PhD program 

Overview

Students in the Ph.D. program must pass a comprehensive general exam on coursework, general knowledge, and critical thinking ability; an oral exam is required, and a written exam may also be administered at the examining committee’s discretion. A dissertation is required. Students are required to present a 30-45 minute public seminar in defense of their dissertation research prior to a comprehensive final oral exam with the student’s examining committee.


Animal Sciences, PhD

The departmental-level academic course plan for each student will be developed in consultation with and approved by the student’s graduate advisory committee. The committee will include the student’s major advisor and at least two additional members of the graduate faculty such that the LSU Graduate School’s requirements for graduate committees are satisfied. At least one of the graduate faculty members in addition to the major advisor must be from the school.

The PhD degree is a research degree requiring a dissertation project. Coursework to be taken for the PhD degree must be approved by the student’s advisory committee and the graduate dean. A minimum of 54 credit hours beyond the bachelor’s degree which can include up to 30 hours of credit transferred from a masters program at another institution is required. All credits earned at LSU while enrolled in a graduate program (excluding thesis research hours) can be applied to the Ph D program.  The minimum requirement of 54 hours must include at least 30 hours of graded course work and 9 hours of dissertation (ANSC 9000).  The graded course work must include at least 15 hours at or above the 7000 level.

The curricular requirements include:

  • At least two hours of seminar (ANSC 7091 or equivalent)
  • No more than 6 hours of ANSC 7061 can be applied to the degree

Students in the PhD program must pass a comprehensive general exam on coursework, general knowledge, and critical thinking ability; an oral exam is required, and a written exam may also be administered at the examining committee’s discretion. A dissertation is required. Students are required to present a 30-45 minute public seminar in defense of their dissertation research prior to a comprehensive final oral exam with the student’s examining committee.

  •  ANSC 7091 Seminar (1)
  •  ANSC 7900 Special Topics in Animal Science (1-6)
  •  ANSC 8000 Thesis Research (1-12 per sem.)
  •  ANSC 9000 Dissertation Research (1-12 per sem.)

  • ANSC 7001 Experimental Methods (2)
  • ANSC 7018 Rumen Physiology and Metabolism (3) – only offered every other year or as needed
  •  ANSC 7052 Biotechnology of Gamete and Embryo Physiology and Micromanipulation (4) – Even number years.
  • ANSC 7061 Research in Animal Science (1-6)

  • ANSC 7004 Population Genetics in Animal and Plant Breeding (4)
  • ANSC 7040 Animal Epigenetics (3)
  •  ANSC 7051 Advanced Physiology of Reproduction (3) – Odd number years

Admission

Applications for admission are received and evaluated by the School of Animal Sciences for each semester (fall, spring, summer). Applicants must adhere to the application deadlines established by the Graduate School.

Students seeking admission must submit satisfactory credentials from previous study, acceptable GRE scores, and three letters of recommendation. International students whose native language is not English must also submit an acceptable TOEFL, IELTS, or PTE score.

When all admission requirements are met, full admission will be considered by the graduate faculty members in the prospective student’s area of interest. Final admittance to the program must be supported by a member of the graduate faculty in the school, thus students are encouraged to communicate with faculty directly about the possibility of working in a faculty member’s program. If a student does not meet all requirements, he or she may be admitted provisionally (e.g., on probation if the GPA is not 3.0 or better).


Financial Assistance

Financial assistance is available to some students. Support may be available through the school or other units in the form of research or teaching assistantships. Assistantships are awarded through faculty members, so applicants should contact individual faculty members concerning the availability of funding. Students on assistantship receive full tuition waivers but are responsible for university fees. To ensure consideration for financial aid, all application materials should be submitted as early as possible before the actual admitting semester.

GRADUATE CATALOG

LSU GRADUATE school

LSU COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE

Phil Elzer
Director, School of Animal Sciences
PElzer@agcenter.lsu.edu
225-578-3421

Kenneth R. Bondioli
Graduate Coordinator, School of Animal Sciences
KBondioli@agcenter.lsu.edu 
225-578-3442


Graduate Faculty

Kenneth R. Bondioli
Reproductive physiology/biotechnology; embryo biotechnology

Richard K. Cooper
Animal diseases

Philip H. Elzer
Infectious diseases

Xing Fu
Muscle biology

Neely L. Heidorn
Equine extension

Jerome F. La Peyre
Oyster diseases

Zongliang Jiang
Adjunct Associate Professor, Molecular genetics

Vinicius R. Moreira
Dairy cattle nutrition and management

Christine B. Navarre
Extension veterinarian, animal health and diseases

Erin L. Oberhaus
Equine reproduction, ovarian function

Constantine Simintiras
Developmental Biology

Cathleen C. Williams
Dairy calf and heifer nutrition, dairy management