PhD Animal Science at Iowa State University

Programme overview

Graduate major in animal science with a broader focus than the department's other majors. Students focus on one domestic animal species, with many research problems tied to livestock production systems.

Faculty: Graduate College | Department: Department of Animal Science | Duration: Median time to PhD 3.6 years | Intake: Rolling for spring, summer or fall, at a faculty member's request | Study mode: full-time | Location: Ames, IA, United States

What you will study

Courses across five sub-fields: breeding, nutrition, physiology, reproduction and meat science, while focusing on one domestic species.

Career pathways

Most graduates in the past five years took jobs in agricultural industries and agribusiness; others pursued further degrees or extension service appointments.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

Graduate College requirements: 4 year Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) Academic Records/Transcripts Minimum 3.0 GPA (Program may alter requirement.) Proof of English Proficiency. Programme-specific requirements: Statement of Purpose (Goals) (if not sent electronically with application): Include major program desired, species of interest, preferred faculty advisor(s), research interests Resume/CV Three Letters of Recommendation Any prospective student can apply though we encourage students to reach out to our graduate faculty members prior to application. The application will only be fully reviewed at the request of a faculty member. Successful admission into this thesis-seeking program will require a major professor. An application fee would be due upon admittance. Program Requires GRE: No Program Requires GMAT: No

Tuition is charged per credit, so the total depends on the modules you register for each year. Current fees are listed in the official fee schedule.

Entry terms for first-year applicants include Fall 2026, Spring 2027 and Summer 2027. International undergraduate applications are reviewed on a rolling basis and may be submitted up to one year before the intended start date; applying at least six to eight weeks in advance is strongly recommended.

Graduate application fee: $60 for domestic applicants and $100 for international applicants (nonrefundable), a separate fee for each program applied to; some programs postpone fee collection until after review. Deadlines are set by each graduate program.

Apply through the official page: https://apps.admissions.iastate.edu/apply/online/

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