Graduate Program Policy and Guide

The Department of Animal and Dairy Science offers degree programs leading to the Master of Science in Animal and Dairy Science (MS with thesis and non-thesis options; ADSC), the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Animal and Dairy Science (ADSC), and the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Regenerative Bioscience (REBI). Emphasis during the program of study can be placed in biotechnology, breeding and genetics, meats and muscle biology, nutrition, reproductive physiology, production and management, or regenerative medicine. The department has full-time graduate faculty members located on the Athens and Tifton Campuses. Graduate courses in Animal and Dairy Science (ADSC), Regenerative Bioscience (RBIO), along with Biochemistry (BCMB), Cell Biology (CBIO), Food Science (FDST), Microbiology (MIBO), Poultry Science (POUL), Statistics (STAT), and Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology (VPHY) provide most of the courses for the program of study for Animal and Dairy Science students.

There are approximately 28 graduate faculty and 70 graduate students in the Department of Animal and Dairy Science. Collaborative research programs exist with research faculty from the College of Veterinary Medicine and other colleges and University Departments.

Modern facilities, laboratories and equipment are in place for in-depth research training in all program areas. Specialized areas of interest include a core facility for genomics and/or proteomics, the Meat Science and Technology Center, environmentally controlled large and small animal facilities (LARU), beef, dairy, swine, and horse research farms located in proximity to the Athens campus and beef cattle research facilities at the UGA-Tifton Campus in Tifton.

Research and teaching assistantships are available to qualified candidates in the MS (thesis only) and PhD degree programs and are based on availability of both departmental and research faculty grant funds. Students on assistantship support are eligible to receive a tuition waiver from the UGA Graduate School. Prospective graduate students who desire financial aid may apply for assistance directly to individual faculty of the Animal and Dairy Science Department. Thesis and dissertation research programs are applied at improving food animal productivity, profitability and sustainability or using animal models for human research applications.

Degree Requirements

A.     Master of Science in Animal and Dairy Sciences (non-thesis option)

This is a non-thesis degree program intended to give students advanced academic and professional training in food animal production and management. Students in this degree program use it to gain advanced animal knowledge and experience to enhance their opportunities for Veterinary School admission or opportunities in Extension, teaching, technical and/or laboratory support in agribusiness and pharmaceutical industries.

This degree program requires a student to achieve 30 h of graduate credit with 24 h of coursework with at least 12 h of courses in the program of study, open only to graduate students and a minimum of 3 h related to a specific research project directed by their faculty mentor. This is a terminal degree program designed for those who desire advanced instruction in animal sciences but are not specifically interested in a research career. Details of recommended courses are explained below. The non-thesis option MS can be completed in 2 semesters plus 2 summer sessions. NTMS students are not eligible for assistantships.

B.     Master of Science in Animal and Dairy Science (thesis option)

The MS program of study requires a total of 30 h of graduate credit, including 24 h of coursework with at least 12 h of courses in the program of study open only to graduate students. MS students must have 3-6 credit hours of Master’s Research (ADSC 7000) and 3 credit hours of Master’s Thesis (ADSC 7300). A minimum of 3 h of graduate-level coursework in biochemistry and 3 h of statistics is required in the program of study. The MS thesis consists of a literature review and at least one manuscript suitable for publication in a scientific refereed journal. The thesis research for an MS in Animal and Dairy Science can be focused on biotechnology, genetics, meats and muscle biology, nutrition, or reproductive physiology of laboratory or farm animals (cattle, horses, and swine). The MS degree program is flexible enough to interest students who may want to consider it as a terminal degree program or those who want to use it as a preparatory step for a PhD. The MS degree is typically a 2-year program. Specifics are listed below.

C.     PhD in Animal and Dairy Science

The PhD degree is typically undertaken by students who have already earned an MS degree, but can also be initiated by exceptionally qualified students who have completed a bachelor’s degree. The PhD program of study requires a total of 30 h, where 16 h of courses must be intended for doctoral students (≥8000 level) and a minimum of 3 h each of Doctoral Research (ADSC 9000) and 3 h Doctoral Dissertation (ADSC 9300). A minimum of 3 h of doctoral-level coursework in biochemistry or genetics and 3 h of statistics are required in the program of study. The dissertation consists of a literature review and at least two to three manuscripts suitable for publication in a scientific refereed journal. Dissertation research for a PhD in Animal and Dairy Science can be focused on biotechnology, genetics, meats and muscle biology, or nutrition of laboratory or farm animals (equine, cattle, and swine). The PhD program is typically 3-4 years for students with an MS degree and 5-6 years for students with a BS degree. Specifics are listed below.

D.     PhD in Regenerative Bioscience

The PhD degree in REBI is typically undertaken by students who have already earned an MS degree, but can also be initiated by exceptionally qualified students who have completed a bachelor’s degree. The PhD program of study requires a total of 30 h where 16 h of courses must be intended for doctoral students (≥8000 level) and a minimum of 3 h each of Doctoral Research (RBIO 9000) and 3 h Doctoral Dissertation (RBIO 9300). General requirements of the REBI PhD include 3 h of graduate-level statistics, 2 hr ADSC 8800 Graduate Seminar, and 6 h from doctoral-level coursework in Regenerative Biosciences. The dissertation consists of a literature review and at least two to three manuscripts suitable for publication in a scientific refereed journal. Dissertation research for a PhD in Regenerative Bioscience can be focused on novel cellular therapies, biomaterials, diagnostic technologies, stem cell biology, neural injury and repair, cancer biology, or musculoskeletal disease. The PhD program is typically 3-4 years for students with an MS degree and 5-6 years for students with a BS degree. Specifics are listed below.

The following is a list of ADS faculty who are eligible to serve as major professors for graduate students working toward the MS or PhD degrees. (Research and teaching interests can be found on the Animal and Dairy Science departmental website.)

Graduate Faculty at Athens and Tifton Campuses

Admission to one of the graduate degree programs in ADS requires that a prospect satisfy the ADS departmental and UGA Graduate School requirements, as well as identify a major professor willing to bring the student into their lab, serve as mentor, and provide assistantship support if needed.  Admission may be denied if the applicant: 1) does not meet the UGA Graduate School criteria, 2) does not fit the criteria outlined by ADS or, 3) is unable to find a major professor who is willing to serve as their mentor. The application form is available on-line through the UGA Graduate School (www.grad.uga.edu)  and is submitted electronically. The application is a part of the admission file that must be completed before the ADSC graduate committee will evaluate and make their recommendation on acceptance. A completed admission file consists of 1) an application form, 2) complete and official undergraduate and graduate school transcripts, 3) TOEFL or IELTS score for international applicants from counties that speak English as a foreign language 4) a letter of intent or personal statement (indicating faculty mentor), and 5) three letters of recommendation. The GRE is not required for the ADSC graduate program. 

As part of the online application to the UGA Graduate School, applicants are instructed to provide e-mail addresses of three professionals who have the ability to evaluate the candidate’s potential for success in graduate school. The best recommendation letters for graduate school are likely from different individuals than might be used for admission to veterinary school or for a job. Letters should be from faculty members involved in graduate education or who can evaluate the applicant’s ability to complete a graduate degree. A letter of intent or Statement of Purpose (usually 1-2 pages describing the applicant’s interest in earning a graduate degree and long-term career goals) should be uploaded in the portal. Once complete, the admission file will be evaluated by the ADSC/REBI Graduate Committee for acceptability into a graduate training program in ADSC/REBI. Applicants must contact ADSC/REBI graduate faculty within their program area of interest to solicit a major Professor. Prospective graduate students must identify a major professor that has agreed to work with the candidate before they will be accepted into the program.  

