be used towards a graduate degree. Undergraduate prerequisites for graduate programs may not be included on a Program of Study.
• Credits in the following areas are not acceptable in a degree program: foreign languages (unless included on an approved Program of Study), continuing graduate advisement, individual home study, military science, and courses numbered below 5000.
• No more than 12 workshop credits may be applied to a master’s degree. Audited courses may not be used for a degree program or toward status as a full-time student.
• Audited courses may not be used for a degree program or toward status as a full-time student.
• A doctorate must be completed within eight years of entering the degree program. Additional time may be requested by the student’s committee and submitted to the Vice Provost of Graduate Studies for review.
• Coursework over eight years old at the time of degree completion may not be used for a graduate degree unless it is revalidated.
• A student may transfer up to 12 graduate credits earned at another accredited institution, including credits with earned P grades.

Further Requirements for a PhD with a Master’s or DVM Degree

• 42 credits applied toward a program of study approved by the student’s supervisory committee, including:
  • 15 credits minimum of graduate-level coursework (this does not include dissertation credits)
  • 12 credits minimum of ADVS 7970 - Dissertation Research 
  • 2 credits of ADVS 6800 - Graduate Student Seminar 
• ADVS 6900 - Special Problems  credits shall not exceed 6 credits unless approved by the supervisory committee.
• Successful completion of doctorate candidacy exams
• Successful defense of a dissertation based on original research
• Submission of dissertation to the School of Graduate Studies and library for review and approval
• Approval of academic forms required by the School of Graduate Studies:
  • Supervisory committee approval form
  • Program of Study form
  • Application for Candidacy
  • Appointment for Examination
  • Record of Examination

• Annual ADVS Student Research Symposium participation
• Annual meetings with the student and his/her supervisory committee
• Submitted Annual Progress Report
• Annual lab safety training
• RCR training (two parts):
  • CITI online training
  • 8-hour in-person workshop
• Any additional trainings as specified by the student’s major advisor

Further Requirements for a PhD with a Bachelor’s Degree

• 70 credits applied toward a program of study approved by the student’s supervisory committee, including:
  • 30 credits minimum of graduate-level coursework (this does not include dissertation credits)
  • 18 credits minimum of ADVS 7970 - Dissertation Research 
  • 3 credits of ADVS 6800 - Graduate Student Seminar 
• ADVS 6900 - Special Problems  credits shall not exceed 6 credits unless approved by the supervisory committee.
• Successful completion of doctorate candidacy exams
• Successful defense of a dissertation based on original research
• Submission of dissertation to the School of Graduate Studies and library for review and approval
• Approval of academic forms required by the School of Graduate Studies:
  • Supervisory committee approval form
  • Program of Study form
  • Application for Candidacy
  • Appointment for Examination
  • Record of Examination

• Annual ADVS Student Research Symposium participation
• Annual meetings with the student and his/her supervisory committee
• Submitted Annual Progress Report
• Annual lab safety training
• RCR training (two parts):
  • CITI online training
  • 8-hour in-person workshop
• Any additional trainings as specified by the student’s major advisor