Animal Sciences Undergraduate Major (BS, HBS)

The College of Agricultural Sciences offers educational programs to serve the needs of individuals interested in pursuing careers in agribusiness; agriculture; animal, plant and food systems; environmental economics and policy; fisheries and wildlife; food science; range and natural resource management; veterinary medicine; and more. Students can choose any one of the option: Animal Behavior The Animal Behavior option will provide students with skills necessary to enter professions or graduate studies related to animal behavior and welfare, service and therapy with animals, or other animal care or industry positions that include a behavior management component. Courses chosen are consistent with accepted curriculum for animal behaviorists and provide a solid foundation to those working towards related certifications. Animal BioHealth/Pre-Professional The Animal BioSciences/Pre-Professional option prepares students for professional careers in veterinary medicine, and animal science teaching and research. Extensive training is provided in the biological and physical sciences, offering an excellent foundation for graduate study. Animal Production The Animal Production option will allow students to select a species or production industry that interests those most. This option is for students that want to specialize in breeding, feeding, care, and welfare of animals. Animal production, nutrition, and management classes combined with business and/or applied economics courses provide a solid basis for a career in industry-level positions that pertain to animal management and production. Equine The two areas of emphasis within the Equine option are designed to give students direction in regard to their future career and endeavors. The Management or General Emphasis is designed to prepare those students wanting to not only own horses, but to manage equine facilities, event centers, or to go into areas such as nutrition, pharmaceuticals sales or marketing and promotion. The Human or Animal Therapy Emphasis is designed to prepare students to go into the area of animal-assisted therapy. Using horses as therapy animals is becoming widely accepted and utilized. For this emphasis, the student not only needs to understand the horse itself but human nature as well. Rangeland Science The Rangeland Sciences option provides students with foundational knowledge and skills relevant to rangeland ecology and management. This option is for students seeking to understand the structure and function of rangelands. Landscape dynamics, including the effects of stress and disturbance, are integral to course work which includes rangeland plant identification, rangeland ecosystem types, rangeland health assessment, hydrology, effects of fire and herbivory, resource inventory, restoration and management planning. Rangeland Sciences courses complement Animal Sciences courses to provide students with an integrated understanding of rangeland stewardship and livestock production.