UCD School of Agriculture and Food Science

www.ucd.ie/agfood

MSc in APPLIED EQUINE SCIENCE

TAUGHT GRADUATE PROGRAMMES

DURATION: One yearDELIVERY: Full TimeELIGIBILITY: Students must have an undergraduate degree

in science or a related discipline (with Equine related experience) or an undergraduate degree in Equine Science (or Science degree with minor in equine)

Why should I choose thisprogramme?The MSc Applied Equine Science will provide advanced education and training in the application of the sciences underpinning best practice in horse husbandry and management, to enable the development of key transferrable skills such as communication and research skills, and prepare students for business innovation and job creation opportunities in the Thoroughbred and other equine industries.

The MSc Applied Equine Science is unique in its orientation to develop a new generation of graduates with the ability to translate knowledge of equine science into practice, develop competence in research and research methods, and develop an understanding of the entrepreneurial process.t

Career Opportunities:There is a growing demand for graduates in Equine Science to contribute higher skills for the international horse industries. Graduates will gain an understanding of the nature and challenges facing the equine industries, have the ability to apply knowledge of equine science in a practical setting and take advantage of developments in policy and / or technologies as they arise.

Graduates of the MSc Applied Equine Science will be able to:

1. Apply scientific knowledge to practice to support the equine industries

2. Interpret and competently communicate scientific research and knowledge to underpin best practice within the equine industries

3. Develop and apply innovative solutions to problems within the equine industry

Course ContentThere will be three main themes contributing to the programme structure:

Advanced Equine ScienceStudents will take advanced taught modules in the sciences underpinning best practice in horse management including anatomy and conformation assessment, exercise physiology, reproduction, genetics, immunology and infectious disease.

Entrepreneurship and CommunicationsStudents will take taught modules in innovation, entrepreneurship and communications, which will help students to develop an understanding of the entrepreneurial process and to better use and communicate scientific knowledge in practice.

ResearchA major component of the programme will be a six month research project. Research placements will be available in industry laboratories in companies / organisations in the areas of exercise genomics, chronobiology, therapeutic riding, horse breeding and policy, immunology and infectious disease and biochemistry of exercise, and in academic laboratories with UCD School of Veterinary Medicine and School of Agriculture and Food Science researchers in nutrition, genomics, chronobiology, reproduction, exercise physiology and animal breeding.

Equine Research and Innovation at UCDEquine research in the School of Agriculture and Food Science strongly underpins undergraduate and postgraduate teaching in equine science. The School of Agriculture and Food Science hosts a world renowned research programme in equine exercise genomics, led by Dr Emmeline Hill (MSc Applied Equine Science Programme Coordinator). In 2010 UCD researchers published the world’s first description of a gene contributing to a specific athletic trait in Thoroughbred horses, known as ‘The Speed Gene’ and have received worldwide acclaim for the finding. Emmeline Hill has published the greatest number of research articles on equine exercise genomics by any single individual researcher worldwide. Dr Barbara Murphy (BAgrSc Animal Science – Equine Programme Coordinator) leads research in equine chronobiology which complements the research focus on equine genomics and exercise in the School.

Two UCD Spin Out companies have emerged from this research. Equinome Ltd (Founder: Dr Emmeline Hill) provides genetic tested services to the international Thoroughbred industry and Equilume (Founder: Dr Barbara Murphy) provides light-therapy solutions to maximise reproductive efficiency in horses.

APPLICATION INFORMATION

If you are interested in this programmes and are unsure if you are eligible, please contact UCD Agriculture and Food Science Programme Office at agandfoodprogrammes@ucd.ie for further details. Application is online at www.ucd.ie/apply

CONTACT DETAILS: Karen Holland, G10, UCD Agriculture and Food Science Centre Tel: 01 7167193 Email: agandfoodprogrammes@ucd.ie Web: www.ucd.ie/agfood

MSc Applied Equine Science