At which campus can I study this program?
Program Description
Animal Science is the study and integration of the biology and management of animals, highlighted by the disciplines of nutrition, physiology, reproduction, genetics, and behavior. Animals provide companionship, food, and fiber, and serve as valuable research models. The Animal Science major offers both coursework and hands-on experiences that develop students' ability to work with and care for animals.
The educational experiences included in this major should prepare the student for a wide range of positions in production agriculture business and related industries, and provide preparation for the pursuit of post-baccalaureate studies leading to professional or advanced degrees. The student is expected to develop a comprehensive understanding of the biological and physical sciences underlying the functioning of all types of animals.
What is Animal Science?
You Might Like this Program If...
- You want a career working with animals
- You want a hands-on, experiential learning curriculum with exposure to multiple domestic species
- Your interests lie in applied biology
- You are interested in efficiently providing safe, nutritious food to a growing world population
- You like both animals and business
- Your interests are in the practical application of science, business, and animals
Entrance to Major
In order to be eligible for entrance to this major, a student must:
- attain at least a C (2.00) cumulative grade-point average for all courses taken at the University; and
- have at least third-semester classification.
READ SENATE POLICY 37-30: ENTRANCE TO AND CHANGES IN MAJOR PROGRAMS OF STUDY
Degree Requirements
For the Bachelor of Science degree in Animal Science, a minimum of 120 credits is required:
| Requirement | Credits |
|---|---|
| General Education | 45 |
| Electives | 0-6 |
| Requirements for the Major | 81-84 |
9-12 of the 45 credits for General Education are included in the Requirements for the Major. This includes: 6-9 credits of GN courses; 3 credits of GS courses.
Requirements for the Major
To graduate, a student enrolled in the major must earn a grade of C or better in each course designated by the major as a C-required course, as specified by Senate Policy 82-44.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Prescribed Courses | ||
| ANSC 331 | Physiology of Animal Reproduction | 3 |
| BIOL 110 | Biology: Basic Concepts and Biodiversity  | 4 |
| BMB 211 | Elementary Biochemistry | 3 |
| Prescribed Courses: Require a grade of C or better | ||
| ANSC 100 | Introduction to Animal Industries | 3 |
| ANSC 201 | Animal Science | 4 |
| ANSC 207 | Animal Products Technology | 2 |
| ANSC 208 | Animal Products Technology Laboratory | 1 |
| ANSC 290 | Careers in Animal Agriculture | 1 |
| ANSC 300 | Anatomy and Physiology of Domestic Animals | 3 |
| ANSC 301 | Principles of Animal Nutrition | 3 |
| Additional Courses | ||
| AGBM 101 | Economic Principles of Agribusiness Decision Making | 3 |
| or ECON 102 | Introductory Microeconomic Analysis and Policy | |
| ANSC 322 | Animal Genetics and Selection | 3 |
| or BIOL 222 | Genetics | |
| CHEM 101 | Introductory Chemistry | 2-3 |
| or CHEM 110 | Chemical Principles I | |
| or CHEM 130 | Introduction to General, Organic, and Biochemistry | |
| CHEM 202 | Fundamentals of Organic Chemistry I | 3 |
| or CHEM 210 | Organic Chemistry I | |
| MICRB 106 | Elementary Microbiology | 3 |
| or MICRB 201 | Introductory Microbiology | |
| MICRB 107 | Elementary Microbiology Laboratory | 1-2 |
| or MICRB 202 | Introductory Microbiology Laboratory | |
| Additional Courses: Require a grade of C or better | ||
| Select 3-4 credits from the following: | 3-4 | |
| Companion Animal Nutrition | ||
| Swine Production and Management | ||
| Sheep and Goat Production and Management | ||
| Beef Cattle Production and Management | ||
| Dairy Cattle Production and Management | ||
| Poultry Production and Management | ||
| Small Animal Health and Disease | ||
| Value Determination of Meat Animals | ||
| Horse Production and Management | ||
| Supporting Courses and Related Areas | ||
| Select 36 credits (at least 6 credits of Animal Science and 6 credits of "Other Courses") from department lists. 12 credits must be at the 400-level, and a minimum of 3 of these 12 400-level credits must be in ANSC. (Students may apply 6 credits of ROTC.) 1 | 36 | |
- 1
Certain courses from the department lists may double count as General Education courses; consult with your adviser.
