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M.S. Admissions

Welcome Prospective Student!

The Animal Biology Graduate Group has a priority deadline of January 15th.

Admission to the M.S. requires a bachelor's degree or its equivalent from an institution of acceptable standing. The degree must represent a program of study substantially equivalent, both in distribution of academic subject matter and in scholarship achievement, to a comparable degree at the University of California. A minimum grade average of B in upper-division course work taken as an undergraduate or other evidence of comparable scholarship is required for an applicant to be recommended for admission. Meeting the minimum requirement does not ensure admission. Students who are admitted are selected from among those meeting the minimum requirements.

Animal Biology Prerequisites

In addition to the requirement for overall academic achievement, applicants to the M.S. program must be adequately prepared in the disciplines on which animal biology is based. Applicants should have had, as undergraduates, preparation in upper-division courses in biochemistry, genetics, nutrition, physiology, and integrative animal biology such as animal management. Some deficiencies in these areas may be remedied by enrolling in these courses while in the graduate program, but credits earned will not count toward units required for the graduate degree. In addition to academic excellence, successful applicants will exhibit a desire and commitment to complete and satisfy degree requirements.

Applicants are expected to have the same or equivalent of the following UC Davis courses:

  • NPB 101 Systemic Physiology 5 units
  • ANG 107 Genetics & Animal Breeding 5 units
  • NPB 121 Physiology of Reproduction 4 units
  • ANS 124 Lactation 4 units (except aquaculture students)
  • ANS 123 Animal Growth & Development 4 units
  • ABI 102/103 Biochemistry & Metabolism 10 units
  • CHE 8A/B Organic Chemistry 6 units
  • STA100 Applied Statistics 4 units
Integrated Animal Biology course such as
  • ANS 146 or Dairy Production 4 units
  • ANS 119 or Invertebrate Aquaculture 4 units
  • WFCB 111 Biology and Conservation of Wild Animals 3 units

Students whose undergraduate preparation has been in a language other than English must submit scores on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) administered by the Educational Testing Service (ETS). A minimum score of 80 on the computer version is required for admission.

Components of a Complete Application for Admission

  1. Complete and submit the Online Application for Graduate Admission.

  2. Pay the application fee; you can that information on Graduate Studies website.

  3. Three letters of recommendation must be submitted electronically through the online application. Do not have recommenders send letters in hard copy; all letters need to be submitted online.

  4. UC Davis requires academic records from each college-level institution you have attended. You will be instructed to upload scanned copies of your transcripts after you have submitted your online application. More information about transcript submission is available online.

  1. General Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores. GRE scores must be sent to UC Davis electronically from ETS. Use the UC Davis institution code (4834) when sending your scores to UC Davis. You do not need to enter a specific department code - the scores will be matched to your applicant record rather than to a specific department. Your GRE scores will be transmitted to UC Davis electronically and matched to your record using the information you provided in your application. PLEASE NOTE: GRE scores are considered as part of the entire application package and there is no minimum score. Higher scores are more important if academic performance is closer to the minimum GPA for admission. It is not necessary to take an advanced subject test.

  2. TOEFL scores if applicable.

Please note, in many cases the Animal Biology Graduate Group will accept applications after this deadline, but keep in mind that an application received after this deadline will have significantly reduced opportunities for financial assistance. To learn if your situation merits extension of this date, please contact the Animal Biology Graduate Program Coordinator.

Following the receipt of all materials, applications will be evaluated by the admissions committee. Acceptance by the Group assures that a major professor, space, research support, and facilities will be available. Final approval on admissions is made, and communicated by the Dean of Graduate Studies.

  • It takes 24-72 hours from the date/time that an applicant submits his/her application before it shows up in the application system. In addition, we do not receive applications on weekends nor holidays.
     
  • In order for your application to be marked complete, all test scores, letters of recommendation & transcripts MUST be received by January 15th.

Teaching and/or Research Assistantships

Apply for Animal Science Teaching Assistantships and Readerships by the March 31 priority deadline. Application instructions can be found under the jobs tab

Information for International Students

The office of UC Davis Services for international Students and Scholars (SISS) assists international students in their pre-arrival preparation and issues the I-20 or DS 2019 document needed towards obtaining your student visa. They also provide immigration advice, financial information, general advising and counseling and host a variety of cross-cultural activities. If admitted to graduate studies at UC Davis, please go to the SISS website and access the information for newly admitted students.

Services for International Students and Scholars
(530) 752-0864
siss@ucdavis.edu
http://siss.ucdavis.edu/
463 California Avenue, Ste. 3140
University of California One Shields Avenue
Davis, CA 95616

In conformance with applicable law and University policy, the University of California does not discriminate in any of its policies, procedures, or practices on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, handicap, age, veterans status, medical condition (cancer-related), ancestry or marital status; nor does the University discriminate on the basis of citizenship, within the limits imposed by law or University policy. The University of California is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer. Inquiries regarding the University's affirmative action/equal opportunity policies may be directed to Eleanor Fontes-Fulton, Director, Office for Campus Diversity and AA/EEO, 533 Mrak Hall, (530) 752-2071. Speech or hearing impaired persons may dial (530) 752-7320 (TDD).