Apply Now !!MSc/MPhil/PhD in Animal Science (Full-Time)
The Department of Animal Science will offer Master and Doctorate degree programmes in Animal Science leading to the award of MSc/MPhil/PhD in Animal Science with a specialization in one of the following areas; Meat Science and Technology, Breeding, Nutrition, Production, Reproductive Physiology. All Masters Students will be required to follow a common course in the first trimester of year one and in the second trimester, they will then register courses in their intended areas of specialization. In the second year, they will conduct their projects in the areas of specialization. Doctorate students will conduct their research in one of the specialized areas
The mission of University for Development Studies is to provide higher education to all persons suitably qualified and capable of benefiting from it in order to advance community and national development. The Department of Animal Science intends to have a pragmatic approach to the mission of the University through the graduate programmes.
Background information
Animal production is an increasingly important agricultural industry in the country and particularly in Northern Ghana where the University for Development Studies is situated. Animal production in Ghana will face significant challenges over the next decades in order to meet the increasing demand for protein from a growing population given the threat of climate change and changing social expectations. Therefore, the industry has a continuing need for animal scientists who understand the scientific principles relating to efficient animal production. The proposed post graduate programme sought to train animal scientists who would provide innovative solutions to myriad of problems facing the animal industry especially in Northern Ghana. Some of these problems include; feeding of ruminants during the dry and cropping seasons, mortality rate and productivity of the local guinea fowl and hygienic handling and processing animals products. The students will conduct in-depth research which will focus on solving the peculiar problems facing the livestock industry in our catchment area.
The objectives of the programme are to:
- Provide students with scientific knowledge required for animal research and investigational projects to improve animal productivity
-
Provide students with detailed information on various disciplines of animal science.
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Enable students apply principles of scientific inquiry to solve problems related to the animal industry particularly in our catchment area
- To train personnel for teaching and research in local and international Universities..
This programme was developed upon consultation with some stakeholders including departmental and Faculty of Agriculture academic staff, staff if the Renewable Natural Resources Faculty and Animal Research Institute (ARI).
Students’ Admission Requirement, Progression and Graduation
Masters admission requirements:
- To be considered for admission, applicants should normally hold (honours) bachelors degree with at least second class upper division in agricultural, biological and allied sciences.
- Applicants with second class lower division or postgraduate diploma may also be considered.
- All applicants will be interviewed.
- To assist in identifying a suitable thesis supervisor, applicants should submit a short statement of research interests to help the department’s graduate advisory committee locate same before the student is registered for th e course.
Masters degree requirements:
M.Sc./M.Phil students will be required to register five compulsory core graduate courses for the first trimester of year one with a minimum of 15 credit hours. In the second trimester, all categories of graduate students in the department will register a minimum of 4 courses with a minimum of 11 credit hours which shall include three courses in their intended area of specialization, and at least one elective course. A graduate degree programme form signed by the student and member of the Advisory Committee will be submitted during the first semester for approval of the Board of Graduate Studies. The student must obtain a minimum of B in all courses taken after the first trimester in order to progress to the option of M. Phil. or remain in the M.Sc. programme. Notwithstanding, a student may still opt for M.Sc. even though a minimum grade of B has been obtained in all courses after the first trimester. Each student is required to present three seminars in addition to the core studies. The first will be a review of current activity in a branch of Animal Science unrelated to the student's research to be presented in the first trimester of year 1. and the second will be a review of the students intended work. This will be presented in the third trimester of the first year. The third one will be a presentation of the results of the student's own research in year II The thesis research is planned by the student in consultation with the Supervisor and approved by the Board of Graduate Studies during the first trimester of the programme. The minimum and maximum periods stipulated for the completion of a course, whether on part-time or full-time basis are contained in the general preamble for postgraduate courses.
Master in Science (MSc) Programme
- This will last for 18 months (12 months for lecture/tutorials & practicals and 6 mohths for thesis. A maximum of 24 months is allowed for the programme.
- A minimum of 38 credit hours will be made in the course work
Master in Philosophy (MPhil.) Programme
- This will last for 24 months (12 months lecture/tutorials & practicals and 12 months research work). A maximum period of 30 months is allowed for the programme
- A minimum of 38 credit hours will be made in the course work
PhD admission requirements:
The usual minimum requirement for admission into the Ph.D. programme is a M.Sc. degree by thesis or M.Phil and supporting letters of reference. It should also be possible for a student to transfer from the M.Sc./M.Phil programme without completing the requirements for the latter if the student has an excellent academic record and shows a strong aptitude for research which can be expanded to the doctoral level. This will be evaluated by the Post Graduate Advisory Committee of the department for onward consideration by the Board of Graduate Studies. The student should have done a minimum of 15 credit hours before the transfer. Applicants should submit a one page statement of academic interests, background experience, and career goals to assist in the identification of a faculty supervisor who has the facilities and funding necessary to support the thesis research. Students may be admitted in any semester if there is justification to do that by virtue of the preliminary preparation and the time logic in which the research is to be conducted. This should be explicit in the one statement submitted.
