Broaden your expertise and professional versatility
The Master of Professional Studies (MPS) in Animal Science is a specialized, one-year, non-thesis, course-based master's degree program. Concentration areas cover a wide range of issues and advancements in animal science, including animal health, animal nutrition, animal production sustainability, dairy business management, and animal science (general).
The MPS program offers STEM-certified curriculum that advances technical knowledge, analytical skills, and professional development to equip students with the skill set and knowledge necessary for careers in industry, government, or non-profit agencies.
Animal Science MPS Concentrations
The Field of Animal Science offers concentration areas for MPS degree candidates. Each concentration cultivates the skillset and develops the theoretical problem-solving capacity required for careers in animal science.
Sample curriculum
Fall semester
- ANSC 6270: Fundamentals of Endocrinology
- ANSC 5540: Dairy Cattle Herd Health
- VETPMD 6640: Food Systems and Health
- ANSC 6220 - Graduate Student Research Updates
- ALS 5211: Career Readiness - Engaged Learning for CALS Professional Master's Students
- ALS 5900: MPS Project Development
- ANSC 5220: Professional Development Seminar
- Statistical Methods 5000 or above
Spring semester
- ANSC 5920: Mechanisms of Animal Growth and Development
- ANSC 5980: Animals in Biomedical Research
- ANSC 6700: Immunology in Animal Health and Disease
- VTPMD 6650: Study Designs
- ANSC 6220: Graduate Student Research Updates
- ALS 5900: MPS Project Development
- ALS 5910: Project Completion
- ANSC 5220: Professional Development Seminar
Sample Curriculum
Fall semester
- ANSC 6880: The Global Food, Energy, and Water Nexus
- ANSC 6200: Nutrition of Cats and Dogs
- ANSC 6220: Graduate Student Research Updates
- ALS 5211: Career Readiness - Engaged Learning for CALS Professional Master's Students
- ALS 5900: MPS Project Development
- Statistical Methods 5000 or above
- ANSC 5220: Professional Development Seminar
Spring semester
- ANSC 5550: Dairy Cattle Nutrition
- ANSC 6280: Comparative Nutrition of Horse and Pig
- ANSC 6290: Current Topics in Cat and Dog Nutrition
- ANSC 6410: Nutritional Physiology and Biochemistry
- ANSC 6220: Graduate Student Research Updates
- ALS 5900: MPS Project Development
- ALS 5910: Project Completion
- ANSC 5220: Professional Development Seminar
Sample Curriculum
Fall
- ANSC 6880: Food, Energy, and Water Nexus
- PLSCS 6100: Plant Responses to Environmental Stress
- ANSC 6220 - Graduate Student Research Updates
- ALS 5211: Career Readiness - Engaged Learning for CALS Professional Master's Students
- ALS 5900: MPS Project Development
- Statistical Methods 5000 or above
- ANSC 5220: Professional Development Seminar
Spring
- ANSC 6120: Whole-Farm Nutrient Management
- PLSCS 5660: Soil Ecology
- PLSCS 5800: Principles and Practices in Certified Organic Agriculture
- ANSC 6220: Graduate Student Research Updates
- ALS 5900: MPS Project Development
- ALS 5910: Project Completion
- ANSC 5220: Professional Development Seminar
Sample Curriculum
Fall semester
- ANSC 6110: Integrated Cattle Nutrition
- ANSC 6510: Dairy Herd Business Management
- ANSC 6220 - Graduate Student Research Updates
- ALS 5211: Career Readiness - Engaged Learning for CALS Professional Master's Students
- ALS 5900: MPS Project Development
- Statistical Methods 5000 or above
- ANSC 5220: Professional Development Seminar
Spring semester
- ANSC 5550: Dairy Cattle Nutrition
- ANSC 5450: Reproductive Physiology and Management of Dairy Cattle
- AEM 5040: Dairy Markets and Policy
- ANSC 6220: Graduate Student Research Updates
- ALS 5900: MPS Project Development
- ALS 5910: Project Completion
- ANSC 5220: Professional Development Seminar
Sample Curriculum
Fall
- ANSC 6270: Fundamentals of Endocrinology
- ANSC 5540: Dairy Cattle Herd Health
- VETPMD 6640: Food Systems and Health
- ANSC 6220 - Graduate Student Research Updates
- ALS 5211: Career Readiness - Engaged Learning for CALS Professional Master's Students
- ALS 5900: MPS Project Development
- Statistical Methods 5000 or above
- ANSC 5220: Professional Development Seminar
Spring
- ANSC 6700: Immunology in Animal Health and Disease
- ANSC 5980: Animals in Biomedical Research
- ANSC 5920: Mechanisms of Animal Growth and Development
- VTPMD 6650: Study Designs
- ANSC 6220: Graduate Student Research Updates
- ALS 5900: MPS Project Development
- ALS 5910: Project Completion
- ANSC 5220: Professional Development Seminar