When a student is recommended for acceptance, and a faculty member agrees to serve as major professor, the DGS or GPA will electronically provide recommendations to the UGA Graduate School. The Dean of the Graduate School makes the final decision and notifies the student in writing (email) regarding admission. Qualified students in the MS (thesis option only) and PhD program can apply and receive an assistantship. The DGS or GPA will notify an applicant with a separate letter offering a Departmental assistantship and its stipulations. Copies of the letter of acceptance and the assistantship offer will be placed in the student’s Departmental file. Once a student is accepted and in agreement to matriculate into the program, their admission file will be maintained with all their enrolled student forms and documents. Students wanting to continue on a Ph.D. program after completing a MS degree in ADSC at UGA must re-apply to the Graduate School for the Ph.D. program. However, they can be recommended for admittance to the PhD program with a letter of support from their current major professor and support from the DGS and may not need to solicit additional letters of reference. 

Highlights of the Application Procedure
1.     Contact faculty members with Graduate Faculty Status in ADS who can take you into their program.

2.     Apply to the Graduate School on-line (https://grad.uga.edu/admissions/apply-now/). 

3.     Take the TOEFL or IELTS if required.

4.     Send transcripts from undergraduate or other graduate programs to the Graduate School. (Graduate School has set a minimum GPA of 3.0 for admission)

5.     Obtain 3 letters of reference (part of online application process).

6.     Write a Statement of Purpose indicating why you want to pursue a graduate degree, the area of interest (species, discipline) and long-term career goals

All admissions are based on a favorable evaluation as outlined above and acceptance by the Graduate School. Completed graduate school application forms and non-refundable application fee ($75.00 Domestic, $100.00 International), transcripts, TOEFL/IELTS if needed, Statement of Purpose, and three letters of recommendation are required. Although visitation by applicants is highly encouraged it is recognized that this may not be practical for those who are located a longer distance from UGA.  The minimum GPA for acceptance by the Graduate School is 3.0. The application fee will not be waived. Applicants for the Ph.D. degree should have completed a thesis-based M.S. program. Exceptional students, with undergraduate GPA of 3.5 or greater, may be considered for admission directly to the Ph.D. program. 

Applicants whose primary language is not English must submit official TOEFL or IELTS scores that are not more than two years old. Applicants who have received degrees from accredited institutions in the U.S. or from institutions in countries where English is the primary language (e.g., the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand) usually are not required to submit English proficiency scores. If such an applicant received the degree more than two years prior to application to the Graduate School and has been residing/working in a country where the primary language is not English, he or she must submit current scores. The minimum TOEFL score requirement is an overall score of 80 with at least 20 on speaking and writing. The minimum IELTS score requirement is an overall bandwidth of 6.5, with no single band (score) below 6.0. 

All new incoming graduate students (non-thesis MS, thesis MS, and PhD) to the University of Georgia must enroll for GradFIRST Seminar (GRSC 7001) ideally in their first semester, but no later than second semester. Animal and Dairy Sciences will offer a GRSC 7001 seminar in the Fall and Spring. The course offered by Animal and Dairy Sciences is preferred for all ADSC/REBI graduate students. To sign up for the ADSC GRSC 7001 students will need to contact the GPA to get a POD (permission of department) that allows them to register. Degree forms required by the Graduate School will not be approved by the DGS or Graduate School until the GradFIRST requirement is met.

All requirements as stipulated in the Graduate Bulletin must be fulfilled. Necessary forms can be accessed from the Graduate School web page (www.grad.uga.edu). The Program of Study is developed by the student and the advisory committee during the first academic semester. Students admitted into the non-thesis degree program without an undergraduate degree in Animal Science, Dairy Science, or equivalent may be required to take undergraduate courses in the major as determined by the major professor, advisory committee and/or DGS.

Any graduate student using University facilities must register for a minimum of three hours and must be continuously enrolled for two of three semesters a year. Graduate students must have their Program of Study approved by the Graduate School before their intended semester of graduation. The Program of Study form is available on-line and should be completed during a student’s first or second semester of residence. 

The Program of Study for the non-thesis requires that a student complete a minimum of 30 semester hours consisting of at least 24 h of course work and 3 h of special problem (ADSC8700 or ADSC8710). Of the 24 semester hours of course work, 12 h must come from Animal and Dairy Science and/or related graduate courses (CRSS, POUL, VPHY etc.). Students must register for 1 h of ADSC 8800 Graduate Seminar. It is possible for non-thesis students to complete their degree program requirements in just over one year. This would require the student to enroll for the full credit hour load of 12 h for Fall and Spring semesters and a total of 9 h in 2 summer sessions. No more than 6 h of Special Problems credit can be included in a Program of Study. Research credit can be awarded as ADSC 7000 (Master’s Research). Students wishing to gain teaching experience may work with ADS faculty and serve as teaching assistants. Credit for this activity is earned as ADSC 7990 Supervised Teaching Practicum in Animal and Dairy Science (S/U graded). 

The ADSC graduate faculty requires that ADSC NTMS students have the following graduate courses on their program of study:

• Students should have a minimum of 3 h of graduate credit in statistics, most common include:
  --ADSC 8110, STAT 6315/6310/6320/8200, BIOS 7010/7020, POPH 8310L/8320L
  --Special Problems and programing courses do not count for statistical credit

• Students should have a minimum of 3 h of graduate credit in biochemistry, must be selected from:
  --BCMB 6000/6010/6020/8010/8020, ADSC 8330, FDST 6040/L
  --No substitutions allowed

• All students must register for a minimum 1 h of ADSC 8800 Graduate Seminar
  --Must be from ADSC faculty teaching course based in Athens
  --A section for Tifton students will be provided

• All students must register for 1 h of GRSC 7001 GradFirst Seminar in the first semester, no later than 2nd semester. The preferred course is the GRSC 7001 course offered by ADSC faculty

Non-thesis MS students, who become interested in pursuing a MS thesis can petition the ADSC graduate committee to change their degree program from non-thesis to thesis. The ADSC graduate committee will review the student’s qualifications as if they were a new admission for the program. To change degree program from non-thesis to thesis, the student should have ~3.5 GPA on more than 9 h of graduate course work and must have a graduate faculty person willing to serve as their advisor. A student who desires to change from non-thesis to thesis must include a letter of recommendation from their intended major professor with their letter of petition to the ADSC graduate committee.      

All requirements for specific graduate degree programs as listed in the Graduate Bulletin must be fulfilled. All the necessary forms as required by the graduate school for enrolled students as they matriculate can be accessed from the Graduate School web page (www.grad.uga.edu). The Program of Study is developed by the student and the advisory committee during the first academic semester. Students admitted into the MS degree program without undergraduate degrees in ADSC or related majors may be required to take undergraduate courses in ADSC as determined by the major professor, advisory committee, and/or DGS.  

Any graduate student using University facilities must register for a minimum of 3 h and must be continuously enrolled for two of three semesters a year. Students holding assistantships should register for 18 h during the Fall, Spring, and Summer semesters. Typically, MS students average 2-3 graduate courses per semester in their first year and enroll in either ADSC 7000 Master’s Research or ADSC 7300 Thesis Writing to attain a total of 18 h in the Fall and Spring semesters. Students receiving assistantship support are required to assist with departmental work (such as assisting in research, teaching, and recruitment programs for 14 to 20 h per week for a 35-to-50%-time assistantship, respectively), which is coordinated by their major professor, DGS, and Department Head. 

Thesis option MS students must have their Program of Study approved by the Graduate School before their intended semester of graduation. The Program of Study form is available on-line and should be completed during a student’s first or second semester of residence. MS graduate students are recommended to compose their Program of Study form only listing their minimum requirements as stipulated. The minimum MS Program of Study requirements consists of 30 total semester h consisting of at least 24 h of graduate level course work, 3 of Master’s Thesis (ADSC 7300), and 3-6 h of Master’s Research (ADSC 7000). Of the 24-credit h of course work, at least 12 credit h or half of their graduate courses must be those open only to graduate students. This 12-credit h requirement does not include 4000/6000 split-level courses or Master’s Research or Thesis. A maximum of 6 h of Special Problems credit can be used on a Program of Study. Masters level graduate students can apply to transfer up to 6 semester h of graduate coursework from other graduate school institutions by completing and submitting an on-line form. Only graduate level courses where the student was awarded a grade of “B” or better and that have not already been used towards another degree will be allowed to transfer.

