M.Sc. Applied (Non-Thesis) in Animal Science
The M.Sc. Applied (Non-Thesis) degree is oriented to animal scientists already working in industry or government, to undergraduate students inspired by concepts in sustainable and integrated animal agriculture, to project leaders interested in animal resource management and to veterinarians. The program aims to provide graduate training in applied areas of animal production with a view towards integrating technology and management in animal production with allied areas of agricultural resource utilization.
All candidates are required to have a B.Sc. Degree or equivalent.
The requirements for this program are 15 credits for the project and 30 credits of coursework.
The normal program sequence is:
Fall, Winter ( Summer semester scheduled break), Fall, Winter (part-time, if required to complete course work and project),
or alternatively,
Fall, Winter, Summer, Fall (part-time, if required to complete course work and project).
International students must register for a minimum of 12 credits per term in the first three registered terms of their program.
All program requirements should be completed within 20 months of registration.
Program structure:
Offered by: Animal Science (Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences) The program aims to provide graduate training in applied areas of animal production with a view toward integrating technology and management in animal production with allied areas of agricultural resource utilization. Note: For information about Fall 2025 and Winter 2026 course offerings, please check back on May 8, 2025. Until then, the "Terms offered" field will appear blank for most courses while the class schedule is being finalized. Project 1. Terms offered: Summer 2025, Fall 2025, Winter 2026 Review of the literature and design of the project. This project relates to the M.Sc. Applied (non-thesis) degree. Project 2. Terms offered: Summer 2025, Fall 2025, Winter 2026 Continuation of the review of the literature and design of project. This project relates to the M.Sc. Applied (non-thesis) degree. Project 3. Terms offered: Summer 2025, Fall 2025, Winter 2026 Execution and write-up of project. This project relates to the M.Sc. Applied (non-thesis) degree. Project 4. Terms offered: Summer 2025, Fall 2025, Winter 2026 Continuation of write-up and submission of project. This project relates to the M.Sc. Applied (non-thesis) degree. Project 5. Terms offered: Summer 2025, Fall 2025, Winter 2026 Seminar and project presentations. This oral presentation of the project relates to the M.Sc. Applied (non-thesis) degree. 0-15 credits selected from 500- and 600-level courses from across the Faculty (with the possibility of up to 9 credits from outside the Faculty if deemed appropriate by the supervisor). 15-30 credits from the following: Statistical Methods 2. Terms offered: Fall 2025 Principles of linear models, multiple regression equations and classification models. Introduction to Analysis of Variance and common statistical designs used in agricultural and environmental sciences. Emphasis on balanced and unbalanced designs and data structures; their analysis and tests of statistical significance. Experimental Techniques in Nutrition. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Design and conduction of animal studies, selection of experimental animals, chemical and biological assays, statistical analysis, interpretation of data and preparation of technical reports. Carbohydrate and Lipid Metabolism. Terms offered: Winter 2026 Comparative aspects of nutrition and metabolism of carbohydrate and lipid from the cellular level through the multi-organ of the whole organism. Main topics will include biothermodynamics, calorimetry, cellular metabolism and functions of carbohydrate and lipid, digestion, absorption and utilization of dietary carbohydrate and lipid. Protein Metabolism and Nutrition. Terms offered: Fall 2025 Comparative aspects of nutrition and metabolism of amino acids and proteins from the cellular level on through the multisystem operation of the whole organism. Main topics include cellular metabolism and functions of amino acids and proteins, digestion, absorption and utilization of dietary protein. Comparison between farm animals and humans. Biology of Lactation. Terms offered: Fall 2025 An interdisciplinary approach to the study of mammary development, the onset of lactation and its cessation, comparing the differences in mammalian species in mammary development from embryological, pre- and post-pubertal and pre- and post-partum aspects. Lactation at the cellular and biochemical levels. Advanced Eukaryotic Cells and Viruses. Terms offered: Winter 2026 Underlying molecular basis for various methodologies in molecular biology, including the genetic basis for viral infections and tumorigenesis, and the use of molecular genetic approaches to address biological problems. Advanced Animal Biotechnology. Terms offered: Fall 2025 New concepts and applications of animal biotechnology in agriculture, biomedicine, environmental preservation. Population Genetics. Terms offered: Fall 2025 Theoretical considerations of Mendelian genetics dealing with the genetic properties of animal populations and extension to the simultaneous segregation of genes at many loci, polygenic inheritance and an introduction to quantitative genetics and covariances between relatives, including mechanisms of transmission, segregation, linkages between genes and the effects of natural and artificial selection. Analysis - Animal Breeding Research Data. