Animal Science

The Equine Science major provides students with an industry-oriented, science-based education that prepares them for careers in a growing equine industry or one of the many industries associated with equine production. The curriculum focuses on in-depth scientific knowledge of equine physiology and function and how to relate those scientific principles to the industry. Equine Science majors develop a broad understanding of the horse as it relates to business, recreational, and production aspects of the industry through selection of specialized courses to enhance their technical, practical, and business skills.

Learning Outcomes

Successful students will be able to:

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

Potential Occupations

  • Management of equine production systems such as breeding farms and ranches
  • Sales representatives for feed companies, pharmaceutical firms, and equine industry service organizations
  • Employment with organizational groups/associations such as breed organizations and clientele groups
  • Hosting and planning equine events such as horse shows and competitions
  • Cooperative extension agents and other educational positions
  • Enrollment in graduate and professional schools

Change of Major

In order to change your major to Animal Science or Equine Science, please sign up for an informational session here:

Animal Science Student Success: Change of Major Session

Benefits of meeting with an Academic Success Coordinator/Advisor 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 to receive an advising code and register for classes. Students may register for classes, check for registration date and holds, etc. by accessing RamWeb.

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

Effective Fall 2023

A minimum grade of "C" (2.00) is required for each of the ANEQ courses which are required to complete the major.

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

Freshman
AUCCCredits
ANEQ 102Introduction to Equine Science 4
Select one course from the following: 1-4
Introduction to Large Animal Anatomy  
Domestic Animal Gross Anatomy  
ANEQ 115Applied Equine Behavior 2
ANEQ 193Student Seminar--Exploring Student Success 1
ANEQ 292Equine Industry Seminar 1
CO 150College Composition (GT-CO2)1A3
CS 110Personal Computing 4
LIFE 102Attributes of Living Systems (GT-SC1)3A4
Select one group from the following: 5
Group A:
  
Fundamentals of Chemistry (GT-SC2)3A 
Fundamentals of Chemistry Laboratory (GT-SC1)3A 
Group B:
  
General Chemistry I (GT-SC2)3A 
General Chemistry Lab I (GT-SC1)3A 
Select a minimum of 3 credits from the following: 3-4
College Algebra in Context I (GT-MA1)1B 
College Algebra in Context II (GT-MA1)1B 
Logarithmic and Exponential Functions (GT-MA1)1B 
Numerical Trigonometry (GT-MA1)1B 
Analytic Trigonometry (GT-MA1)1B 
Calculus in Management Sciences (GT-MA1)1B 
Calculus for Biological Scientists I (GT-MA1)1B 
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion1C3
 Total Credits 31-35
Sophomore
 
SPCM 200Public Speaking 3
Select one course from the following: 3-4
Farm Animal Anatomy and Physiology  
Functional Large Animal Physiology  
Principles of Human Physiology  
Select one course from the following: 3
Foundations in Animal Genetics  
Principles of Genetics  
Select one course from the following: 3
Agricultural and Resource Economics (GT-SS1)3C 
Principles of Microeconomics (GT-SS1)3C 
Select one course from the following: 3
General Statistics (GT-MA1)1B 
Introduction to Applied Statistical Methods  
Introduction to Biostatistics  
Business/Economics Electives2 3
Arts and Humanities3B3
Historical Perspectives3D3
Electives 5-6
 Total Credits 30-31
Junior
 
ANEQ 320Principles of Animal Nutrition4B3
ANEQ 334Principles of Equine Genetics 3
ANEQ 344Principles of Equine Reproduction4B3
ANEQ 346Equine Disease Management 4
Select one course from the following: 3
Rangeland Conservation and Stewardship  
Sustainable Forage Management for Livestock  
Experience Equine Science Electives – Select a minimum of 2 credits from the following: 2
Internship: Equine  
Department-approved Study Abroad
  
Applied Equine Science Electives (see list below) 4
Business/Economics Elective2 3
Arts and Humanities3B3
 Total Credits 28
Senior
 
