Animal, Dairy, and Veterinary Sciences

The animal, dairy, and veterinary sciences degree includes all aspects of animal science, from livestock management to reproductive research and cloning. Students have many opportunities for hands-on experiences in feeding, breeding, handling, managing, and grooming animals by working with beef and dairy cattle, horses, sheep, and swine. The department has access to lab facilities and equipment allowing research in all of these areas and in studying animal reproduction, nutrition, and disease. Its Center for Integrated Biosystems has been recognized for its cloning expertise twice by Popular Science magazine. Students are able to gain research experience alongside professors in the following areas: animal health, animal nutrition, animal reproduction and development, animal breeding, cytogenetics, livestock and dairy management, molecular genetics, parasitology, toxicology, and virology.

Emphases:

• Animal and Dairy Science: Students will be trained in food animal production, equine and food animal management, and animal and medicinal biotechnology. They will also study issues including cost production, profitability, human and animal health, environmental stewardship, bioethics, and animal well-being.
• Biotechnology: In this emphasis, students learn the application of scientific and engineering principles to the production of materials by animals to provide goods and services. Topics of study include quantitative trait mapping, genetic manipulation, and cloning.
• Bioveterinary Science: In this emphasis students will cover topics such as animal biology, management, and disease. Coursework is intended to prepare students for admission to schools of veterinary medicine or other graduate programs in the life sciences, leading to career opportunities in veterinary medicine, life science research, biotechnology, or pharmaceutical testing laboratories.
• Equine Science and Management: This emphasis prepares students for careers dealing with horses. Options include managing equine events, running breeding farms, writing for equine publications, working for breed associations, and working for feed and pharmaceutical companies that deal with equine health.

Bachelor Degree Minimum Requirements

Admission to USU is test optional for Spring 2022, Summer 2022, and Fall 2022. ACT/SAT test scores will still be considered if submitted.

• 2.8-4.0 GPA - Admitted in Good Standing
  • Students with less than a 2.8 high school GPA may still be admitted in good standing based upon the combination of their GPA and ACT/SAT score. See if you qualify.
• 2.79 GPA & below - Considered for Earned Admission path.

Associate Degree Minimum Requirements

Most USU Eastern and USU Blanding Associates Degrees and Certificates are open enrollment and do not require a minimum high school GPA or ACT/SAT score.

Recommended High School Prep Work

• 4 years of English
• 4 years of Math (One class beyond math 3)
• 3.5 years of Social Science
• 3 years of Lab-Based Science (one each: biology, chemistry, and physics)
• 2 years of a world language (same language, taken progressively during grades 9-12)

With a degree in animal, dairy and veterinary sciences, you will be qualified for the following careers:

Animal and Dairy Science Emphasis

• Livestock production
• Livestock feeds: production, sales, and distribution
• Meat or dairy foods: production, product development, quality control, distribution and marketing, livestock promotion and marketing, breed organizations, livestock publications, livestock sales, market reporting, feed/slaughter inspection
• Sales: feed, pharmaceuticals, agricultural chemicals, livestock supplies
• Management: livestock production enterprises, sales/marketing companies, food production/distribution
• State and federal government agencies: USDA, ARS, BLM, NRCS
• Corporate agribusiness

Biotechnology Emphasis

• Laboratory technical support
• Animal caretakers
• Research scientists
• Genetics and Animal Breeding
• Population genetics
• Molecular genetics
• Epigenetics
• Reproductive management
• Endocrinology
• Cloning
• Embryo technology
• Nutrition
• Feeding programs
• Nutrition/reproduction interactions
• Nutrition/health/immunity interactions
• Environmental physiology

Bioveterinary Science Emphasis

• This program is designed primarily for those students who intend to apply to veterinary or graduate school.

Equine Science and Management Emphasis

• Equine training and management
• Breeding technology
• Sales of equine supplies
• Equine marketing and promotions

 

Career Services provides counseling and information on hundreds of job and internship opportunities and even helps students apply and interview.