Degree: B.S.

Coordinator: James E. Wohlt (wohlt@aesop.rutgers.edu)

The animal science curriculum provides training and career development for students having an interest in animal production and management or related fields (sales, research, health care). The biological sciences form a basis for the study and management of domesticated animals. Options are offered in animal industries, with specializations in animal agribusiness, livestock production and management, or equine science; laboratory animal science; and preveterinary medicine/research.

Animal Industries. Instruction and practical experience in animal science (selection, breeding/reproduction, nutrition, physiology, behavior) and appropriate courses in business provide students the basic knowledge and skills to manage commercial or research enterprises in the livestock (dairy/beef, poultry, sheep, swine) and horse industries or related fields (breed associations, feed/health-care products). Students may specialize in animal agribusiness, livestock production and management, or equine science.

Laboratory Animal Science. Instruction and practical experience in this option emphasize the use and care of laboratory animals for research. Many graduates choose careers in animal care programs as well as research laboratories of major pharmaceutical and toxicology-related industries, many of which are located in New Jersey.

Preveterinary Medicine/Research. Rigorous instruction and experience are provided in the biological, molecular, and animal sciences in preparation for further education in medical or graduate studies. This option fulfills the academic course requirements of most U.S. veterinary colleges. Students completing this option also may enter medical and dental schools or pursue graduate studies leading to advanced degrees.

Please see the Programs of Study Summary on page 272 for information regarding changes in degree requirements.

I. Interdisciplinary/Ethical Analysis (5 credits)

  11:015:101  Perspectives on Agriculture and the Environment (2)

  11:015:400  Junior/Senior Colloquium (3)

II. Introductory Life and Physical Sciences

A. Life Sciences (8 credits)

  01:119:101-102  General Biology (4,4)

B. Physical Sciences (9 credits)

  01:160:161-162  General Chemistry (4,4)

  01:160:171  Introduction to Experimentation (1)

III. The Arts (6 credits)

See suggested courses in the Degree Requirements chapter.

IV. Human Diversity (6 credits)

See suggested courses in the Degree Requirements chapter.

V. Economic and Political Systems

A. Economic Systems

See VIII B below.

B. Political Systems (3 credits)

See suggested courses in the Degree Requirements chapter.

VI. Oral and Written Communication (6 credits)

  01:355:101  Expository Writing I (3)

  01:355:302  Scientific and Technical Writing (3) or adviser-approved equivalent

VII. Experience-Based Education

A total of 9 credits of experienced-based education is stipulated for each option. Appropriate cooperative education placements, subject to approval by the curriculum coordinator, fulfills the requirement. Practica, livestock-related courses, 11:067:493,494 Research in Animal Science, or equivalent research projects approved by the faculty adviser also may fulfill this requirement.

VIII. Competence in Animal Science (62-81 credits)

A. REQUIRED COURSES (14-17)

Quantitative Methods

Specific courses to meet the quantitative methods requirements are listed under option/specialization requirements below. Completion of precalculus (or placement in calculus) is prerequisite for courses fulfilling this requirement.

Computer Competence (0-3)

  01:198:110  Introduction to Computers and Their Application (3) or equivalent

This requirement also may be fulfilled by passing an approved departmental competency test.

Professional Ethics

Ethics in animal production, management, and research are addressed in several required courses.

Other Required Courses (14)

  11:067:142  Animal Science (3)

  11:067:327  Animal Reproduction (3)

  11:067:330  Animal Nutrition (3)

  11:067:331  Animal Nutrition Laboratory (1)

  01:447:380  Genetics (4)

B. OPTIONS (48-64)

1. Animal Industries (48-59)

Required courses (24)

  33:010:272  Introduction to Financial Accounting (3)

  01:146:356  Systems Physiology (3) or equivalent

  01:146:357  Systems Physiology Laboratory (1) or equivalent

  01:160:209  Elementary Organic Chemistry (3) or equivalent

  01:160:211  Elementary Organic Chemistry Laboratory (1) or equivalent

  01:220:103  Introduction to Macroeconomics (3) or equivalent

  11:373:121  Principles and Applications of Microeconomics (3) or  equivalent

  11:373:241  Agribusiness Management (3)

  01:640:115  Precalculus College Mathematics (4) or equivalent

One of the following three specializations:

Specialization in Animal Agribusiness (35)

  11:067:335-336  Livestock Production and Management I,II (3,3)

  11:067:337-338  Livestock Production and Management Laboratory I,II (2,2)

  11:067:406  Farm Productivity Analysis in the Animal Sciences (3)

  11:373:231  Agribusiness Marketing I (3)

  01:960:201  Basic Statistics for Economics (4) or equivalent

At least two of the following courses (9):

  11:067:200,204  Animal Practicum (P/NC 2,2)

  11:067:493,494  Research in Animal Science (BA,BA)

  11:199:___  Cooperative Education (3-6)

Electives (6)

At least 6 additional credits approved by the adviser, depending on the student`s interests and career goals. See additional courses listed in the Animal Science (067) section of the following chapter.

