The Majors

Two majors are available within the department. The B.S. in Animal Science major is designed to provide a flexible program to accommodate students with interests in animal production and related support industries. With appropriate selection of elective courses, this major can also prepare students for postgraduate studies. The B.S. Pre-Veterinary major is designed specifically for students interested in postgraduate studies in the sciences including entrance into veterinary, medical, master's and doctoral research programs.

Admission to majors

All students are admitted first to the Animal Science major. Students completing predictor courses (indicated immediately below with an asterisk) with an average grade of B- or better are eligible to enter the Pre-Veterinary major. Students interested in transferring to the program or obtaining a second bachelor’s degree in Animal Science should contact the department’s Undergraduate Program Director.

Requirements for all majors include the following ANIMLSCI and extra-departmental courses:
101 Introductory Animal Science
*103 Introductory Animal Management
*200 Animal Cell and Molecular Biology
*220 Anatomy and Physiology
311 Animal Genetics and Breeding
332 Basic Animal Nutrition and Feeding
360 Farm Animal Care and Welfare
BIOLOGY 100/101 Introductory Biology
MATH 104 Algebra, Analytic Geometry and Trigonometry
NATSCI 397A CNS Junior Writing Course
RES-ECON 211 Introductory Statistics for the Life Sciences or equivalent
MICROBIO 310 General Microbiology
BIOCHEM 420 Elementary Biochemistry

Additional Animal Science requirements:

CHEM 110 General Chemistry
CHEM 250 Organic Chemistry
ANIMLSCI 372 Animal Diseases
ANIMLSCI 421 Fundamentals of Reproduction

Additional Pre-Veterinary requirements:

*CHEM 111/112 General Chemistry for Science and Engineering Majors
*CHEM 261/ 262/269 Organic Chemistry I, II, with Lab
*MATH 127 Calculus for the Life and Social Sciences I
PHYSICS 131/132 Introductory Physics I,II with Lab
ANIMLSCI 472 Infection and Immunity
ANIMLSCI 521 Physiology of Reproduction

Students work closely with their academic advisor, who assists them in selecting elective courses to enhance specific areas of interest and to develop curriculums that meet their career objectives as described under “Areas of Advanced Training.”

Areas of Advanced Training

Students, working with their advisor, concentrate their studies in one of the following emphasis areas that highlight departmental offerings in Livestock, Equine and Biotechnology studies.

Livestock Emphasis

This area is for students whose interests are in animal production and related support industries. Elective courses should emphasize animal management, resource economics, plant and soil sciences, food science, computer science or education. This background prepares students for careers in production agriculture as owner-operators and managers in agricultural product marketing and service, banking, extension, vocational agricultural education, veterinary and animal research facilities, and international agriculture.

Equine Emphasis

This area offers opportunities for specialized work with horses. Selection of elective courses should emphasize departmental equine offerings. The curriculum combines the basic animal science core courses with the opportunity to concentrate in equitation and/or horse management. The academic program and skills training coupled with numerous extracurricular activities provide a diverse background that prepares students for careers in all phases of the horse industry.

Biotechnology Emphasis

This area prepares students interested in technical careers in biotechnology, biomedical, and pharmaceutical laboratories. Courses and laboratory experiences are directed specifically toward acquiring skills in molecular and cellular biology as applied to animals, including recombinant DNA, embryo manipulation, and cell and tissue culture. Elective courses should emphasize advanced training in basic sciences (chemistry and biochemistry) and modern laboratory technologies. These include courses in research animal management, immunology, and lab methods in biotechnology that provide excellent preparation for employment in the expanding field of biotechnology and biomedical research.