Graduate Program: Future Students

Welcome Future Animal Science Graduate Student!

Congratulations on taking an important step to learn more about opportunities for career advancement through the pursuit of graduate studies at the University of Tennessee in the Department of Animal Science! Because animal science is such a diverse and fascinating blend of applied and basic life sciences, a unique attribute of our program is the ability to tailor graduate degree programs to achieve a diverse array of career goals. As proof, our MS and PhD programs have alumni located all over the world, enjoying careers as leaders in government, academia, and animal and biomedical industries. 

As a graduate student enrolled in our program, you will have the opportunity to engage in research related to animal physiology (e.g., ruminant and monogastric nutrition, reproduction, and stress) or health and well-being (immunology, genomics, microbiology, pre-harvest food safety, or behavior). Our programs emphasize the importance of experiential “hands-on” learning with different animal species, including beef and dairy cattle, poultry, swine, sheep, and to a lesser degree, companion animals or rodent models. Also, depending on interests, a limited number of opportunities may be available to travel abroad. 

Be assured that our graduate research faculty will challenge you to be the best, while providing you the environment and opportunities to expand your knowledge and creative and scholastic abilities. This, along with personalized efforts to enhance or refine your communication skills, will go towards ensuring your competitiveness for top-ranked positions after completion of your graduate program. 

Should you decide to apply, please review the admission requirements and application procedures carefully, as the success of your application is dependent upon the information it contains. Our Other Resources tab will help you find valuable information on student resources. Also included in the Other Resources tab is the article titled, “The Importance of Stupidity in Scientific Research.” It is a must read for future students.  

We thank you for your interest in our program. Contact Brenda Dykes to coordinate scheduled visits.

Become a Vol – Your fUTure is now!

Lannett Edwards
Director
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Meet Lannett Edwards, our graduate director.
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Committee
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Meet our Graduate Committee members.
faculty members
Faculty
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Meet our Research faculty and their research focus.
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Handbook
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Read and download our Graduate Student Handbook.