Daniela Gonzalez Carranza, MPS `23
Dairy Business Management
Zhengfei Li, MPS `22
Animal Health
CALS MPS program details
Cornell’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) Master of Professional Studies (MPS) program is an accredited, course-based, one-year Master’s degree program that emphasizes professional development and intellectual investigation in the areas of agriculture, life sciences and global development.
Though similar to a Master of Science (M.S.) degree in its academic rigor, the MPS degree differs from a traditional M.S. degree in its structure and focus. An M.S. is research-based, with students building a thesis over the course of two or three years. In contrast, the MPS degree is a one-year, course-based program where students study the intricacies and in-depth questions of their field of study. Instead of a thesis or research project, MPS students complete a capstone project during their final semester. To understand this difference in greater detail, please visit our FAQ page.
MPS students are part of a community of diverse students and faculty who share common goals, connecting research and practice to solve complex problems.
The Master of Professional Studies program has two main components:
- Coursework: Students work with a faculty advisor to map out their individualized course of study based on their areas of interest. The majority of courses (20 credits) will be within CALS; however, students have the opportunity to take courses across Cornell.
- Capstone project: With the guidance of a faculty advisor, students work on solving a real-world problem.
- Satisfactory completion of a minimum of 30 credit hours related to the candidate's professional interest, as agreed upon with the faculty advisor.
(a) Twenty credit hours must be taken within the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, and at least 30 credits must be in graduate-level courses (5000-level and higher).
(b) A maximum of 6 of the required 30 credit hours may be earned through the student's problem-solving project (see third bullet).
(c) A maximum of 6 graduate-level credit hours earned outside the program, at Cornell University or elsewhere, may be counted toward these requirements at the discretion of the student's faculty advisor. These credits must be appropriate to the subject of study and completed not more than five years before admission. - Completion of a minimum of two semesters. One semester must be earned by carrying a minimum of 12 credit hours. In certain circumstances, the second semester credit may be earned by accumulating the remaining credit hours in the School of Continuing Education and Summer Sessions at Cornell University or through transfer of credit (see item c above).
- Satisfactory completion of a problem-solving project under the supervision of the faculty advisor. This project may be an action program, the development of a plan to address a pertinent problem, the development of materials or methodology suited to the student's situation, or the development and execution of research appropriate to the profession. A formal project report must be submitted to and approved by the candidate's faculty advisor.
- A minimum semester grade point average of 2.5 (minimum of 18 credit hours with letter grades at Cornell).
- Completion of the degree within four years of admission. Some fields of study may have special requirements, so students should check with the field's director of graduate studies for specific details.
Students work with top-ranked faculty who are leaders in their field on an experiential project that fosters professional skill development through the creation of solutions to real-world problems.
Next Steps
Application Deadlines: March 15 (General), April 15 (Final)
- Apply now
- calsprofprograms [at] cornell.edu (subject: More%20information%20about%20%20Animal%20Science%20MPS%20admissions) (Email us with questions)

Compare a CALS Professional Master's (MPS, MFS) to an M.S. degree
MPS, MFS and M.S. programs lead to graduate-level master’s degrees. Which is right for you? Here's how they compare:
MPS, MFS | M.S. | |
---|---|---|
Format | Course-based | Research-based |
Final Project | Capstone project | Thesis |
Length | Typically one year | Typically 2-3 years |
Funding | Self-funded, usually with federal and/or private loans | Funded by the department with stipends and teaching assistantships |
Ideal for | Individuals who want to pursue careers in industry, government or nonprofit agencies; some continue in research | Individuals who are interested in pursuing careers in research or academia |
Alumni Spotlights
Alumni
Luciana Jonkman
"It’s so wonderful to develop your curriculum with your advisors. I was able to take courses from a variety of schools at Cornell while staying on track for earning my degree. It was incredible to sit in the many school halls from management to economics to language arts and animal science. This truly allowed me to prepare in so many ways for the career environment I was about to enter."
Alumni
Preston DeJong
"My MPS experience has changed me both personally, and professionally, by the way that I treat my day and value my time. It has developed my outlook on a variety of topics and it has aided how I interact with people, the quality of conversations that I have, my increased curiosity and ability to ask questions. It has also increased my passion for the dairy industry."


Career Development and Outlook
The MPS program contains a significant career development component focused on developing the necessary interpersonal and communication skills required to advance in any professional field. Offering a range of workshops including resume building, personal narrative development, and mock interviews, to effectively prepare students to transition into their careers after graduation.
The MPS is a versatile degree that can open doors to a range of professional opportunities. Past graduates from the Animal Science program have found employment in positions such as:
- Quality Assurance Manager
- Farm Owner
- Senior Extension Associate
- Lab Technician
- Some students continue their education, such as:
- Doctor of Veterinary Medicine
- Additional research degrees: MS, PhD

We openly share valuable knowledge.
Sign up for more insights, discoveries and solutions.