Specialization in Livestock Production and Management (28)

  11:067:335-336  Livestock Production and Management I,II (3,3)

  11:067:337-338  Livestock Production and Management Laboratory I,II (2,2)

  11:067:406  Farm Productivity Analysis in the Animal Sciences (3)

At least two of the following courses (9):

  11:067:200,204  Animal Practicum (P/NC 2,2)

  11:067:493,494  Research in Animal Science (BA,BA)

  11:199:___   Cooperative Education (3-6)

Electives (6)

At least 6 additional credits approved by the adviser, depending on the student`s interests and career goals. See additional courses listed in the Animal Science (067) section of the following chapter.

Specialization in Equine Science (24)

  11:067:384  Horse Management (3)

  11:067:390  Equine Nutrition (3)

  11:067:402  Equine Exercise Physiology (3)

At least two of the following courses (9):

  11:067:200,204  Animal Practicum: Section HO (P/NC 2,2)

  11:067:493,494  Research in Animal Science (BA,BA), with equine research faculty

  11:199:___  Cooperative Education (3-6)

Electives (6)

At least 6 additional credits approved by the adviser, depending on the student`s interests and career goals. See additional courses listed in the Animal Science (067) section of the following chapter.

2. Laboratory Animal Science (56)

  11:067:200,204  Animal Practicum: Section LA (P/NC 2,2)

  11:067:275  Laboratory Animal Science: Management and Techniques (3)

  11:067:404  Animal Diseases (3)

  11:067:430  Animal Microtechniques and Tissue Culture (4)

  01:146:356  Systems Physiology (3) or equivalent

  01:146:357  Systems Physiology Laboratory (1) or equivalent

  01:160:307-308  Organic Chemistry (4,4)

  01:160:311  Organic Chemistry Laboratory (2)

  01:220:103  Introduction to Macroeconomics (3) or equivalent

  11:373:121  Principles and Applications of Microeconomics (3) or equivalent

  01:447:390  General Microbiology (4)

  01:640:115  Precalculus College Mathematics (4) or equivalent

  01:960:401  Basic Statistics for Research (3)

At least two of the following courses (7):

  11:067:335,336  Livestock Production and Management I,II (3,3)

  11:067:337,338  Livestock Production and Management Laboratory I,II (2,2)

  11:067:493,494  Research in Animal Science (BA,BA)

  11:199:___   Cooperative Education (3-6)

Electives (6)

At least 6 additional credits approved by the adviser, depending on the student`s interests and career goals. See additional courses listed in the Animal Science (067) section of the following chapter.

3. Preveterinary Medicine and Research (60-64)

  11:115:403,404  General Biochemistry (3,3) or equivalent

  01:146:356  Systems Physiology (3) or equivalent

  01:146:357  Systems Physiology Laboratory (1) or equivalent

  01:160:307-308  Organic Chemistry (4,4)

  01:160:311  Organic Chemistry Laboratory (2)

  11:373:101  Economics, People, and Environment (3) or equivalent

  01:447:390  General Microbiology (4)

  01:640:135  Calculus I (4) or equivalent

  01:750:193-194  Physics for the Sciences (4,4) or equivalent

  01:960:401  Basic Statistics for Research (3)

Three of the following (9-13):

  11:067:404  Animal Diseases (3)

  11:067:430  Animal Microtechniques and Tissue Culture (4)

  11:067:450  Endocrinology (3)

  11:126:481  Molecular Genetics (3) and 11:126:482 Molecular Genetics Laboratory (3)

  01:146:322  Animal Histology (4)

  01:146:327  Parasitology (3)

  01:146:474  Immunology (3)

  01:377:213  Functional Human Anatomy (4)

  01:377:424  Human Anatomy (4)

  01:640:136  Calculus II (4) or equivalent

  01:694:315  Introduction to Molecular Biology and Biochemistry Research (3) or equivalent

  11:704:441  Animal Behavior (3) or equivalent

At least two of the following courses (9):

  11:067:200,204  Animal Practicum (P/NC 2,2)

  11:067:335,336  Livestock Production and Management I,II (3,3)

  11:067:337,338  Livestock Production and Management Laboratory I,II (2,2)

  11:067:493,494  Research in Animal Science (BA,BA)

  11:199:___  Cooperative Education (3-6)

IX. Unspecified Electives (4-23 credits)