Graduate students working in lab with scientific instrument

Admissions to the Animal Sciences, PhD will be suspended as of fall 2026 and will be discontinued as of fall 2032. 

Students interested in the Animal Sciences PhD may want to consider the Animal and Dairy Sciences PhD, a new program as of Fall 2025. This new program replaces the Animal Sciences PhD. If you have any questions, please contact the department.

The Animal and Dairy Sciences Department offers one of the most comprehensive animal and dairy science graduate programs in the country. Faculty interests and research funding span diverse areas of focus with emphases ranging from in vivo and in vitro studies that probe biological relationships at a fundamental mechanistic level to using bioinformatics and data analytics to study fundamental biology and development of decision support tools for dairy farm management. The common thread through these varied interests is the motivation to address current practical issues in animal agriculture.

Development of an individual course of study is flexible to meet the needs of students with varied interests. Fundamental training in basic science fields related to the area of interest is required. There are nine program areas for prospective applicants to review and choose from — see website. Minimum admissions requirements of the Graduate School must be met. Specific degree requirements are available from the department.

Graduate students in the department are a mix of domestic students, from within and outside of Wisconsin, and international students from multiple countries. This diversity brings a national and global perspective to research, instruction, extension, and cultural understanding. Graduates find employment in academic teaching and research, in professional veterinary or medical degree programs, in industrial research in the food and feed industries, in laboratory research programs with governmental and international agencies, private corporations, and in industrial or institutional management positions requiring a high level of scientific training.

The greatest share of PhD training will be achieved through the selection and pursuit of a research project in a discipline of animal and dairy sciences in which the student has a strong interest. Students exercise individual initiative in the planning and execution of research projects. Every effort is made to start students on research problems early in their graduate careers.

Research Focus Areas

Students may choose to focus on the areas of nutrition, rumen microbiology, reproductive physiology–endocrinology, lactational physiology, genetics, animal breeding, animal behavior, muscle biology, meat science, cell biology, animal health, immunity and toxicology, international agriculture or precision agriculture. Considerable opportunity for study exists in joint programs with bacteriology, toxicology, biochemistry, the interdepartmental graduate program in nutritional sciences, genetics, endocrinology, reproductive physiology training program, food science, physiology, agricultural and applied economics, biometry, cellular and molecular biology, pharmaceutical sciences, chemical and biological engineering, bio-engineering, comparative biosciences, and anatomy.

Admissions

Admissions to the Animal Sciences, PhD will be suspended as of fall 2026 and will be discontinued as of fall 2032.

Students interested in the Animal Sciences PhD may want to consider the Animal and Dairy Sciences PhD, a new program as of Fall 2025. This new program will replace the Animal Sciences PhD. If you have any questions, please contact the department.

Please consult the table below for key information about this degree program’s admissions requirements. The program may have more detailed admissions requirements, which can be found below the table or on the program’s website.

Graduate admissions is a two-step process between academic programs and the Graduate School. Applicants must meet the minimum requirements of the Graduate School as well as the program(s). Once you have researched the graduate program(s) you are interested in, apply online.

Fall Deadline May 1 for international applicants; August 1 for domestic applicants
Spring Deadline October 1 for international applicants; December 1 for domestic applicants
Summer Deadline March 1 for international applicants; May 1 for domestic applicants
GRE (Graduate Record Examinations) Not required but may be considered if available.
English Proficiency Test Refer to the Graduate School: Minimum Requirements for Admission policy: https://policy.wisc.edu/library/UW-1241.
Other Test(s) (e.g., GMAT, MCAT) n/a
Letters of Recommendation Required 3

Students with satisfactory undergraduate or graduate training in any biological science including emphasis on basic science courses will have suitable backgrounds for graduate studies in Animal Sciences. Typically, students admitted to the program have GPAs of 3.2 or higher; candidates with a lower GPA may be considered for admission under special circumstances.

Required Documents

  1. Personal statement/reasons for graduate study: review the Graduate School's page for guidance.
  2. Three letters of recommendation. The process for letters of recommendation is outlined on the Graduate School's admissions page. Letters should be from faculty who are familiar with your academic abilities and goals. Letters from supervisors that provide a character reference are also acceptable. The letters of recommendation should be submitted with the online application.
  3. Transcripts or academic records from each institution attended. These need to be scanned and uploaded with the electronic application. Original official transcripts will be required by the Graduate School if a department recommends an applicant for admission.

The Graduate School's checklist outlines what you must include in your electronic application.

