Program Requirements
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.
Research Project (15 credits)
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ANSC 643 Project 1 (3 credits)
Overview
Animal Science : Review of the literature and design of the project. This project relates to the M.Sc. Applied (non-thesis) degree.
Terms: Fall 2024, Winter 2025
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
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ANSC 644 Project 2 (3 credits)
Overview
Animal Science : Continuation of the review of the literature and design of project. This project relates to the M.Sc. Applied (non-thesis) degree.
Terms: Fall 2024, Winter 2025
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
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ANSC 645 Project 3 (3 credits)
Overview
Animal Science : Execution and write-up of project. This project relates to the M.Sc. Applied (non-thesis) degree.
Terms: Fall 2024, Winter 2025
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
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ANSC 646 Project 4 (3 credits)
Overview
Animal Science : Continuation of write-up and submission of project. This project relates to the M.Sc. Applied (non-thesis) degree.
Terms: Fall 2024, Winter 2025
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
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ANSC 647 Project 5 (3 credits)
Overview
Animal Science : Seminar and project presentations. This oral presentation of the project relates to the M.Sc. Applied (non-thesis) degree.
Terms: Fall 2024, Winter 2025
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Required Courses (12 credits)
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ANSC 555 The Use and Welfare of Animals (3 credits)
Overview
Animal Science : 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.
Terms: Winter 2025
Instructors: Vasseur, Elsa (Winter)
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BREE 533 Water Quality Management (3 credits)
Overview
Bioresource Engineering : 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.
Terms: Fall 2024
Instructors: Prasher, Shiv; Qi, Zhiming (Fall)
Restriction: Not open to students who have taken BREE 625 (formerly ABEN 625).
Management of water quality for sustainability. Cause of soil degradation, surface and groundwater contamination by agricultural chemicals and toxic pollutants. Screening and mechanistic models. Human health and safety concerns. Water table management. Soil and water conservation techniques will be examined with an emphasis on methods of prediction and best management practices.
This course carries an additional charge of $37.68 to cover the cost of transportation with respect to a field trip. The fee is refundable only during the withdrawal with full refund period.
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IGFS 611 Advanced Issues on Development, Food and Agriculture (3 credits)
Overview
IGFS : 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.
Terms: Winter 2025
Instructors: Vasseur, Elsa (Winter)
Restriction: Not open to students who have taken or are taking AGRI 411
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PLNT 602 Advances in Agronomy (3 credits)
Overview
Plant Science : 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.
Terms: Winter 2025
Instructors: Seguin, Philippe; Smith, Donald L (Winter)
Complementary Courses (18 credits)
3 credits from the following list:
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AEMA 610 Statistical Methods 2 (3 credits)
Overview
Mathematics (Agric&Envir Sci) : 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.
Terms: Fall 2024
Instructors: Cue, Roger (Fall)
3 lectures and one 2-hour lab
Prerequisite: AEMA 310 or equivalent
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AEMA 611 Experimental Designs 1 (3 credits)
Overview
Mathematics (Agric&Envir Sci) : 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.
Terms: Winter 2025
Instructors: Dutilleul, Pierre R L (Winter)
3 hours lectures and 1 conference
Prerequisite: AEMA 310 or equivalent
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AEMA 614 Temporal and Spatial Statistics 1 (3 credits)
Overview
Mathematics (Agric&Envir Sci) : 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.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
3 hours lectures and 1 conference
Prerequisite: AEMA 310 or equivalent
9-15 credits from the following list:
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ANSC 530 Experimental Techniques in Nutrition (3 credits)
Overview
Animal Science : Design and conduction of animal studies, selection of experimental animals, chemical and biological assays, statistical analysis, interpretation of data and preparation of technical reports.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Fall
1 lecture, 1 lab
Restriction: Not open to students who have taken ANSC 630.
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ANSC 551 Carbohydrate and Lipid Metabolism (3 credits)
Overview
Animal Science : 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.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Winter
3 lectures
Prerequisite: ANSC 234 or permission of instructor
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ANSC 552 Protein Metabolism and Nutrition (3 credits)
Overview
Animal Science : 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.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Fall
3 lectures
Prerequisite: ANSC 234 or permission of instructor
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ANSC 560 Biology of Lactation (3 credits)
Overview
Animal Science : 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.
Terms: Fall 2024
Instructors: Burgos, Sergio (Fall)
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ANSC 565 Applied Information Systems (3 credits)
Overview
Animal Science : Introduction to concepts of an Information System and subsequent application to various scenarios in agriculture. Industry analysis in terms of users, goals, available data/information, communication, delivery structure, decision making, feedback, exploitation of technology and possible improvements using the Internet. Individual case studies and familiarisation with cutting-edge computer applications.
Terms: Winter 2025
Instructors: Wade, Kevin (Winter)
Winter
3 lectures and one 2-hour lab
- ANSC 604 Advanced Animal Biotechnology (3 credits)
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ANSC 611D1 Advanced Reproductive Biology (1.5 credits)
Overview
Animal Science : 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.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
No prerequisites, but students need to have a solid background in reproductive physiology.
Note: Course offered in alternate years.
Students must register for both ANSC 611D1 and ANSC 611D2.
No credit will be given for this course unless both ANSC 611D1 and ANSC 611D2 are successfully completed in consecutive terms.
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ANSC 611D2 Advanced Reproductive Biology (1.5 credits)
Overview
Animal Science : 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.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
No prerequisites, but students need to have a solid background in reproductive physiology.
Note: Course offered in alternate years.
Prerequisite: ANSC 611D1.
No credit will be given for this course unless both ANSC 611D1 and ANSC 611D2 are successfully completed in consecutive terms.
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ANSC 622 Experimental Techniques in Animal Science (3 credits)
Overview
Animal Science : Practical exposure to three research groups in the Department of Animal Science (choices determined by interest of the student, availability of research in a given lab at that time, and in consultation with the student’s assigned supervisor); emphasis on lab goals, etiquette, and techniques, as observed by shadowing research group members (staff, post-doctoral fellows, PhD students); journal of each rotation as well as background research into current experimental procedures. Disciplines available: Reproductive Biotechnology; Animal Disease; Ruminant Nutrition; Epigenetics; Dairy Information Systems; Big Data Analyses; Animal Breeding; Dairy Cattle Welfare; Food Safety.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
1 lecture and 2 seminars
Restriction(s): Permission of Supervisor in consultation with three available rotation researchers.
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ANSC 637 Livestock Breeding Systems (3 credits)
Overview
Animal Science : The design and implementation of animal genetic improvement and selection programs. This course looks at aspects of data recording and how breed improvement can be carried out. Different species and livestock sectors will be examined: dairy cattle, beef cattle, swine, sheep and goats, and to a lesser degree poultry. Differences among systems will be highlighted, as a function of the structure of the particular species-industry and how genetic improvement has evolved, both within Canada and elsewhere.
Terms: Winter 2025
Instructors: Cue, Roger (Winter)
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FDSC 545 Advances in Food Microbiology (3 credits)
Overview
Food Science : 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).
Terms: Winter 2025
Instructors: Ronholm, Jennifer (Winter)
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PLNT 635 Advanced Plant Breeding (3 credits)
Overview
Plant Science : 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)
Terms: Winter 2025
Instructors: Hoyos-Villegas, Valerio (Winter)
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PLNT 662 Advances in Plant Biotechnology (3 credits)
Overview
Plant Science : 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.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
3 hours lab
0-6 credits of sufficient 500-, or 600-level courses (with Adviser's approval) to bring the total credits to 45.
