Animal Science, Bachelor of Science College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences
Anne Todgham, Ph.D., Chairperson of the Department
The Animal Science major is devoted to the sciences central to understanding biological function of domestic and captive animals, their care, management, and utilization by people for food, fiber, companionship, work, and recreation. Advances in science and technology, and an ever-growing human population, have increased the complexity of issues surrounding the care and management of animals. Specializations within the major allow students to develop a scientific appreciation of animals and their relationship to their environment. Graduates in Animal Science are able to advance the science and technology of animal care and management in an objective and effective manner for the betterment of animals and society.
The Program
The curriculum provides depth in the biological and physiological sciences and allows students to specialize within the broad field of applied animal science. Study begins with introductory courses in animal science, biology, chemistry, mathematics, and statistics. Students undertake advanced courses in animal behavior, biochemistry, genetics, nutrition, and physiology and the integration of these sciences to animal growth, production, and performance. Students complete the curriculum by choosing a specialization in either an animal science discipline (behavior, biochemistry, genetics, nutrition, or physiology) or in the sciences particular to a class of animals (aquatic, avian, companion and captive, equine, laboratory, livestock and dairy, or poultry).
Career Alternatives
A wide range of career opportunities are available to graduates. The primary goal of the major is to prepare students for graduate study leading to M.S. and Ph.D. degrees; for continued study in a professional school such as veterinary medicine, human medicine, or dentistry; for careers in research, agricultural production, farm and ranch management, or positions in business, sales, financial services, health care, agricultural extension, consulting services, teaching, journalism, or laboratory technology.
Graduate Study
The Animal Biology Graduate Group offers a program of study and research leading to M.S. or Ph.D. degrees in Animal Biology. See Animal Biology (Graduate Group); see also Graduate Studies.
Lead Faculty Advisor
Russ Hovey, Ph.D.
The major requirements below are in addition to meeting University Degree Requirements & College Degree Requirements; unless otherwise noted. The minimum number of units required for the Animal Science Bachelor of Science is 117.
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Preparatory Subject Matter | ||
| Animal Science | 12 | |
| Domestic Animals & People 1 | ||
| Introductory Animal Science | ||
| Domestic Animal Production 2 | ||
| Domestic Animal Production Laboratory 2 | ||
| Biological Science | 15 | |
| Introduction to Biology: Essentials of Life on Earth | ||
| Introduction to Biology: Principles of Ecology & Evolution | ||
| Introduction to Biology: Biodiversity & the Tree of Life | ||
| Chemistry; choose 002 series & 008 series or 118 series: | 16-18 | |
| General Chemistry and General Chemistry | ||
AND | ||
| Organic Chemistry: Brief Course and Organic Chemistry: Brief Course | ||
OR | ||
| Organic Chemistry for Health & Life Sciences and Organic Chemistry for Health & Life Sciences | ||
| Mathematics; choose a series: | 6-8 | |
| Short Calculus and (Discontinued) | ||
| Calculus for Biology & Medicine and Calculus for Biology & Medicine | ||
| Calculus and Calculus | ||
| Choose one: | 4 | |
| Applied Statistics in Agricultural Sciences | ||
| Applied Statistics for Biological Sciences | ||
| Note: Some professional and graduate schools may require additional preparatory subject matter; consult the Advising Center. | ||
| Preparatory Subject Matter Subtotal | 53-57 | |
| Depth Subject Matter | ||
| Biology | 44 | |
| Genes & Gene Expression | ||
| Genetics & Animal Breeding | ||
| Animal Biochemistry & Metabolism | ||
| Animal Biochemistry & Metabolism | ||
| Systemic Physiology | ||
or ANS 100 | Animal Physiology | |
| Principles & Applications of Domestic Animal Behavior | ||
| Animal Health & Disease | ||
| Ethics of Animal Use | ||
| Animal Nutrition | ||
| Comparative Animal Nutrition & Metabolism | ||
| Integrative Animal Biology Restricted Electives: | ||
| For Companion & Captive, Disciplinary Focus-Behavior, Disciplinary Focus-Biochemistry, Disciplinary Focus-Genetics, Disciplinary Focus-Nutrition, Disciplinary Focus-Physiology, Equine Science, Laboratory Animals, and Livestock & Dairy specializations: must take two from the following list: | 6-8 | |
| Animal Growth & Development | ||
