Major in Animal Science

The Animal Science major (food animals) provides students with an industry-oriented, science-based education that prepares them for careers in animal agriculture or one of many industries associated with livestock production. The curriculum focuses on in-depth scientific knowledge of food-producing animal physiology and function and how to relate those scientific principles to animal production. Animal Science majors choose from specialized courses to enhance their technical, practical, and business skills related to production, marketing, and processing of livestock, meat and byproducts to develop a broad understanding of animal agriculture and production.

Learning Objectives

Successful students will be able to:

• Describe the role of livestock and meat production systems in our global society
• Discuss biological principles and apply these principles into food animal management systems
• Identify business/economic principles and their application to food animal production enterprises
• Critically evaluate livestock industry issues
• Apply problem-solving and leadership skills that enhance professional success

Potential Occupations

• Managers of production units such as ranches, feedlots, meat processing facilities and dairy farms
• Sales representatives for feed companies, pharmaceutical firms, and livestock service organizations
• Meat product development or food safety/quality assurance
• Employment with organizational groups/associations such as breed organizations, clientele groups, and beef companies
• Cooperative extension and other educational positions
• Enrollment in graduate and professional schools

Advising

Visit Student Resources to schedule an appointment with an Academic Success Coordinator.

Benefits of meeting with an Academic Success Coordinator include:

• Assistance with navigating program requirements
• Assistance with identifying courses of interest
• Referrals to on campus resources

All Animal Science and Equine Science majors must meet with an Academic Success Coordinator/Advisor to receive an advising code and register for classes. Students may register for classes, check for registration dates, and holds, etc. by accessing RamWeb.

Feel free to email the Student Success Team with any questions.

Effective Fall 2024

A minimum grade of ‘C-’ (1.667) is required for BMS 300, SOCR 330 and each of the ANEQ courses used to meet requirements for the major. 

A maximum of five credits is allowed for the following:  ANEQ 352, ANEQ 353, ANEQ 354, ANEQ 355, ANEQ 356, ANEQ 357, ANEQ 361, ANEQ 362, ANEQ 363, and ANEQ 364.

A maximum of 12 credits is allowed for any combination of the following:  ANEQ 352, ANEQ 353, ANEQ 354, ANEQ 355,ANEQ 356, ANEQ 357, ANEQ 361, ANEQ 362, ANEQ 363, ANEQ 364, ANEQ 384, ANEQ 487A, ANEQ 495, and ANEQ 496.

Specialization Animal Science Electives²

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
Select a minimum of 9 credits from the following:
ANEQ 334	Principles of Equine Genetics	3
ANEQ 344	Principles of Equine Reproduction	3
May select one advanced judging evaluation course:		1-2
ANEQ 355	Advanced Livestock Evaluation
ANEQ 357	Advanced Dairy Evaluation
ANEQ 362	Advanced Meat Product Evaluation
ANEQ 364	Advanced Wool and Fiber Evaluation
ANEQ 450	Processed Meats	3
ANEQ 460	Meat Safety	2
ANEQ 470	Meat Processing Systems	4
ANEQ 472	Sheep Systems	3
ANEQ 473	Dairy Systems	3
ANEQ 474	Swine Systems	3
ANEQ 476	Feedlot Systems	3
ANEQ 478	Beef Systems	3
ANEQ 495	Independent Study	Var.
ANEQ 496	Group Study	Var.
ANEQ 505	Microbiome of Animal Systems	3
ANEQ 510	Bovine Reproduction Management	4
ANEQ 522	Animal Metabolism	3
ANEQ 525	Advanced Meat Science	3
ANEQ 531	Applied Bovine Respiratory Disease Management	1
ANEQ 532	Genetics of Bovine Respiratory Disease	1
ANEQ 545	Molecular Methods in Animal Genetics	3
ANEQ 551	Field Necropsy	2
ANEQ 565	Interpreting Animal Science Research	3
ANEQ 567	HACCP Meat Safety	2
ANEQ 575	Computational Biology in Animal Breeding	3
BC 463	Molecular Genetics	3
BC 465	Molecular Regulation of Cell Function	3
BMS 305	Domestic Animal Gross Anatomy	4
BMS 325	Cellular Neurobiology	3
BMS 330	Microscopic Anatomy	4
BMS 409	Human and Animal Reproductive Biology	3
BMS 430	Endocrinology	3
BMS 450	Pharmacology	3
BSPM 462/BZ 462/MIP 462	Parasitology and Vector Biology	5
BZ 300	Animal Behavior	3
BZ 310	Cell Biology	4
BZ 311	Developmental Biology	4
BZ 430	Animal Behavior and Conservation	3
BZ 433	Behavioral Genetics	3
FSHN 300	Food Principles and Applications	3
FSHN 301	Food Principles and Applications Laboratory	2
FTEC 400	Food Safety	3
FTEC 447	Food Chemistry	3
GES 450	Global Sustainability and Health	3
MIP 300	General Microbiology	3
MIP 302	General Microbiology Laboratory	2
MIP 334	Food Microbiology	3
MIP 335	Food Microbiology Laboratory	2
MIP 342	Immunology	4
MIP 343	Immunology Laboratory	2
MIP 432/ESS 432	Microbial Ecology	3
MIP 433/ESS 433	Microbial Ecology Laboratory	1
MIP 443	Microbial Physiology	4
MIP 450	Microbial Genetics	3
RS 452	Rangeland Herbivore Ecology and Management	3
VS 331	Histology	4
VS 333	Domestic Animal Anatomy	4