Although a minimum of 3 h of ADSC 7000 Master’s Research and 3 h ADSC 7300 Master’s Thesis must be included on the Program of Study, most MS students will take considerably more of ADSC 7000 to fulfill their credit hour requirements when on assistantship. 

The ADSC graduate faculty requires that ADSC MS students have the following graduate courses on their Program of Study:

• All students must have 3 h of Statistics, most common include:
  --ADSC 8110, STAT 6315/6310/6320/8200, BIOS 7010/7020, POPH 8310L/8320L
  --Special Problems and programing courses do not count for statistical credit

• All students, except those in the Breeding and Genetics program area, must have a minimum of 3 h of graduate credit in biochemistry, must be selected from:
  --BCMB 6000/6010/6020/8010/8020, ADSC 8330, FDST 6040/L
  --No substitutions allowed

• All breeding and quantitative genetics students should have STAT 8200 and ADSC 8777 or one graduate level course in BCMB, GENE, BIOL, VPHY, or CSCI

• All students must register for a minimum 1 h of ADSC 8800 Graduate Seminar 
  --Must be from ADSC faculty teaching course based in Athens
  --A section for Tifton students will be provided

• All students must register for 1 h of GRSC 7001 in the first semester, no later than 2nd semester. The preferred course is the GRSC 7001 course offered by ADSC faculty.

It is the responsibility of the student to ensure that all forms are submitted on time and that they understand the timelines and deadlines set forth by the Department and Graduate School for submitting their final thesis to the committee (minimum 3 weeks prior to the defense) and notifying the DGS of their intent to defend their program (minimum 3 weeks prior to the defense). Not paying attention to or adhering to these dates is not a valid excuse for an exemption request and may require the student enroll for another semester at their own expense.

All requirements in the Graduate Bulletin must be fulfilled. All the necessary forms can be accessed from the Graduate School web page (www.grad.uga.edu). The Program of Study is developed by the student, the major Professor and the advisory committee during the first academic year. A Preliminary Program of Study, developed by the major professor and the doctoral student and approved by a majority of the advisory committee, will be submitted to the DGS by the end of the student's first year of residence. The Program of Study should consist of 16 or more h of 8000- and 9000-level courses in addition to research (ADSC 9000), dissertation writing (ADSC 9300), and directed study. A maximum of 6 h of Special Problems credit can be used on a Program of Study. The Program of Study for a student who bypasses the master's degree must contain 4 semester h of University of Georgia courses open only to graduate students in addition to 16 semester hours of 8000 and 9000 level courses. Doctoral research (ADSC 9000), independent study courses, and dissertation writing (ADSC 9300) may not be counted in these 20 hours. Doctoral level graduate students can apply to transfer up to 9 semester h of graduate coursework from other graduate school institutions by completing and submitting an on-line form. Only graduate level courses where the student was awarded a grade of “B” or better and that have not already been used towards another degree will be allowed to transfer. A Preliminary Program of Study must be printed and submitted to the DGS within the first year of the Ph.D. program. The final Program of Study must be submitted (on-line) to the Graduate School prior to notification of the Comprehensive Examination. This Program of Study must be submitted on the proper form for approval by the advisory committee, the DGS, and the Dean of the Graduate School. The final Program of Study must show all graduate courses relevant to the doctoral program and not just courses satisfying the minimum degree requirement. Courses from the master's degree and courses taken at other universities should be listed in the "Relevant Master's or Other Graduate Degree Courses" section of the program of study form. The Program of Study must carry a minimum of 30 h of course work, 3 h of which must be Dissertation Writing (9300). The department should evaluate carefully and fully each doctoral student's progress and qualifications at the end of the first year of study to advise the student whether to continue in the program.

A student must register for at least 3 h each semester if university facilities or staff time are used. Students holding Departmental assistantships, Graduate School assistantships or Regents Out-of-State tuition waivers should register for 18 h during Fall, Spring, and Summer semesters. Students who receive Departmental assistantship funds are required to assist with departmental work (assistance in research or teaching for 14 to 20 h/week for a 35-to-50 %-time assistantship) as coordinated by their major professor, the DGS, and the Department Head. The objective of assisting with departmental work is to provide overall training for the student. Students must register for at least 3 h during the semester of graduation. The following core courses are required on the Ph.D. Program of Study (or should have been part of the MS degree program for students continuing in the PhD):

• All students must have 3 h of Statistics, most common include:
  --ADSC 8110, STAT 6315/6310/6320/8200, BIOS 7010/7020, POPH 8310L/8320L
  --Special Problems and programing courses do not count for statistical credit

• All students, except those in the Breeding and Genetics program area, must have a minimum of 3 h of graduate credit in biochemistry, must be selected from:
  --BCMB 6000/6010/6020/8010/8020, ADSC 8330, FDST 6040/L
  --No substitutions allowed

• All breeding and quantitative genetics students should have STAT 8200 and ADSC 8777 or one graduate level course in BCMB, GENE, BIOL, VPHY, or CSCI

• All students must register for a minimum 2 h of ADSC 8800 Graduate Seminar 
  --Must be from ADSC faculty teaching course based in Athens
  --A section for Tifton students will be provided

• All students must register for 1 h of GRSC 7001 in the first semester, no later than 2nd semester The preferred course is the GRSC 7001 course offered by ADSC faculty

• Doctoral Candidates must schedule to give a departmental seminar (non-defense) with the seminar coordinator within 1 year of their anticipated graduation date

It is the responsibility of the student to ensure that all forms are submitted on time and that they understand the timelines and deadlines set forth by the Department and Graduate School for submitting their final dissertation to the committee (minimum 3 weeks prior to the defense) and notifying the DGS of their intent to defend their program (minimum 3 weeks prior to the defense). Not paying attention to or adhering to these dates is not a valid excuse for an exemption request and may require the student enroll for another semester at their own expense.

All requirements in the Graduate Bulletin must be fulfilled. All the necessary forms can be accessed from the Graduate School web page (www.grad.uga.edu). The Program of Study is developed by the student, the major Professor and the advisory committee during the first academic year. A Preliminary Program of Study, developed by the major professor and the doctoral student and approved by a majority of the advisory committee, will be submitted to the DGS by the end of the student's first year of residence. The Program of Study should consist of 16 or more h of 8000- and 9000-level courses in addition to research (RBIO 9000), dissertation writing (RBIO 9300), and directed study. A maximum of 6 h of Special Problems credit can be used on a Program of Study. The Program of Study for a student who bypasses the master's degree must contain 4 semester h of University of Georgia courses open only to graduate students in addition to 16 semester hours of 8000 and 9000 level courses. Doctoral research (RBIO 9000), independent study courses, and dissertation writing (RBIO 9300) may not be counted in these 20 hours. Doctoral level graduate students can apply to transfer up to 9 semester h of graduate coursework from other graduate school institutions by completing and submitting an on-line form. Only graduate level courses where the student was awarded a grade of “B” or better and that have not already been used towards another degree will be allowed to transfer. A Preliminary Program of Study must be printed and submitted to the DGS within the first year of the Ph.D. program. The final Program of Study must be submitted (on-line) to the Graduate School prior to notification of the Comprehensive Examination. This Program of Study must be submitted on the proper form for approval by the advisory committee, the DGS, and the Dean of the Graduate School. The final Program of Study must show all graduate courses relevant to the doctoral program and not just courses satisfying the minimum degree requirement. Courses from the master's degree and courses taken at other universities should be listed in the "Relevant Master's or Other Graduate Degree Courses" section of the program of study form. The Program of Study must carry a minimum of 30 h of course work, 3 h of which must be Dissertation Research (9000) and 3 h of Dissertation Writing (9300). The department should evaluate carefully and fully each doctoral student's progress and qualifications at the end of the first year of study to advise the student whether to continue in the program.