General Education
Connecting career and curiosity, the General Education curriculum provides the opportunity for students to acquire transferable skills necessary to be successful in the future and to thrive while living in interconnected contexts. General Education aids students in developing intellectual curiosity, a strengthened ability to think, and a deeper sense of aesthetic appreciation. These are requirements for all baccalaureate students and are often partially incorporated into the requirements of a program. For additional information, see the General Education Requirements section of the Bulletin and consult your academic adviser.
The keystone symbol appears next to the title of any course that is designated as a General Education course. Program requirements may also satisfy General Education requirements and vary for each program.
Foundations (grade of C or better is required and Inter-Domain courses do not meet this requirement.)
- Quantification (GQ): 6 credits
- Writing and Speaking (GWS): 9 credits
Breadth in the Knowledge Domains (Inter-Domain courses do not meet this requirement.)
- Arts (GA): 3 credits
- Health and Wellness (GHW): 3 credits
- Humanities (GH): 3 credits
- Social and Behavioral Sciences (GS): 3 credits
- Natural Sciences (GN): 3 credits
Integrative Studies
- Inter-Domain Courses (Inter-Domain): 6 credits
Exploration
- GN, may be completed with Inter-Domain courses: 3 credits
- GA, GH, GN, GS, Inter-Domain courses. This may include 3 credits of World Language course work beyond the 12th credit level or the requirements for the student’s degree program, whichever is higher: 6 credits
University Degree Requirements
First Year Engagement
All students enrolled in a college or the Division of Undergraduate Studies at University Park, and the World Campus are required to take 1 to 3 credits of the First-Year Seminar, as specified by their college First-Year Engagement Plan.
Other Penn State colleges and campuses may require the First-Year Seminar; colleges and campuses that do not require a First-Year Seminar provide students with a first-year engagement experience.
First-year baccalaureate students entering Penn State should consult their academic adviser for these requirements.
Cultures Requirement
6 credits are required and may satisfy other requirements
- United States Cultures: 3 credits
- International Cultures: 3 credits
Writing Across the Curriculum
3 credits required from the college of graduation and likely prescribed as part of major requirements.
Total Minimum Credits
A minimum of 120 degree credits must be earned for a baccalaureate degree. The requirements for some programs may exceed 120 credits. Students should consult with their college or department adviser for information on specific credit requirements.
Quality of Work
Candidates must complete the degree requirements for their major and earn at least a 2.00 grade-point average for all courses completed within their degree program.
Limitations on Source and Time for Credit Acquisition
The college dean or campus chancellor and program faculty may require up to 24 credits of course work in the major to be taken at the location or in the college or program where the degree is earned. Credit used toward degree programs may need to be earned from a particular source or within time constraints (see Senate Policy 83-80). For more information, check the Suggested Academic Plan for your intended program.
Program Learning Objectives
- Animal Agriculture Issues: Actively and effectively discuss complex animal agriculture issues including:
- The economic, environmental, animal welfare and societal impacts of animal production at both local and global levels.
- The role of science in informing debates in animal agriculture.
- Scientific Literature and Resources: Locate, critically evaluate, and apply information related to animal science from scientific literature and other resources.
- Communication: Communicate effectively and professionally with a variety of audiences in both written and oral formats.
- Comprehensive Knowledge: Apply comprehensive knowledge from areas in animal science including genetics, reproduction, behavior, nutrition, animal products, husbandry and business/farm management.
Academic Advising
The objectives of the university's academic advising program are to help advisees identify and achieve their academic goals, to promote their intellectual discovery, and to encourage students to take advantage of both in-and out-of class educational opportunities in order that they become self-directed learners and decision makers.
