Graduate Programs

For the benefit of current and future student members, ESS maintains a list of graduate programs and faculty that specialize in equine-related areas of research and study. This list focuses on ESS members and their institutions and therefore may not be comprehensive.


Colorado State University
Program: Animal Sciences
Degrees Offered: Master of Science (Thesis), Doctorate of Philosophy (PhD)
Research Areas: Equine Nutrition, Equine Reproduction, Equine Exercise Physiology, Equine Genetics and Genomics, Equine Behavior, Equine Microbiome
Graduate Faculty: Devan Catalano, PhD, Stephen Coleman, PhD, Tanja Hess, PhD
Potential Funding Opportunities: Fellowships, Teaching Assistantships, Research Assistantships
Amenities: Horsemen's Association, Horse Polo
Contact: Stephen Coleman, PhD
For more information visit the program's website


Kansas State University
Program: Department of Animal Science and Industry
Degrees Offered: Master of Science (Thesis), Master of Science (Non-Thesis), Doctorate of Philosophy (PhD)
Research Areas: Equine Nutrition, Equine Reproduction
Graduate Faculty: Joann Kouba, PhD, Teresa Douthit, PhD
Potential Funding Opportunities: Teaching Assistantships, Research Assistantships
Amenities: Horse Judging Team, Horsemen's Association, Youth and Adult Equine Extension Programming
Contact: Joann Kouba, PhD
For more information visit the program's website


Lousiana State University
Program: Animal Sciences
Degrees Offered: Master of Science (Thesis), Master of Science (Non-thesis), Doctorate of Philosophy (PhD)
Research Areas: Equine Endocrinology and Reproductive Physiology
Graduate Faculty: Erin Oberhaus, PhD, Neely Heidorn, PhD
Potential Funding Opportunities: Research Assistantships
Amenities: Research Team, Extension Programming
Contact: Erin Oberhaus, PhD
For more information visit the program's website


Michigan State University
Program: Animal Science
Degrees Offered: Master of Science (Thesis), Doctorate of Philosophy (PhD)
Research Areas: Nutrition, Exercise Physiology, Production and Management
Graduate Faculty: Brian Nielsen, PhD
Potential Funding Opportunities: Fellowships, Teaching Assistantships, Research Assistantships
Amenities: Equestrian Team(s), Horse Judging Team, Research Team, Horseman’s Association
Contact: Brian Nielsen, PhD
For more information visit the program's website


Middle Tennessee State University
Program: Horse Science
Degrees Offered: Master of Science (Thesis), Master of Science (Non-Thesis),
Research Areas:  Equine Excercise Physiology, Equine Health, Equine Nutrition, and Scholarship of Teaching and Learning
Graduate Faculty: John Haffner, DVM, Ariel Herrin, MS, Rhonda Hoffman, PhD, and Alyssa Logan, PhD
Potential Funding Opportunities: Teaching Assistantships, Research Assistantships
Amenities: Equestrian Team(s), Horse Judging Team, Stock Horse Team, On-Campus Student Boarding (limited), and Tennessee Miller Coliseum
Contact: Alyssa Logan, PhD
For more information visit the program's website


Murray State University
Programs: Animal and Equine Science
Degree Offered: Masters of Agriculture
Research Areas: Equine Nutrition, Equine Behavior, Equine Coaching and Teaching, Equine Industry Management, Teaching in Equine Science
Graduate Faculty: Shea Porr, PhD
Potential Funding Opportunities: Teaching Assistantships, Student Employment
Amenities: Equestrian Team(s), Dressage Club, Rodeo Team, Horsemen's Association, On-Campus Student Boarding Available
Contact: Shea Porr, PhD
For more information visit the program's website


North Carolina State University
Program: Animal Science
Degrees Offered: Master of Science (Thesis), Master of Science (Non-Thesis), Doctorate of Philosophy (PhD)
Research Areas: Equine Nutrition, Equine Exercise Physiology, Equine Production and Management
Graduate Faculty: Shannon Pratt-Phillips, PhD, Paul Siciliano, PhD
Potential Funding Opportunities: Teaching Assistantships, Research Assistantships
Amenities: Equestrian Team(s), On-Campus Student Boarding Available
Contact: Shannon Pratt-Phillips, PhD
For more information visit the program's website


North Dakota State University
Program: Animal Sciences
Degrees Offered: Master of Science (Thesis), Master of Science (Non-Thesis), Doctorate of Philosophy (PhD)
Research Areas: Equine Nutrition, Equine Production and Management, Equine Assisted Activities and Therapies, Equine Health and Disease
Graduate Faculty: Carrie Hammer, DVM, PhD, Erika Berg, PhD
Potential Funding Opportunities: Research Assistantships
Amenities: Equestrian Team(s), Research Team, Horsemen's Association, Rodeo Team, On-Campus Student Boarding Available
Contact: Carrie Hammer, DVM, PhD
For more information visit the program's website


