Why Choose Animal Sciences?

Study under world-class scientists and instructors.

• Faculty members in the Division of Animal Sciences have expertise in nutrition, genetics, physiology, meat science, reproduction and animal management.
• Current faculty members have received numerous prestigious University system, regional, national and international awards regarding teaching, advising, research and extension.
• At Mizzou, you learn from faculty that conduct the research to create the knowledge that is eventually used in textbooks at other colleges. Here, you get the information before it is in the books!
• As a Mizzou Animal Sciences student, you will be assigned a faculty member who will serve as your academic advisor. During meetings with your academic advisor, you will have the opportunity to build your course schedule to meet graduation requirements, find experiential learning opportunities and get help when needed.

Experiential Learning

• The Division of Animal Sciences has beef cattle, dairy cattle, swine, poultry, sheep, and equine farms and a meats lab within 12 miles of the campus, which allows these farms and facilities to be heavily utilized in the teaching program.
• Combined with active research programs at the farms and in labs on campus, Mizzou students obtain “hands-on” learning from their animal sciences courses, while having employment opportunities and research experiences.
• Additional examples of opportunities for students to gain experiential learning include
  • Equine Science Program
  • F.B. Miller Reproductive Management Internship Program
  • Off Campus Internships
  • Swine Breeding Herd Winternship
  • Undergraduate Research

Curriculum Requirements

BS in Animal Sciences

As part of the Animal Sciences degree program, each semester, students typically enroll in both General Education courses and Animal Sciences courses to create a balanced schedule. Students are strongly encouraged to enroll in at least one Animal Sciences course per semester.

Minors at Mizzou

Each approved minor comes with its own set of requirements.

Minors associated with Animal Sciences are the Animal Sciences minor and the Captive Wild Animal Management minor:

Animal Sciences Minor:

• Minimum of 15 credit hours in Animal Sciences
• Minimum of 9 credit hours must be courses numbered 3000 or above

Captive Wild Animal Management Minor:

• For students majoring in Animal Sciences, the minor requires an additional 18-20 hours of coursework.

Courses Offered Through Collaborations with Other Institutions

Midwest Poultry Consortium

• Mizzou Animal Sciences students may apply to participate in the Midwest Poultry Consortium, and have credits from those sessions transfer back to Mizzou to meet degree requirements. The Midwest Poultry Consortium involves two summer sessions at the University of Wisconsin-Madison where poultry-specific courses are taught by a cadre of faculty with poultry expertise from universities around the Midwest. The program includes provisions for paid internships.

Swine Science Online Courses

• Through the U.S. Pork Center of Excellence and the Ag IDEA initiative, 17 swine-specific on-line courses are offered at Mizzou. These courses cover many aspects of swine care and production and, depending on the course and number of credits, may be utilized as senior electives. Mizzou is one of only four universities to offer the entire curriculum.

Transfer Students

Planning to transfer to Mizzou? Find out how your credits will transfer.

Internships

Animal Sciences students are encouraged to participate in an off-campus internship during their time at Mizzou. Internships allow students to gain professional experience prior to graduation, expand their resumes, and gain a glimpse of what career opportunities are available with a degree in Animal Sciences.

As an Animal Sciences student, you can receive credit for your internship (AnSci 4940) that will count towards senior elective credits. More information about how to receive credit for an off-campus internship can be found on the Internship page.

Research

Undergraduate research is a great opportunity for students to explore the unknown while developing critical thinking and problem solving skills. As an Animal Sciences student, you can participate in undergraduate research and receive credit for a senior elective (AnSci 4950).

Students can work side-by-side in the laboratory with Animal Sciences faculty and graduate students. Opportunities for student research can be found by reaching out to a specific faculty member or contacting the Office of Undergraduate Research.

Undergraduate research opportunities may be paid, work-study or unpaid volunteer positions. Paid positions may be available through a stipend or scholarship by a faculty member or through work-study.

Additionally, there are opportunities for students to participate in a research internship program with a faculty mentor for a maximum of two semesters.

What is Animal Sciences?

Animal Sciences focuses on whole-animal biology, which contributes to advancements in livestock production, animal health and human health through innovative research and its application.

Is This Major A Good Match?

If you are interested in…

• Animal and Human Health
• Genetics
• Nutrition
• Reproductive Physiology
• Biotechnology
• Physiology
• Issues in Animal Agriculture
• Animal Production
• Meat Science

…then you should check out Animal Sciences!