If you’ve ever found yourself envying people like David Attenborough or the conservationists who helped save giant pandas from their endangered status, then Animal Science could be the ideal major for you. With roughly 8.7 million species of eukaryotes (referring to all complex life such as animals, plants and fungi, but not bacteria and viruses), the animal kingdom is filled with exciting questions and even more exhilarating answers.
Why do bees make that sweet honey? How do you protect polar bears from extreme weather events? Can you protect crops from pests? Finding answers to these questions will take you to labs, farms, fields, savannahs, and beyond. In their natural setting and in cutting-edge laboratories, you’ll be learning all about animal and insect anatomy, genetics, and behaviour. As a graduate, you’re set for many careers in conservation, research, education, and industry. For the best start into this dream path, head to the US, where you’ll find the leaders in this field.
Source: The Ohio State University
The Ohio State University
There are many reasons The Ohio State University is ranked among the top 50 national universities in the United States, one being the Department of Entomology. Established in 1891, it is one of the oldest and most respected entomology departments in the country, using insects as model systems to advance fundamental understanding of molecular biology, physiology, genetics, ecology, and evolution.
Entomology at Ohio State is one of the few programmes in the country that offer both an undergraduate major and minor. Courses cover insect physiology, behaviour, ecology, toxicology, taxonomy and systematics, along with beekeeping, veterinary and public health entomology, sustainable agriculture, and integrated pest management in agricultural, forest, and urban environments. They are designed by leading experts and shaped by student feedback to remain relevant and meet the needs of emerging scientists.
Students choose from four specialised tracks, each offering flexibility in course selection:
- Sustainable Insect Management
- Insects in Human and Veterinary Medicine
- Insect Ecology and Conservation
- Individualized Insect Studies
Each track provides opportunities to engage in field and laboratory-based research with guidance from globally recognised scientists. These hands-on experiences help students explore areas such as crop protection, pollinator health, mosquito biology, biodiversity conservation, public health, and urban pest management.
Award-winning faculty members Drs Joe Raczkowski and Ellen Klinger teach undergraduate courses and provide advising support. Recently, Dr. Mary Gardiner was named a Distinguished Professor of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences. These esteemed professors guide students to excel in regional and national Entomological Society of America competitions, fostering their growth into successful professionals and graduate students.
Discover your future in Entomology at Ohio State. Apply now.
“Farms” on campus include pasture, hay crops, and feed grains. Source: UC Davis/Facebook
University of California, Davis
Established in 1901 under a different name, the Department of Animal Science at the University of California, Davis creates and disseminates knowledge about animals and addresses issues related to their agriculture in the context of a contemporary environment. Here, you will find vibrant, diverse, and comprehensive research and teaching programmes that cover everything you need to know about the animal kingdom.
At the undergraduate level, there are three bachelor’s programmes, all of which offer specialisations in animal industry, animal biology, aquaculture, avian sciences, companion animal biology, equine science, laboratory animals, and livestock production. These programmes are Agricultural & Environmental Education, Animal Science, and Animal Science & Management. Each equips you with a strong science background as well as hands-on experience with animals in laboratories and research facilities.
Research take place at Meyer Hall, a 20,000 sq ft laboratory housing over 45 ongoing projects. You can also work in “farms” around campus too, to gain a real-world feel to your future career. If you want to take your learning experience to the next level, the Cooperative Extension programme can pair you with specialists in various fields such as poultry, aquaculture, and livestock, as they provide teaching, research, and outreach activities.
Texas A&M University has the largest poultry science programme in the US. Source: Texas A&M University Poultry Science/Facebook
Texas A&M University
Established as early as 1910, Texas A&M University‘s Department of Poultry Science is today home to over 200 students training to become experts in a broad spectrum of disciplines, from poultry management and intestinal health to environmental stewardship, animal welfare, and bird and human health.
Its BS Poultry Science is the largest poultry science programme in the country — a great option for anyone who wants to build their scientific, technical, and business knowledge in various fields important to poultry production. You can choose to specialise in one of two tracks. The Industry Emphasis track focuses on finding career opportunities within the poultry and food industries, while the Technical Emphasis track is more about preparing you for advanced studies to continue with research in the field.
Whichever you choose, you will be part of an ecosystem known for enabling exciting research in areas such as genetics, nutrition, and disease management. With the addition of experts in precision agriculture, poultry processing, and hatchery/breeder management, the department is making progress towards making the industry more sustainable, one breakthrough at a time.
As a student here, you’ll get access to a faculty of scholars who each have their own expertise like Professor Audrey McElroy in intestinal health, Professor Christopher Bailey in poultry nutrition, Professor Sanjay Reddy in virology and disease, and more.
*Some of the institutions featured in this article are commercial partners of Study International
