BS in Animal Sciences
Degree Program Description
Humans have been improving the value of animals as companions, transportation, laborers and food since the first dogs, horses, donkeys and cattle were domesticated. Animal Sciences provides an in-depth focus on whole-animal biology and contributes to advances in livestock production, the equine industry, animal health and human health through cutting-edge research and direct application of that new knowledge. Animal Scientists apply the latest in genetics, physiology and nutrition to all of these diverse fields. By employing a whole-animal approach to science, this degree prepares students for any number of career paths, including agribusiness, livestock production, the equine industry, research, pre-veterinary medicine, captive wild animal management, and animal products. In agribusiness, our graduates are in demand to fill sales and management positions with feed and pharmaceutical companies such as Land O’Lakes, MFA, Zoetis and Elanco. In livestock production, graduates who prefer to work directly with animals find rewarding positions as managers of various farm companies, such as Tyson Foods, Smithfield, Cargill and other private companies. In the equine industry students are placed in positions at prominent equine breeding, sales, or training facilities. Graduates with a passion for research are needed as lead scientists and laboratory technicians in industry and academia. An animal sciences degree provides a solid science and husbandry foundation for the study of veterinary medicine. Some vets specialize in care for companion animals, such as dogs and cats, while others focus on livestock, horses or wildlife. In captive wild animal management, zoological parks hire animal sciences graduates to manage the care and well-being of the park’s collection, and graduates may also be involved with research and conservation efforts. In animal products, students with a specific interest in meat, dairy products and eggs are in high demand for positions with companies such as Farmland, Hormel, Hy-Vee and Sam’s Club. Opportunities abound in procurement, sales, quality assurance and food safety.
Major Program Requirements
Students earning a Bachelor of Science in Animal Sciences are required to complete all University general education, University graduation, and degree requirements, including selected foundational courses, which may fulfill some University general education requirements.
| Foundational Courses | ||
| ENGLSH 1000 | Writing and Rhetoric | 3 |
| MATH 1100 | College Algebra | 3 |
| BIO_SC 1500 | Introduction to Biological Systems with Laboratory | 5 |
| or F_W 1100 | Introductory Zoology with Laboratory | |
| CHEM 1320 | College Chemistry I | 4 |
| BIOCHM 2110 | The Living World: Molecular Scale | 3 |
| or BIOCHM 2112 | Biotechnology in Society | |
| or CHEM 2030 | Survey of Organic Chemistry | |
| or CHEM 2100 | Organic Chemistry I | |
| Statistics or higher math course | 3 | |
| ACCTCY 2010 | Introduction to Accounting | 3 |
| or ABM 1041 | Applied Microeconomics | |
| or ABM 1042 | Applied Macroeconomics | |
| or ECONOM 1014 | Principles of Microeconomics | |
| or ECONOM 1015 | Principles of Macroeconomics | |
| or FINANC 1000 | Principles of Finance | |
| or FINANC 2000 | Survey of Business Finance | |
| or FINPLN 2183 | Personal and Family Finance | |
| COMMUN 1200 | Public Speaking | 3 |
| or AGSC_COM 2220 | Verbal Communication in Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources | |
| Degree Requirements | ||
| AN_SCI 1010 | Orientation to Animal Sciences | 1 |
| AN_SCI 1165 | Biology of Animal Production I with Laboratory | 4 |
| AN_SCI 1175 | Biology of Animal Production II with Lab | 4 |
| AN_SCI 2010 | Careers in Animal Sciences | 1 |
| AN_SCI 2214 | Animal Products and Biotechnology | 4 |
| AN_SCI 2111W | Sophomore Seminar: Societal Issues Facing Animal Agriculture - Writing Intensive | 3 |
| AN_SCI 3254 | Physiology of Domestic Animals | 5 |
| or MPP 3202 | Elements of Physiology | |
| or BIO_SC 3700 | Human Physiology | |
| AN_SCI 3242 | Principles and Applications of Animal Nutrition | 4 |
| AN_SCI 3213 | Genetics of Agricultural Plants and Animals | 3 |
| AN_SCI 3264 | Physiology of Domestic Animals II | 3 |
| AN_SCI 4314 | Physiology of Reproduction | 3 |
| AN_SCI 4323 | Applied Livestock Genetics | 2 |
| or AN_SCI 4324 | Genomics of Plants and Animals | |
| Advanced Nutrition (select 1) | ||
| AN_SCI 4312 | Monogastric Nutrition | 3 |
| or AN_SCI 4332 | Ruminant Nutrition | |
| Animal Sciences Production Systems (Choose 2; 1 must be WI) | ||
| AN_SCI 4975W | Beef Production and Management - Writing Intensive | 3 |
| or AN_SCI 4975 | Beef Production and Management | |
| AN_SCI 4976 | Dairy Production | 3 |
| or AN_SCI 4976W | Dairy Production - Writing Intensive | |
| AN_SCI 4977 | Horse Production | 3 |
| AN_SCI 4978 | Swine Production | 3 |
| or AN_SCI 4978W | Swine Production - Writing Intensive | |
| AN_SCI 4979W | Poultry Production Writing Intensive | 3 |
| Animal Science Senior Electives (Select 3) | (7 hr. Min) | |
| AN_SCI 3085 | Problems in Animal Science (Swine Science On-Line; min. 2 courses; see advisor or Undergraduate Advising Office for specific courses that qualify) | 1-6 |
| AN_SCI 3214 | Principles of Meat Science | 3 |
