Both majors ...

The Animal Science major involves intensive training in both the basic and applied biological sciences as related to domestic animals and their environment and qualifies the graduate for membership in l'Ordre des agronomes du Québec and other professional organizations.  Graduates generally enter agricultural industries, mainly sales and marketing, government service (Provincial or Federal), extension, teaching or post-graduate studies. Some students go on to study veterinary medicine. Students are strongly advised to obtain at least three months practical experience on a commercial livestock farm before graduation.

This major is designed to provide a sound background in the sciences and to demonstrate their application to modern animal agriculture, including consideration of animal welfare, environmental and economic issues. Students begin their program by taking courses in the areas of Biochemistry, Genetics, Cell Biology, Statistics and Microbiology and also in the Principles of Animal Science, Plant Science, Soil Science and Economics. Students then expand their knowledge by completing a series of specialized subjects in Animal Science in such areas as Physiology, Nutrition, Reproductive and Molecular Biology, Animal Genetics, Pathology and Animal Products. Also included are courses in ethics, environmental sciences and sustainable agriculture. All students take four Production courses (Dairy, Swine, Beef and Sheep, and Poultry) which are designed to integrate the various aspects of animal production into a discussion of management systems. Upon graduation, students are professionally qualified to apply for admission to the Ordre des Agronomes du Québec, the Agricultural Institute of Canada and Provincial Institutes of Agrology.

The curriculum requires 90 credits for graduation, consisting of 75 credits from required courses, 3 credits from a complementary course in Economics and 12 credits from elective courses selected in consultation with the Academic Advisor.

The Animal Biology major, on the other hand, is intended for students who wish to further their studies in the basic biology of large mammals and birds but do not necessarily want to become professional agrologists. While many of the basic science courses are common to both majors (Animal Science and Animal Biology), Animal Biology requires fewer production-oriented courses allowing for choice of a wider variety of elective subjects.

Successful completion of the program will enable students to qualify for application to most professional schools in North America, to post-graduate schools in a variety of biological-oriented programs, and to work in most laboratory settings. The program is not intended for students wishing to become professional agrologists as it does not provide the coursework necessary to become a member of the Ordre des Agronomes du Québec.

The curriculum requires 90 credits for graduation, consisting of 35 credits from required courses, a minimum of 24 credits chosen from a list of complementary courses, and the remainder elective credits chosen in consultation with the Academic Advisor.
 

Roger Buckland (poultry management and reproduction)
Eduardo R. Chavez (non-ruminant nutrition, food recycling)
Roger I. Cue (dairy cattle genetics)
Bruce R. Downey (reproduction in farm animals)
J. Flannan Hayes (quantitative genetics)
Urs Kühnlein (molecular genetics in livestock and wildlife species)
Paul C. Laguë (poultry management and reproduction)
Humberto Monardes (dairy cattle genetics)
Kwet-Fane Ng-Kwai-Hang, Chair (factors affecting milk composition and their relationships with technological properties of dairy products)
Leroy Phillip (appetite regulation and protein utilization in ruminant animals)
Kevin M. Wade (information systems in dairy cattle management)
David Zadworny (molecular endocrinology and genetics in livestock and wildlife species)
Xin Zhao (dairy cattle physiology)
 

Job opportunities are excellent for graduates in Animal Science. Employers include agribusiness, consulting firms, universities and colleges, foreign aid agencies, the family farm and the Provincial and Federal Governments. Successful completion of the Animal Biology program will enable students to qualify for application to most professional schools and to work in a variety of laboratory settings. Both programs provide a good grounding for students who intend to study veterinary medicine at a later date. Each year, several graduates also decide to continue their studies for advanced degrees (M.Sc. and Ph.D.) and enter graduate school at Macdonald, elsewhere in Canada or abroad.
 

Programs leading to the MSc and PhD in Animal Science are also offered. At the MSc level two options are available: Thesis and Applied. For the Thesis option the student must do 14 credits of postgraduate courses and 31 credits of research work; for the Applied option the requirements are 30 credits of courses and 15 credits of design or research projects. The main research areas of the departmental members are given under "Academic Staff".
 

Housing for single students is available in Laird Hall Residence on the Macdonald Campus. Laird Hall has space for 240 persons in both single and double-occupancy rooms. For families, apartments are available in Ste. Anne de Bellevue.
 

Because of the community's size, social life on Macdonald Campus is both congenial and neighbourly. One of the great advantages of a smaller campus is that students are not lost in the crowd. Social activities on campus are centered around Harrison House where the Students' Society and many campus clubs have their offices, as well as the Ceilidh Lounge. The Athletics Department organizes various activities in the gym, the pool, the weight room and on the playing fields (rugby players: we have a regulation quality rugby field, and men's and women's teams)
 

All applications for admission must be made on the prescribed form supplied by the Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, or the Registrar of McGill University. Completed application forms, accompanied by a fee of $60.00, made payable by certified cheque or money order to McGill University, should be forwarded to:
 

The Registrar
Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences
McGill University, Macdonald Campus
21111 Lakeshore Road
Ste. Anne de Bellevue, QC
H9X 3V9  Canada