International students should apply as early as possible. If you are recommended for admission and admitted, extra time will be needed to process visa documents.
Faculty Review of Completed Applications:

Faculty Review of Completed Applications:

It is recommended that applicants contact departmental faculty directly to determine openings in the lab and an interest in their area of research. Students are admitted to the program if a faculty member agrees to accept the candidate into their research group and to provide laboratory/desk space and research support, and upon the approval of the Graduate School. The faculty member also decides whether to offer an assistantship to the candidate.

If a faculty member is interested in a completed application, the applicant will be contacted by them personally.

If a faculty member is interested in accepting an applicant, a recommendation for admission will be sent to the Graduate School. The Graduate School will make the final determination for admission. Graduate faculty can recommend domestic applicants up until two weeks prior to the start of the semester and recommend international applications up until 11 weeks prior to the start of the semester.

Funding

Graduate School Resources

The Bursar’s Office provides information about tuition and fees associated with being a graduate student. Resources to help you afford graduate study might include assistantships, fellowships, traineeships, and financial aid. Further funding information is available from the Graduate School. Be sure to check with your program for individual policies and restrictions related to funding.

Program Resources

Financial assistance may be available to qualified individuals in the form of research assistantships, teaching assistantships, or fellowships. Funding does not come from the department, but from the faculty member agreeing to advise the new student. Therefore, students join labs directly instead of doing rotations. Funding is awarded on a competitive basis and may be renewed annually pending satisfactory progress. Terms of these appointments are defined in the letter of offer to the student.

On This Page

Minimum Graduate School Requirements

Review the Graduate School minimum degree requirements and policies, in addition to the program requirements listed below.

Major Requirements

Mode of Instruction

Face to Face Evening/Weekend Online Hybrid Accelerated
Yes No No No No

Mode of Instruction Definitions

Accelerated: Accelerated programs are offered at a fast pace that condenses the time to completion. Students typically take enough credits aimed at completing the program in a year or two.

Evening/Weekend: ​Courses meet on the UW–Madison campus only in evenings and/or on weekends to accommodate typical business schedules.  Students have the advantages of face-to-face courses with the flexibility to keep work and other life commitments.

Face-to-Face: Courses typically meet during weekdays on the UW-Madison Campus.

Hybrid: These programs combine face-to-face and online learning formats.  Contact the program for more specific information.

Online: These programs are offered 100% online.  Some programs may require an on-campus orientation or residency experience, but the courses will be facilitated in an online format.

Curricular Requirements

Minimum Credit Requirement 51 credits
Minimum Residence Credit Requirement 32 credits
Minimum Graduate Coursework Requirement 26 credits must be graduate-level coursework. Refer to the Graduate School: Minimum Graduate Coursework (50%) Requirement policy: https://policy.wisc.edu/library/UW-1244.
Overall Graduate GPA Requirement 3.00 GPA required.
Refer to the Graduate School: Grade Point Average (GPA) Requirement policy: https://policy.wisc.edu/library/UW-1203.
Other Grade Requirements n/a
Assessments and Examinations Schedule preliminary examination and file request with the Graduate Program Manager at least four weeks prior to the exam date for preliminary examination (by end of fourth semester).

Complete written preliminary examination; complete oral preliminary examination (by end of fifth semester). If passed, warrant should be signed and returned to the Graduate School. Student will be a dissertator.

Complete research and thesis. Regular meetings with the committee are expected. The student must submit a request for final examination (including documentation that exam requirements have been met) to the Graduate Program Manager at least four weeks prior to the exam date. The thesis must be submitted to the committee at least two weeks prior to the exam.

The candidate is required to present an exit seminar on their dissertation research and to subsequently defend the thesis orally. The thesis must be acceptable from both scientific and literary standpoints. The committee administers the thesis defense. Deposit of the doctoral dissertation to the Graduate School is required.
Language Requirements Language requirements are determined on an individual basis with the major professor and will depend on the area of concentration within the department.
Graduate School Breadth Requirement All doctoral students are required to complete a doctoral minor or graduate/professional certificate. Refer to the Graduate School: Breadth Requirement in Doctoral Training policy: https://policy.wisc.edu/library/UW-1200.

Required Courses

Seminar Requirement

The Animal and Dairy Sciences Graduate seminar (DY SCI 900) features outside speakers, UW faculty, and graduate students in the department presenting their research or defending their thesis. This course is offered during the fall and spring semesters. Attendance is required at this seminar series by all graduate students in the department. PhD students are required to register for the seminar for credit twice. Although attendance is required, registering for the seminar for credit is done the semester a student presents.

Research Requirement

Minimum of 12 credits of research (AN SCI 990).

