Note: 黑料社鈥檚 new Course Catalogue will replace the eCalendar. The Course Catalogue is expected to go live the week of April 22nd. When the new site is published, "mcgill.ca/study" will be redirected to the new Course Catalogue website.
Course information on this site is not reflective of offerings for the 2025鈥�2026 academic year. Some irregularities may occur as we move operations to the incoming Course Catalogue.
The Department of Animal Science provides exciting challenges to graduate students in the areas of:
as they relate not only to livestock production, but also lead into the fields of human nutrition and medicine via animal models for human disease, infertility, and obesity. Official options in Biotechnology are also available.
Departmental researchers have excellent wet-lab facilities at their disposal; large-animal studies can be carried out at the Large Animal Research Unit on the Macdonald Campus farm, where other livestock species are available for research trials as well. Research can make use of the Small Animal Research Unit for studies involving rodent animal models, guinea pigs, neonatal piglets, and rabbits. Expertise is also available in applied information systems, management-software development, and large-scale data analyses. Close collaboration with the Quebec Centre for Expertise in Dairy Production () allows for large-scale data-mining projects, software development, and the production of advising tools for the industry. The Department also has significant expertise in food safety, environmental studies related to animal production, and global food security. Our staff's many connections via research networks allow for rich learning environments for our graduate students.
| Master of Science (M.Sc.) Animal Science (Thesis) (45 credits) |
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Two one-semester courses and three seminar courses at the postgraduate level complement an area of research (resulting in a thesis) under the supervision of one of our staff鈥攎any of whom are leaders in their respective fields. Entrance to this program is highly competitive, requiring an excellent B.Sc. and letters of reference. Graduates of this program are well prepared for careers in the animal industry, the pharmaceutical sector, and many varied fields in biotechnology. |
| Master of Science, Applied (M.Sc.A.) Animal Science (Non-Thesis) (45 credits) |
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The Applied Master's program must be taken with the Sustainable Agriculture concentration. Please see the respective program description for the Sustainable Agriculture option. |
| Master of Science, Applied (M.Sc.A.) Animal Science (Non-Thesis): Sustainable Agriculture (45 credits) |
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Climate change and rising human population have increased the need for sustainable agricultural practices. The Sustainable Agriculture option is taken with a M.Sc. Applied (Non-Thesis) program, and designed for students who wish to supplement their basic degree with graduate studies in animal science, with a specific focus on sustainability in agriculture. Students will be exposed to different approaches to improve the sustainability of agricultural systems through specialized coursework and a project. The program aims to provide graduate training in applied areas of animal production with a view toward integrating technology and management in sustainable animal production with allied areas of agricultural resource utilization. |
| Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) Animal Science |
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Since the Ph.D. is primarily a research degree, the amount of coursework required will normally be considerably less than is the case for the M.Sc. It depends on the background of the individual student and must be approved by the student's advisory committee. At a minimum, it includes two seminar courses at the graduate level and the Ph.D. Comprehensive Examination as an admission to candidacy for the Ph.D. As with the M.Sc. (Thesis), admission is based on an excellent track record. Suitable candidates are encouraged to contact potential supervisors within their chosen area of interest. Applicants should, however, be aware that no professor is in a position to accept students without formal approval of the application by the Graduate Admissions Committee. |
| Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) Animal Science: Bioinformatics |
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Bioinformatics research lies at the intersection of biological/medical sciences and mathematics/computer science/engineering. The intention of the Bioinformatics Option is to train students to become researchers in this interdisciplinary field. This includes the development of strategies for experimental design, the construction of tools to analyze datasets, the application of modelling techniques, the creation of tools for manipulating bioinformatics data, the integration of biological databases, and the use of algorithms and statistics. |
M.Sc. (Thesis)
Candidates are required to have either a bachelor's degree in Agriculture or a B.Sc. degree in an appropriate, related discipline with an equivalent cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of 3.0/4.0 (second class鈥搖pper division) or a grade point average (GPA) of 3.2/4.0 during the last two years of full-time university study. High grades are expected in courses considered by the academic unit to be preparatory to the graduate program.
M.Sc. (Applied)
All candidates are required to have a B.Sc. degree or equivalent.
Ph.D.
Candidates are normally required to have an M.Sc. degree in an area related to the chosen field of specialization for the Ph.D. program.
Qualifying Students
Some applicants whose academic degrees and standing entitle them to serious consideration for admission to graduate studies, but who are considered inadequately prepared in the subject selected may be admitted to a Qualifying program if they have met the Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies minimum CGPA of 3.0/4.0. The course(s) to be taken in a Qualifying program will be prescribed by the academic unit concerned. Qualifying students are registered in graduate studies, but not as candidates for a degree. Only one Qualifying year is permitted and can only be recommended at the discretion of the Department. Successful completion of a Qualifying program does not guarantee admission to a degree program.
Financial Aid
Financial aid is available but limited and highly competitive. It is suggested that students give serious consideration to their financial planning before submitting an application. Normally, a student will not be accepted unless adequate financial support can be provided through a scholarship/award and/or by the student鈥檚 supervisor. Academic units cannot guarantee financial support via teaching assistantships.
English Language Proficiency
For graduate applicants whose mother tongue is not English, and who have not completed an undergraduate or graduate degree from a recognized Canadian or American (English or French) institution or from a recognized foreign institution where English is the language of instruction, documented proof of English proficiency is required prior to admission. For a list of acceptable test scores and minimum requirements, visit mcgill.ca/gradapplicants/international/proficiency.
黑料社鈥檚 online application form for graduate program candidates is available at mcgill.ca/gradapplicants/how-apply.
See University Regulations & Resources > Graduate > Graduate Admissions and Application Procedures > Application Procedures for detailed application procedures.
Application opening dates are set by Enrolment Services in consultation with Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies (GPS), while application deadlines are set by the Department of Animal Science and may be revised at any time. Applicants must verify all deadlines and documentation requirements well in advance on the appropriate 黑料社 departmental website; please consult the list at mcgill.ca/gps/contact/graduate-program.
Information on application deadlines is available at mcgill.ca/gradapplicants/how-apply/application-steps/application-deadlines.
Admission to graduate studies is competitive; accordingly, late and/or incomplete applications are considered only as time and space permit.
The MSc in Animal Science is a 45-credit, research, thesis- based program. Research can be in any relevant area of animal science under the supervision of an appropriate departmental academic staff member. The program provides a solid background in an area of animal science, critical thinking, leadership and science communication. ...
For more information, see Master of Science (M.Sc.) Animal Science (Thesis) (45 credits).
The program aims to provide graduate training in applied areas of animal production with a view toward integrating technology and management in animal production with allied areas of agricultural resource utilization.
For more information, see Master of Science, Applied (M.Sc.A.) Animal Science (Non-Thesis) (45 credits).
Climate change and rising human population have increased the need for sustainable agricultural practices. The Sustainable Agriculture option is taken with a M.Sc. Applied (Non-Thesis) program, and designed for students who wish to supplement their basic degree with graduate studies in animal science, with a specific focus on sustainability in agriculture. ...
For more information, see Master of Science, Applied (M.Sc.A.) Animal Science (Non-Thesis): Sustainable Agriculture (45 credits).
Since the Ph.D. is primarily a research degree, the amount of coursework required will depend on the background of the individual student, and must be approved by the student's advisory committee.
For more information, see Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) Animal Science.
For more information, see Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) Animal Science: Bioinformatics.
