All students must meet the Requirements for the Accelerated Master's Degree Pathway

Overview

An option for the outstanding student with an interest in a graduate degree is the Accelerated Master’s Entry Pathway in which students commence study for their M.S. in their senior year and have the potential to obtain a B.S./M.S. in a five-year period. Accepted AMP students begin work toward their M.S.  during their senior year while completing the B.S. 9 graduate level coursework credits taken in the senior year can count toward both the B.S. and the M.S.  Students MUST be admitted through the Graduate College to the M.S. as an AMP student before taking any courses that will be applied to the M.S. requirements.  Students may start full-time M.S. coursework in the summer following their undergraduate graduation.

Specific Requirements

Requirements for Admission to Graduate Studies for the Degree of Master of Science

An acceptable undergraduate major in animal science, biology, or a related field. 

Further details about the Accelerated Master’s Pathway, available for students majoring in Animal Science or Biological Science, can be obtained from the Department of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, 102 Terrill Bldg., (802) 656-0155.

Minimum Degree Requirements

OPTION A (THESIS)
30 credits of study with a minimum of 15 credits in courses in animal science or related fields and a minimum of 9 credits of thesis research. At least 6 credits of graded coursework must be at the 6000-level. Students are required to attend and participate in ABIO 6010 and ABIO 6020 twice during their programs. Students must also prepare a research proposal.		30
Students are expected to meet with their Graduate Studies Committee during their second and third semester, and during the final semester for their thesis defense. Students are also expected to have 1 publication ready to submit or already submitted to an appropriate scientific journal at the time of their defense. Students are also required to participate in at least 1 semester of teaching.
OPTION B (NON-THESIS)
30 credits of study with 24 credits in courses in animal science or related fields, and a minimum of 6 credits of literature research. At least 6 credits of graded coursework must be at the 6000-level. Students are required to attend and participate in ABIO 6010 and ABIO 6020 twice during their program. Students prepare a literature review under the guidance of a mentor and studies committee. The format of the literature review is determined by the studies committee, which is composed of their research mentor and at least 2 members of UVM graduate faculty as described in the graduate college catalog requirements for the Master’s Degree. A thesis and an oral thesis defense is not required. Students submit the written literature review for evaluation by their studies committee in their last semester of study.		30

Comprehensive Examination

Animal Bioscience AMP students are required to pass a written comprehensive examination, an oral comprehensive examination, or both, in their field of specialization. The student's studies committee decides the format of this exam (time and page limits, open or closed book, etc.). The comprehensive examinations are taken on the University of Vermont campus in Burlington. 1 re-examination only is permitted for any failed comprehensive examination. The comprehensive examination is not the same as the oral thesis defense, and must be passed satisfactorily before defending the thesis. The studies committee members may differ from the thesis defense committee members, but often they are the same individuals. The comprehensive exam process is completed at least 2 months prior to the thesis defense, and preferably, prior to the start of the semester they intend to defend their thesis.

Requirements for Advancement to Candidacy for the Degree of Master of Science

When a student begins a graduate program, they are not yet a candidate for a graduate degree. To become a candidate for a graduate degree, the student must complete certain academic requirements to achieve the milestone of becoming a candidate for that degree. Advancement-to-candidacy signifies that the student has completed their required coursework, comprehensive exam(s) and other requirements and is ready to move forward to the thesis phase (thesis-based student) or literature research (non-thesis student).