Teaching Requirement

All students in the Animal Sciences PhD program are required to complete a teaching practicum, usually AN SCI 799 Practicum in Animal Sciences Teaching. Each student is expected to work with their faculty advisor to identify an opportunity within the department for the student to engage in teaching. This requirement is broadly defined and could include assisting an Animal and Dairy Sciences faculty member with classroom teaching or holding a teaching assistantship position in a course outside of the department.

Technical Writing Requirement

All students in the Animal Sciences PhD program are required to complete a technical writing course, usually LSC 560.

Enrollment Requirement

The program requires all funded students to be enrolled full time. For PhD students this means at least 8 credits in the fall and spring term and at least 2 credits in the summer term. Students funded by another program should check with the payroll and benefits coordinator of that department to learn their requirements for enrollment. Unfunded students should follow the Graduate School’s rules on enrollment.

The remainder of the course requirements for the PhD in Animal Sciences will be selected to meet the student's specific needs and to ensure breadth and depth as determined through consultation with their major professor and members of their committee.

Graduate School Policies

The Graduate School’s Academic Policies and Procedures serve as the official document of record for Graduate School academic and administrative policies and procedures and are updated continuously. Note some policies redirect to entries in the official UW-Madison Policy Library. Programs may set more stringent policies than the Graduate School. Policies set by the academic degree program can be found below.

Major-Specific Policies

Prior Coursework

Graduate Credits Earned at Other Institutions

Refer to the Graduate School: Transfer Credits for Prior Coursework policy.

Undergraduate Credits Earned at Other Institutions or UW-Madison

Refer to the Graduate School: Transfer Credits for Prior Coursework policy.

Credits Earned as a Professional Student at UW-Madison (Law, Medicine, Pharmacy, and Veterinary careers)

Refer to the Graduate School: Transfer Credits for Prior Coursework policy.

Credits Earned as a University Special Student at UW–Madison

Refer to the Graduate School: Transfer Credits for Prior Coursework policy.

Probation

Refer to the Graduate School: Probation policy.

Advisor / Committee

All Animal Sciences PhD students are admitted to this degree program by their major professor. Following matriculation, the student and major professor determine membership for their PhD Mentor and Preliminary Examination Committee. A minimum of four faculty members are required for the PhD Mentor and Preliminary Examination Committee. At least three of the committee members must be faculty in the Department of Animal and Dairy Sciences. One faculty member on the Committee must be from outside of the Department.

The graduate student formally requests the participation of the faculty on the committee. The student, major professor, and the Director of Graduate Studies must approve of all members on this committee. Once the committee signs the PhD Mentor and Preliminary Examination Committee form, the student must turn in the signed copy to the Graduate Program Manager for review. The Graduate Program Manager will submit the form for review and approval by the Director of Graduate Studies. Changes to a PhD Committee must be submitted in writing to the Graduate Program Manager for approval by the Director of Graduate Studies. Students should meet with their committee at least once per year.

Students must meet with their PhD Mentor and Preliminary Examination Committee during their first year to complete their plan of study form. Courses taken prior to entering the Animal Sciences program may be considered as a substitute if approved by the student’s PhD Mentor and Preliminary Examination Committee. Once the committee has approved the Plan of Study paperwork, the student must turn in the signed copy to the Graduate Program Manager for review. The Graduate Program Manager will submit the form for review and approval by the Director of Graduate Studies. The Plan of Study paperwork must be approved before a student can request their preliminary warrant. Any changes to the certification paperwork must be communicated to the Graduate Program Manager and approved by the Director of Graduate Studies.

Credits Per Term Allowed

15 credits

Time Limits

To complete the PhD degree in Animal Science, successful completion of the following items is required. These must be completed in a timely fashion or the student will not be allowed to register. Note that minimum requirements are provided, however successful completion of the PhD degree requires achievement of the standing of demonstrated scientist, through your PhD program and by making a significant research contribution to the scientific literature.

  • Select Graduate Program, form a PhD mentor and examination Committee (by end of 2nd semester).
  • Meet with your PhD Committee.  Approve coursework and immediate research plans (by end of 2nd Semester)
  • Schedule preliminary examination and file request for preliminary examination (by end of 4th semester).
  • Complete Written Preliminary Examination, Complete Oral Preliminary Examination (by end of 5th semester).
    • If passed, Warrant should be signed and returned to Graduate School. You will be a dissertator.
  • Complete research and thesis. Regular meetings with your Committee are expected.
  • Request for final examination (includes documentation that exam requirements have been met).
  • Successfully complete Final Defense and Examination.

A candidate for a doctoral degree who fails to take the final oral examination and deposit the dissertation within five years after passing the preliminary examination may by require to take another preliminary examination and to be admitted to candidacy a second time.