A student must register for at least 3 h each semester if university facilities or staff time are used. Students holding Departmental assistantships, Graduate School assistantships or Regents Out-of-State tuition waivers should register for 18 h during Fall, Spring, and Summer semesters. Students who receive Departmental assistantship funds are required to assist with departmental work (assistance in research or teaching for 14 to 20 h/week for a 35-to-50 %-time assistantship) as coordinated by their major professor, the DGS, and the Department Head. The objective of assisting with departmental work is to provide overall training for the student. Students must register for at least 3 h during the semester of graduation. The following core courses are required on the Ph.D. Program of Study (or should have been part of the MS degree program for students continuing in the PhD):

• All students must have 3 h of Statistics, most common include:
  --ADSC 8110, STAT 6315/6310/6320/8200, BIOS 7010/7020, POPH 8310L/8320L
  --Special Problems and programing courses do not count for statistical credit

• Students must select at least 6 h of coursework relevant to Regenerative Bioscience from:
  --RBIO 8120(L)/8220/8230, RBIO (BIOE) 8240, BIOE 8980
  --No substitutions allowed

• All students must register for a minimum of 1 h and maximum of 3 h of RBIO 8888 (will not replace seminar credit)

• All students must register for a minimum 2 h of ADSC 8800 Graduate Seminar 
  --Must be from ADSC faculty teaching course based in Athens

• All students must register for 1 h of GRSC 7001 in the first semester, no later than 2nd semester 

• Doctoral Candidates must schedule to give a departmental seminar (non-defense) with the seminar coordinator within 1 year of their anticipated graduation date

It is the responsibility of the student to ensure that all forms are submitted on time and that they understand the timelines and deadlines set forth by the Department and Graduate School for submitting their final thesis to the committee (minimum 3 weeks prior to the defense) and notifying the Graduate Coordinator of their intent to defend their program (minimum 3 weeks prior to the defense). Not paying attention to or adhering to these dates is not a valid excuse for an exemption request and may require the student enroll for another semester at their own expense.

On rare exception, a student and major advisor may request the student move from MS (thesis) to Ph.D. program before completing the MS degree. If this is allowed, then the degree will follow the requirements of the Ph.D. degree program and the MS is bypassed. Therefore, it is expected that the total degree time will be similar to MS followed by PhD (5 yr) and must show adequate progress to meeting the objectives of a Ph.D. candidate, including publications, seeking funding sources, and emergence as an independent scientist. 

The student and major advisor must submit materials to the ADSC graduate committee for review, as the student was prior evaluated for suitability to the MS degree and not the Ph.D. degree. Materials are to be submitted as one packet in the order specified to the DGS:

1.   A formal letter of request from the student explaining the reason for the conversion without completing the MS degree
   
   
2.   A formal letter of support from the major advisor and advisory committee (signed by committee)
   
   
3.   Student’s CV highlighting progress in the MS degree that warrants the conversion to Ph.D. without completing the MS degree: awards obtained, grants with student as primary, peer reviewed publication, scientific presentations
   
   
4.   Student’s transcripts from undergraduate work and transcripts from current MS degree track with a minimum 3.5 GPA in at least 15 hours of graded graduate course work (excluding seminars, journals, special problems, etc.)
   
   
5.   A measurable plan of action with milestones developed by the student and major advisor that details and shows how the program will differ from the MS program. Simply collecting more data and writing an additional manuscript is not sufficient. The milestones must show development as an emerging independent scientist: publications, applying for extramural funds, developing/conducting/analyzing research programs and projects above and beyond those of the MS degree (how will the student make the degree their own). 

A.    Warning status procedure (academic) 

a.    First semester after graduate cumulative GPA drops below 3.0

b.    Registration flagged for next semester

c.    Letter to student with copy to DGS for filing

d.    Student must complete advisement form from Graduate School website (Advisement for from Graduate School website) with approval of major professor and DGS

e.    Upon receiving the signed advisement form at the Graduate School, the registration flag will be moved to the next semester

B.    Probation status (academic)

a.    Begins with second semester graduate cumulative GPA below 3.0.  Graduate students are not permitted to hold assistantship when on academic probation unless approved by the Department Head

b.    Student must complete advisement form with approval by the major professor and DGS

c.    Upon receiving the signed advisement form the registration flag will be moved to the next semester

d.    Student will continue under probation status if each semester GPA is 3.0 or higher; but overall is below 3.0

e.    Students should consider re-taking courses with poor grades because the Graduate School will count the highest grade when calculating a GPA  

C.    Dismissal (academic)

a.    Occurs if semester GPA drops below 3.0 during probation

b.    Student notified by letter with copy to the Department

c.    Student’s right to appeal stated in letter

D.      Dismissal policy from the Department

a.    Students who are making unsatisfactory progress in their graduate program (academic, research, or other) can have their assistantship support discontinued and be dismissed from the program. This requires a written consensus from the student’s graduate committee or major advisor if the advisory committee form has not been filed that describes the grounds for these actions to be submitted to the DGS and Department Head that provides documentation (dates, concerns, meetings with graduate student to address concerns). The major professor should provide a student who is making unsatisfactory progress a written plan of corrective action that can be accomplished within a reasonable timeframe (determined by major professor) to avoid the student losing assistantship support and/or being dismissed. If numerous/consistent issues persist a single action or plan of action may not be relevant. In this case the major professor should provide documentation of issues and meetings with the student to correct the issue(s). The student’s adherence to this corrective plan should be documented. The loss of assistantship can be enforced at the end of any semester. If the major professor dismisses the student from their program the student may appeal to the DGS and Department Head. If the DGS and Department Head upholds the decision of the major professor, the graduate student will have one semester to find a new advisor and departmental/program home or will be dismissed under “no clear path” by the Graduate School. If the DGS and Department Head stays the major professor’s decision, the graduate student will have one semester to identify a new major professor or will be dismissed under “no clear path”. A graduate student starting with a new major professor must understand that they will be starting a new program which will likely extend time in the degree track.

 b.    Graduate students are expected to adhere to the UGA Student Code of Conduct (https://conduct.uga.edu). Violation may lead to removal of assistantship and dismissal.

c.    Graduate students are expected to adhere to all academic, ethical, professional, and societal standards and norms of a professional business and education environment at all times when representing, or perceived to be representing, the Department, College, or University. Violation may lead to removal of assistantship and dismissal.

Any policies not clearly stated in this document regarding student dismissal will cede to the University of Georgia Graduate School Policy and Guide regarding dismissal.  

