Save the world with a degree in animal science

A world plagued with issues such as food scarcity needs more people studying animal science. The discipline beckons with a world of opportunities to anyone who sees the appeal of maintaining animal health and sustaining the business production of food animals, to name just two examples. In this, you gain a deeper understanding of the crucial age-old relationship between humans and animals. 

With advanced knowledge, skills and experience at the intersection of animal science and various related disciplines, you’re set to  make a difference in our changing world. You can become an expert in ensuring the survival of humanity and work towards ambitious goals such as ending extreme poverty and fostering shared prosperity. 

The best universities providing a degree in animal science are well aware of this — and they are more than up for the challenge of turning students into future changemakers. They have top-notch facilities that provide excellent hands-on experience and world-class faculty leading research in the field. Below are four universities offering strong animal science programmes that can set you up for a career in this dynamic field:

Utah State University

Welcome to Utah State University (USU), where your college experience is more than just hitting the books – it’s an adventure waiting to happen. As Utah’s only land-grant university, it proudly ranks among the top 10 public universities in the US. (Washington Monthly, 2022).

Step into the Department of Animal, Dairy, and Veterinary Sciences (ADVS), and you’ll discover a world where experiential learning takes center stage. USU’s Bachelor of Science programs in Bioveterinary Science, Equine Science and Management, Biotechnology, and Animal and Dairy Science blend cutting-edge research with hands-on exploration where the laboratory, farm, arena, field, and open range are your classrooms. From day one, get ready for an education that’s all about getting your hands dirty – in a good way.

Choosing the Biotechnology BS takes you into the laboratory, where you’ll harness the power of life science tools to address important challenges and enhance lives. You’ll also have the chance to dive into groundbreaking research projects, guided by our accomplished faculty.

Opt for the Animal and Dairy Science BS, and you won’t just be hitting the books; you’ll be out in the field, exploring animal nutrition, reproduction, physiology, breeding, and genetics. This program is a multi-species adventure, offering you the chance to work with cattle, sheep, goats, and swine. In ADVS, it’s all about learning by doing, with countless opportunities for research and outreach that contribute to our mission as a land-grant university.

Are you ready to make a lasting impact on the world? Your journey into the exciting realm of animal science begins here at Utah State. Click here today and create your career in ADVS!

Texas A&M

Faculty have unique opportunities to teach beyond the classroom in settings as diverse as the Rosenthal Meat Science and Technology Centre and the Leach Teaching Gardens. Source: Texas A&M/Facebook

Texas A&M’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences offers a dynamic and engaging environment in which students are challenged and educated by the industry’s best.

The college has good facilities and courses that are taught by faculty whose research is on the cutting edge. From feeding our world and protecting our environment, to improving our health and enriching our youth, innovations from Texas A&M’s CALS change people’s lives in the state, the nation and the world.

The college is the largest of its kind in the US, encompassing 15 academic departments, with over 90 programmes ranging from undergraduate degrees to master’s and doctoral programmes – including a number of sought-after, interdisciplinary degrees.

The Department of Animal Science has achieved national and international prominence as the largest and most complex department of animal science in the nation. As part of its land grant mission, it strives to meet the needs of all citizens by providing outstanding teaching, research and extension programmes.

Ohio State University

Seven animal units and the top-rated zoo in the country are located just minutes away from the Columbus and Wooster campuses. Source: Ohio State University/Facebook

The Department of Animal Sciences, housed within Ohio State University’s College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES), offers the best of both worlds. It has one of the largest student populations within CFAES and one of the smallest colleges on campus — providing you with an extensive network and a close-knit feel. 

The department has three focus areas: Food Security, Production, and Human Health; Environmental Quality and Sustainability; and Advanced Bio-Energy and Bio-Based Products. Its campuses in Columbus and Wooster house classrooms, laboratory facilities, and animal units. 

Pursuing a degree here means you have almost limitless flexibility in developing a programme that meets your goals and interests. The BS in Agriculture, for example, offers a major in Animal Sciences that can be paired with a specialisation in Animal Biosciences, Animal Industries, or Veterinary Technology. Once you declare a major, you can work with an academic advisor to tailor your programme. 

That’s not all. With seven animal units and the number-one-rated zoo in the country located just minutes away from campus, you have the opportunity to bring animals into the classroom and vice versa. Add hands-on opportunities into the mix, and you can connect your fundamentals with the world in real time.

Washington State University

An animal science degree from Washington State University provides you with in-depth knowledge into the relationship between humans and animals as well as the necessary training to make an impact in the agricultural, business, or research sectors. Source: Washington State University/Facebook

The College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences (CAHNRS) leads Washington State University’s land grant mission to serve all people through education, research, and service. In this same spirit, its Animal Sciences Department is focused on advancing knowledge through research, innovation, and creativity across a wide range of academic disciplines.

It offers the Bachelor of Science in Animal Sciences, one of the strongest animal sciences programmes in the nation and the only four-year animal sciences degree in Washington. This programme will provide you with an integrated knowledge of animal management, agriculture, science, and research issues.

Experiential learning opportunities abound in this programme. Picture working with student-managed herds of dairy cows and a student-managed beef feedlot or conducting innovative research that addresses some of the most pressing issues for animals and humans. 

You can specialise in Pre-veterinary Medicine/Science or Animal Science, Technology, and Production. The first option prepares you for careers in veterinary medicine, graduate school, and biotechnology, while the latter emphasises the business and economic aspects of animal production and well-being. Beyond this, the department offers a combined programme leading to a Bachelor of Science in Animal Sciences and a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine.

*Some of the institutions featured in this article are commercial partners of Study International.