Applied Animal Science Electives

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
Select a minimum of 4 credits from a minimum of two courses:
ANEQ 250	Live Animal and Carcass Evaluation	3
ANEQ 286	Livestock Practicum	2
ANEQ 300A	Topics in Animal Sciences: Livestock Handling	1
ANEQ 300E	Topics in Animal Sciences: Family Ranching	1
ANEQ 300L	Topics in Animal Sciences: Quality Assurance	2
ANEQ 300N	Topics in Animal Sciences: Seedstock Management and Merchandising	3
ANEQ 300R	Topics in Animal Sciences: Calving and Calf Care	2
ANEQ 300U	Topics in Animal Sciences: Seedstock Sale Management--Sale Planning	1
ANEQ 300V	Topics in Animal Sciences: Seedstock Sale Management--Sale Management	1
ANEQ 322	Pet Nutrition	2
ANEQ 323	Zoo Nutrition	2
ANEQ 324	Principles of Applied Equine Nutrition	1
ANEQ 352	Introduction to Horse Evaluation	2
ANEQ 354	Introduction to Livestock Evaluation	3
ANEQ 356	Introduction to Dairy Evaluation	3
ANEQ 361	Introduction to Meat Product Evaluation	3
ANEQ 363	Introduction to Wool and Fiber Evaluation	1
ANEQ 366	Animal Welfare Evaluation	2
ANEQ 384	Supervised College Teaching	1-5
ANEQ 400	Exploring Meat Export Opportunities	2
ANEQ 401	Issues Management in the Food Animal Industry	1
ANEQ 410	Applied Food Animal Behavior	3
ANEQ 420	Applied Nutrition--Computer Diet Formulation	3
A maximum of one course, 1-3 credits, may be selected from the following courses):		1-3
ANEQ 115	Applied Equine Behavior	2
ANEQ 200	Applied Horsemanship and Equitation	2
ANEQ 201A	Preparation of Horses for Competition: Western	2
ANEQ 201B	Preparation of Horses for Competition: English	2
ANEQ 203	Equine Management	2
ANEQ 204	Equine Facilities Management	3
ANEQ 205	Equine Assessment, Evaluation and Retraining	2
ANEQ 249	Introduction to the Trail Riding Industry	1
ANEQ 303	Equine Digital Photography	3
ANEQ 325	Equine Exercise Physiology	2
ANEQ 340	Horse Training and Sale Preparation I	3
ANEQ 341	Horse Training and Sale Preparation II	3
ANEQ 349	Packing and Outfitting	2
ANEQ 351	Techniques in Therapeutic Riding	2
ANEQ 353	Advanced Horse Evaluation	3
ANEQ 358	Equine Event and Sales Management	2
ANEQ 359	Equine Sales Production	2
ANEQ 365	Principles of Teaching Therapeutic Riding	3
ANEQ 386B	Equine Practicum: Equine Reproductive Management	2
ANEQ 386C	Equine Practicum: Equine Farrier Management	1
ANEQ 442	Riding Instructor Training	2
ANEQ 445	Foaling Management	2
ANEQ 486	Therapeutic Riding Instructor Practicum	2
GES 201	Systems Thinking in Sustainability	3
LSPA 340	Spanish for Animal Health and Care Fields	3
SOCR 210	Microbiome Roles in a Sustainable Earth (GT-SC2)	3

¹

Select credits from any AREC, ECON, or business course, of which 3 credits may be a computer course.  AREC 202, ECON 202, and CS 110 will not be accepted. Access granted for the following business courses: ACT 205, BUS 205, FIN 305, MGT 305, MKT 305.

²

Select a total of 9 credits from the Specialization Animal Science List, or students may satisfy the requirement by completing a second major (Equine Science, Agricultural Business, Agricultural Education) or a minor (Agricultural Business or Business Administration). 

³

Select enough elective credits to bring the program total to a minimum of 120 credits, of which at least 42 must be upper-division (300- to 400-level).

 Distinctive Requirements for Degree Program: A minimum grade of "C-" (1.667) is required for BMS 300, SOCR 330, and each of the ANEQ courses which are required to complete the major.

A maximum of five credits is allowed for ANEQ 352, ANEQ 353, ANEQ 354, ANEQ 355, ANEQ 356, ANEQ 357, ANEQ 361, ANEQ 362, ANEQ 363, and ANEQ 364.

A maximum of 12 credits is allowed for any combination of the following: ANEQ 352, ANEQ 353, ANEQ 354, ANEQ 355, ANEQ 356, ANEQ 357, ANEQ 361, ANEQ 362, ANEQ 363, ANEQ 364, ANEQ 384, ANEQ 487A, ANEQ 495, and ANEQ 496.