In September 2022, I started the primary 12 months of the Grasp of Science in Animal Diet at Glasgow College to additional my schooling in animal vitamin (you might have seen my common updates on my Instagram account). On this article, I’ll delve deeper into this system and tackle some steadily requested questions. Right here is my assessment after finishing the primary 12 months.
What is that this program?
This can be a 3-year program, on the conclusion of which you’ll receive a grasp’s diploma in Animal Diet. This system is obtainable in partnership between Glasgow College and Scotland’s Rural School (SRUC) and is solely 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 research hours a 12 months.
You possibly can exit this system after the primary 12 months and procure a Postgraduate Certificates, or after the second 12 months, with a Postgraduate Diploma.
Because it’s a postgraduate degree 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 will need to have handed an English take a look at to show their proficiency degree, resembling TOEFL or IELTS.
Every year is split into roughly 3-month intervals 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, Diet Biochemistry and Metabolism, and Feed Composition and Analysis.
The second 12 months consists of two obligatory 10-credit programs in Summer time: Present Matters in Animal Diet, and Analysis Strategies for Animal Science.
As well as, it is advisable 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 Diet and Rationing once more for both Monogastrics or Ruminants.
The choices for Semester 2 are Equine Diet or Small Animals & Exotics Diet, and both Diet & Well being or Feed Business.
The ultimate 12 months is devoted to a 60-credit challenge course titled Dissertation in Animal Diet.
Presently, the schooling payment for this program for the educational 12 months 2023/2024 is £4,550, so for the entire MSc the pricing is £13,650. Nevertheless, evidently this worth adjustments from 12 months to 12 months. It’s doable to pay in 8 installments.
The primary 12 months
The three programs of the primary 12 months have been structured in the identical approach: they’re 10 weeks lengthy with a catch-up week midway by means of. Every week a brand new lesson turns into accessible, consisting of interactive slides narrated by the lecturers (a transcription is supplied 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 checklist with obligatory readings from reference textbooks and non-obligatory 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 forth. The dwell classes have been scheduled at 7 pm London Time, and a recording was accessible for many who couldn’t attend in real-time.
A discussion board platform was additionally accessible to ask inquiries to the trainer 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 assorted animals with a lesson on equine digestion, one on ruminant digestion, one on pigs and poultry, and one on small animals.
Lastly, one lesson targeted 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 selection. 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.
Diet Biochemistry and Metabolism
This class lined the metabolism of the totally different macronutrients (fats, protein, and carbohydrates) in ruminant and non-ruminant species. As this was a biochemistry class, this was lined at a molecular degree. Two classes targeted on the specificity of ruminants with their digestion and the position of hydrogen within the rumen.
The category additionally targeted 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 several types of feedstuff and elements affecting their composition. Lastly, a number of classes targeted on the right 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 during which we needed to put together slides and an audio recording to current a selected feedstuff of our selection.
Along with these programs, each scholar must undertake the Educational Writing Expertise Programme. As its title signifies, the objective of this brief programme is to learn to write essays. It focuses as nicely on sourcing and referencing info, essential studying, and plagiarism, as they’re all related to educational writing.
My total impression
I used to be fairly pleased with this primary 12 months, as I might enhance my information in vitamin, in areas that may have been troublesome to review on my own, resembling biochemistry and histology. To my shock, finding out numerous species was fairly enriching: it was very fascinating 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 critical workload: I spent at the least one full day every week on the teachings, not counting the assignments and extra readings. The assignments have been additionally more difficult and required an even bigger time funding than the earlier certificates I had executed.
One factor that left me dissatisfied was the third class, which targeted far an excessive amount of on feed for ruminants for my curiosity and was fairly laborious. One lesson was devoted solely to the several types of forages, and I’d have wished that this course was higher divided between the forms of feed for every species, as animal merchandise and co-products acquired minimal consideration.
Subsequent 12 months
I’m fairly anticipating this new 12 months, beginning in mid-September, particularly as we’ve the choice to pick our courses. I’ve chosen: Utilized Diet and Rationing (Monogastrics), Feed Processing (Monogastrics), Small Animals & Exotics Diet, and Diet & Well being. As ordinary, I’ll maintain you posted on Instagram and write an analogous assessment subsequent 12 months.
I hope you discovered this text fascinating whether or not you might be considering this program or are inquisitive about my credentials.