ANEQ 440Equine Industry and Issues4A,4C3
Select one course from following: 2
Integrated Equine Science  
Equine Business Management  
Advanced Science Course Electives (see list below) 3-4
Applied Equine Science Electives (see list below) 4
Business/Economics Elective2 3
Advanced Writing 23
Electives3 3-12
 Total Credits 22-30
 Program Total Credits: 120

Applied Equine Sciences List – Select a minimum of 8 credits from a minimum of 4 courses

ANEQ 200Applied Horsemanship and Equitation2
ANEQ 201APreparation of Horses for Competition: Western2
ANEQ 201BPreparation of Horses for Competition: English2
ANEQ 203Equine Management2
ANEQ 204Equine Facilities Management3
ANEQ 205Equine Assessment, Evaluation and Retraining2
ANEQ 249Introduction to the Trail Riding Industry1
ANEQ 303Equine Digital Photography3
ANEQ 315Equine Behavior2
ANEQ 325Equine Exercise Physiology2
ANEQ 340Horse Training and Sale Preparation I3
ANEQ 341Horse Training and Sale Preparation II3
ANEQ 349Packing and Outfitting2
ANEQ 351Techniques in Therapeutic Riding2
ANEQ 352Introduction to Horse Evaluation2
ANEQ 353Advanced Horse Evaluation3
ANEQ 358Equine Event and Sales Management2
ANEQ 359Equine Sales Production2
ANEQ 365Principles of Teaching Therapeutic Riding3
ANEQ 384Supervised College TeachingVar.
ANEQ 386BEquine Practicum: Equine Reproductive Management2
ANEQ 386CEquine Practicum: Equine Farrier Management1
ANEQ 442Riding Instructor Training2
ANEQ 445Foaling Management2
ANEQ 486Therapeutic Riding Instructor Practicum2
ANEQ 495Independent StudyVar.
ANEQ 496Group StudyVar.
L*** 2** 200-Level Foreign LanguageVar.
Students may select a maximum of two courses from the following:
ANEQ 250Live Animal and Carcass Evaluation3
ANEQ 286Livestock Practicum2
ANEQ 300ATopics in Animal Sciences: Livestock Handling1
ANEQ 300ETopics in Animal Sciences: Family Ranching1
ANEQ 300LTopics in Animal Sciences: Quality Assurance2
ANEQ 300NTopics in Animal Sciences: Seedstock Management and Merchandising3
ANEQ 300RTopics in Animal Sciences: Calving and Calf Care2
ANEQ 300UTopics in Animal Sciences: Seedstock Sale Management--Sale Planning1
ANEQ 310Animal Reproduction3
ANEQ 312Animal Ultrasonography2
ANEQ 330Principles of Animal Breeding3
ANEQ 366Animal Welfare Evaluation2
ANEQ 410Applied Food Animal Behavior3
GES 201Systems Thinking in Sustainability3
SOCR 210Microbiome Roles in a Sustainable Earth (GT-SC2)3

Advanced Science Course List

ANEQ 345Principles of Nutrition: Equine Applications3
ANEQ 448Livestock Manure Management and Environment3
ANEQ 510Bovine Reproduction Management4
ANEQ 522Animal Metabolism3
ANEQ 545Molecular Methods in Animal Genetics3
BC 351Principles of Biochemistry4
BC 401Comprehensive Biochemistry I3
BC 403Comprehensive Biochemistry II3
BMS 325Cellular Neurobiology3
BMS 345Functional Neuroanatomy4
BMS 430Endocrinology3
CHEM 245Fundamentals of Organic Chemistry4
CHEM 335Introduction to Analytical Chemistry3
CHEM 341Modern Organic Chemistry I3
CHEM 343Modern Organic Chemistry II3
LIFE 205Microbial Biology3
LIFE 220/LAND 220Fundamentals of Ecology (GT-SC2)3
LIFE 320Ecology3
MIP 300General Microbiology3
MIP 342Immunology4
PSY 320Psychopathology3
PSY 454Biological Psychology3
PSY 458Cognitive Neuroscience3
1

If students opt to take BMS 300, a minimum grade of C is required. 

2

Select credits from any 200-level or above 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.

