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 1000Writing and Rhetoric3
MATH 1100College Algebra3
BIO_SC 1500Introduction to Biological Systems with Laboratory5
or F_W 1100 Introductory Zoology with Laboratory
CHEM 1400
CHEM 1401
College Chemistry I
and College Chemistry I Laboratory
4
BIOCHM 2110The Living World: Molecular Scale3
or BIOCHM 2112 Biotechnology in Society
or CHEM 2030 Survey of Organic Chemistry
or CHEM 2100 Organic Chemistry I
Statistics or higher math course3
Any Statistics course or one of the following:
Statistical Analysis
Introduction to Applied Statistics
Finite Mathematics
Calculus for Social and Life Sciences I (or higher level MATH course.)
ACCTCY 2010Introduction to Accounting3
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 1200Public Speaking3
or AGSC_COM 2220 Verbal Communication in Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources
Degree Requirements
AN_SCI 1010Orientation to Animal Sciences1
AN_SCI 1165Biology of Animal Production I with Laboratory4
AN_SCI 1175Biology of Animal Production II with Lab4
AN_SCI 2010Careers in Animal Sciences1
AN_SCI 2214Animal Products and Biotechnology4
AN_SCI 2111WSophomore Seminar: Societal Issues Facing Animal Agriculture - Writing Intensive3
AN_SCI 3254Physiology of Domestic Animals5
or MPP 3202 Elements of Physiology
or BIO_SC 3700 Human Physiology
AN_SCI 3242Principles and Applications of Animal Nutrition4
AN_SCI 3213Genetics of Agricultural Plants and Animals3
AN_SCI 3264Physiology of Domestic Animals II3
AN_SCI 4314Physiology of Reproduction3
AN_SCI 4323Applied Livestock Genetics2
or AN_SCI 4324 Genomics of Plants and Animals
Advanced Nutrition (select 1)
AN_SCI 4312Monogastric Nutrition3
or AN_SCI 4332 Ruminant Nutrition
Animal Sciences Production Systems (Choose 2; 1 must be WI)
AN_SCI 4975Beef Production and Management3
or AN_SCI 4975W Beef Production and Management - Writing Intensive
AN_SCI 4976Dairy Production3
or AN_SCI 4976W Dairy Production - Writing Intensive
AN_SCI 4977Horse Production3
AN_SCI 4978Swine Production3
or AN_SCI 4978W Swine Production - Writing Intensive
AN_SCI 4979Poultry Production3
or AN_SCI 4979W Poultry Production - Writing Intensive
Animal Science Senior Electives (Select 3)(7 hr. Min)
AN_SCI 3085Problems 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 3214Principles of Meat Science3
AN_SCI 3231Principles of Dairy Foods Science3
AN_SCI 3270Forage Crops3
AN_SCI 3275Meat Animal Evaluation3
AN_SCI 4010Pasture-Based Dairy Management2
AN_SCI 4312Monogastric Nutrition3
AN_SCI 4323Applied Livestock Genetics2
AN_SCI 4324Genomics of Plants and Animals2
AN_SCI 4332Ruminant Nutrition3
AN_SCI 4344Processing Muscle Foods3
AN_SCI 4354Physiology and Biochemistry of Muscle as Food3
AN_SCI 4384Reproductive Management3
AN_SCI 4386Equine Reproduction3
or AN_SCI 4387 Equine Breeding Management
AN_SCI 4436Animal Welfare4
AN_SCI 4437Stress Physiology3
AN_SCI 4940Internship in Animal Science & Technology1-12
AN_SCI 4950Undergraduate Research in Animal Science1-3
AN_SCI 4973Molecular and Cellular Techniques in Animal Science4
AN_SCI 4975Beef Production and Management3
AN_SCI 4976Dairy Production3
AN_SCI 4977Horse Production3
AN_SCI 4978Swine Production3
AN_SCI 4979Poultry Production3
AFNR 2190International Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources (or approved international study)3

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. 

Back to Top

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
FallCreditsSpringCredits
AN_SCI 10101AN_SCI 11754
AN_SCI 11654BIO_SC 1500 or F_W 11005
ABM 10413ENGLSH 10003
MATH 11003Elective3
HIST 11003 
 14 15
Second Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
AN_SCI 20101AN_SCI 2111W3
AN_SCI 22144AN_SCI 32545
CHEM 14003AGSC_COM 22203
CHEM 14011Humanities3
Humanities3Elective2
Social Science3 
 15 16
Third Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
AN_SCI 32424AN_SCI 43143
AN_SCI 32133AN_SCI 4323 or 43242
CHEM 2030 or 21003AN_SCI 32643
Elective6STAT 12003
 Elective3
 16 14
Fourth Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
Production System (WI)3Production System3
Sr. Elective3Sr. Elective3
Sr. Elective3Elective3
Adv. Nutr.3Elective3
Elective3Elective3
 15 15
Total Credits: 120

Back to Top

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/.

Back to Top

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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

For additional major and career exploration resources, visit Major & Career Exploration in the catalog.

Back to Top