Program Overview

Animal Sciences Undergraduate Major (BS, HBS)

The Animal Sciences Undergraduate Major (BS, HBS) at Oregon State University provides students with a comprehensive education in animal sciences, preparing them for careers in the animal industry, research, and related fields.

Overview

The program offers a range of options, including:

• Animal Behavior
• Animal BioHealth/Pre-Professional
• Animal Production
• Equine
• Rangeland Science

Program Description

The Animal Sciences Undergraduate Major (BS, HBS) program focuses on the study of animal sciences, including animal behavior, nutrition, physiology, and genetics. Students learn about the care and management of animals, as well as the production of animal products such as meat, milk, eggs, and wool.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the program, students will be able to:

• Demonstrate the use of discipline-specific scientific information in written and spoken formats using citation
• Identify anatomy and physiology of organ systems and describe hormonal function in the male and female reproductive tracts of mammals and poultry
• Classify and compare anatomy, physiology, and nutritional status of commonly-raised domesticated animal species
• Identify interactions of genotype and environment which produce phenotypes adapted to human uses
• Apply the methods used to evaluate animal health and well-being

Requirements

The program requires a total of 180 credits, including:

• Baccalaureate Core courses (e.g., English composition, public speaking, mathematics)
• Animal Sciences Core courses (e.g., introduction to animal sciences, animal nutrition, animal physiology)
• Option-specific courses (e.g., animal behavior, equine science)
• Electives (e.g., agricultural economics, environmental science)

Course List

Some of the courses offered in the program include:

• ANS 100: Orientation to Animal and Rangeland Sciences
• ANS 121: Introduction to Animal Sciences
• ANS 207: Sophomore Seminar
• ANS 251: Principles of Animal Foods Technology
• ANS 311: Principles of Animal Nutrition
• ANS 313: Applied Animal Nutrition: Feeds and Ration Formulation
• ANS 314: Animal Physiology
• ANS 316: Reproduction in Domestic Animals
• ANS 317: Reproduction in Domestic Animals Laboratory
• ANS 378: Animal Genetics
• ANS 420: Ethical Issues in Animal Agriculture

Research Areas

Graduate students may pursue research projects in areas such as:

• Animal nutrition
• Dairy production
• Embryo physiology
• Endocrinology
• Ethology
• Growth and development
• Livestock management
• Muscle biology and meat science
• Nutritional biochemistry
• Reproductive physiology

Career Opportunities

Graduates of the program may pursue careers in:

• Animal industry (e.g., farm, ranch, feedlot operation)
• Research and development
• Education and extension
• Government agencies (e.g., USDA, EPA)
• Private industry (e.g., pharmaceutical companies, feed and seed companies)
• Non-profit organizations (e.g., animal welfare organizations)

Accreditation

The Department of Animal and Rangeland Sciences is accredited by the Society for Range Management.

Major Code

The major code for the Animal Sciences Undergraduate Major (BS, HBS) is 125.