Purdue University
Program: Agricultural Sciences Education and Communication
Degrees Offered: Master of Science (Thesis), Master of Science (Non-Thesis), Doctorate of Philosophy (PhD)
Research Areas: Equitation Science
Graduate Faculty: Colleen Brady, PhD
Potential Funding Opportunities: Fellowships, Teaching Assistantships
Amenities: Equestrian Team(s)
Contact: Colleen Brady, PhD
For more information visit the program's website


Rutgers University
Programs: Endocrinology and Animal Biosciences
Degrees Offered: Master of Science (Thesis), Doctorate of Philosophy (PhD)
Research Areas: Equine Nutrition, Equine Exercise Physiology, Equine Production and Management, Equine Behavior, Endocrinology
Graduate Faculty: Karyn Malinowski, PhD, Ken McKeever, PhD, and Carey Williams, PhD
Potential Funding Opportunities: Fellowships, Teaching Assistantships, Research Assistantships, Student Employment
Amenities: Research Team, Horsemen's Association, Equine Science Center Programs and Activities
Contact: Carey A. Williams, PhD
For more information visit the program's website


Rutgers University
Programs: Kinesiology and Health
Degrees Offered: Master of Science (Thesis), Master of Science (Non-Thesis), Doctorate of Philosophy (PhD)
Research Areas: Exercise Physiology, Sport Nutrition, Exercise Psychology, Metabolism and Sleep
Graduate Faculty: Graduate Faculty in Kinesiology and Health
Potential Funding Opportunities: Teaching Assistantships
Contact: Jennifer Buckman, PhD
For more information visit the program's website


Southern Illinois University
Program: Animal Science
Degrees Offered: Master of Science (Thesis), Doctorate of Philosophy (PhD)
Research Areas: Equine Nutrition, Equine Reproduction
Graduate Faculty: Erin Perry, PhD
Potential Funding Opportunities: Fellowships, Teaching Assistantships, Research Assistantships, Student Employment
Amenities: Equestrian Team(s), Research Team, On-Campus Student Boarding Available
Contact: Erin Perry, PhD
For more information visit the program's website


Texas A&M University
Program: Animal Science
Degrees Offered: Master of Science (Thesis), Master of Science (Non-Thesis), Master of Agriculture, Doctorate of Philosophy (PhD), Master of Equine Industry Management
Research Areas: Equine Nutrition, Equine Reproduction, Equine Exercise Physiology, Equine Production and Management, Equine Behavior, Equitation Science, Equine Coaching and Teaching, Equine Industry Management
Graduate Faculty: Graduate Faculty in Animal Science
Potential Funding Opportunities: Fellowships, Teaching Assistantships, Research Assistantships
Amenities: Ranch Horse Team, Horsemen's Association, Saddle and Sirloin, Equine Ambassador Leadership Program, Summer Horsemanship Schools
Contact: Sarah White-Springer, PhD
For more information visit the program's website


The Pennsylvania State University
Program: Animal Science
Degrees Offered: Master of Science (Thesis), Doctorate of Philosophy (PhD)
Research Areas: Equine Nutrition, Equine Reproduction, Equine Exercise Physiology, Equine Industry Management
Graduate Faculty: Burt Staniar, PhD and Danielle Smarsh, PhD
Potential Funding Opportunities: Teaching Assistantships, Research Assistantships
Amenities: Research Team
Contact: Burt Staniar, PhD
For more information visit the program's website


University of Connecticut
Program: Animal Science
Degrees Offered: Master of Science (Thesis), Master of Science (Non-Thesis), Doctorate of Philosophy (PhD)
Research Areas: Equine Exercise Physiology, Equine Production and Management
Graduate Faculty: Jenifer Nadeau, PhD and Sarah Reed, PhD
Potential Funding Opportunities: Teaching Assistantships, Research Assistantships
Amenities: Equestrian Team(s)
Contact: Jenifer Nadeau, PhD
For more information visit the program's website


University of Delaware
Program: Animal and Food Sciences
Degrees Offered: Master of Science (Thesis), Master of Science (Non-Thesis), Doctorate of Philosophy (PhD)
Research Areas: Equine Nutrition, Equine Genetics/Genomics, Equine Microbiome and Parasitology
Graduate Faculty: Amy Biddle, PhD
Potential Funding Opportunities: Fellowships, Teaching Assistantships, Research Assistantships, Student Employment
Amenities: Equestrian Team(s), Horse Judging Team, Research Team
Contact: Amy Biddle, PhD
For more information visit the program's website


