University Catalog 2024-2025

Animal Science (BS): Veterinary Bioscience Concentration

The degree of Bachelor of Science in Animal Science may be obtained by selecting one of three concentrations offered by the Department of Animal Science in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences: Veterinary Bioscience, Science, and Industry.

The Veterinary Bioscience concentration is for students who are interested in advanced study in DVM programs and has all veterinary school prerequisite courses built into the concentration. Students in this concentration must maintain an overall GPA of 3.0 or higher. There are many opportunities to gain undergraduate research experience with an Animal Science faculty member, to participate in one of the animal-related clubs, and to engage globally by participating in one of our Animal Science Study Abroad experiences.

Accelerated Graduate Opportunities

Advanced undergraduates have the opportunity to complete the Accelerated Bachelor's/Master's degrees, which allows students to earn both the BS and the Master's of Animal Science degrees within five years. See listing of graduate degrees offered in the Graduate School.

For more information about our program, visit our website.

Contact

Department of Animal Science
North Carolina State University
Campus Box 7621
Raleigh, NC 27695-7621

Dr. M. Todd See
Professor and Department Head
North Carolina State University
Polk Hall, Box 7621
Raleigh, NC 27695-7621
919.515.2755
tsee@ncsu.edu

Plan Requirements

Use of animals and animal specimens is critical to our educational program. To obtain full credit for Animal Science courses, students are required to participate in laboratory procedures involving animals and animal specimens. All activities with live animals are IACUC (Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee) approved. Many lectures also incorporate animals or animal specimens into the course.

Orientation
ALS 103Freshman Transitions and Diversity in Agriculture & Life Sciences1
or ALS 303 Transfer Transitions and Diversity in Agriculture & Life Sciences
Communication
Select one of the following:3
Public Speaking
Interpersonal Communication
Argumentation and Advocacy
Mathematical & Natural Sciences
MA 107Precalculus I 13
ST 311Introduction to Statistics3
or ST 350 Economics and Business Statistics
BIO 181Introductory Biology: Ecology, Evolution, and Biodiversity4
BIO 183Introductory Biology: Cellular and Molecular Biology4
CH 101
CH 102
Chemistry - A Molecular Science
and General Chemistry Laboratory 1
4
GN 311Principles of Genetics4
Major Requirements
ANS 150
ANS 151
Introduction to Animal Science
and Introduction to Animal Science Lab 1
4
ANS 205
ANS 206
Physiology of Domestic Animals
and Anatomy of Domestic Animals Lab
4
ANS 220
ANS 221
Reproductive Physiology
and Reproductive Physiology Lab
4
ANS 230
ANS 231
Animal Nutrition
and Animal Nutrition Lab
4
Select one of the following Animal Management courses:3
Companion Animal Management
Swine Management
Livestock Grazing Management
Small Ruminant Management
Equine Breeding Farm Management
Management of Growing and Performance Horses
Beef Cattle Management
Dairy Cattle Management
Animal Science Discipline Courses 6
Animal Science Electives5
Select one of the following Economics courses:3
Introduction to Agricultural & Resource Economics
Introduction to Agricultural & Resource Economics
Principles of Microeconomics
Principles of Macroeconomics
Fundamentals of Economics
Veterinary Bioscience Options
Select one of the following Calculus I courses:3
Elements of Calculus
Calculus for Life and Management Sciences A
Calculus I
CH 201
CH 202
Chemistry - A Quantitative Science
and Quantitative Chemistry Laboratory
4
CH 221
CH 222
Organic Chemistry I
and Organic Chemistry I Lab
4
CH 223
CH 224
Organic Chemistry II
and Organic Chemistry II Lab
4
MB 351
MB 352
General Microbiology
and General Microbiology Laboratory
4
PY 211College Physics I4
PY 212College Physics II4
BCH 351General Biochemistry3-4
or BCH 451 Principles of Biochemistry
GEP Courses
ENG 101Academic Writing and Research 14
GEP Humanities6
GEP Social Sciences3
GEP Health and Exercise Studies2
GEP Interdisciplinary Perspectives 35
GEP US Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion3
GEP Global Knowledge (verify requirement)
World Language Proficiency (verify requirement)
Free Electives
Free Electives (12 Hr S/U Lmt) 2,37-8
Total Hours120
1

A grade of C- or higher is required.

