Degree Requirements

The B.S. portion of the program requires 120 credits. The M.S. portion requires 30 credits. Six to eight credits (two courses) taken during the third or fourth year can be included in the 30 total credits needed for the M.S. However, these credits cannot be counted toward the 120 credits needed to graduate with a B.S.

Requirements for the Undergraduate Major (B.S.) Portion (120 credits)

SEBS Core Curriculum (at most 24 credits; other parts of Core satisfied by major)

• Contemporary Challenges (6 credits), in these categories:
  • Diversities and Social Inequalities [CC-D] (3 credits)
  • Our Common Future [CC-O] (3 credits)
• Historical Analysis [HST] (3 credits)
• Social Analysis [SCL] (6 credits), in these categories:
  • Social/Cultural or Economic (3 credits)
  • Government/Regulatory (3 credits)
• Arts and Humanities [AH] (3 credits)
• Writing and Communication (6 credits):
  • [WC101] 01:355:101 Expository Writing I (3)
  • [WCD] 01:355:302 Scientific and Technical Writing (3) or
    01:355:201 Research in the Disciplines (3) or
    01:355:301 College Writing and Research (3)

Proficiency in Animal Sciences (86 credits)

See 4+1 Animal Sciences to M.S. Program Track.

Electives (4-5 more elective courses (12-15 credits) depending on option and 7 EBE credits)

In addition to courses meeting the above requirements, students must take enough other courses offered by the University to bring their total number of credits to the minimum of 120 required for the B.S. degree.

Requirements for the M.S. Portion (30 Credits)

See 4+1 Animal Sciences to M.S. Program Track.

Six to eight credits taken during the third or fourth year can be included in the 30 total credits needed for the M.S. However, these credits cannot be counted toward the 120 credits needed to graduate with a B.S.

In addition, choose from one of the following options:

Optional Research (6 credits max)

16:340:601/602 Non-thesis Research in Endocrinology and Animal Biosciences (1-3)

Capstone Essay

The capstone essay is a detailed literature review of a student-selected topic or question in animal physiology, endocrinology, molecular biology, or biochemistry. Topics should be selected from courses taken during the 4+1 non-thesis M.S. program and will require pre-approval by the Graduate Program Director (GPD).

Capstone Essay Deadlines

In addition to the final submission, sufficient progress on the essay will be achieved by meeting the following intervening deadlines:

• October 1: Identify the primary mentor and general topic area, submit to GPD.
• November 1: More focused topic proposal DUE to GPD and primary mentor.
• February 1: Essay outline DUE to review committee (Primary mentor, 1 curriculum committee member, and GPD).
• March 1: Initial essay draft DUE to review committee.
• Last week of March: Final draft incorporating recommended revisions DUE to review committee.
• Early April: Final draft DUE to School of Graduate Studies with accompanied M.S. Degree Application form signed by GPD and review committee.

Capstone Essay Assessment Rubric

The final essay should include the following elements. (Their relative weights are indicated in parenthesis as percentages of the total.)

• Graphical abstract (20%)
• Written content (65%)
• Sources and citation (10%)
• Formatting (5%)

Course Credit Checklist

You can use this 4+1 M.S. course credit checklist (PDF) to keep track of your credits as you progress through the program. Thirty (30) credits of graduate work must be completed for the 4+1 non-thesis M.S. degree. Research is optional. You will need 22 core course credits without research credits or 16 core course credits with research credits. Complete at least ONE course from each of the four core areas: Endocrinology, Physiology, Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, and Statistics and Experimental Design.

Up to two 300-level and/or 400-level courses (6-8 credits) taken during the third or fourth year of undergraduate study (or in the +1 year with a 'G' prefix) can be counted toward the graduate-level requirements if those credits are not counted toward the undergraduate degree. You must complete the Transfer of Credit Application on the SGS forms website.

Students must maintain a grade point average of B or better. A maximum of two courses with grades of C can be counted toward the degree.

Forms

• 4+1 MS Course Credit Checklist (PDF)
• Transfer of Credit Application (if applicable) - go to the SGS forms website to download the most up-to-date version

Capstone Essay

The capstone essay is a detailed literature review of a student-selected topic or question in animal physiology, endocrinology, molecular biology, or biochemistry. Topics should be selected from courses taken during the 4+1 non-thesis MS program and will require pre-approval by the Graduate Program Director (GPD). Prior to final submission, intervening deadlines (outlined below) should be met to ensure appropriate progress.

Written communication is an important aspect of many professional positions. Further, reading, synthesizing, and summarizing basic research literature hones logic, independence, and interpretation skills not always emphasized in traditional coursework. This essay provides students an opportunity to gain in-depth knowledge of a topic or question of personal or professional interest.

Students completing the capstone essay successfully will be able to:

• dentify primary literature relevant to their topic/question and interpret it accurately.
• Synthesize information from multiple sources and use it to generate an overall model of the topic or question.
• Clearly communicate advanced concepts in animal physiology, endocrinology, molecular biology, or biochemistry in written form.

Formatting and Document Requirements

• Format: Literature review including introduction, topic-specific subsections, and conclusion.
• Length: 10-15 pages, 1.5 spaced, 1” margins. References and figures should not be included in total length.
• Sources: should include direct references to a minimum of 10 primary resources*. All sources should be cited appropriately and fully described in “References Cited”.
• *Reviews may not be used as sources but may be used for preliminary information gathering.
• Graphical abstract: a summary of the findings should be included as a graphical abstract. The abstract will not count toward the total length.

Deadlines

• October 1: Identify the primary mentor and general topic area, submit to GPD.
• November 1: More focused topic proposal DUE to GPD and primary mentor.
• February 1: Essay outline DUE to review committee (Primary mentor, 1 curriculum committee member, & GPD)
  • Written content
    • Standard outline format
    • 2-3 pages, single spaced
    • Should include a minimum of 5 cited primary sources
  • Graphical abstract DRAFT
• March 1: Initial essay draft DUE to review committee
  • This draft should be in as final form as possible with no additional sections left to be written or details yet to be added.
  • All formatting and page limits should be met
• Last week of March: Final draft incorporating recommended revisions DUE to review committee
• ~April 1: Final draft DUE to School of Graduate Studies with accompanied MS Degree Application signed by GPD and review committee.

Assessment Rubric

The final essay should include the following elements. Their relative weights are indicated in parenthesis as percentages of the total:

• Graphical abstract (20%)
• Written content (65%)
  • Topic introduction: including importance to current animal science, endocrinology, or other fields
  • Relevant subsections / overall essay organization
  • Review breadth/depth
  • Conclusion: including potential future directions/outcomes of the topic
• Sources and citation (10%)
  • Appropriate selection of primary literature
  • Appropriate interpretation of cited sources
  • Number of references
  • Correct attribution / citation / references cited
• Formatting (5%)

Form

• Master's Degree Application- go to the SGS forms website to download the most up-to-date version

Guidelines for Graduation

4+1 MS students planning to graduate must complete all items in the Submission Instructions: Application for Master’s Degree without Thesis on the School of Graduate Studies website and submit them to SGS for approval before the graduation deadlines listed below.

1. Unofficial transcript
2. Diploma application confirmation page
3. Application for master’s without thesis

Deadlines

• ~October 1 for an October degree.
• ~January 1 for a January degree.
• ~April 1 for a May degree.

Exact deadline dates are updated yearly and can be found on the SGS website.