E.     Unsatisfactory outcome from Comprehensive Exam (Ph.D.) or Final Defense (NTMS, MS, Ph.D.)

a.    NTMS students receiving an unsatisfactory rating from more than one committee member on their final exam/defense may be allowed second attempt after a period of not less than 2 weeks at the student’s advisory committee discretion. The student’s committee may decide against a second attempt which will lead to dismissal of the student from the degree program. If the student is provided a second attempt and receives an unsatisfactory score from more than one committee member, they will be dismissed from the degree program. The major professor must notify the DGS of the committee’s plan of action.

b.    MS thesis students receiving an unsatisfactory rating from more than one committee member on their final defense may be allowed a second attempt after a period of not less than 2 weeks at the student’s advisory committee discretion. The student’s committee may decide against a second attempt which will lead to dismissal of the student from the degree program. If the student is provided a second attempt and receives an unsatisfactory score from more than one committee member, they will be dismissed from the degree program. The major professor must notify the DGS of the committee’s plan of action.

c.    Doctoral students receiving an unsatisfactory rating from more than one committee member on their Comprehensive Exam (written or oral) may be allowed a second attempt after a period of not less than 4 weeks at the student’s advisory committee discretion. The student’s committee may decide against a second attempt which will lead to dismissal of the student from the degree program or stepping the student down to a master’s degree if the body of work and knowledge gained warrants. If the student is provided a second attempt and receives an unsatisfactory score from more than one committee member, they will be dismissed from the degree program or stepped down to a master’s degree if the body of work and knowledge gained warrants. The major professor must notify the DGS of the committee’s plan of action.

d.    Doctoral students receiving an unsatisfactory rating from more than one committee member on their Final Defense (written or oral) may be allowed a second attempt after a period of not less than 4 weeks at the student’s advisory committee discretion. The student’s committee may decide against a second attempt which will lead to dismissal of the student from the degree program or stepping the student down to a master’s degree if the body of work and knowledge gained warrants. If the student is provided a second attempt and receives an unsatisfactory score from more than one committee member, they will be dismissed from the degree program or stepped down to a master’s degree if the body of work and knowledge gained warrants. The major professor must notify the DGS of the committee’s plan of action.

e.    If the above (Section 6.E.a-d) occurs and the student is provided a second chance, it is the student’s responsibility to ensure that all deadlines, timelines, and requirements set forth by the Department and Graduate School are met. This may require the student to enroll for a consecutive semester at their own cost. Additionally, the major professor or Department retains the right to remove a student making unsatisfactory progress as noted above (Section 6 A-E) from assistantship support.

Degree seeking graduate students at the University of Georgia are required to register for a minimum of 3 h for at least two semesters in each academic year (fall, spring, and summer). Graduate students using University facilities and/or staff time will be required to register for a minimum of 3 h each semester. All students receiving an assistantship, or an out-of-state tuition waiver should register for 18 credit h per semester (fall, spring, and summer) during the period of the appointment. Students holding assistantships must register and pay fees before the drop-add period, otherwise they will lose their assistantship.  International students and person's receiving financial aid must register for the number of hours required by those categories. Students must register for a minimum of 3 h during the semester the degree is conferred even if registered for the two previous semesters.

A.    Students may register for a maximum of eighteen (18) semester h without approval of the Dean of the Graduate School. To enroll for more than eighteen (18) h per semester, students must have a written recommendation from their major professor and approval of the Dean of the Graduate School

B.    Research, teaching, or service assistantships are viewed as part of the total professional program of students and are combined with graduate courses to form full-time loads. A full course load for students who hold at least one-third, and no more than one-half time assistantships, consists of the assistantship and a minimum of 12 h of course work. These students may register for a maximum of eighteen (18) hours without approval of the Dean of the Graduate School. To enroll for more than eighteen hours per semester, they must have a written recommendation from their major professor and approval of the Dean of the Graduate School 

C.    Because of the intensive nature of course work in the summer sessions, a full course load for graduate students holding Departmental assistantships, Graduate School assistantships, or Regents Out-of-State tuition waiver is 9 semester h  

D.    Full-time employees of the University of Georgia, with their supervisor’s permission, can take a maximum of two courses or 6 h of graduate course work during a semester. Employees can apply for tuition assistance after six months of employment (see Tuition Assistance Program at UGA)

E.     Audits will not be counted when considering maximum and minimum course load requirements

A.         Selection: Prospective candidates for the MS (thesis option only) or PhD degrees in the Department of Animal and Dairy Science may be considered for graduate research and teaching assistantships.  Students in the non-thesis option of the MS program are not eligible for assistantship support.  Priority for Departmental assistantships is given to those students who have been on research funded assistantships during the first year of their MS or PhD for their second year of their MS and the second and third year of their PhD. All awards will be made on a competitive basis; the following criteria are listed in approximate order or priority.

a.    Current recipients continuing work on their advanced degree making satisfactory progress as evaluated by the major professor, DGS, and Department Head. Matriculation of a Ph.D. program following completion of a M.S. degree is not continuation of a program; students electing to do so will be given the same consideration as other matriculating students

b.    Scholarly achievement

c.    Persons applying for Graduate School and Departmental assistantships for the next academic year (Fall semester) should begin the previous November-December to have admission and assistantship applications submitted by February 15. Most assistantships are awarded several months in advance. Graduate School assistantships are awarded by the Graduate School and applications are due in January

d.    Recommendation of students for graduate assistantships will be made by the major professor and DGS to the Department Head. Senior Faculty providing assistantship support for the first year of the students MS and PhD program will receive higher priority for their students to be placed on Departmental assistantship during the second year on MS and the second and third year on PhD. Students selected to receive graduate assistantships will be notified by the Department

B.         Assistantship Recipients:

a.    Assistantships are subject to semesterly review by the major professor and Department. The usual maximum period a student may have a graduate assistantship will be:
               M.S. Candidate      2 years
               Ph.D. Candidate     3-4 years

b.    Recipients will be expected to assist with departmental work, which is normally coordinated by the major professor, DGS, and Department Head and is in addition to their own research. The objective of assisting with departmental work is to provide additional training for the student 

Students on regular graduate assistantships are expected to work a minimum of 14 h per week, or the equivalent thereof, over and beyond the work required to earn credit for ADSC 7000/7300 and 9000/9300 or other courses for which they are registered. This work may or may not be in duties associated with the student's research problem, and may be entirely teaching or research, or a combination of teaching and research duties. In general, graduate students are expected to be at work during normal hours of operation of the University. Students must notify their Major Professor of their class and work schedules, and request approval for absences. Graduate students on assistantship are considered “Temporary Employees” and therefore do not accrue time off. Failure to show up, properly notify major professor of absences, properly request leave to not disrupt class or research priorities, and following through with assigned tasks related to research, teaching, and assistantship obligations may result is loss of assistantship and dismissal.

Students on assistantship must meet the 100% semester time requirement to be eligible for a tuition waiver. If a student does not meet the 100% requirement (last day of classes of the semester in which the assistantship is awarded, including the semester in which they defend) the student will be responsible for paying that semester’s tuition back to the University in full.

All graduate students will be evaluated by their major professor annually prior to the start of the calendar year. A satisfactory evaluation will be required for renewal of Departmental assistantship funding.
As part of their final exam for each degree, the student’s advisory committee will complete the “Graduate Program Assessment Sheet” describing the learning outcomes achieved by the student. This form is a summary of the committee’s assessment of the student and is returned to the DGS.

It is highly desirable that graduate students gain teaching experience at some time during their course of study. All students on departmental funds for their assistantship, will be required to serve as TAs at some time during their program. Students (M.S. or Ph.D.) wishing to earn credit for teaching activities can register for ADSC 7990. Teaching assistant assignments involve preparing and presenting a lecture, preparing and grading of exam papers, or assisting undergraduate students in laboratories. Once a graduate student has been assigned to a course by the Department, the extent of involvement of the student in that course will be determined by the instructor of the course. Standard questionnaire forms will be used to evaluate teaching effectiveness of graduate teaching assistants. Since some TAs are assigned limited teaching roles in some courses, the instructor for each course will decide which, if any, TAs are to be evaluated. To be eligible for teaching awards and/or if on a teaching assistantship, graduate students must adhere to the requirements of the CTL (https://ctl.uga.edu).   

It is the duty of the student to see that the following steps are taken at the proper time and in the proper sequence. Students should download required dates from the Graduate School each semester: 

1.    A prospective candidate working towards a non-thesis MS degree should have an advisory committee approved by the DGS during the first or second semester of residence.  The advisory committee will consist of the major professor and at least two faculty members. The major professor and at least one other person on the advisory committee must be a regular or provisional member of the graduate faculty.   

2.    A prospective candidate working towards a non-thesis MS degree should file a Program of Study no later than the end of the first semester of residence. 

3.     All non-thesis MS students must complete an Annual Evaluation after meeting with their major professor who also signs the evaluation. Completed evaluation forms are turned in to the DGS by June 15 each year. 