Both advisers and advisees share responsibility for making the advising relationship succeed. By encouraging their advisees to become engaged in their education, to meet their educational goals, and to develop the habit of learning, advisers assume a significant educational role. The advisee's unit of enrollment will provide each advisee with a primary academic adviser, the information needed to plan the chosen program of study, and referrals to other specialized resources.
READ SENATE POLICY 32-00: ADVISING POLICY
University Park
Rachel Cloninger
Animal Science Advising Coordinator
109F AVBS Building
University Park, PA 16802
814-863-4198
rle5000@psu.edu
Suggested Academic Plan
The suggested academic plan(s) listed on this page are the plan(s) that are in effect during the 2024-25 academic year. To access previous years' suggested academic plans, please visit the archive to view the appropriate Undergraduate Bulletin edition.
Animal Science, B.S. with Industry and General Animal Interest at University Park Campus
The course series listed below provides only one of the many possible ways to move through this curriculum. The University may make changes in policies, procedures, educational offerings, and requirements at any time. This plan should be used in conjunction with your degree audit (accessible in LionPATH as either an Academic Requirements or What If report). Please consult with a Penn State academic adviser on a regular basis to develop and refine an academic plan that is appropriate for you.
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| ENGL 15 or 30H (GWS)‡ | 3 | ANSC 100 (GN)*1 | 3 |
| AGBM 101 or ECON 102 (GS)† | 3 | BIOL 110 (GN)† | 4 |
| CHEM 130 (GN)† | 3 | Additional Selection in Consultation with Adviser | 3 |
| ANSC 150S (FYS) | 2 | General Education Course (GQ)‡ | 3-4 |
| General Education Course (GQ)‡ | 3-4 | General Education Course (GA) | 3 |
| General Education Course (GH) | 3 | ||
| 17-18 | 16-17 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| ANSC 207*1 | 2 | ANSC 201*1 | 4 |
| ANSC 208*1 | 1 | BMB 211 | 3 |
| ANSC 290*1 | 1 | CAS 100A (GWS)‡ | 3 |
| CHEM 202 | 3 | General Education Course (Inter-Domain) | 3 |
| Additional Selection in Consultation With Adviser | 3 | General Education Course (GHW) | 3 |
| General Education Course (Inter-Domain) | 3 | ||
| Elective | 3 | ||
| 16 | 16 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| ANSC 301*1 | 3 | ANSC 300*1 | 3 |
| ANSC 3221 | 3 | ANSC 3311 | 3 |
| MICRB 106 (GN)† | 3 | ENGL 202A, 202B, 202C, or 202D (GWS)‡2 | 3 |
| MICRB 107 (GN)† | 1 | ANSC Selection | 3 |
| 300-Level Production*1 | 3-4 | General Education Course (GA, GH, GS) | 3 |
| ANSC Selection | 3 | ||
| 16-17 | 15 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| ANSC Selection at 400-Level | 3 | ANSC/Other Selection | 3 |
| ANSC/Other Selection | 3 | ANSC/Other Selection | 3 |
| ANSC/Other Selection | 3 | ANSC/Other Selection | 3 |
| ANSC/Other Selection | 3 | ANSC/Other Selection | 3 |
| Other Selection | 3 | Other Selection | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Total Credits 126-129 | |||
- *
Course requires a grade of C or better for the major
- ‡
Course requires a grade of C or better for General Education
- #
Course is an Entrance to Major requirement
- †
Course satisfies General Education and degree requirement
- 1
Course titles are available on the semester schedule of Animal Science courses offered.
- 2
Recommended to complete ENGL 202D.
University Requirements and General Education Notes:
US and IL are abbreviations used to designate courses that satisfy Cultural Diversity Requirements (United States and International Cultures).
W, M, X, and Y are the suffixes at the end of a course number used to designate courses that satisfy University Writing Across the Curriculum requirement.
