MSc Animal Sciences. Is this the right programme for me? René Kwakkel, Programme Director MSc Animal Sciences

Is this the right programme for me?

MSc Animal Sciences

René Kwakkel, Programme Director MSc Animal Sciences Anet van den Biggelaar, Student Coach MSc Animal Sciences

 Academic education in Animal Sciences

● Advanced and in-depth knowledge

 Develop scientific skills

● Explore modern approaches in scientific research ● Critical attitude towards scientific results

 Train yourself in asking the “why-question” (vs. “how”)  Become a specialist!

A ‘tailor-made’ approach!!

Domain of the programme

Animals kept by humans

1. Animal

Physiology: gene  organism Health and adaptation

Behaviour Welfare

1 2

3

2. Human: care taker

Breeding programmes Farm management Economics Nutrition

3. Society

Government (policy) Food security 4. World

 Animal Breeding and Genetics (ABG)  Animal Nutrition (ANU)

 Animal Health & Behaviour (ADP,BHE)  Animal Health Management (QVE,HMI)  Animal Production Systems (APS)

 Applied Zoology (CBI,EZO,HAP)

Mix of thesis preparing & optional courses (60 credits)

Minor thesis/internship

(24 credits) Major thesis _{(36 credits)}

• English

• Different methods of teaching

• For MSc graduation: 120 ECTS credits

Outline of the Programme (1)

Year 1: Year 2: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 12 credits 12 credits 6 credits 6 credits 12 credits 12 credits Period 5: Period 6: Period 1: Period 2:

Holi-days

Period 3: re-exam

Year 1

● Scientific Skills Training (3+3 credits) or Academic Consultancy Training (9+3 credits)

● Deficiency courses (≤18 credits):

Advanced Statistics (compulsory) + maximal two BSc Animal Sciences courses

● Advanced specialisation courses (≥ 12 credits)

● Optional courses (e.g. as preparation for your Minor thesis)

Year 2

● Major thesis (36 credits) ● Minor thesis (24 credits)

/ Internship (discuss with your study advisor)

Outline of the Programme (2)

1. Specialisation = major thesis (and minor thesis)

2. Professional Track = broadening;

minor thesis in a professional field:

• Research Master Track

• Business & Management Track • Education Track

• Communication & Policy Track

ABG: Genome-wide association analysis for minerals found in milk of dairy cattle

ANU: Improving nutrient utilization by synchronization using the pre-ruminant calf as a model

ADP: Relation between behaviour and immunity in chickens QVE: Effect of vaccination against Porcine Circo Virus in pigs APS: Relative value of feed efficiency to reduce greenhouse

gas emission along the dairy chain in the Netherlands EZO: Swimming performance in pregnant live-bearing fish

European MSc-programmes:

• Animal Behaviour and Welfare Assessment (SLU-Sweden) • EURAMA (European MSc Animal Management & Economics)

• EMABG (European Master in Animal Breeding & Genetics)

• EM-SANF (European Master in Sustainable Animal Nutrition & Feeding)

Something extra

These joint programmes lead to a Double Degree

 Researcher (scientific and applied): ● PhD  Companies: ● Commercial or technical  Knowledge transfer: ● Teacher, advisor

 Policy (government, NGO):

● Policy maker

Often further development to management within the Netherlands or abroad

Follow a tailored Minor at Wageningen University

• Good preparation for your MSc

• Way to experience Wageningen University • 24-30 credits

• MSc-preparing Minor or thematic Minor

• Contact Egbert Kanis, [email protected]

Admission criteria:

• Bachelor degree in related field

• Grade Point Average (GPA) ≥ 70% • Fluency in English, written and spoken

(HAVO 7; VWO 6; Oxford Online Placement Test > 60 %)

• Skills in mathematics and/or statistics • Basic computer skills

Admission committee judges on an individual basis!

(If your GPA is not 7: you need 2 recommendation letters!) (admitted?  acceptance  registration package)

Apply online via www.mas.wur.nl:

Click banner “Apply for Master programme”

Advise:

- Don’t wait for HBO graduation (deadline Aug 1st₎

- Check specialisation(s) of interest on www.mas.wur.nl

- Make preliminary schedule (ssc.wur.nl/Handbook)

- Make appointment to discuss your tailor-made programme (with classroom mates)

 Academic education

 Unique in the Netherlands

 Animals in relation to humans (function)  Optional courses

 International (programme ánd student community)  Wageningen no. 1 study city

 MSc Animal Sciences is ranked as top education!

Animal Sciences, in a nutshell

Anet van den Biggelaar

Student coach MSc Animal Sciences

Background:

Professional bachelor Animal Husbandry

(University of Applied Science, HAS Den Bosch)

Why follow a master programme?

 Gain more knowledge  Specialisation

 Discover the research part  Challenge myself

 Develop more skills and competences

 Positive reactions from other students  Pleasant atmosphere

 Connection with previous study

 Possibility to create your own programme  Good (international) reputation

YEAR 1

Compulsory skills courses Courses for specialisations:

• Major thesis: Animal Nutrition

4 courses (24 credits)

• Minor thesis: Business economics

3 courses (18 credits) Grassland Sciences

YEAR 2

 Focus on dairy cattle

 Minor thesis in Business Economics: Optimizing selective dry cow therapy using in-line SCC

monitoring from an AMS

 Major thesis in Animal Nutrition: Implementing a reticular

sampling method for getting an estimate of Microbial Protein

HBO vs. University

University of Applied

Sciences (HBO)

• Dutch • Group learning: project oriented education • Broader education • ‘Management-attitude’

Wageningen University

• English • Individual learning:

practicals, lectures, self-study

• Education towards in-depth knowledge

• ‘Scientific/ critical thinking’

 Live in a house with 5 other students in Wageningen  Study association ‘De Veetelers’

● Board of the ‘Social evening’ commission

How to find a room?

 Student housing Wageningen:

www.idealis.nl

 Kamernet:

www.kamernet.nl

 Ask around!

 Know why you sign up for an MSc programme

 Think about doing courses in advance, e.g. “Introduction

Statistics”

 Visit open days or attend “student for a day” activities of

Wageningen University

 Check us out on Facebook & Twitter

If you decide to follow a

master, join the AID in August!

More information

•

www.mas.wur.nl

(also for this ppt)

•

Programme director René Kwakkel

Tel. 0317–483147 (secretary)

[email protected]

•

Student coach Anet

[email protected]

www.wageningenur.nl