2

Students should consult their academic advisors to determine which courses fill this requirement.

3

Students are encouraged to take an Ethics course as part of their Humanities, Additional Breadth, Interdisciplinary Perspectives, or Free Electives.

Animal Science Discipline Courses

ANS 415/515/NTR 415/515/PO 415/515Comparative Nutrition3
ANS 425/525/FM 425/525/NTR 425/525/PO 425/525Feed Manufacturing Technology3
ANS 435Stress Physiology in Animals3
ANS 437Precision Livestock Farming Systems3
ANS 439Comparative Animal Exercise Physiology 3
ANS 440/540Animal Genetic Improvement3
ANS 452/552/PHY 452/552Comparative Reproductive Physiology and Biotechnology3
ANS 453/553Physiology and Genetics of Growth and Development3
ANS 454/554/NTR 454/554Lactation, Milk and Nutrition3
ANS/NTR 550Applied Ruminant Nutrition3
ANS/NTR 561Equine Nutrition3
ANS/BCH 571Regulation of Metabolism3
ANS 590Topical Problems in Animal Science1-3
NTR 419Human Nutrition and Chronic Disease3
VMP 420Disease of Farm Animals3

Animal Science Electives

Animal Science Electives
VMP 420Disease of Farm Animals3
Any ANS Courses Not Planned
AEE 208Agricultural Biotechnology: Issues and Implications3
ANS 105Introduction to Companion Animal Science3
ANS 110Introduction to Equine Science3
ANS 150Introduction to Animal Science3
ANS 151Introduction to Animal Science Lab1
ANS 201Techniques of Animal Care2
ANS 205Physiology of Domestic Animals3
ANS 206Anatomy of Domestic Animals Lab1
ANS/PB 208Agricultural Biotechnology: Issues and Implications3
ANS/HS 215Agricultural Genetics3
ANS 220Reproductive Physiology3
ANS 221Reproductive Physiology Lab1
ANS 230Animal Nutrition3
ANS 231Animal Nutrition Lab1
ANS 240/240ALivestock Merchandising3
ANS 240ALivestock Merchandising3
ANS 241Introduction to Meat and Poultry Processing3
ANS 241A Introduction to Meat and Poultry Processing3
ANS 242Value Added Meat and Poultry Processing3
ANS 242AValue Added Meat and Poultry Processing3
ANS 243Meat Safety and Quality Systems3
ANS 243AMeat Safety and Quality Systems3
ANS 260Basic Swine Science2
ANS 261Swine Health and Biosecurity1
ANS 262Swine Breeding and Gestation Management1
ANS 263Farrowing Management1
ANS 264Swine Nursery and Finishing Management1
ANS 265Contemporary Issues in the Swine Industry1
ANS 266Swine Environment Management1
ANS 267Swine Manure and Nutrient Management1
ANS 268Employee Management for the Swine Industry1
ANS 269Internship in the Swine Industry1
ANS 270Pork Export Markets from a Swine Production Perspective1
ANS 271Swine Nutrition1
ANS 281Professional Development of PreVeterinary Track Students1
ANS 290Professional Development for Animal Science Careers2
ANS 303Principles of Equine Evaluation2
ANS 304Dairy Cattle Evaluation2
ANS 309Livestock Evaluation3
ANS/PO/FS 322Muscle Foods and Eggs3
ANS/FS 324Milk and Dairy Products3
ANS 330Laboratory Animal Science3
ANS 395Animal Science Study Abroad1-6
ANS 400Companion Animal Management3
ANS 402Beef Cattle Management 3
ANS 403Swine Management3
ANS 404Dairy Cattle Management 3
ANS 407Livestock Grazing Management3
ANS 408Small Ruminant Management3
ANS 410Equine Breeding Farm Management3
ANS 411Management of Growing and Performance Horses3
ANS 415/515/NTR 415/515/PO 415/515Comparative Nutrition3
ANS 425/525/FM 425/525/NTR 425/525/PO 425/525Feed Manufacturing Technology3
ANS 435Stress Physiology in Animals3
ANS 437Precision Livestock Farming Systems3
ANS 439Comparative Animal Exercise Physiology 3
ANS 440/540/Animal Genetic Improvement3
ANS 452/552/PHY 452/552Comparative Reproductive Physiology and Biotechnology3
ANS 453/553Physiology and Genetics of Growth and Development3
ANS 454/554/NTR 454/554Lactation, Milk and Nutrition3
ANS 495Special Topics in Animal Science1-3
ANS/NTR 550Applied Ruminant Nutrition3
ANS/NTR 561Equine Nutrition3
ANS/BCH 571Regulation of Metabolism3
ANS 590Topical Problems in Animal Science1-3
FS 435/535Food Safety Management Systems3
NTR 419Human Nutrition and Chronic Disease3