 4.    As part of the requirements for the non-thesis MS degree, the student must register for 3h (but not more than 6 h) of Special Problems in Animal and Dairy Science (ADSC 8700 and/or 8710). The purpose of the Special Problem requirement is to provide an independent project for the student and additional experience in an emphasis area to facilitate their opportunities upon completing their degree program. This project should involve research, teaching, or extension program areas. It can involve working directly with animals and collecting experimental data, analyzing experimental samples, developing or evaluating teaching or extension programs and or writing a literature review. The project should involve approximately 6-10 h of work per week during the semester that the student is enrolled in ADSC 8700 or 8710. The project can be conducted over multiple semesters as needed. The student is required to write a paper based on scientific method and in Journal style and submit it to their graduate committee prior to their final NTMS exams. The paper is not intended to be a thesis and there is no official requirement for the paper to be published, but it is recognized that a publication or even an abstract is the best way for a student to demonstrate experience in a focus area. The project should be part of the subject material covered on the student’s final exam. The project is typically directed by the student’s major professor.       

5.    Final Examination(s). A final examination(s), both written and oral covering both the program of study and their special problem is required of all non-thesis MS candidates. Students will have both written and oral examinations. The written exam is given during the student’s last semester and preferably around the mid-point of the semester. The Major Professor will request questions from each member of the student’s advisory committee. The Major Professor will consolidate these questions into one written exam and administer it to the student. The student will be given the written exam and typically allowed to complete it within one working day. A copy of the completed examination will be provided to each member of the student’s committee after the student completes the exam. The main intention of the written exam is to provide subject material that is expected for the student to be prepared for and master on their oral examination. If the major professor or other committee members feel that the student has not thoroughly or satisfactorily answered any part of the written exam, they may ask the student to re-take the exam. After completion of the written exam, the final oral examination will be administered by the advisory committee, with the major professor serving as chair. All members of the advisory committee must be present. The committee will vote to pass or fail the student after the completion of the oral examination. The student must receive a passing vote from the majority of their advisory committee to pass their exams (not more than 1 dissenting vote).   

6.    Final Clearance. All requirements for the degree must be completed and reported in writing by the DGS to the Graduate School by the date set by the Graduate School. A student must be enrolled for a minimum of 3 h of credit the semester in which he/she completes degree requirements. 

It is the duty of the student to ensure that the following steps are taken at the proper time and in the proper sequence. Students should download required dates from the Graduate School each semester: 

1.    A prospective candidate working towards a MS degree should have an advisory committee approved by the DGS during the first or second semester of residence. The advisory committee will consist of the major professor and at least two other faculty members. The major professor and at least one other person on the advisory committee must be a member of the graduate faculty.   

2.    A prospective candidate working towards a MS degree should file a Program of Study no later than the end of the second semester of residence. 

3.    All students must complete an Annual Evaluation after meeting with their major professor who also signs the evaluation. Completed Evaluation forms are turned in to the DGS by June 15 each year. 

4.    A prospective MS candidate should have the thesis research project proposal approved by the advisory committee by the end of the second semester of residence. To graduate, a student must maintain a 3.0 GPA on all courses on the Program of Study. Students should present a MS thesis research proposal seminar during their first year and a second seminar on the results of their project during the second year of the program.    

5.    MS Thesis requirements: The Graduate School style manual and Policies and Procedures for electronic thesis preparation and submittal are available online. The major professor should receive a corrected and approved draft of the thesis in time to be reviewed and edited before being delivered to the other committee members. The thesis approved by the Major Professor should be given to the other committee members at least 3 weeks before the final thesis defense. Written assent of two of the three committee members will be required before a thesis will be approved as ready for a final defense. The thesis, signed by the major professor, must be electronically submitted to the Graduate School for a format check approximately one month before graduation a final corrected/approved version of the thesis must be submitted approximately two weeks prior to graduation. Thesis/dissertation students who do not meet deadlines for current semester graduation must register for a minimum of 3 h for next semester.   

6.    The MS student is required to present an exit seminar on their thesis research as their degree program is being completed. This is typically done on the same day as the final thesis exam. The DGS should be notified of the seminar date, time and title at least 3 weeks prior to the defense. 

7.    MS Final thesis defense: A final examination mainly on the thesis is required of all MS candidates. The committee will vote to pass or fail the student, and record their actions on Graduate School forms, after the completion of the oral defense. The student must receive a passing vote from the majority of their advisory committee to pass their defense (no more than 1 dissent). The final defense will be administered by the advisory committee, with the major professor serving as chair. All members of the advisory committee must be present during the defense or linked to the examination by conference call or tele-video conferencing.   

8.    Final Clearance. All requirements for the degree must be completed and reported to the Graduate School by the date set by the Graduate School. The major professor, advisory committee members and DGS sign the Thesis Defense and Final Exam Approval Form when the thesis defense is complete, and all required changes have been made to the thesis. A student must enroll for a minimum of 3 hours of credit the semester in which he/she completes degree requirements. 

It is the duty of the student to see that the following steps are taken in their proper sequence. Students should download required dates from the Graduate School each semester: 

1.    Advisory Committee: Upon recommendation of the major professor and the DGS, the Dean of the Graduate School appoints an Advisory Committee consisting of the major professor as chairman and 3-4 additional members. One member of the committee must be from outside the Department. The chairman must be a regular member of the graduate faculty and two other members of this committee must be members of the graduate faculty. An electronic form is available on the Graduate School’s web page that must be completed and signed for this purpose. The Advisory Committee, in consultation with the student, is responsible for planning the student's program, approving a subject for the dissertation, and arranging preliminary and final examinations. Because of the nature of its duties, it is necessary that the Advisory Committee be appointed as soon as possible after the student has been admitted into the graduate program. The Advisory Committee must be appointed by the end of the student's first semester in residence. A PhD student should have the dissertation project proposal approved by the advisory committee by the end of the second semester of residence. Students should present a PhD dissertation research proposal seminar during their first year and a second seminar on their research results during their last year of the program.    

2.    Program of Study: A preliminary Program of Study, developed by the student and major professor and approved by a majority of members of the Advisory Committee, must be submitted to the DGS by the end of the student's first year of residency. This program should include relevant graduate courses taken prior to those which appear on the doctoral Program of Study. The Final Program of Study must be submitted for the approval of the Dean of the Graduate School prior to the notification of the oral comprehensive examination to the Graduate School by the DGS.  

3.    All students must complete an Annual Evaluation after meeting with their major professor who also signs the evaluation. Completed Evaluation forms are turned into the DGS by June 15 each year. 

 4.    Comprehensive (Preliminary) Examination: After completing the Program of Study the student must take and pass both written and oral comprehensive examinations. These examinations are administered by the student’s Advisory Committee. The committee administering written doctoral examinations will spell out in detail what a student needs to do to prepare for a second and final examination if their first attempt was unsatisfactory. After a student has passed all phases of the written examination and has satisfactorily completed the courses required in the doctoral program, as well as the requirements which may have been set by the Advisory Committee, they can take the preliminary oral examination. The student must notify the DGS of the date, time and place of the oral preliminary examination. The DGS must notify the Graduate School at least 2 weeks prior to the exam, therefore, the student should communicate with the DGS with enough time to allow notification (at least 3 weeks). Immediately after the oral examination, the major professor should report the results on the approval form to the Dean of the Graduate School via the DGS. All members of the advisory committee must be present (in person or by tele-video conference or conference call) for the entire oral examination.  