University of Florida
Program: Animal Sciences
Degrees Offered: Master of Science (Thesis), Master of Science (Non-Thesis), Doctorate of Philosophy (PhD), PhD in Animal Molecular & Cellular Biology
Research Areas: Equine Nutrition, Equine Reproduction, Equine Exercise Physiology, Equine Genetics/Genomics, Equine Production and Management, Equine Behavior
Graduate Faculty: Samantha Brooks, PhD, Bradford Daigneault, PhD, Saundra TenBroeck, PhD, Lori Warren, PhD, and Carissa Wickens, PhD
Potential Funding Opportunities: Fellowships, Research Assistantships, Student Employment
Amenities: Equestrian Team(s), Horse Judging Team, Option for Student Housing in Exchange for Farm Labor
Contact: Lori Warren, PhD
For more information visit the program's website

 


University of Guelph
Program: Animal Biosciences
Degrees Offered: Master of Science (Thesis), Master of Science (Non-Thesis), Doctorate of Philosophy (PhD)
Research Areas: Equine Nutrition, Equine Exercise Physiology, Equine Production and Management, Equine Behavior, Equitation Science, Equine Health
Graduate Faculty: Wendy Pearson, PhD
Potential Funding Opportunities: Fellowships, Teaching Assistantships, Research Assistantships
Amenities: Equestrian Team(s), Research Team
Contact: Wendy Pearson, PhD
For more information visit the program's website


University of Kentucky
Program: Animal and Food Sciences
Degrees Offered: Master of Science (Thesis), Doctorate of Philosophy (PhD)
Research Areas: Equine Nutrition, Equine Production and Management, Equine Parasitology
Graduate Faculty: Robert Coleman, PhD, Laurie Lawrence, PhD, Mary Rossano, PhD, Kristine Urschel, PhD
Potential Funding Opportunities: Teaching Assistantships, Research Assistantships
Amenities: Extension Programming
Contact: David Harmon, PhD
For more information visit the program's website


University of Kentucky
Program: Veterinary Science
Degrees Offered: Master of Science (Thesis), Doctorate of Philosophy (PhD)
Research Areas: Equine Reproduction, Equine Genetics and Genomics, Infectious Disease, Parasitology, Immunology, Musculoskeletal Disease, Pharmacology
Graduate Faculty: Faculty in the Gluck Equine Research Center
Potential Funding Opportunities: Teaching Assistantships, Research Assistantships
Contact: Martin Nielsen, PhD
For more information visit the program's website


University of Maryland
Program: Animal and Avian Sciences
Degrees Offered: Master of Science (Thesis), Doctorate of Philosophy (PhD)
Research Areas: Equine Nutrition, Equine Production and Management, Environmental Stewardship of Horse Farms
Graduate Faculty: Amy Burk, PhD
Potential Funding Opportunities: Fellowships, Teaching Assistantships
Amenities: Equestrian Team(s)
Contact: Amy Burk, PhD
For more information visit the program's website


University of Minnesota
Program: Animal Science
Degrees Offered: Master of Science (Thesis), Doctorate of Philosophy (PhD)
Research Areas: Equine Production and Management
Graduate Faculty: Krishona Martinson, PhD
Potential Funding Opportunities: Fellowships, Teaching Assistantships, Research Assistantships
Amenities: Extension Programming, Animal Welfare Judging Team
Contact: Krishona Martinson, PhD
For more information visit the program's website


University of Nebraska
Program: Animal Science
Degrees Offered: Master of Science (Thesis), Masters of Agriculture, Doctorate of Philosophy (PhD)
Research Areas: Equine Genetics and Genomics, Equine Coaching and Teaching, Extension and Teaching
Graduate Faculty: Kathy Anderson, PhD, Lena Luck, PhD, Jessica Peterson, PhD
Potential Funding Opportunities: Teaching Assistantships, Research Assistantships, Student Employment
Amenities: Extension Programming, Equestrian Team(s), Horse Judging Team
Contact: Kathy Anderson, PhD
For more information visit the program's website


University of Tennessee
Program: Animal Science
Degrees Offered: Master of Science (Thesis), Doctorate of Philosophy (PhD)
Research Areas: Equine Nutrition, Equine Reproduction, Equine Exercise Physiology, Equine Production and Management, Equitation Science, Equine Coaching and Teaching, Equine Welfare
Graduate Faculty: Jennie Ivey, PhD
Potential Funding Opportunities: Teaching Assistantships, Research Assistantships, Student Employment
Amenities: Equestrian Team(s), Horse Judging Team, Horsemen's Association, On-Campus Student Boarding Available
Contact: Jennie Ivey, PhD
For more information visit the program's website