Why Animal Science?

People love animals. Their devotion and companionship grasp our hearts, making animals a popular career choice for many people. But beyond their roles as pets, animals provide us with service, food, clothing, medicines, and valuable scientific information. They play an important role in our economy and in our everyday lives. Because of this role, Animal Science is often the discipline of choice for those with a passion for animals and a desire to understand how they work. Using biology, chemistry and applied sciences, Animal Science focuses on understanding the physiology, behavior, health and management of domesticated animals.

Hands-On and By-the-Book  
Animal Science offers a unique opportunity to combine classroom lectures and book-learning with hands-on work with animals. Both in the lab and on our farm, students begin working with animals right away. While the first year includes courses in chemistry, math, computers, and English, students also take an introductory animal science course that takes them out of the classroom and into a world of live animals. Freshmen also take a course in anatomy and physiology, which teaches fundamental lab skills through in-depth laboratory exercises.

Animal Biotechnology is designed for students with an interest in molecular biology and genetics as they relate to animals and veterinary science. This concentration prepares students for graduate work and careers in research and biotechnology. In addition to the animal science core requirements, students in this concentration complete an individual research project and take upper-level science courses. For those who have ever wondered how “Dolly” was cloned or why certain animals are resistant to diseases, this is the perfect concentration.

Students with career interests involving hands-on work with animals or in the health, nutrition, management, or breeding of domestic animals may find the Applied Animal Science concentration most appealing. This concentration requires additional courses in animal production, crop science, and entomology, and tends to attract students who want to work with and study animals, but who don’t want to be veterinarians or researchers.

For those who want to be veterinarians, the Pre-Veterinary Medicine concentration provides the academic background that most veterinary schools want, with an emphasis on biology, chemistry, and physics. The program involves significant hands-on experience with large animals, which is critical for veterinary school admission. The program is also suitable for students who wish to pursue advanced degrees in the animal and biological Sciences.

Students interested in non-domesticated species might consider the Wildlife Conservation major, with a possible double major or minor in Animal Science. Regardless of your initial choice, it is very easy to switch concentrations within the Animal Science major or to change to another major in the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources.

From an indoor livestock arena to the Allen Biotechnology Laboratory, animal science majors have quick access to state-of-the-art facilities. Our complex houses poultry, horses, sheep, swine, beef cattle, and a dairy herd, all of which are accessible to students through classes, labs, and out-of-class work. For those interested in equine studies, our equine veterinarian has developed several courses and coordinates an equine breeding program on campus. Since about 95% of our students have never worked with large animals before coming to Delaware, the University farm is a popular part of many animal science courses.

The Delaware Biotechnology Institute, a multimillion-dollar facility adjacent to campus, blends government, educational, and industrial resources in one of the most impressive high-tech research facilities in the nation. Our affiliation with DBI provides undergraduates the opportunity to work in a state-of-the-art research facility with top-notch faculty in the animal-science field.

Internships at a vet’s office, at a local zoo, or at a stable are popular with animal science majors, who often do several different internships during their undergraduate careers. Many of our faculty recruit students to assist with research projects in areas such as molecular biology, avian viruses, animal immunity, and nutrition. Some students even pursue a Degree with Distinction, which requires a research project and a thesis. Other students enjoy working on the university farm to gain further experience with large animals. Most students receive course credits or a stipend for pursuing one of these options.

If the thought of attending a fireside lecture in Africa or completing your homework on an icecap in the Southern Hemisphere is appealing, study abroad may be something to explore. Within the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, students have extended their education in New Zealand, Australia, Peru, Costa Rica, Morocco, Tanzania, Ecuador, Antarctica, and British Columbia. Many students also participate in study abroad programs led by other departments, who travel to Spain, England, France, Germany, Japan and beyond. And there’s no need to wait…students can participate in study abroad programs as early as their freshman year.

see also: ANFS Undergraduate Research

As with most science disciplines, a graduate degree greatly increases chances for advancement. Qualified students from our program have gone on to pursue graduate degrees in veterinary medicine, forensics, human medicine, molecular biology, reproductive physiology, animal nutrition, and epidemiology.

Part of the Animal Science curriculum is the Sophomore Seminar, in which students learn about career options and what they need to do to prepare for their future careers. They learn about veterinary and graduate school admissions processes, internship and career opportunities, and ways to succeed in college and beyond.

We hold career preparation programs throughout the year, including workshops on resume writing, the job search, and how to prepare for veterinary school. A spring Career Fair, which attracts more than 35 companies, allows students to network with prospective employers.