General Education includes Foundations (GWS and GQ), Knowledge Domains (GHW, GN, GA, GH, GS) and Integrative Studies (Inter-domain) requirements. N or Q (Honors) is the suffix at the end of a course number used to help identify an Inter-domain course, but the inter-domain attribute is used to fill audit requirements. Foundations courses (GWS and GQ) require a grade of 'C' or better.
All incoming Schreyer Honors College first-year students at University Park will take ENGL 137H/CAS 137H in the fall semester and ENGL 138T/CAS 138T in the spring semester. These courses carry the GWS designation and satisfy a portion of that General Education requirement. If the student’s program prescribes GWS these courses will replace both ENGL 15/ENGL 30H and CAS 100A/CAS 100B/CAS 100C. Each course is 3 credits.
Animal Science, B.S. with Animal Health, Research, and Higher Education Interest at University Park Campus
The course series listed below provides only one of the many possible ways to move through this curriculum. The University may make changes in policies, procedures, educational offerings, and requirements at any time. This plan should be used in conjunction with your degree audit (accessible in LionPATH as either an Academic Requirements or What If report). Please consult with a Penn State academic adviser on a regular basis to develop and refine an academic plan that is appropriate for you.
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| ENGL 15 or 30H (GWS)‡ | 3 | ANSC 100 (GN)*2 | 3 |
| AGBM 101 or ECON 102 (GS)† | 3 | CHEM 112 (GN)† | 3 |
| CHEM 108 | 1 | CHEM 113 (GN) | 1 |
| CHEM 110 (GN)† | 3 | Additional Selection in Consultation with Adviser | 3 |
| CHEM 111 (GN) | 1 | General Education Course (GQ)‡1 | 3-4 |
| ANSC 150S (FYS) | 2 | General Education Course (GA) | 3 |
| General Education Course (GQ)‡1 | 3-4 | ||
| 16-17 | 16-17 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| ANSC 207*2 | 2 | ANSC 201*2 | 4 |
| ANSC 208*2 | 1 | CAS 100A (GWS)‡ | 3 |
| ANSC 290*2 | 1 | CHEM 202 or 210 | 3 |
| BIOL 110 (GN)† | 4 | KINES 203 | 3 |
| Additional Selection in Consultation With Adviser | 3 | General Education Course (Inter-Domain) | 3 |
| General Education Course (Inter-Domain) | 3 | ||
| General Education Course (GH) | 3 | ||
| 17 | 16 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| ANSC 301*2 | 3 | ANSC 300*2 | 3 |
| ANSC 3222 | 3 | ANSC 3312 | 3 |
| BMB 211 | 3 | BIOL 230W or 240W | 4 |
| CHEM 203 or 212 and 213 | 3-5 | BMB 212 | 1 |
| 300-Level Production*2 | 3-4 | NUTR 251 (or other GHW) | 3 |
| General Education Course (GA, GH, GS) | 3 | ||
| 15-18 | 17 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| ENGL 202A, 202B, 202C, or 202D (GWS)‡3 | 3 | BMB 221 | 2 |
| MICRB 201 | 3 | PHYS 251 (GN) | 4 |
| MICRB 202 | 2 | ANSC Selection | 3 |
| PHYS 250 (GN) | 4 | 400-Level Course Selection | 3 |
| ANSC Selection at 400-Level | 3 | 400-Level Course Selection | 3 |
| Additional Selection in Consultation with Adviser | 3 | Additional Selection in Consultation with Adviser | 3 |
| 18 | 18 | ||
| Total Credits 133-138 | |||
- *
Course requires a grade of C or better for the major
- ‡
Course requires a grade of C or better for General Education
- #
Course is an Entrance to Major requirement
- †
Course satisfies General Education and degree requirement
- 1
Recommended GQ courses are MATH 110 or MATH 140 and STAT 200 or STAT 250.
- 2
Course titles are available on the semester schedule of Animal Science courses offered.
- 3
Recommended to complete ENGL 202C.
