Department of Animal Science Macdonald Campus 21,111 Lakeshore Road Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, QC H9X 3V9 Canada

Department of Animal Science
Macdonald Campus
21,111 Lakeshore Road
Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, QC H9X 3V9
Canada

3.1 Staff

3.2 Programs Offered

The Department provides laboratory facilities for research work leading to the degrees of Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy in the disciplines of animal breeding (genetics), nutrition, reproductive physiology, molecular biology, milk biochemistry and information systems. Within these areas advantage may be taken of strong research programs and expertise in molecular biology and milk biochemistry. A new inter-disciplinary option in Bioinformatics is also available for doctoral students.

Students registered in the Department of Animal Science may develop programs in conjunction with other units at McGill, for example the Nutrition and Food Science Centre or the School of Dietetics and Human Nutrition.

Each student has an advisory committee composed of the thesis supervisor and at least two other faculty members.

3.3 Admission Requirements

M.Sc. (Thesis)

Candidates are required to have either a Bachelor's degree in Agriculture or a B.Sc. degree in an appropriate, related discipline with an equivalent cumulative grade point average of 3.0/4.0 (second class-upper division) or 3.2/4.0 during the last two years of full-time university study. High grades are expected in courses considered by the academic unit to be preparatory to the graduate program.

Candidates are normally required to have a M.Sc. degree in an area related to the chosen field of specialization for the Ph.D. program.

3.4 Application Procedures

Applicants for graduate studies through academic units in the Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences must forward supporting documents to:

Applications will be considered upon receipt of a signed and completed application form, $80 application fee, and the following supporting documents:

- Two official copies of all university level transcripts with proof of degree(s) granted. Transcripts written in a language other than English or French must be accompanied by a certified translation. An explanation of the grading system used by the applicant's university is essential. It is the applicant's responsibility to arrange for transcripts to be sent.

It is desirable to submit a list of the titles of courses taken in the major subject, since transcripts often give code numbers only. Applicants must be graduates of a university of recognized reputation and hold a Bachelor's degree equivalent to a McGill Honours degree in a subject closely related to the one selected for graduate work. This implies that about one-third of all undergraduate courses should have been devoted to the subject itself and another third to cognate subjects.

- Two letters of recommendation on letterhead (official paper) of originating institution or bearing the university seal and with original signatures from two instructors familiar with the applicant's work, preferably in the applicant's area of specialization. It is the applicant's responsibility to arrange for these letters to be sent.

- Applicants to graduate studies whose mother tongue is not English and who have not completed an undergraduate or graduate degree from a recognized foreign institution where English is the language of instruction or from a recognized Canadian institution (anglophone or francophone), must submit documented proof of competency in oral and written English, by appropriate exams, e.g., TOEFL (minimum score 550, 213 on computerized test, or 86 on the Internet-based test, with each component score not less than 20) or IELTS (minimum 6.5 overall band). The MCHE is not considered equivalent. Results must be submitted as part of the application. The University code is 0935 (McGill University, Montreal); please use Department code 31(Graduate Schools), Biological Sciences - Agriculture, to ensure that your TOEFL reaches this office without delay.

- A fee of $80 Canadian must accompany each application (including McGill students), otherwise it cannot be considered. This sum must be remitted using one of the following methods:

1. Credit card (by completing the appropriate section of the application form). NB: online applications must be paid for by credit card.

6. An international draft in Canadian funds drawn on a Canadian bank requested from the applicant's bank in his/her own country.

- Applications, including all supporting documents must reach the department no later than May 15 (March 1 for International) for the Fall Term (September); October 15 (July 1 for International) for the Winter Term (January); February 15 (November 1 for International) for the Summer Term (May). It may be necessary to delay review of the applicant's file until the following admittance period if application materials including supporting documents are received after these dates. International applicants are advised to apply well in advance of the deadline because immigration procedures may be lengthy. Applicants are encouraged to make use of the online application form available on the Web at www.mcgill.ca/applying/graduate.

Financial aid is very limited and highly competitive. It is suggested that students give serious consideration to their financial planning before submitting an application.

Acceptance to all programs depends on a staff member agreeing to serve as the student's supervisor and the student obtaining financial support. Normally, a student will not be accepted unless adequate financial support can be provided by the student and/or the student's supervisor. Academic units cannot guarantee financial support via teaching assistantships or other funds.

