In September 2022, I started the primary 12 months of the Grasp of Science in Animal Vitamin at Glasgow College to additional my training in animal vitamin (you could have seen my common updates on my Instagram account). On this article, I’ll delve deeper into this system and deal with some regularly requested questions. Right here is my evaluation after finishing the primary 12 months.
What is that this program?
It is a 3-year program, on the conclusion of which you’ll be able to get hold of a grasp’s diploma in Animal Vitamin. This system is obtainable in partnership between Glasgow College and Scotland’s Rural Faculty (SRUC) and is totally on-line and part-time.
Every year of this system consists of 60 Glasgow credit, equal to 30 ECTS credit, which roughly interprets to 600 examine hours a 12 months.
You may exit this system after the primary 12 months and acquire a Postgraduate Certificates, or after the second 12 months, with a Postgraduate Diploma.
Because it’s a postgraduate stage program there are entry necessities to affix: both a bachelor’s diploma or equal in a related topic, or a earlier work expertise. Moreover, because the course is delivered in English, non-native audio system should have handed an English take a look at to show their proficiency stage, akin to TOEFL or IELTS.
Every year is split into roughly 3-month durations of sophistication: semester 1 beginning in September, semester 2 starting in January, and Summer time beginning in April. As this system is versatile you can begin in September, January, or April.
The primary 12 months consists of three programs of 20 credit every, which I’ll describe in additional element later within the article: Digestive Anatomy and Physiology, Vitamin Biochemistry and Metabolism, and Feed Composition and Analysis.
The second 12 months consists of two necessary 10-credit programs in Summer time: Present Matters in Animal Vitamin, and Analysis Strategies for Animal Science.
As well as, it’s essential to choose two 10-credit programs for Semester 1 and Semester 2.
The choices for Semester 1 are Feed Processing, both for Monogastrics or for Ruminants, and Utilized Vitamin and Rationing once more for both Monogastrics or Ruminants.
The choices for Semester 2 are Equine Vitamin or Small Animals & Exotics Vitamin, and both Vitamin & Well being or Feed Trade.
The ultimate 12 months is devoted to a 60-credit challenge course titled Dissertation in Animal Vitamin.
At present, the schooling charge for this program for the tutorial 12 months 2023/2024 is £4,550, so for the entire MSc the pricing is £13,650. Nevertheless, evidently this value modifications from 12 months to 12 months. It’s potential to pay in 8 installments.
The primary 12 months
The three programs of the primary 12 months have been structured in the identical means: they’re 10 weeks lengthy with a catch-up week midway by means of. Every week a brand new lesson turns into out there, consisting of interactive slides narrated by the lecturers (a transcription is offered for each audio content material for accessibility functions and for non-native audio system). Because the lesson is pre-recorded you might be free to take it in your personal time. Along with the lesson every week, you might have a studying listing with necessary readings from reference textbooks and elective readings, that are typically scientific papers to additional the topic of the lesson.
Every course additionally had a complete of three to 4 dwell classes on Zoom with the professor to ask questions, and so on. The dwell classes have been scheduled at 7 pm London Time, and a recording was out there for many who couldn’t attend in real-time.
A discussion board platform was additionally out there to ask inquiries to the instructor or change with different college students.
Digestive Anatomy and Physiology
The title of this course is kind of self-explanatory as this course lined the anatomy and physiology of the digestive system. The category additionally lined histology–the microscopic anatomy of cells and tissues–which is useful to raised perceive the perform of every a part of the digestive tract.
This course additionally in contrast the digestion of varied animals with a lesson on equine digestion, one on ruminant digestion, one on pigs and poultry, and one on small animals.
Lastly, one lesson centered on the essential topic of the intestine microbiome.
There have been two assessments for this course. The primary one consisted of constructing an info leaflet on a illness of the digestive system of the animal species of our alternative. The second evaluation consisted of constructing a scientific convention poster to current a analysis article and pre-record a brief oral presentation of the poster.
Vitamin Biochemistry and Metabolism
This class lined the metabolism of the completely different macronutrients (fats, protein, and carbohydrates) in ruminant and non-ruminant species. As this was a biochemistry class, this was lined at a molecular stage. Two classes centered on the specificity of ruminants with their digestion and the position of hydrogen within the rumen.
The category additionally centered on minerals, nutritional vitamins, anti-nutritional elements, nutrient interplay, and a few plant chemistry.
The evaluation for this course was a written essay (1500 phrases), and a one-hour quiz. There was additionally a formative task within the type of a 500-word essay.
Feed Composition and Analysis
This final course lined feedstuff evaluation utilizing conventional strategies and utilizing near-infrared spectroscopy. It addressed various kinds of feedstuff and elements affecting their composition. Lastly, a number of classes centered on the best way to consider a feed and the way it impacts power partitioning, digestibility, and protein vitamin.
The evaluation was just like the final course with an essay and quiz. There was additionally a formative group exercise wherein we needed to put together slides and an audio recording to current a selected feedstuff of our alternative.
Along with these programs, each pupil must undertake the Tutorial Writing Expertise Programme. As its identify signifies, the aim of this brief programme is to discover ways to write essays. It focuses as properly on sourcing and referencing info, crucial studying, and plagiarism, as they’re all related to tutorial writing.
My general impression
I used to be fairly pleased with this primary 12 months, as I might enhance my information in vitamin, in areas that might have been tough to review on my own, akin to biochemistry and histology. To my shock, finding out numerous species was fairly enriching: it was very attention-grabbing to see how the anatomy and physiology of a species are linked to its metabolism.
As anticipated from a grasp’s program, there was a severe workload: I spent no less than one full day every week on the teachings, not counting the assignments and extra readings. The assignments have been additionally more difficult and required a much bigger time funding than the earlier certificates I had performed.
One factor that left me disenchanted was the third class, which centered far an excessive amount of on feed for ruminants for my curiosity and was fairly laborious. One lesson was devoted solely to the various kinds of forages, and I might have wished that this course was higher divided between the forms of feed for every species, as animal merchandise and co-products obtained minimal consideration.
Subsequent 12 months
I’m fairly looking forward to this new 12 months, beginning in mid-September, particularly as we now have the choice to pick our lessons. I’ve chosen: Utilized Vitamin and Rationing (Monogastrics), Feed Processing (Monogastrics), Small Animals & Exotics Vitamin, and Vitamin & Well being. As typical, I’ll preserve you posted on Instagram and write an analogous evaluation subsequent 12 months.
I hope you discovered this text attention-grabbing whether or not you might be considering this program or are interested by my credentials.