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. An advanced graduate course to give training and experience in statistical techniques applied to quantitative genetics and animal breeding. To consider aspects of data handling of large data sets (100,000 observations), checks for consistency and connectedness in data. Considerations in choosing efficient analytical procedures in fitting these models and development of efficient numerical algorithms to apply these procedures. Special Topic: Animal Sciences. Terms offered: Fall 2025, Winter 2026 Prescribed reading, conference or practical work on a selected topic in the student's area of specialization, not otherwise available in other courses; under staff supervision. An approved course outline must be on file in the Departmental office prior to registration deadline. Topic in Animal Sciences 1. Terms offered: Fall 2025, Winter 2026 Prescribed reading, conference or practical work on a selected topic in the student's area of specialization, not otherwise available in other courses; under staff supervision. An approved course outline must be on file in the Departmental office prior to registration deadline.Animal Science (Non-Thesis) (M.Sc.A.) (45 credits)
Degree: Master of Science Applied
Program credit weight: 45Program Description
Research Project (15 credits)
Course List
Course
Title
Credits
ANSC 643 Project 1. 3 ANSC 644 Project 2. 3 ANSC 645 Project 3. 3 ANSC 646 Project 4. 3 ANSC 647 Project 5. 3 Complementary Courses (30 credits)
Course List
Course
Title
Credits
AEMA 610 Statistical Methods 2. 3 ANSC 530 Experimental Techniques in Nutrition. 3 ANSC 551 Carbohydrate and Lipid Metabolism. 3 ANSC 552 Protein Metabolism and Nutrition. 3 ANSC 560 Biology of Lactation. 3 ANSC 600 Advanced Eukaryotic Cells and Viruses. 3 ANSC 604 Advanced Animal Biotechnology. 3 ANSC 608 Population Genetics. 3 ANSC 636 Analysis - Animal Breeding Research Data. 3 ANSC 691 Special Topic: Animal Sciences. 3 ANSC 692 Topic in Animal Sciences 1. 3
As of June 2019, all students must choose the Sustainable Agriculture option
OPTION:
Master of Science, Applied (M.Sc.A.) Animal Science (Non-Thesis): Sustainable Agriculture
Offered by: Animal Science (Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences) Climate change and rising human population have increased the need for sustainable agricultural practices. The Sustainable Agriculture option is taken with a M.Sc. Applied (Non-Thesis) program, and designed for students who wish to supplement their basic degree with graduate studies in animal science, with a specific focus on sustainability in agriculture. Students will be exposed to different approaches to improve the sustainability of agricultural systems through specialized coursework and a research project. The program aims to provide graduate training in applied areas of animal production with a view toward integrating technology and management in sustainable animal production with allied areas of agricultural resource utilization. Note: For information about Fall 2025 and Winter 2026 course offerings, please check back on May 8, 2025. Until then, the "Terms offered" field will appear blank for most courses while the class schedule is being finalized. Project 1. Terms offered: Summer 2025, Fall 2025, Winter 2026 Review of the literature and design of the project. This project relates to the M.Sc. Applied (non-thesis) degree. Project 2. Terms offered: Summer 2025, Fall 2025, Winter 2026 Continuation of the review of the literature and design of project. This project relates to the M.Sc. Applied (non-thesis) degree. Project 3. Terms offered: Summer 2025, Fall 2025, Winter 2026 Execution and write-up of project. This project relates to the M.Sc. Applied (non-thesis) degree. Project 4. Terms offered: Summer 2025, Fall 2025, Winter 2026 Continuation of write-up and submission of project. This project relates to the M.Sc. Applied (non-thesis) degree. Project 5. Terms offered: Summer 2025, Fall 2025, Winter 2026 Seminar and project presentations. This oral presentation of the project relates to the M.Sc. Applied (non-thesis) degree. The Use and Welfare of Animals. Terms offered: Winter 2026 Understanding the roles in which animals are used by Society, especially in food production, companionship, research, and recreation; application of the scientific approaches that are used in assessing and improving animal welfare; and use of ethical approaches that are invoked in the use of animals, often in controversial contexts. An interdisciplinary course, based on active participation and discussion-method learning. Water Quality Management. Terms offered: Fall 2025 The water phases of terrestrial ecological systems and the processes that link them. Physical, chemical, and biological properties of water, and water quality standards. The fate and transport of pollutants in rivers and streams, lakes, and wetlands. Methods to quantify soil carbon and nitrogen cycle to predict nutrient leaching. Impacts of human activities (e.g., agricultural drainage) on water quality and measures to improve drainage water quality. Assess the effectiveness of proposed engineering measures or management practices in improving or maintaining water quality of a real site/water body using numerical methods or a computer modelling approach.
