Texas Tech University

How To Apply

The Department of Animal and Food Sciences offers the following degree programs:

  • M.S. Thesis - Animal Science: Minimum of 30 hours required, thesis.
  • M.S. Thesis - Food Science: Minimum of 30 hours required, thesis.
  • M.S. Non-thesis* - Animal Science: Minimum of 36 hours required plus an internship
  • Ph.D. degree - Animal Science: Minimum 60** credit hours plus 12 dissertation hours, dissertation

*Non-thesis degrees are terminal degrees. Students completing non-thesis degrees are not eligible for doctoral work.
**Up to 30 credit hours (exclusive of thesis hours and seminar hours) from the MS degree can be used toward the 60-credit hour requirement at the discretion of the student's graduate advisory committee and the departmental graduate coordinator or department chairman.

For the Master of Science, non-thesis topic areas and research of emphasis within the department include: livestock production (beef cattle, swine, sheep and goat, dairy cattle, equine and poultry), agricultural product processing (meats, food or feeds emphasis), companion animal, feedlot management, and ranch management.

Master of Science, thesis degree students in animal science may pursue studies in topics including: animal breeding (physiology or genetics), livestock (ruminant or monogastric) or companion animal nutrition, animal behavior and welfare, growth and development, livestock production, animal health, growth and development, companion animal science, equine science, equine-assisted therapy, or meat science. This degree requires a thesis in addition to at least 24 semester hours of coursework and 6 thesis hours.

The Master of Science, thesis degree in food science emphasizes the scientific and technological aspects of pre- to post harvest food processing and distribution. Knowledge of the physical and biological sciences, economics, marketing, and engineering is applied to product development, food processing, packaging, food microbiology and safety, food defense, food security, quality control/assurance, technical sales and distribution. Research programs involve food safety, food security, food processing, food microbiology, food quality and processing. Consumer demands for a variety of highly nutritious and convenient foods of uniformly high quality create many and varied career opportunities in the food and allied industries. This degree requires a thesis in addition to at least 24 semester hours of coursework and 6 thesis hours.

The Doctoral degree program in animal science concentrations can be found on the last page of this document and prepares students for a wide variety of industry and academic positions in the animal and food industries.

Application Deadlines:

  • Domestic students: March 1st (Summer Semester), April 15th (Fall Semester), October 1st (Spring Semester).
  • International students: January 15th (Summer and Fall semesters), June 15th (Spring Semester). The deadlines for international students are set by the Graduate School.

For Texas Tech University Graduate School requirements, please go to their Website. Graduate students will not be considered for admission to the Department of Animal and Food Sciences without a designated faculty member who is willing and able to serve as a faculty advisor. 

The Department of Animal and Food Sciences requirements are:

  1. GRE Test. The department expects applicants to have a combined verbal and quantitative score of 297 (new testing method) or 1000 (old testing method) and a writing score of 3.5 or higher although TTU has a holistic admissions policy that evaluates candidates on many factors and not just GRE scores, GPA, or any other factor. Currently, due to COVID-19, GRE scores are temporarily waived. 
  2. Statement of short- and long-term goals. (writing sample)
  3. CV/Resume.
  4. Three letters of recommendation.

To Apply to Graduate School:

1. For Texas Tech University Graduate School requirements and to apply to the TTU Graduate School, go to the Graduate School website at  https://texastechgrad.liaisoncas.com.

2. Follow instructions regarding the requirements that Graduate School needs, such as, application fee, official transcripts, etc.

3. In addition to Graduate School requirements the Department of Animal and Food Sciences requires:

   a. Graduate Record Exam (GRE)

   b. Three (3) letters of recommendation

   c. Statement of short- and long-term goals

   d. Resume

All application-related materials, both for the Graduate School and the Department, must be uploaded directly into the application system.

Review of Your Application Materials

Once the Graduate School receives all required items, for both the Graduate School and the Department, it will refer your application to the Department of Animal and Food Sciences. Then our Department's Graduate Committee will review your application materials. If your application is found acceptable, the application package will be further reviewed by faculty in your indicated area of interest.

If accepted by a faculty member the following will occur:

  • You will receive an "unofficial" offer letter from the Department, if receiving an assistantship
  • You will be asked to sign the letter either accepting or declining the offer
  • You will return the signed letter Sandy Gellner
  • The department will notify the Graduate School
  • The Graduate School will issue an official acceptance letter
  • The Graduate School acceptance letter can be accessed in Raiderlink using your eraider name and password.

Important Note: Domestic applicants will not receive an email from the graduate school on their acceptance. Domestic applicants will need to periodically check their status on Raiderlink. International students will receive email notification from the Graduate School.

Scholarship Information

The Graduate School offers numerous scholarship opportunities. Information can be found at  http://www.depts.ttu.edu/gradschool/scholarships.

Helpful Hint

We encourage prospective students to contact faculty that work in the student's area of interest. Go to the Department's website, click on "People" and then under Faculty, animal science or food science, to review faculty member's areas of expertise. Contact information for faculty members is available on the same website

Dr. Jerrad Legako, Graduate Program Coordinator
Department of Animal and Food Sciences
Texas Tech University, Box 42141, Lubbock, TX 79409
jerrad.legako@ttu.edu(806)834-0233 

 

Mr. Charley Cooke, Administrative Business Assistant
charles.cooke@ttu.edu(806)834-8977

Concentrations in the M.S. and Ph.D. Programs

MS in Animal Science M.S. in Food Science
Ruminant Nutrition Food Safety
Meat Science Food Security
Meat and Muscle Biology
Animal Breeding & Genetics
Animal Physiology
Animal Behavior & Welfare
Reproductive Physiology
Equine Science
Growth and Development
Beef Cattle Science
Swine Nutrition
Sheep & Goat Science
Ph.D. in Animal Science
Ruminant Nutrition
Meat Science
Meat and Muscle Biology
Animal Breeding & Genetics
Animal Physiology
Animal Behavior and Welfare
Reproductive Physiology
Equine Science
Growth and Development
Beef Cattle Science
Swine Nutrition
Sheep & Goat Science
MS in Food Science
Food Safety
Food Security
 

Animal & Food Sciences