- Some applicants whose academic degrees and standing entitle them to serious consideration for admission to graduate studies, but who are considered inadequately prepared in the subject selected may be admitted to a Qualifying Program if they have met the Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies Office minimum CGPA of 3.0/4.0. The course(s) to be taken in a Qualifying Program will be prescribed by the academic unit concerned. Qualifying students are registered in graduate studies, but not as candidates for a degree. Only one qualifying year is permitted. Successful completion of a qualifying program does not guarantee admission to a degree program.

3.5 Program Requirements

Four one-term courses or the equivalent and two seminar courses at the postgraduate level are required, as a minimum, although a student may be advised to take additional courses as specified by his/her advisory committee. Advanced undergraduate courses may be considered for graduate credit if approved by the student's committee and the Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies Office and passed at the graduate level; generally, this will not constitute more than one of the four required courses.

A minimum of 45 credits and completion of an acceptable thesis is required for the M.Sc. degree; 14 credits are for course work and 31 credits for the thesis (ANSC 680, ANSC 681, ANSC 682, and ANSC 683). Exceptional M.Sc. students may be considered for Ph.D. status after one full year in the Department.

The M.Sc. Applied (Non-Thesis) degree is oriented to animal scientists already working in industry or government, to undergraduate students inspired by concepts in sustainable and integrated animal agriculture, to project leaders interested in animal resource management and to veterinarians. The program aims to provide graduate training in applied areas of animal production with a view towards integrating technology and management in animal production with allied areas of agricultural resource utilization.


ANSC 643	(3)	Project 1
ANSC 644	(3)	Project 2
ANSC 645	(3)	Project 3
ANSC 646	(3)	Project 4
ANSC 647	(3)	Project 5
Complementary Courses (30 credits)
12 credits from the following list:
AEMA 610	(3)	Statistical Methods 2
ANSC 504	(3)	Population Genetics
ANSC 508	(3)	Tools in Animal Biotechnology
ANSC 551	(3)	Carbohydrate & Lipid Metabolism
ANSC 552	(3)	Protein Metabolism & Nutrition
ANSC 605	(3)	Estimation: Genetic Parameters
ANSC 606	(3)	Selection Index & Animal Improvement
ANSC 607	(3)	Linear Models in Agricultural Research
ANSC 611	(3)	Advanced Reproductive Biology
ANSC 622	(3)	Selected Topics in Molecular Biology
ANSC 630	(3)	Experimental Techniques: Animal Science: Macro
ANSC 635	(3)	Vitamins and Minerals in Nutrition
ANSC 636	(3)	Analysis - Animal Breeding Research Data
ANSC 691	(3)	Special Topic: Animal Sciences
ANSC 692	(3)	Topic in Animal Sciences 1
18 credits from the following list:
AGEC 630	(3)	Food and Agricultural Policy
AGEC 633	(3)	Environmental and Natural Resource Economics
AGEC 642	(3)	Economics of Agricultural Development
BREE 518	(3)	Bio-Treatment of Wastes
BTEC 501	(3)	Bioinformatics
BTEC 502	(3)	Biotechnology Ethics and Society
ENTO 550	(3)	Veterinary and Medical Entomology
FDSC 535	(3)	Food Biotechnology
PLNT 602	(3)	Forage Crop Experimentation
PLNT 636	(3)	Epidemiology and Management of Plant Disease
SOIL 521	(3)	Soil Microbiology and Biochemistry
WILD 605	(3)	Wildlife Ecology

Ph.D.

Since the Ph.D. is primarily a research degree, the amount of course work required may comprise a smaller portion of the total than is the case for the M.Sc., this will depend on the background of the individual student, and must be approved by the student's advisory committee. This course work must include two seminar courses at the graduate level and the Ph.D. Comprehensive Examination ANSC 701.