Advanced Issues on Development, Food and Agriculture. Terms offered: Winter 2026 A comprehensive view and understanding of world issues (agronomic, environmental and socio-economic) affecting development, poverty, hunger and food security. Topics cover rural development; soil and water management; climate change; demographic issues; gender equality; fair-trade food; plant and animal resources conservation; bio-products and biofuels; and economic and environmental issues - especially in tropical and sub-tropical regions. Globalization, sustainable development in agriculture, technology transfer and human-resources needs for rural development. Students attend guest lectures, interact with domain experts, and participate in round-table discussions. Students prepare a development project in the form of a funding application, following the norms of an established agency. Advances in Agronomy. Terms offered: Winter 2026 Current topics related to the growth and development and quality of crops. Topics to be covered may include factors affecting crop growth, yield and advances in plant breeding. 0-6 credits of sufficient 500-, or 600-level courses (with Adviser's approval) to bring the total credits to 45. 3 credits from the following list: Statistical Methods 2. Terms offered: Fall 2025 Principles of linear models, multiple regression equations and classification models. Introduction to Analysis of Variance and common statistical designs used in agricultural and environmental sciences. Emphasis on balanced and unbalanced designs and data structures; their analysis and tests of statistical significance. Experimental Designs 1. Terms offered: Winter 2026 General principles of experimental design, split-plot designs, spatial heterogeneity and experimental design, incomplete block designs and unbalanced designs, analysis of repeated measures, multivariate and modified univariate analyses of variance, central composite designs. Temporal and Spatial Statistics 1. Terms offered: Winter 2026 Temporal statistics: analysis in the time domain, Box-Jenkins forecasting methodology, analysis in the frequency domain, periodogram analysis. Spatial statistics: mapping, autocorrelogram analysis, geostatistics. Statistical inference with autocorrelated sample data. 9-15 credits from the following list: Experimental Techniques in Nutrition. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Design and conduction of animal studies, selection of experimental animals, chemical and biological assays, statistical analysis, interpretation of data and preparation of technical reports. Carbohydrate and Lipid Metabolism. Terms offered: Winter 2026 Comparative aspects of nutrition and metabolism of carbohydrate and lipid from the cellular level through the multi-organ of the whole organism. Main topics will include biothermodynamics, calorimetry, cellular metabolism and functions of carbohydrate and lipid, digestion, absorption and utilization of dietary carbohydrate and lipid. Protein Metabolism and Nutrition. Terms offered: Fall 2025 Comparative aspects of nutrition and metabolism of amino acids and proteins from the cellular level on through the multisystem operation of the whole organism. Main topics include cellular metabolism and functions of amino acids and proteins, digestion, absorption and utilization of dietary protein. Comparison between farm animals and humans. Biology of Lactation. Terms offered: Fall 2025 An interdisciplinary approach to the study of mammary development, the onset of lactation and its cessation, comparing the differences in mammalian species in mammary development from embryological, pre- and post-pubertal and pre- and post-partum aspects. Lactation at the cellular and biochemical levels. Advanced Animal Biotechnology. Terms offered: Fall 2025 New concepts and applications of animal biotechnology in agriculture, biomedicine, environmental preservation. Advanced Reproductive Biology. Terms offered: Fall 2025 An introduction to key concepts in reproductive biology and principles of emerging reproductive technologies. Modules covered include oogenesis and folliculogenesis, fertilization, embryo development, reproductive biotechnology and new directions in reproductive biology. Advances in Food Microbiology. Terms offered: Winter 2026 An advanced level food microbiology course providing a perspective on advanced topics in food microbiology (microbial biofilms, antimicrobial resistance, bacterial endospores) and describing the fundamental principles of advanced techniques in food microbiology (microbiological, biochemical, immunological, genetics methods). Advanced Plant Breeding. Terms offered: Winter 2026 Improving crop traits to meet the needs of feeding a growing population under the threat of climate change and other factors. Quantitative genetic variation and
inheritance. Fundamental and advanced topics in breeding for quantitative traits. Use of cutting-edge tools to solve plant breeding problems. Study quantitative trait
variation at various levels (e.g., genomic to phenomic)
Advances in Plant Biotechnology. Terms offered: Winter 2026 Current techniques used in plant molecular biology. Topics to be covered may include plant biotechnology, recombinant DNA techniques, transgenic plants as well and gene and gene product analysis. Review of current literature on selected topics in plant molecular biology and genetics.Animal Science (Non-Thesis): Sustainable Agriculture (M.Sc.A.) (45 credits)
Degree: Master of Science, Applied
Program credit weight: 45Program Description
Research Project (15 credits)
Course List
Course
Title
Credits
ANSC 643 Project 1. 3 ANSC 644 Project 2. 3 ANSC 645 Project 3. 3 ANSC 646 Project 4. 3 ANSC 647 Project 5. 3 Required Courses (12 credits)
Course List
Course
Title
Credits
ANSC 555 The Use and Welfare of Animals. 3 BREE 533 Water Quality Management. 3 IGFS 611 Advanced Issues on Development, Food and Agriculture. 3 PLNT 602 Advances in Agronomy. 3 Complementary Courses (18 credits)
Course List
Course
Title
Credits
AEMA 610 Statistical Methods 2. 3 AEMA 611 Experimental Designs 1. 3 AEMA 614 Temporal and Spatial Statistics 1. 3
Course List
Course
Title
Credits
ANSC 530 Experimental Techniques in Nutrition. 3 ANSC 551 Carbohydrate and Lipid Metabolism. 3 ANSC 552 Protein Metabolism and Nutrition. 3 ANSC 560 Biology of Lactation. 3 ANSC 604 Advanced Animal Biotechnology. 3 ANSC 611 Advanced Reproductive Biology. 3 FDSC 545 Advances in Food Microbiology. 3 PLNT 635 Advanced Plant Breeding. 3 PLNT 662 Advances in Plant Biotechnology. 3