 5.    Admission to Candidacy: Normally, Admission to Candidacy is requested immediately after the successful completion of the preliminary oral examination. Application forms for Admission to Candidacy must be filed by the date set by the Graduate School. The following requirements should be completed at this stage: 

    a.     Program of Study has been approved 

    b.     Prerequisites set at the time of admission have been satisfied 

    c.     An average of 3.0 or higher has been maintained on all graduate courses taken and all courses on the Program of Study and there is not a grade below 2.0 for any course on the Program of Study 

    d.     Preliminary written and oral examinations were passed and reported to the Graduate School. A form is available for the request for Admission to Candidacy 

    e.     The residency requirement has been fulfilled  

After admission to candidacy, a student must register for a combined total of 10 h of dissertation or other appropriate graduate credit during the completion of the degree program. Students planning to graduate the same semester they enter candidacy must be admitted to candidacy by the published deadline for candidacy during that semester and register for 10 h. PhD candidates on assistantship should continue to register for a full load of hours. 

6.    Application for Graduation: A student must complete the application for graduation during the first week of the semester that they anticipate graduating. If a student does not graduate as planned, he/she must notify the Registrar and the Graduate School by letter and give the new  proposed date of graduation. 

7.    Dissertation and Final Oral Examination: Detailed instructions for the preparation of the electronic submittal and format check of the dissertation may be obtained from the Graduate School office or online at their web site. When the dissertation has been approved by the major professor, it is submitted to the Advisory Committee at least 3 weeks before the final oral defense. The graduate student must notify the DGS at least 3 weeks prior to their defense and file the appropriate dissertation and final defense form with the Graduate School. After the defense and the dissertation is approved, it must carry the signature of the student's major professor and the Dean of the Graduate School. The Dean's signature must be obtained at least one week prior to graduation. Dissertation students who do not meet deadlines for current semester graduation must register for a minimum of 3 h for the next semester.   

A.    General: Each MS or PhD candidate should be familiar with degree requirements established by the Graduate School as outlined in the Graduate Bulletin and those set by the Department. It is the responsibility of each student to take initiative for fulfilling these requirements. Major Professors are available if there are questions regarding requirements. Each graduate student is required to have an annual evaluation by their major professor. Completed evaluation forms are to be turned into the DGS by June 15 of each year.   

B.    Research responsibilities: The major professor is responsible for developing and supervising research responsibilities. The responsibilities will vary from student to student because of research programs and priorities. Students in MS and PhD programs should be aware that these degree programs are full-time responsibilities. 

C.    Teaching responsibilities: Graduate students are encouraged to have teaching assignments during their stay in the Department. The DGS and Department Head will evaluate teaching assistant needs and make student assignments based on communication with the course instructor and major professor. 

D.    Vacations: Graduate students on assistantship, no matter what the source of funding for the assistantship, do not accrue any official vacation time, other than the 12 official University holiday days. Assistantships provide a yearly stipend, which carries an obligation/schedule more like the work schedule of other UGA employees and less like the schedule of typical students. There are "Instructional holidays" like spring break and fall break, which are NOT on the list of 12 holiday days. Although there are no classes those days, the University is open and working. Similarly, University facilities are open during the time between Fall semester finals and the start of classes in the Spring – the five days between Christmas and New Years are the only days the University is closed. Semester breaks are an excellent time to make progress in on thesis and dissertation research. It is expected that graduate students will spend most of the time during the semester breaks working on their research so that they can graduate in a timely manner. Discuss with your faculty advisor in advance your plans for personal leave time. Failure to notify the major professor/direct supervisor of absence in a timely manner or properly requesting personal leave may lead to loss of assistantship and dismissal. 

E.    Departmental Seminars: All graduate students pursuing the M.S. and Ph.D. degrees are expected to attend departmental seminars, enroll in graduate seminar (ADSC 8800) and participate in journal club type programs within their discipline areas. Details are described below. 

All graduate students pursuing the MS and PhD degrees are expected to attend departmental seminars, enroll in graduate seminar (ADSC 8800) and participate in journal club type programs within their discipline areas. MS students (thesis and non-thesis) must take at least 1 h of ADSC 8800 and present a seminar in the course for credit. Doctoral students are required to have a minimum of 2 h of ADSC 8800 which should include a research proposal seminar and another seminar on research results or another topic. Students are expected to attend the organized departmental seminar program. Attendance can be considered a part of expected performance of graduate students and will be a condition of continued support from the Department and consideration of what constitutes satisfactory performance toward their degree. No course credit will be given for this activity.   

All MS and PhD graduate students will still be expected to give a publicly announced exit seminar in conjunction with their thesis and dissertation defense. Non-thesis option students will be expected to make a presentation to their advisory committee at a minimum. No course credit will be given for this activity. 

A graduate seminar will be established by graduate faculty and offered each semester as ADSC 8800. All graduate students will be expected to enroll in the course for the number of hours indicated above. Those enrolled for credit will be required to make a presentation. Seminars will be evaluated by the audience and comments summarized by the course instructor. The schedule for the seminars will be announced and they will be open to the department.  

A.     Work with the GPA to maintain a master file of all graduate student records. 

B.     Work with the GPA to serve as the contact person between the Graduate School and Department in connection with: 

a.     Correspondence with the Graduate School.     
b.     Departmental recommendations on admissions to the Graduate School. 
c.     Signing all Graduate School forms representing the Department. 
d.     Any other problem related to a student and the student's program. 

C.     Chair the Departmental Graduate Committee and act with full involvement in the screening and evaluation of applications for graduate training. Summarize evaluations and make recommendations to the Department Head and then to the Graduate School. 

D.     Work with the GPA to oversee and manage pre-registration for each semester. 

E.     Approve the Advisory Committees for MS and PhD candidates in consultation with the major professor. 

F.     Approve a student’s Program of Study. 

G.     Confer with Department Head about problems with graduate students or programs. 

H.     Inform prospective students of requirements for admission, areas of study available, procedures for applying for admission and for assistantships, etc. 

I.     Counsel with students on problems and concerns related to graduate programs. 

A.     For prospective M.S degree candidate: 

a.     The major professor of an MS student must be a member of the graduate faculty of the University. 
b.     Counsels with student regarding financial support and other matters pertaining to his/her relationship in the graduate program. It should be pointed out that fulfilling all of the requirements for the degree is the responsibility of the student, not the major professor. 
c.     Serves as principal advisor for all aspects of the student's program of study. 
d.     Meet with student annually to evaluate progress and complete annual evaluation form. 
e.     Serves as chairman of the Advisory Committee. 

B.     For prospective Ph.D. degree candidate: 

a.     The major professor must be a member of the graduate faculty of the University. 
b.     The major professor will counsel with the student in all matters pertaining to the graduate student's pursuit of the advanced degree. 
c.     Meet with student annually to evaluate progress and complete annual evaluation form. 
d.     Serve as chairman of the Advisory Committee. 
e.     Counsels with student regarding financial support and other matters pertaining to his/her relationship in the graduate program. Fulfilling all of the requirements for the degree is the responsibility of the student, not the major professor. 

A.     While the faculty discourages changes in graduate student-major professor assignments, legitimate circumstances do arise whereby changes in graduate student-major professor assignments are beneficial to both parties concerned. In cases where a graduate student elects to change major professor or a major professor elects not to remain as major professor of a graduate student, the DGS and Department Head will assist both parties in arbitration of a fair and objective settlement. 

B.     Justification for changes in graduate student-major professor assignment:  

a.     Graduate student changes career goals
b.     Advisor unable to fulfill commitment to graduate student training because of illness, temporary leave, special assignment, etc.
c.     A graduate student-major professor conflict may arise that cannot be settled to the mutual benefit of both parties concerned 

C.     Procedures for changing graduate student-major professor assignment: 

a.    The graduate student or major professor should send a written petition with justification(s) for change to DGS and Department Head. If a mutual agreement was arbitrated between graduate student and major professor, a letter of mutual agreement should be written by DGS and signed and dated by graduate student, major professor and DGS. If no agreement can be reached, the matter should be referred to the DGS and Department Head for a final decision 
b.     In all petitions, willingness of a second qualified major professor to direct the graduate student in a degree program is a prerequisite for a graduate student changing major professors. If a willing advisor cannot be identified the student may be placed on “no clear path” designation resulting in dismissal from the program after one semester. 

