People who are interested in animal behavior, biotechnology, veterinary sciences, or managing a farm should consider a degree in animal science. Colleges throughout the U.S. offer certificate, undergraduate, and graduate degree programs in this field. Many of these are offered in conjunction with state agriculture departments.
Once they are enrolled in a program, students will take general science courses in biology and chemistry. They will then move on to take more targeted courses in the fields of animal physiology, animal nutrition, animal genetics, animal behavior, and genetic engineering. Students will also need to build their skills in the areas of business, communication, and writing.
These degree programs provide students with a general knowledge of the animal science field, while also allowing them to tailor their education to specific areas of focus. For example, a livestock production manager will take different elective courses within the major than a veterinary technician. Large universities usually offer a wide array of concentration areas, allowing students to pursue their specific career interests.
As students move to the graduate level, the animal science degree programs offer additional areas of research specialization. These include topics like lactation biology, animal health, and animal production system and management. Students may also select from interdisciplinary options such as food safety and environmental toxicology. In tight job markets, it is often beneficial for a student to have more than one area of educational focus because it makes the individual more marketable.
Those who wish to teach animal science rather than practice it can partake of the certificate programs in college teaching offered by some schools. They can also go on to pursue a Ph.D. in animal science, allowing them to teach at the four-year college or university level. Whatever the desired path, having a solid educational foundation in animal science is a prerequisite.
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