| AN_SCI 3231 | Principles of Dairy Foods Science | 3 |
| AN_SCI 3270 | Forage Crops | 3 |
| AN_SCI 3275 | Meat Animal Evaluation | 3 |
| AN_SCI 4010 | Pasture-Based Dairy Management | 2 |
| AN_SCI 4312 | Monogastric Nutrition | 3 |
| AN_SCI 4323 | Applied Livestock Genetics | 2 |
| AN_SCI 4324 | Genomics of Plants and Animals | 2 |
| AN_SCI 4332 | Ruminant Nutrition | 3 |
| F_S 4344 | Processing Muscle Foods | 3 |
| AN_SCI 4354 | Physiology and Biochemistry of Muscle as Food | 3 |
| AN_SCI 4384 | Reproductive Management | 3 |
| AN_SCI 4386 | Equine Reproduction | 3 |
| AN_SCI 4387 | Equine Breeding Management | 5 |
| AN_SCI 4436 | Animal Welfare | 4 |
| AN_SCI 4437 | Stress Physiology | 3 |
| AN_SCI 4940 | Internship in Animal Science & Technology | 1-12 |
| AN_SCI 4950 | Undergraduate Research in Animal Science | 1-3 |
| AN_SCI 4975 | Beef Production and Management | 3 |
| AN_SCI 4976 | Dairy Production | 3 |
| AN_SCI 4977 | Horse Production | 3 |
| AN_SCI 4978 | Swine Production | 3 |
| AN_SCI 4979 | Poultry Production | 3 |
| AFNR 2190 | International Agriculture and Natural Resources | 3 |
Approved international study | ||
Accelerated BS to DVM in Veterinary Medicine
Students who complete prescribed undergraduate courses in the MU College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources, Division of Animal Sciences, and are then successful in being selected to a class in the MU College of Veterinary Medicine, will receive elective credits concurrently for up to 32 hours of professional degree courses. This enables qualifying students to receive a BS degree with three or four years of undergraduate work and two semesters of professional studies.
Semester Plan
Below is a sample plan of study, semester by semester. A student's actual plan may vary based on course choices where options are available.
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| AN_SCI 1010 | 1 | AN_SCI 1175 | 4 |
| AN_SCI 1165 | 4 | BIO_SC 1500 or F_W 1100 | 5 |
| ABM 1041 | 3 | ENGLSH 1000 | 3 |
| MATH 1100 | 3 | Elective | 3 |
| HIST 1100 | 3 | ||
| 14 | 15 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| AN_SCI 2010 | 1 | AN_SCI 2111W | 3 |
| AN_SCI 2214 | 4 | AN_SCI 3254 | 5 |
| CHEM 1320 | 4 | AGSC_COM 2220 | 3 |
| Humanities | 3 | Humanities | 3 |
| Social Science | 3 | Elective | 2 |
| 15 | 16 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| AN_SCI 3242 | 4 | AN_SCI 4314 | 3 |
| AN_SCI 3213 | 3 | AN_SCI 4323 or 4324 | 2 |
| CHEM 2030 or 2100 | 3 | AN_SCI 3264 | 3 |
| Elective | 6 | STAT 1200 | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | ||
| 16 | 14 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| Production System (WI) | 3 | Production System | 3 |
| Sr. Elective | 3 | Sr. Elective | 3 |
| Sr. Elective | 3 | Elective | 3 |
| Adv. Nutr. | 3 | Elective | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | Elective | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Total Credits: 120 | |||
Degree Audit
The degree audit is an automated report reflecting a student’s academic progress toward the completion of a degree.
MU students can request a degree audit by logging in to myDegreePlanner. Students may also access myDegreePlanner via myZou, in the Student Center, click on the Academic Progress Tile, then select Request Degree Audit. The audit automatically pulls in the student’s MU course work, transfer courses and courses in progress. This is available to current students, admitted students, and those who last attended less than three terms ago.
Past MU students can request a degree audit by contacting the Academic Advising Unit of the division in which they were last enrolled at MU. For contact information, go to https://advising.missouri.edu/contact/.
Prospective students, can access a preliminary MU degree audit via https://www.transferology.com. Information on the college credits already earned will have to be manually entered before it can be evaluated against current degree requirements.
For additional details on degree audits, go to https://registrar.missouri.edu/degrees-audits/degree-audits/.
Major and Career Exploration
The University of Missouri has many resources to assist you in exploring majors and career possibilities. For guidance, visit the Majors and Careers website or view specific resources below.
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If you are considering a change of major or are exploring multiple majors, schedule an appointment with an advisor in the Discovery Center by calling (573)884-9700 or through MU Connect Discovery Center service in you success network.
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If you have decided on a major, visit an academic advisor in the School or College that you are interested in to discuss the process of declaring the major.
- If you would like to learn more about your career interests, abilities, values and talents, visit the MU Career Center. No Appointment is necessary to explore career options with one of our staff members.
- If you would like information about MU majors and degree programs, visit:
- the Degrees, Majors (Degree Programs), Emphasis Areas, Minors and Certificates page in the catalog,
- the MU Majors website.
For additional major and career exploration resources, visit Major & Career Exploration in the catalog.