Department of Animal and Food Sciences

Return to: College of Agriculture and Natural Resources

Animal and Food Sciences (MS, PhD)

Telephone: (302) 831-2524

https://www.udel.edu/academics/colleges/canr/departments/animal-and-food-sciences/

Faculty Listing: https://www.udel.edu/academics/colleges/canr/departments/animal-and-food-sciences/faculty-staff/   

Program Overview

The Department of Animal and Food Sciences offers a total of six graduate degrees:

Thesis/Dissertation-requiring Degrees

1. The Master of Science (MS) degree in Animal Science
2. The MS degree in Food Science
3. Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree in Animal and Food Sciences

In Animal Science, these research-focused programs are offered in bioinformatics, genomics, gut-health, immunology, metabolism, microbiology, molecular biology, nutrition, pathology, physiology, and virology.

In Food Science, research-focused programs are offered in food bacteriology, biochemistry, nutraceuticals, parasitology, processing, toxicology, and virology.

Non-thesis Degree Concentrations

The Department of Animal and Food Science also offers two non-thesis degree programs. There are three degrees offered in two concentrations:

1. Non-thesis MS in Animal Science: Business and Entrepreneurial Leadership Concentration
2. Non-thesis MS in Food Science: Business and Entrepreneurial Leadership Concentration
3. Non-thesis MS in Animal and Food Sciences: Veterinary Biosciences, Biotechnology, and One Health (VBBOH) Concentration.

These degrees are primarily course-based and include in-depth, independent projects rather than a thesis or dissertation.

Research Facilities

Well-equipped laboratories for conducting research are located in Worrilow and Townsend Halls, the Allen Biotechnology Laboratory, and the Delaware Biotechnology Institute (DBI). The Allen Biotechnology Laboratory is a state-of-the-art, biosafety level 2 and 3 facility for the study of conventional and highly pathogenic avian disease agents and recombinant poultry microorganisms. The Department maintains dairy cattle, beef cattle, sheep, horses, and poultry for instruction and research on the Delaware Agricultural Experiment Station Farm.

Requirements for Admission

An applicant for graduate study in Animal and Food Sciences should have an appropriate background from a baccalaureate degree, with a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.75, and a 3.00 average in his/her major. Undergraduate preparation for most areas of study should include general and organic chemistry, biology/microbiology, biochemistry, physics, and calculus. For students lacking appropriate preparatory course work, additional courses applicable to certain areas of study may be required prior to admission. The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General test is optional. The Graduate Application must include three letters of recommendation from former professors, transcripts, and application essay. International students must demonstrate competence in the use of the English language by meeting TOEFL or IELTS test requirements set by the Graduate College. The admission process is outlined in this document.

Financial Aid

Please refer to the Graduate Application and Admission Process document for more information. Briefly, thesis/dissertation degree-seeking students are eligible for graduate research and/or teaching assistantships, as well as tuition waivers. For non-thesis MS degree-seeking students, no financial aid is provided.

Programs

• Animal Science - Business, Entrepreneurship, and Leadership Concentration (MS)
• Animal Science - Veterinary Biosciences, Biotechnology, and One Health Concentration (MS)
• Animal Sciences (MS)
• Food Science - Business, Entrepreneurship, and Leadership Concentration (MS)
• Food Sciences (MS)

• Animal and Food Sciences (PhD)

• Animal Bioscience/Animal Science 4+1 (BS/MS)
• Animal Science 4+1 (BS/MS)
• Food Science 4+1 (BS/MS)
• Pre-Veterinary Medicine/Animal Science 4+1 (BS/MS)

Return to: College of Agriculture and Natural Resources