Human and animal lives intertwine far more than we realise.
That’s why animal science research exists: to find modern, efficient, and humane ways to care for animals while advancing food production. Researchers at Oregon State University know this well. They work toward a future where people, animals, and the land can thrive together. That could involve studying human-animal interactions and the growth of social bonds across species. It could look like developing a welfare system for dairy farms.
And that’s just what they do at the Department of Animal and Rangeland Sciences — shaping that vision of a better tomorrow with students. One group of students even travelled to rural Mexico to provide free care to more than 600 animals in six days.
Those who want to be part of such effort can pursue the Bachelor of Science (BS) in Animal Sciences. It’s a programme that prepares people for many paths: veterinary science, nutrition, animal behaviour, farm management, and more.
“The Animal Science programme at OSU has opened many doors for me,” says senior Wiley Lang. “The hands-on experiences, supportive instructors and faculty, diverse courses, and career-based opportunities have not only helped me grow as a person but have given me valuable insight into what I want to pursue in my future.”
OSU offers flexible pathways for you to earn your animal science bachelor’s, with an online option through OSU’s ECampus. Source: Oregon State University
Gain the latest knowledge and research in animal science
OSU is a land‑grant university, which means its teaching is grounded in real research and real community needs. In the BS in Animal Science programme, you’ll get insight and experience into the production of animal products like meat, eggs, and wool, as well as the care of service animals.
“The Animal Science programme has played a huge role in preparing me for a career in veterinary medicine,” says senior Jack Mornarich. “I have had opportunities to get involved in multiple research projects and hands-on learning that have really improved my knowledge and confidence. The professors are personable and easy to communicate with.”
The programme has five specialisations: Animal Behaviour, Animal BioHealth/Pre-Professional, Animal Production, Equine, and Rangeland Sciences. Each specialisation comprises a set of core courses that you need to complete, though you can tailor the curriculum to your interests through electives. Such courses, from “Animal Behaviour and Connection” to “Equine Health and Disease,” are designed for you to advance your studies, whether in veterinary school or medicine.
Perhaps the strongest part of the programme is the access students have to OSU’s many research facilities. The department is home to 14 distinct centres and ranches, where students like you can see the science they learn in class come to life. There’s the 180-acre OSU Dairy Research Centre and the 1,880-acre Soap Creek Ranch, where a 100-cow herd is bred to calve in the spring. Over at the Clark Meat Science Centre, you can access a US Department of Agriculture (USDA)-inspected processing facility. There’s even a Sheep Research Centre that cares for 115 sheep just a few miles off campus.
Check out the rest of the department’s facilities here.
An animal science degree prepares students for careers in food, agriculture, renewable natural resources, or ecological sustainability. Source: Oregon State University
Need flexibility? Pursue animal science online
For those who cannot move to Oregon, OSU offers an online pathway through its Ecampus.
Founded in 2002, it has now launched an online BS in Animal Science programme with four start terms. The courses are flexible and taught by the same expert faculty. Students learn the biology, behaviour, and care of animals through virtual labs, field trips, and even internships they can arrange where they live.
In‑person or online, OSU’s goal is the same: to open doors for people who want to help shape a more sustainable, humane future for animals and the communities that depend on them.
If you seek more knowledge in a field beyond animal science, you can supplement your degree with a minor, certificate or a microcredential, further boosting your employability.
Inspired to pursue animal science at Oregon State? Learn more about the department and its online programme.
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