University Requirements and General Education Notes:
US and IL are abbreviations used to designate courses that satisfy Cultural Diversity Requirements (United States and International Cultures).
W, M, X, and Y are the suffixes at the end of a course number used to designate courses that satisfy University Writing Across the Curriculum requirement.
General Education includes Foundations (GWS and GQ), Knowledge Domains (GHW, GN, GA, GH, GS) and Integrative Studies (Inter-domain) requirements. N or Q (Honors) is the suffix at the end of a course number used to help identify an Inter-domain course, but the inter-domain attribute is used to fill audit requirements. Foundations courses (GWS and GQ) require a grade of 'C' or better.
All incoming Schreyer Honors College first-year students at University Park will take ENGL 137H/CAS 137H in the fall semester and ENGL 138T/CAS 138T in the spring semester. These courses carry the GWS designation and satisfy a portion of that General Education requirement. If the student’s program prescribes GWS these courses will replace both ENGL 15/ENGL 30H and CAS 100A/CAS 100B/CAS 100C. Each course is 3 credits.
Advising Notes:
- Students are responsible for reviewing individual veterinary and graduate program requirements. Common requirements are included in the curriculum and can be found in the Veterinary Interested Student Worksheet.
Animal Science, B.S. with Industry and General Animal Interest at Commonwealth Campuses
The course series listed below provides only one of the many possible ways to move through this curriculum. The University may make changes in policies, procedures, educational offerings, and requirements at any time. This plan should be used in conjunction with your degree audit (accessible in LionPATH as either an Academic Requirements or What If report). Please consult with a Penn State academic adviser on a regular basis to develop and refine an academic plan that is appropriate for you.
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| ENGL 15 or 30H (GWS)‡ | 3 | ANSC 100*1 | 3 |
| BIOL 110 (GN)† | 4 | CHEM 130 (GN)† | 3 |
| First-Year Seminar (FYS) | 1 | AGBM 101 or ECON 102 (GS)† | 3 |
| General Education Course (GQ)‡ | 3-4 | General Education Course (GQ)‡ | 3-4 |
| General Education Course (Inter-Domain, GA, GH, GS) | 3 | General Education Course (GH) | 3 |
| General Education Course (GA) | 3 | ||
| 17-18 | 15-16 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| CAS 100A (GWS)‡ | 3 | ENGL 202A, 202B, 202C, or 202D (GWS)‡2 | 3 |
| CHEM 202 | 3 | MICRB 106 (GN)† | 3 |
| Other Selection | 3 | MICRB 107 (GN)† | 1 |
| Other Selection | 3 | Other Selection | 3 |
| General Education Course (Inter-Domain, GA, GH, GS) | 3 | General Education Course (Inter-Domain) | 3 |
| General Education Course (GHW) | 3 | ||
| 15 | 16 | ||
| Total Credits 63-65 | |||
- *
Course requires a grade of C or better for the major
- ‡
Course requires a grade of C or better for General Education
- #
Course is an Entrance to Major requirement
- †
Course satisfies General Education and degree requirement
- 1
Course titles are available on the semester schedule of Animal Science courses offered.
- 2
Recommended to complete ENGL 202D.
University Requirements and General Education Notes:
US and IL are abbreviations used to designate courses that satisfy Cultural Diversity Requirements (United States and International Cultures).
W, M, X, and Y are the suffixes at the end of a course number used to designate courses that satisfy University Writing Across the Curriculum requirement.
General Education includes Foundations (GWS and GQ), Knowledge Domains (GHW, GN, GA, GH, GS) and Integrative Studies (Inter-domain) requirements. N or Q (Honors) is the suffix at the end of a course number used to help identify an Inter-domain course, but the inter-domain attribute is used to fill audit requirements. Foundations courses (GWS and GQ) require a grade of 'C' or better.
Advising Notes:
- After receiving an approved change of campus request, a course selection meeting should be scheduled with Madison Heilveil (mxh664@psu.edu), the Animal Science Advising Assistant at University.