This committee oversees and coordinates the Animal and Dairy Science graduate program. The committee is appointed by the Department Head and consists of at least five faculty members. A majority of the members must be on Graduate faculty. Appointments are for a minimum three-year term and will be rotational, as needed, to allow continuity. The chairman of the committee (DGS) will be appointed by the Department Head. The president of the departmental graduate student organization will be a non-voting member of the Graduate Committee. The president of the graduate student organization will not be present for, nor have inputs into discussions of items 2a, b, and c under Duties of the Graduate Committee. The Department Head will be an ex-officio member of this committee. The chairman of the committee will also assume the responsibilities of DGS. The composition of the committee should be such that fair representation of departmental programs is evident. Members of the committee may be reappointed but should not serve more than two consecutive terms depending on graduate faculty availability. A member may be reappointed after a break in service of three years. Appointments are effective July 1 of each year. 

Duties of the ADSC Graduate Committee

A.     Make recommendations to the faculty on: 

a.     Degree programs 
b.     Graduate policy  
c.     Graduate student teaching opportunities and responsibilities 
d.     Departmental service and work service responsibilities of graduate students 
e.     Procedure for changing advisors 
f.     Status of the training program and proposed changes 
g.     Other duties as assigned 
                                                                                           

B.     Make recommendations to the Department Head on: 

a.     Admissions, probations and dismissals 
b.     Assistantships 
c.     Degrees to be conferred 
d.     Teaching assignments for graduate students 
e.     Maintenance and desired changes in the training procedures to foster excellence in the graduate program 

A.     Students will be assigned a desk by the GPA, Susan Bradley room 204, insofar as possible. Conduct in offices and cubicles is expected to be professional. Desks are not guaranteed, and priority is given to PhD students then MS students on assistantship. Students not on assistantship provided a desk may be asked to relinquish their desk if needed. 

B.     Appropriate keys, as approved by your Major Professor, may be checked out from the office manager, Room 102. 

C.     Departmental supplies and equipment may be used for research and teaching. Supplies and equipment (paper, printing, etc.) are not permitted for registered courses. Typing and printing of thesis or dissertation must be handled and paid for by the student. However, research submitted to journals may be facilitated with Departmental support.  

D.     Business letters and documents for graduate students must be approved and arranged for by the major professor. If a student is on a teaching assignment, all materials necessary for instruction of the course will be handled through the faculty person assigned as instructor of record. 

E.     News releases are normally channeled through the College. It is proper for a graduate student to prepare a news release in cooperation with his/her major professor.

F.     Prior to taking any trip on university funds, a travel request form must be completed, initialed by the major professor and submitted to the Department Head (at least two days prior to in-state travel, four weeks for international travel and ten days prior to out-of-state travel).

G.     Departmental vehicles are available for use in carrying out research work upon approval of the major professor. Students must be on the payroll before driving Departmental vehicles. Students can sign out department vehicles at the main receptionist office (room 101). Before checking the vehicle in, it must be serviced (gasoline, oil, water) at the Physical Plant Service Station with charges being made to the appropriate account number and research project number and signed for by the driver. In the event of an accident, a State of Georgia Motor Vehicle Report must be filed within five days. See appendix for Experiment Station Policy. 

H.     Visiting undergraduate and graduate students and intern-students are not guaranteed a desk and should consult with their departmental advisor for working space in their lab or other arrangements. 

A.         Health Insurance                    

Graduate student health information about eligibility, mandatory and voluntary enrollment, university contribution, and waiver process are linked to descriptions on the UGA Human Resources Web page (http://www.uhs.uga.edu/insurance/index.html).  

All graduate students on assistantship and fellowships and international students holding "F" or "J" visa status are required to have health insurance. Students already having health insurance can waive the mandatory plan, but it must be done early in the semester. The University provides a 40% contribution to the health insurance premium.       

The students will be charged for their contribution to the insurance premium contribution by 3 payroll deductions during September, October and November for Fall and February, March, and April for Spring/Summer. There is also a voluntary plan for UGA students who are not required to have insurance if they are taking more than 6 h. 

B.         Workers Compensation Process:  

If an employee needs emergency care transport to the nearest emergency room. An ambulance is a covered expense. Call 1-877-656-7475 to report the injury after emergency care (if needed). After reporting the injury the worker can call 1-800-900-1582 to arrange other medical care and/or check with UGA graduate student health insurance guidelines. By the second business day after the injury fill out the First report of injury package of forms and attach a Workers compensation notice and forward to Workers Compensation Human Resources UGA 30602. Before the second day of missed work complete the Workers compensation wage statement and send it to Dept of Admin. Services/Risk Mgt. Services P.O. Box 38198 Atlanta GA 30334. The student or major professor should notify the Department Head and Graduate Coordinator as soon as possible if an accident occurs (http:www.hr.uga.edu/work_comp_guidelines.html).       

Use of state-owned vehicles must be closely monitored to ensure compliance with state laws and prevention of criticism of the University. The following policies and procedures shall govern the use of state-owned vehicles under the control of the Georgia Agricultural Experiment Stations: 

A.     Vehicles shall be operated by current UGA employees holding a valid Georgia Driver's license, where required, and the use of such vehicles shall be for official purposes consistent with requirements of the agricultural research program of the College of Agriculture Experiment Stations. No driver shall use alcoholic beverages or drugs while operating or attempting to operate a vehicle. Research units operating motor pools may enforce additional restrictions not inconsistent with these policies and procedures. 
B.     When a state-owned vehicle is used out-of-town for research purposes it can be used for the convenience of employees to obtain lodging, food, etc. Out-of-town use is defined to exclude use for the convenience of employees in the county where the vehicle is headquartered. 
C.     Visiting scholars, interns, and non-assistantship graduate students are not considered employees and are prohibited from driving or operating University and Departmental vehicles and motorized equipment. 
D.     In the event of an accident involving a state-owned vehicle, the driver shall follow the procedure outline below: 

An accident occurring on the University of Georgia Campus, Athens, Georgia, will be reported immediately to the Police Department, Public Safety Division. Accidents occurring on university properties outside Athens will be reported to the appropriate security personnel at the facility. If the accident occurs off University property, the investigation request is made to the local police or Georgia State Patrol. All accidents should be reported to Business and Finance Office as soon as possible so that the insurance carrier can be notified. Explicit instructions are included in the glove compartment of each University vehicle. The vehicle should not be moved before an investigation officer arrives. An accident report form and other forms as needed are then filled out, (forms are in the glove compartment of each vehicle and include specific instructions for their completion). 

Keys to Success as a Graduate Student

The purpose of graduate studies at ADSC is to help each graduate student become an expert in one of several research fields in animal science. It is the responsibility of the department to provide an appropriate academic environment and facilities for each student to prosper. Critical evaluation of projects, thesis and dissertation research progress will be conducted to ensure success. Substantial resources are required to train graduate students, including a substantial time commitment by the student, the student’s major professor and the student’s graduate committee. Graduate students are expected to be genuinely interested in their graduate studies and achieve success upon graduation in their specific fields of research training. Students will commit substantial time to their graduate program and do their best to become experts in their field of study. They will contribute intellectually, not just labor, to their project. They will keep in touch with the literature to know of new major developments and be aware of the prominent scientists or leaders in their field of study. The students will possess or develop writing skills to a point where they can write drafts of scientific papers with no substantial help from the major professor, in English and properly structured. The students will develop speaking skills to a point where their ideas are readily communicated and understood. The student will use nearly all their intellectual capacity to succeed in his/her graduate studies. The students will abide by the University culture of honesty and integrity. Students should progress within an expected time frame and according to this manner of conduct.

Being a Scientist vs. Being a Technician

The main characteristic of a real scientist is an inquisitive mind. A scientist asks why and how about things/ideas. A scientist is open to new ideas.

Signs of a promising/unpromising student