3

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

Distinctive Requirements for Degree ProgramA minimum grade of "C" (2.00) is required for 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 twelve 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 487B, ANEQ 495, and ANEQ 496.

Freshman
Semester 1CriticalRecommendedAUCCCredits
ANEQ 102Introduction to Equine ScienceX  4
ANEQ 193Student Seminar--Exploring Student Success   1
CS 110Personal ComputingX  4
LIFE 102Attributes of Living Systems (GT-SC1)X 3A4
Select a minimum of three credits from the following:X 1B3-4
College Algebra in Context I (GT-MA1)  1B 
College Algebra in Context II (GT-MA1)  1B 
Logarithmic and Exponential Functions (GT-MA1)  1B 
Numerical Trigonometry (GT-MA1)  1B 
Analytic Trigonometry (GT-MA1)  1B 
Calculus in Management Sciences (GT-MA1)  1B 
Calculus for Biological Scientists I (GT-MA1)  1B 
 Total Credits   16-17
Semester 2CriticalRecommendedAUCCCredits
Select one course from the following:   1-4
Introduction to Large Animal Anatomy    
Domestic Animal Gross Anatomy    
ANEQ 115Applied Equine Behavior   2
ANEQ 292Equine Industry Seminar   1
CO 150College Composition (GT-CO2)X 1A3
Select one group from the following:X  5
Group A:    
Fundamentals of Chemistry (GT-SC2)  3A 
Fundamentals of Chemistry Laboratory (GT-SC1)  3A 
Group B:    
General Chemistry I (GT-SC2)  3A 
General Chemistry Lab I (GT-SC1)  3A 
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion X1C3
 Total Credits   15-18
Sophomore
Semester 3CriticalRecommendedAUCCCredits
Select one course from the following:   3-4
Farm Animal Anatomy and Physiology    
Functional Large Animal Physiology X  
Principles of Human Physiology    
Select one course from the following:X  3
Agricultural and Resource Economics (GT-SS1)  3C 
Principles of Microeconomics (GT-SS1)  3C 
Select one course from the following: X 3
General Statistics (GT-MA1)  1B 
Introduction to Applied Statistical Methods    
Introduction to Biostatistics    
Business/Economics Elective (See requirements tab) X 3
Elective X 2-3
 Total Credits   15-16
Semester 4CriticalRecommendedAUCCCredits
SPCM 200Public SpeakingX  3
Select one course from the following:X  3
Foundations in Animal Genetics X  
Principles of Genetics    
Arts and Humanities X3B3
Historical Perspectives X3D3
Elective X 3
 Total Credits   15
Junior
Semester 5CriticalRecommendedAUCCCredits
ANEQ 320Principles of Animal NutritionX 4B3
ANEQ 344Principles of Equine ReproductionXX4B3
ANEQ 346Equine Disease Management X 4
Applied Equine Science Electives (See list on requirements tab.)X  4
 Total Credits   14
Semester 6CriticalRecommendedAUCCCredits
ANEQ 334Principles of Equine GeneticsX  3
Select one course from the following:   3
Rangeland Conservation and Stewardship    
Sustainable Forage Management for Livestock    
Experience Equine Science Electives - Select a minimum of 2 credits from the following:X  2
Internship: Equine    
Department-approved Study Abroad
    
Arts and Humanities  3B3
Business/Economics Elective (See requirements tab) X 3
 Total Credits   14
Senior
Semester 7CriticalRecommendedAUCCCredits
ANEQ 440Equine Industry and IssuesX 4A,4C3
Advanced Writing X 23
Applied Equine Science Elective (See list on requirements tab.)X  4
Business/Economics Elective (See requirements tab) X 3
ANEQ 346 must be completed by the end of Semester 7.X   
 Total Credits   13
Semester 8CriticalRecommendedAUCCCredits
Select one course from the following:X  2
Integrated Equine Science    
Equine Business Management    
Advanced Science Electives (See list on requirements tab)X  3-4
ElectivesX  3-12
The benchmark courses for the 8th semester are the remaining courses in the entire program of study.X   
 Total Credits   9-17
 Program Total Credits:   120