ANSC 701	(0)	Doctoral Comprehensive Examination
ANSC 797	(1)	Animal Science Seminar 3
ANSC 798	(1)	Animal Science Seminar 4
COMP 616	(3)	Bioinformatics Seminar
Complementary Courses (6 credits)
6 credits from the following courses:
BINF 621	(3)	Bioinformatics: Molecular Biology
BMDE 652	(3)	Bioinformatics: Proteomics
BTEC 555	(3)	Structural Bioinformatics
COMP 618	(3)	Bioinformatics: Functional Genomics
PHGY 603	(3)	Systems Biology and Biophysics
Additional courses at the 500, 600, or 700 level may be required at the discretion of the candidate's supervisory committee.
Thesis - Required

3.6 Courses

Students preparing to register should consult the Web at www.mcgill.ca/minerva (click Class Schedule) for the most up-to-date list of courses available; courses may have been added, rescheduled or cancelled after this Calendar went to press. Class Schedule lists courses by term and includes days, times, locations, and names of instructors.

(3) (Fall) (3 lectures) Considerations of the basic principles of Mendelian genetics dealing with the genetic properties of populations and extension to the simultaneous segregation of genes at many loci, polygenic inheritence and an introduction to quantitative genetics, including mechanisms of transmission, segregation, linkages between genes and the effect of natural and artificial selection.

(3) (Prerequisites: AEBI 202, ANSC 400.) New concepts and applications of animal biotechnology in agriculture, biomedicine, environmental preservation.

(3) (Fall) (Restriction: Permission of instructor.) Essential laboratory techniques in animal biotechnology: extraction of nucleic acids, PCR technology, gel electrophoresis, construction of gene expression vectors, transformation of bacterial and mammalian cells and monitoring gene expression using reporter genes.

(3) (Winter) (3 lectures) 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.

(3) (Fall) (3 lectures) 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.

(3) (Restriction: Not open to students who have taken ANSC 460.) 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.

(3) (Winter) (3 lectures and one 2-hour lab) 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.

(3) (3 lectures) (Given in alternate years.) General methods for the estimation of components of variance and co-variance are considered, with specific emphasis given to their application to heritability, repeatability and genetic correlation estimation.

(3) (2 lectures, 1 seminar) (Prerequisite: No prerequisites, but students need to have a solid background in reproductive physiology.) (Note: Coure offered in alternate years.) 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.

(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.) 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.

(3) (1 lecture and 2 seminars) (Prerequisite: MICR 500 or permission of instructor) Key examples of applications of molecular biology to the study of animal physiology and animal genetics will be drawn from the current literature and discussed in depth. The course has a dual purpose. It will familiarize students with current events at the forefront of molecular biology and will teach them how to read and critically evaluate research publications.

(3) (1 lecture, 1 lab) Lectures and laboratories dealing with animal experimentation. Emphasis on the design and conduction of animal studies, selection of experimental animals, chemical and biological assays, statistical analysis, interpretation of data and preparation of technical reports.

(3) (3 lectures) Modularised course dealing with advanced topics in Nutrition. The core of the course will focus on vitamins and minerals.

(3) (3 lectures) An advanced graduate course to give training and experience in statistical techniques applied to quantitative genetics and animal breeding. To consider aspects of data handling of large data sets (100,000 observations), checks for consistency and connectedness in data. Considerations in choosing efficient analytical procedures in fitting these models and development of efficient numerical algorithms to apply these procedures.

(3) Review of the literature and design of the project. This project relates to the M.Sc. Applied (non-thesis) degree.

(3) Continuation of the review of the literature and design of project. This project relates to the M.Sc. Applied (non-thesis) degree.

(3) Execution and write-up of project. This project relates to the M.Sc. Applied (non-thesis) degree.

(7) Independent research under the direction of a supervisor toward completion of M.Sc. thesis.

(3) Prescribed reading, conference or practical work on a selected topic in the student's area of specialization, not otherwise available in other courses; under staff supervision. An approved course outline must be on file in the Departmental office prior to registration deadline.

(1) (1 hour) One of two seminars to be given by all students in an M.Sc. program. Consists of a review of literature in relation to the student's proposed research and an experimental design of the research to be conducted.

(1) (1 hour) One of two seminars to be given by all students in an M.Sc. program. Presentation of a current scientific topic which is not related to the student's research. The topic for the presentation should be cleared by the thesis supervisor.

(1) (1 hour) One of two seminars to be given by all students in a Ph.D. program. Review of literature in relation to the student's proposed research and an experimental design of the research to be conducted.

(1) (1 hour) One of two seminars to be given by all students in a Ph.D. program. Presentation of a current scientific topic which is not related to the student's research. The topic for the presentation should be cleared by the thesis supervisor.

3 Animal Science