Refer to the Graduate School: Time Limits policy.

Grievances and Appeals

These resources may be helpful in addressing your concerns:

College of Agricultural and Life Sciences: Grievance Policy
 

In the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences (CALS), any student who feels unfairly treated by a member of the CALS faculty or staff has the right to complain about the treatment and to receive a prompt hearing. Some complaints may arise from misunderstandings or communication breakdowns and be easily resolved; others may require formal action. Complaints may concern any matter of perceived unfairness.

To ensure a prompt and fair hearing of any complaint, and to protect the rights of both the person complaining and the person at whom the complaint is directed, the following procedures are used in the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences. Any student, undergraduate or graduate, may use these procedures, except employees whose complaints are covered under other campus policies.

  1. The student should first talk with the person at whom the complaint is directed. Most issues can be settled at this level. Others may be resolved by established departmental procedures.
  2. If the student is unsatisfied, and the complaint involves any unit outside CALS, the student should seek the advice of the dean or director of that unit to determine how to proceed.
    1. If the complaint involves an academic department in CALS the student should proceed in accordance with item 3 below.
    2. If the grievance involves a unit in CALS that is not an academic department, the student should proceed in accordance with item 4 below.
  3. The student should contact the department’s grievance advisor within 120 calendar days of the alleged unfair treatment. The departmental administrator can provide this person’s name. The grievance advisor will attempt to resolve the problem informally within 10 working days of receiving the complaint, in discussions with the student and the person at whom the complaint is directed.
    1. If informal mediation fails, the student can submit the grievance in writing to the grievance advisor within 10 working days of the date the student is informed of the failure of the mediation attempt by the grievance advisor. The grievance advisor will provide a copy to the person at whom the grievance is directed.
    2. The grievance advisor will refer the complaint to a department committee that will obtain a written response from the person at whom the complaint is directed, providing a copy to the student. Either party may request a hearing before the committee. The grievance advisor will provide both parties a written decision within 20 working days from the date of receipt of the written complaint.
    3. If the grievance involves the department chairperson, the grievance advisor or a member of the grievance committee, these persons may not participate in the review.
    4. If not satisfied with departmental action, either party has 10 working days from the date of notification of the departmental committee action to file a written appeal to the CALS Equity and Diversity Committee. A subcommittee of this committee will make a preliminary judgement as to whether the case merits further investigation and review. If the subcommittee unanimously determines that the case does not merit further investigation and review, its decision is final. If one or more members of the subcommittee determine that the case does merit further investigation and review, the subcommittee will investigate and seek to resolve the dispute through mediation. If this mediation attempt fails, the subcommittee will bring the case to the full committee. The committee may seek additional information from the parties or hold a hearing. The committee will present a written recommendation to the dean who will provide a final decision within 20 working days of receipt of the committee recommendation.
  4. If the alleged unfair treatment occurs in a CALS unit that is not an academic department, the student should, within 120 calendar days of the alleged incident, take his/her grievance directly to the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs. The dean will attempt to resolve the problem informally within 10 working days of receiving the complaint. If this mediation attempt does not succeed the student may file a written complaint with the dean who will refer it to the CALS Equity and Diversity Committee. The committee will seek a written response from the person at whom the complaint is directed, subsequently following other steps delineated in item 3d above.

Other

The Animal Sciences program has a rolling admission policy. Campus visits are recommended along with direct program faculty contact. Funding may be available for a research assistant position from a faculty member if an applicant meets the faculty's research requirements. No applicant will be seriously considered until the applicant has submitted a complete application to the UW-Madison Graduate School with the supporting documentation.

 Professional Development

Graduate School Resources

Take advantage of the Graduate School's professional development resources to build skills, thrive academically, and launch your career. 

Program Resources

The Animal and Dairy Sciences graduate programs encourage students to develop Individual Development Plans in collaboration with their major advisor to facilitate professional development. Besides the extensive opportunities offered across the campus at large, students in the Animal and Dairy Sciences program also benefit from activities and  programs provided by the Animal Science Graduate Student Association (ASGSA), a student-led organization for graduate students at UW–Madison who are interested in animal and dairy related science.

Learning Outcomes

  1. Articulates research problems, potentials, and limits with respect to theory, knowledge, or practice within the field of study.
  2. Formulates ideas, concepts, designs, and/or techniques beyond the current boundaries of knowledge within the field of study.
  3. Creates research, scholarship, or performance that makes a substantive contribution.
  4. Demonstrates breadth within their learning experiences.
  5. Advances contributions of the field of study to society.
  6. Communicates complex ideas in a clear and understandable manner.
  7. Fosters ethical and professional conduct.