- The PhD. programme will last a minimum of four years and a maximum of five years.
- A qualifying examination covering courses that have been studied by the candidate as a result of the audit and on any area relevant to the student’s project will be written within the first four months.
PhD. Degree requirements:
The major emphasis on the Ph.D. programme is research and the preparation of an acceptable thesis. There are no specific course requirements except for the seminar. However, in consultation with the Advisory Committee, the student is required to select prescribed studies as a result of an audit revealing inadequacy in the chosen area of research. Each Ph.D. student is required to present three seminars. The first seminar will be a literature review and thesis proposal. The second will review a current topic in a branch of Animal Science unrelated to the student's research. The third will be a presentation of the results of the student's own research. A qualifying examination will therefore be written after the first trimester to qualify the student as a full fledged candidate. In addition, the Advisory Committee is required to submit a written evaluation of the student's performance to date in research and the student's potential as a researcher to the Board of Graduate Studies. Upon completion of this qualifying examination, the student becomes a candidate for the Ph.D. degree. The Ph.D. programme is completed by the submission and successful defense of an acceptable thesis.
Employment prospects of students
The target market for student employment includes:
- Animal Science Departments in the Universities
- Animal Research Institutes
- Livestock/Poultry Farms
- Animal breeding companies
- Feed mills
- Hatcheries
- Ministry of Food and Agriculture
- Meat/Milk processing industries
- Self employment
Details of syllabus and teaching methods
Table 1: CORE COURSES PLUS COURSES FOR SPECIALISED AREAS
Course code |
Course Title |
L/T |
P |
C |
Year 1 |
core courses |
|
|
|
ANS 501 |
2 |
3 |
3 |
|
ANS 503 |
2 |
3 |
3 |
|
ANS 505 |
2 |
3 |
3 |
|
ANS 507 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
|
AEE 508 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
|
ANS 509 |
1 |
3 |
2 |
|
|
Sub-Total |
|
|
15 |
|
|
|
|
|
Year 1 |
Core course |
|
|
|
ANS 500 |
2 |
1 |
|
|
|
Meat Science and Technology option |
|
|
|
ANS 502 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
|
ANS 504 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
|
ANS 506 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
|
PHT 504 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
|
|
Sub total |
|
|
12 |
|
Breeding & Genetics option |
|
|
|
ANS 508 |
3 |
2 |
3 |
|
ANS 510 |
3 |
2 |
3 |
|
ANS 512 |
3 |
2 |
3 |
|
|
Sub total |
|
|
9 |
|
Nutrition option |
|
|
|
ANS 514 |
2 |
3 |
3 |
|
ANS 516 |
2 |
3 |
3 |
|
ANS 518 |
2 |
3 |
3 |
|
ANS 540 |
2 |
3 |
3 |
|
|
Sub total |
|
|
12 |
|
Production option |
|
|
|
ANS 520 |
2 |
3 |
3 |
|
ANS 522 |
2 |
3 |
3 |
|
ANS 524 |
2 |
3 |
3 |
|
|
Sub total |
|
|
9 |
|
Reproductive Physiology option |
|
|
|
ANS 526 |
2 |
3 |
3 |
|
ANS 528 |
2 |
3 |
3 |
|
ANS 530 |
2 |
3 |
3 |
|
|
|
|
|
9 |
|
Elective Courses |
|
|
|
ANS 532 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
|
ANS 534* |
2 |
1 |
2 |
|
ANS 536 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
|
ANS 538 |
2 |
3 |
3 |
|
|
Sub-total |
|
|
9 |
Year 1 |
|
|
|
|
ANS 511 |
1 |
3 |
2 |
|
ANS 513 |
2 |
6 |
4 |
|
|
Sub-Total |
|
|
6 |
|
|
|
|
|
Year 2 |
|
|
|
|
ANS 600 |
Research Project |
|
12 |
6 |
|
Sub-Total |
|
|
6 |
|
TOTAL MINIMUM CREDITS |
|
|
38 |
(L/T = lectures;/Tutorial P = Practical; C = credits) * Jointly run with Faculty of Renewable Natural Resources.
NB
- One Credit Hour is equivalent to one hour of lecture or three hours of pratical per week
- Practicals include laboratory work, demonstrations, field observations and computer modeling and/or analysis
- Minimum credit hours per trimester including core courses
Year 1
First Trimester 15
Second Trimester 11
Third Trimester 6
TOTAL 32