Animal, Dairy, and Veterinary Sciences

This department hosts a broad range of studies, from traditional animal and dairy management to in-depth biological areas, including cloning, molecular biology, genomics, metabolomics, proteomics, and bioinformatics. The department has access to lab facilities and equipment allowing research in all of these areas and in studying animal reproduction, nutrition, and disease. Its Center for Integrated Biosystems has been recognized for its cloning expertise twice by Popular Science magazine. Approximately five new students are admitted each year, making this a competitive program with a strong sense of community amongst its graduate students and faculty.

Specialization(s):

• Animal Health and Disease: In this specialization, students focus on molecular biology, pathology, and disease detection using conventional and advanced molecular technologies, epidemiology, parasitology, pharmacology, and microbiology.
• Animal Molecular Genetics: This specialization involves technologies in genome analyses, whole genome scanning, marker assisted selection, and the identification of economically important trait loci in food-producing animals.
• Animal Nutrition: Students in this specialization have the opportunity to study things like the development of new feed additives that improve animal performance, innovations in grazing practices that optimize ruminant production, the development of feasible approaches for sustainable agriculture, and more.
• Animal or Dairy Management: For students seeking careers in production animal agriculture, this specialization prepares students for the challenges facing the animal industry and commodity groups in the 21st century.
• Reproduction and Development: Students in this specialization work with faculty exploring aspects of early embryo development, differentiation, gene regulation, embryonic stem cell characteristics and applications, reproductive immunology, and more.

Nearly all graduates of the PhD program pursue careers as university faculty and researchers. Additionally, many MS graduates go on to doctoral programs. Graduates can also work in the following areas:

• Pharmaceutical research
• Reproduction clinics, both animal and human
• Public health
• Veterinary medicine
• Agribusiness
• Animal management
• Animal feed industry
• Nutritional companies
• Diagnostic medicine
• Medical technicians, both animal and human

1. Visit Our Website

a. Go to gradschool.usu.edu/apply/ to start the application process.

b. Read all admissions requirements on our website.

c. Click on the “Apply Now” button to create an account to apply.

2. Fill Out Application

a. Fill out the following information:

i. Personal

ii. Demographic

iii. Misdemeanor/Felony information, if necessary

iv. Citizenship

v. Academic History

vi. Intended Program of Study Information

vii. NOTE: You cannot submit supplemental items until you have filled out all personal and demographic information, submitted the application, and paid the application fee.

b. Make sure to select the correct entry term (e.g., Spring 2022, Fall 2022, etc.)

c. Submit the application and pay the fee.

i. If you have a waiver code, use it in the discount code box to waive the fee.

3. Supplemental Items

a. Log back into the USU Recruit Application Portal.

b. Enter your application to submit items.

c. Required supplemental items may include, but are not limited to, the following (Please check with your intended program for specific details):

i. Transcripts

1. USU applicants do not need to send transcripts. We pull them from our system for you.

2. All other applicants, please send your official transcripts to the following address:

a. School of Graduate Studies

Utah State University

0900 Old Main Hill

Logan, UT 84322-0900

b. Please note that in order to be considered official, the transcript must (1) be sent directly from the institution to Utah State University, or (2) be forwarded by the applicant with the transcript remaining in the original, unopened envelope from the institution.

ii. Letters of Recommendation

1. Fill out the recommendation request forms. Recommendations must come from referee, not from applicant, to be considered valid.

iii. Statement of Purpose

iv. Test Scores

1. GRE Scores

a. Send to school code 4857

2. MAT Scores

a. Send to school code 2273

3. NOTE: Expired test scores will not be accepted.

d. International applicants must also include:

i. Proof of English language proficiency through one of the options below.

1.TOEFL Scores – 71 or higher

a. Send to school code 4857

2. IELTS Academic Scores – 6.0 or higher

a. Upload student copy to application, clearly showing TRF number.

b. Our test score processor will upload official scores.

3. Completion of at least 24 credits of post-secondary/university course work taught in the U.S. in English, excluding English as a second language courses. Courses must have been taken at an accredited college or university to be considered for direct admission.

4. NOTE: Expired test scores will not be accepted.

ii. A certified English translation of any transcript originally penned in another language.

1. Due to COVID-19 constraints, Utah State University is temporarily accepting unofficial transcripts from international applicants. Upon admittance, students will be required to submit an official transcript before registering for classes.

iii. Proof of Financial Support

1. Affidavit of Financial Support

2. Bank Statement Copy

iv. Passport Copy

v. International applicants can direct any questions not related to the information above to the Office of Global Engagement.