The Department of Animal Science's mission is to create and disseminate knowledge about animals, for the betterment of animals, society, and the environment in California, and beyond.

The Department of Animal Science has an integrated, interdisciplinary approach to its research, teaching, extension, and outreach programs. The core competency is the whole organismal study of domestic and/or wild animals in their respective environments.

University of California, Davis has an international reputation for excellence in animal biology. Current research within the Animal Biology Graduate Group extends from lipid modification and the interaction of the immune system and animal growth to conservation of indigenous species, cloning and reproduction and the interaction of animal behavior with genetic modification. Mentoring faculty are recognized as leading researchers in their fields. Students trained by our faculty have excelled in their chosen careers in academia, non-governmental organizations, industry and government.

The Animal Biology Graduate Group is designed for students interested in integrated animal biology. Research typically focuses on a multidisciplinary or interdisciplinary question and is strengthened by an understanding of organismal animal biology. The Animal Biology Graduate Group offers a Ph.D. and an M.S. in Animal Biology.