Future Graduate Education Needs
Academic Perspective
Jim Linn / Bill Dayton
Department of Animal Science
University of Minnesota, St. Paul
Human Capital
The future of the animal sciences resides in the
students we educate today. All scientific and
technical discoveries begin with human capital.
For animal agriculture and
animal sciences to progress
into the future, it is people
that are needed.
It is people who make new discoveries,
implement new technologies, and develop
new products.
The Purpose and Goal of this Symposium
• Looking forward to the human capital
needs of tomorrow.
• Assessing the challenges in animal
science graduate education
• Developing collaborative approaches
to enhance animal science graduate
education across universities.
This symposium is in recognition of W.E.
Petersen’s contributions to dairy science and
education. He believed in and lived the
philosophy that education is power and
essential to understanding the biology of the
dairy cow and the dairy industry.
Graduate students are the future of our profession–
educating and challenging them is our legacy and
commitment to the sustainability of animals in future
societies.
The Future is
Bright
• Bureau of Labor Statistics
• 2190 employed animal scientists
• 960 Academics (60 institutions – An Sc)
• 210 Scientific research and development
• Future growth
• 16% (2008 – 2018)
• Food safety and food production
The Future is
Bright
• Senior faculty at most universities
• College of agriculture growing in
undergraduate student numbers
Animal Science one of the top
growth majors
University Animal Science Faculty and Graduate
Students Represented at this Symposium
University
No. Faculty
No. Grad Students
Michigan State
52
47
Ohio State
33
48
Penn State
30
23
Illinois
65
153
Iowa State
60
71
So. Dakota State
25
18
No. Dakota State
25
?
Purdue
41
63
Wisconsin – An Sc
41
29
Wisconsin - Dairy
14
?
Kansas State
52
60
Virginia Tech – An & Poultry
31
37
Minnesota
34
34
North Carolina State
39
26
Total
542
609
1.16
students/faculty
member
0.29
students/faculty
member at 4 year
graduation rate
Demographics of Graduate Students
International
Female / Male
CSREES
data
2002 2003
2003 2004
2004 2005
2005 2006
All
Female Female Female Female
degrees
%
%
%
%
Ag and
Vet Med
50
52
52
53
Urban / Farm (rural) ?
85% non-farm undergrad students in An Sc - IL
Future Programmatic Issues
Multidisciplinary Issues
Animal biology – interactions between
genetics, nutrition, environment, health
Societal concerns
Animal well being – Sociology, Engineering,
Vet Medicine
Environment – Production management, air,
soil and water
Disciplinary Issues
Production
Future Academics
Training and Skills
• Communication skills – oral, written
• Team building and interaction skills
• Science/discipline knowledge
• Critical thinking/decision making ability
• Experience
– Research/scientific study
– Pedagogy
– Animal husbandry/handling
Challenges in Graduate Education?
What is an animal scientist?
Web Dictionary:
 A person who studies the biology of animals
who are under the control of mankind.
 People who conduct research in genetics,
nutrition, reproduction, and
growth/development of domestic farm animals.
 People who consult with ag producers in these
areas.
 Specialists in a branch of biology dealing with
animals.
Animal Science
A broad biological science covering many
disciplines and species.
Products
Physiology
Nutrition
Genetics
Management
Meat Science
Endocrinology
Non-ruminant
Quantitative
Behavior
Eggs
Reproduction
Ruminant
Population
Well-being
Milk
Growth Biology
Pseudo Ruminant
Molecular Genetics
Husbandry
Health
Science
Basic
Applied
Animal Science
Species
Food Animals
Cattle
Poultry
Sheep
Swine
Horses
Companion Animals
Dogs
Cats
Birds
Animal Science and Animal Scientist
Not easily or
singularly defined.
Education Challenges
Teaching Essential Courses
Maintaining a critical mass of students
in one discipline or area to achieve
effective and efficient class instruction
Low student numbers
Low yearly turnover
Minnesota Graduate Students
Animal Science - 2009
Species
Farm
Products
Physiology
Nutrition
Companion
Genetics
Management
Meat Science
Endocrinology
Non-ruminant
Quantitative
(Systems)
Behavior
Eggs
Reproduction
Ruminant
Population
Well-being
Milk
Growth Biology
Pseudo Ruminant
Molecular Genetics
Husbandry
Molecular Biology
1
8
Health
13
8
5
Science
Basic
Applied
Graduate Education Programs in the
Animal Sciences – Challenges
Funding Graduate
Education
Sustained funding
vs
Grant funding
What can we do
to enhance
Animal Science
graduate
programs at our
universities?
Future Academics
What will be the needs?
Basic
Research
Applied Sciences
Te a c h i n g
Outreach/
Extension
Ways Universities Can Work Together
Collaborations:
– Structured group learning opportunities
• Classes – disciplinary and multidisciplinary
• Workshops/Experiential for critical thinking
• University Collaborations
• CIC-Course Share, Ag-Idea
• Industry/University Partnerships
• Midwest Poultry Consortium
• North American Intercollegiate Dairy Challenge
The Future for Animal Scientists is Bright
Our Graduate Education Challenge:
Enhancing student travels on the
road to the degree
THANK YOU