| Lactation | ||
| Physiology of Reproduction | ||
| Physiology of the Endocrine Glands | ||
| For Aquatic Animal specialization; must take two from the following list: | ||
| Animal Growth & Development | ||
| Biology of Invertebrates | ||
| Comparative Vertebrate Organology | ||
| Biology & Conservation of Fishes | ||
| For Avian Sciences & Poultry specializations; must take two from the following list: | ||
| Animal Growth & Development | ||
| Avian Biology | ||
| Avian Physiology | ||
| Physiology of the Endocrine Glands | ||
| Laboratory | ||
| Choose one: | 2-6 | |
| Molecular Biology Laboratory Techniques | ||
| Domestic Animal Behavior Laboratory | ||
| Animal Cell Culture Laboratory | ||
| Animal Nutrition Laboratory | ||
| Production Animal Laboratory | ||
| Techniques & Practices of Fish Culture | ||
| Techniques & Practices of Avian Culture | ||
| Experimental Animal Physiology | ||
| Molecular Biology & Biochemistry Laboratory | ||
| Principles of Genetics Laboratory | ||
| Systemic Physiology Laboratory | ||
| Cellular Physiology/Neurobiology Laboratory | ||
| Immunology Laboratory | ||
| Depth Subject Matter Subtotal | 52-58 | |
| Area of Specialization | ||
| Choose one area of specialization below: | 12 | |
| The program of study must be approved in advance by your faculty advisor. Courses must be taken for a letter grade. | ||
| Area of Specialization Subtotal | 12 | |
| Total Units | 117-127 | |
- 1
ANS 001 will be waived for junior transfer students.
- 2
ANS 041, ANS 041L will be waived for junior transfer students.
Aquatic Animals Specialization
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| ANS 018 | Introductory Aquaculture | 4 |
| Select additional upper division units with approval from your faculty advisor, to form a coherent series of courses. | 8 | |
Avian Sciences Specialization
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| AVS 013 | Birds, Humans & the Environment | 3 |
| Select additional upper division units with approval from your faculty advisor, to form a coherent series of courses. | 9 | |
Companion & Captive Animals Specialization
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| ANS 042 | Introductory Companion Animal Biology | 4 |
| ANS 142 | Companion Animal Care & Management | 4 |
| Select additional upper division units with approval from your faculty advisor, to form a coherent series of courses. | 4 | |
Disciplinary Focus―Behavior Specialization
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Select upper division units with approval from your faculty advisor, to form a coherent series of courses. | 12 | |
Disciplinary Focus―Biochemistry Specialization
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Select upper division units with approval from your faculty advisor, to form a coherent series of courses. | 12 | |
Disciplinary Focus―Genetics Specialization
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Select upper division units with approval from your faculty advisor, to form a coherent series of courses. | 12 | |
Disciplinary Focus―Nutrition Specialization
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Select upper division units with approval from your faculty advisor, to form a coherent series of courses. | 12 | |
Disciplinary Focus―Physiology Specialization
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Select upper division units with approval from your faculty advisor, to form a coherent series of courses. | 12 | |
Equine Science Specialization
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| ANS 015 | Introductory Horse Husbandry | 3 |
| ANS 115 | Advanced Horse Production | 4 |
| Select additional upper division units with approval from your faculty advisor, to form a coherent series of courses. | 5 | |
Laboratory Animals Specialization
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| ANS 042 | Introductory Companion Animal Biology | 4 |
| ANS 140 | Management of Laboratory Animals | 4 |
| Select additional upper division units with approval from your faculty advisor, to form a coherent series of courses. | 4 | |
Livestock & Dairy Specialization
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Choose two: | 8-9 | |
| Pig & Poultry Care & Management | ||
| Beef Cattle & Sheep Production | ||
| Dairy Cattle Production | ||
| Select additional upper division units with approval from your faculty advisor, to form a coherent series of courses. | 3-4 | |
Poultry Specialization
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| AVS 011 | Introduction to Poultry Science | 3 |
| ANS 143 | Pig & Poultry Care & Management | 4 |
| Select additional upper division units with approval from your faculty advisor, to form a coherent series of courses. | 5 | |