Animal Science, B.S. with Animal Health, Research, and Higher Education Interest at Commonwealth Campuses
The course series listed below provides only one of the many possible ways to move through this curriculum. The University may make changes in policies, procedures, educational offerings, and requirements at any time. This plan should be used in conjunction with your degree audit (accessible in LionPATH as either an Academic Requirements or What If report). Please consult with a Penn State academic adviser on a regular basis to develop and refine an academic plan that is appropriate for you.
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| ENGL 15 or 30H (GWS)‡ | 3 | ANSC 100*2 | 3 |
| CHEM 110 (GN)† | 3 | AGBM 101 or ECON 102 (GS)† | 3 |
| CHEM 111 (GN) | 1 | CHEM 112 (GN)† | 3 |
| First-Year Seminar (FYS) | 1 | CHEM 113 (GN) | 1 |
| General Education Course (GQ)‡1 | 3-4 | General Education Course (GQ)‡1 | 3-4 |
| General Education Course (Inter-Domain, GA, GH, GS) | 3 | General Education Course (GH) | 3 |
| General Education Course (GA) | 3 | ||
| 17-18 | 16-17 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| BIOL 110 (GN)† | 4 | BIOL 230W or 240W (GN) | 4 |
| CAS 100A (GWS)‡ | 3 | ENGL 202A, 202B, 202C, or 202D (GWS)‡3 | 3 |
| CHEM 202 or 210 | 3 | NUTR 251 (or other GHW) | 3 |
| KINES 203 | 3 | PHYS 250 | 4 |
| General Education Course (Inter-Domain, GA, GH, GS) | 3 | General Education Course (Inter-Domain) | 3 |
| 16 | 17 | ||
| Total Credits 66-68 | |||
- *
Course requires a grade of C or better for the major
- ‡
Course requires a grade of C or better for General Education
- #
Course is an Entrance to Major requirement
- †
Course satisfies General Education and degree requirement
- 1
Recommended GQ courses are MATH 110 or MATH 140 and STAT 200 or STAT 250.
- 2
Course titles are available on the semester schedule of Animal Science courses offered.
- 3
Recommended to complete ENGL 202C.
University Requirements and General Education Notes:
US and IL are abbreviations used to designate courses that satisfy Cultural Diversity Requirements (United States and International Cultures).
W, M, X, and Y are the suffixes at the end of a course number used to designate courses that satisfy University Writing Across the Curriculum requirement.
General Education includes Foundations (GWS and GQ), Knowledge Domains (GHW, GN, GA, GH, GS) and Integrative Studies (Inter-domain) requirements. N or Q (Honors) is the suffix at the end of a course number used to help identify an Inter-domain course, but the inter-domain attribute is used to fill audit requirements. Foundations courses (GWS and GQ) require a grade of 'C' or better.
Advising Notes:
- Students are responsible for reviewing individual veterinary and graduate program requirements. Common requirements are included in the curriculum and can be found in the Veterinary Interested Student Worksheet.
- After receiving an approved change of campus request, a course selection meeting should be scheduled with Madison Heilveil (mxh664@psu.edu), the Animal Science Advising Assistant at University.
Career Paths
Science Option graduates enter careers in biomedical or agricultural research, food safety, technical service, vivarium management, and government service. Business/Management Option graduates find careers in allied industry sales (feed, pharmaceuticals, etc.); agricultural finance and credit; industry relations and communications; farm management; animal caretaking at zoos and shelters; and food safety and quality assurance.
Opportunities for Graduate Studies
- Veterinary or other life science professional school
- Graduate studies in multiple fields of biological and life sciences (genetics, nutrition, reproduction, behavior, physiology, and health)
- Graduate studies in production and management of domestic food animal species
- Graduate studies in food product production and safety
- Graduate studies in linked agricultural fields (agricultural business management, agronomy, agricultural education, etc.)
Contact
University Park
DEPARTMENT OF ANIMAL SCIENCE
109 AVBS Building
University Park, PA 16802
814-983-3665
AskDAS@psu.edu