Semester Sequence

This is a sample.

Plan of Study Grid
First Year
Fall SemesterHours
ALS 103 Freshman Transitions and Diversity in Agriculture & Life Sciences 1
ANS 150
ANS 151
Introduction to Animal Science
and Introduction to Animal Science Lab 1
4
BIO 181 Introductory Biology: Ecology, Evolution, and Biodiversity 4
ENG 101 Academic Writing and Research 1 4
MA 107 Precalculus I 1 3
 Hours16
Spring Semester
Animal Science Course 2
BIO 183 Introductory Biology: Cellular and Molecular Biology 4
CH 101
CH 102
Chemistry - A Molecular Science
and General Chemistry Laboratory 1
4
Select one of the following: 3
Elements of Calculus
Calculus for Life and Management Sciences A
Calculus I
 Hours13
Second Year
Fall Semester
ANS 205
ANS 206
Physiology of Domestic Animals
and Anatomy of Domestic Animals Lab
4
GEP Interdisciplinary Perspectives 2
Select one of the following: 3
Introduction to Agricultural & Resource Economics
Principles of Microeconomics
Principles of Macroeconomics
Fundamentals of Economics
CH 221
CH 222
Organic Chemistry I
and Organic Chemistry I Lab
4
Select one of the following: 3
Public Speaking
Interpersonal Communication
Argumentation and Advocacy
 Hours16
Spring Semester
ANS 220
ANS 221
Reproductive Physiology
and Reproductive Physiology Lab
4
CH 223
CH 224
Organic Chemistry II
and Organic Chemistry II Lab
4
ST 311
Introduction to Statistics
or Economics and Business Statistics
3
GEP Humanities 3
GEP Health and Exercise Studies 1
 Hours15
Third Year
Fall Semester
ANS 230
ANS 231
Animal Nutrition
and Animal Nutrition Lab
4
Animal Science Course 3
MB 351
MB 352
General Microbiology
and General Microbiology Laboratory
4
PY 211 College Physics I 4
 Hours15
Spring Semester
GN 311 Principles of Genetics 4
PY 212 College Physics II 4
GEP Health and Exercise Studies 1
GEP Humanities 3
ANS Elective 2 3
 Hours15
Fourth Year
Fall Semester
ANS Discipline Course Elective 3
GEP Social Sciences 3
CH 201
CH 202
Chemistry - A Quantitative Science
and Quantitative Chemistry Laboratory
4
GEP US Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion 3
Free Elective 2 3
 Hours16
Spring Semester
ANS Discipline Course Elective 3
GEP Interdisciplinary Perspectives 2 3
BCH 351
General Biochemistry
or Principles of Biochemistry
3
Free Elective 2 5
 Hours14
 Total Hours120
1

ANS 150 Introduction to Animal Science, MA 107 Precalculus I, ENG 101 Academic Writing and Research, and CH 101 Chemistry - A Molecular Science must be completed with a grade of C-minus or higher, and the student should repeat the course in the semester following the initial attempt if less than a C-minus is earned.

2

Students are encouraged to take an Ethics course as part of their Humanities, Additional Breadth, Interdisciplinary Perspectives, or Free Electives.

Use of animals and animal specimens is critical to our educational program. To obtain full credit for Animal Science courses, students are required to participate in laboratory procedures involving animals and animal specimens. All activities with live animals are IACUC (Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee) approved. Many lectures also incorporate animals or animal specimens into the course. 

Career Opportunities

Career Titles

  • Agricultural Research Technician
  • Animal Breeder
  • Agricultural Inspector
  • Agricultural/Farm Manager
  • Sales Representative of Animal Health/Animal Products

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