University Catalog 2024-2025

Poultry Science (BS): Science Concentration

Curricula

Students desiring a Bachelor of Science degree with a major in Poultry Science may choose either the science or technology curriculum offered by the Prestage Department of Poultry Science. Students interested in research or veterinary/medical fields can meet the pre-requisites for these professional schools through the science concentration. These students are also better prepared for advanced study in various disciplines such as genetics, nutrition, physiology, and pathology. The technology curriculum in Poultry Science allows a greater selection of courses in business and economics; and offers a student both basic and applied knowledge in poultry production which can be utilized in the poultry or allied industries upon graduation. One may obtain a double major in other curricula through careful use of electives and/or summer school attendance. These students should consult the undergraduate advisers in the department(s) concerned.

Career Opportunities

The transition from small farm to large commercial poultry operations has created more specialized positions than there are available poultry science graduates. Production-oriented positions and off-the-farm operations in areas such as processing and distribution offer new job opportunities. Allied industries such as: feed manufacturing, equipment sales, financing, pharmaceutical development and research — need additional employees trained in Poultry Science. Graduates are employed in the communication and public relations sectors, as teachers, and extension and research specialists and as veterinarians.

Contact

Dr. Lynn Worley-Davis
919.515.6852
lwdavis@ncsu.edu

Plan Requirements

Orientation
PO 290Exploring Opportunities in Poultry Science2
Communications
ENG 101Academic Writing and Research 14
COM 110Public Speaking3
or COM 112 Interpersonal Communication
Select one of the following Advanced Communication courses:3
Communication for Engineering and Technology
Communication for Business and Management
Communication for Science and Research
Social Sciences & Business
ARE 201Introduction to Agricultural & Resource Economics3
Business/Finance Elective3
Physical and Biological Science
MA 107Precalculus I3
Select one of the following Calculus I courses:3
Elements of Calculus
Calculus for Life and Management Sciences A
Calculus I
ST 311Introduction to Statistics3
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
PY 131Conceptual Physics4
or PY 211 College Physics I
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
CH 201
CH 202
Chemistry - A Quantitative Science
and Quantitative Chemistry Laboratory
4
GN 311Principles of Genetics4
MB 351
MB 352
General Microbiology
and General Microbiology Laboratory
4
Departmental Requirements
PO 201
PO 202
Poultry Science and Production
and Poultry Science and Production Laboratory 1
4
PO 322Muscle Foods and Eggs 13
or PO 433 Poultry Processing and Products
PO 404Avian Anatomy and Physiology 14
PO 415Comparative Nutrition 13
PO 435Poultry Incubation & Breeding 14
PO 401Poultry Diseases4
PO/FM Restricted Electives3
GEP Courses
GEP Humanities6
GEP Social Sciences3
GEP Health and Exercise Studies2
GEP US Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion3
GEP Interdisciplinary Perspectives5
GEP Global Knowledge (verify requirement)
World Language Proficiency (verify requirement)
Free Electives
Free Electives (12 Hr S/U Lmt) 213
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.

Business/Finance Electives

ACC 210Concepts of Financial Reporting3
ACC 220Introduction to Managerial Accounting3
ACC 280Survey of Financial and Managerial Accounting3
ARE 215Small Business Accounting3
ARE 301Intermediate Microeconomics3
ARE 303Farm Management3
ARE 304Agribusiness Management3
ARE 306Agricultural Law3
ARE 309Environmental Law & Economic Policy3
ARE 311Agricultural Markets3
ARE 312Agribusiness Marketing3
ARE 321Agricultural Financial Management3
ARE 332Human Resource Management for Agribusiness3
ARE 336Introduction to Resource and Environmental Economics3
BUS 225Personal Finance3
EC 202Principles of Macroeconomics3
EC 301Intermediate Microeconomics3
EC 302Intermediate Macroeconomics3
EC 305A Closer Look at Capitalism3
EC 336Introduction to Resource and Environmental Economics3
EC 348Introduction to International Economics3
MIE 201Introduction to Business Processes3

  PO/ FM Restricted Electives

PO 340Live Poultry and Poultry Product Evaluation, Grading, and Inspection3
PO 410Production and Management of Game Birds in Confinement3
PO 421Commercial Egg Production3
PO 424Poultry Meat Production3

Semester Sequence

This is a sample.

Plan of Study Grid
First Year
Fall SemesterHours
PO 290 Exploring Opportunities in Poultry Science 2
ENG 101 Academic Writing and Research 4
MA 107 Precalculus I 3
PO 201 Poultry Science and Production 1 3
PO 202 Poultry Science and Production Laboratory 1 1
BIO 181 Introductory Biology: Ecology, Evolution, and Biodiversity 4
 Hours17
Spring Semester
BIO 183 Introductory Biology: Cellular and Molecular Biology 4
COM 110
Public Speaking
or Interpersonal Communication
3
MA 121
Elements of Calculus
or Calculus for Life and Management Sciences A
3
GEP Social Sciences 3
Free Elective 3
 Hours16
Second Year
Fall Semester
ARE 201 Introduction to Agricultural & Resource Economics 3
CH 101 Chemistry - A Molecular Science 3
CH 102 General Chemistry Laboratory 1
GEP Humanities 3
GEP Health and Exercise Studies 1
Free Electives 3
 Hours14
Spring Semester
CH 221 Organic Chemistry I 3
CH 222 Organic Chemistry I Lab 1
ST 311 Introduction to Statistics 3
GEP Health and Exercise Studies 1
GEP Humanities 3
Free Electives 3
 Hours14
Third Year
Fall Semester
CH 223 Organic Chemistry II 3
CH 224 Organic Chemistry II Lab 1
PO/ANS/FS 322
Muscle Foods and Eggs 1
or Poultry Processing and Products
3
PO/ANS 415 Comparative Nutrition 1 3
PY 211
College Physics I
or Conceptual Physics
4
 Hours14
Spring Semester
CH 201 Chemistry - A Quantitative Science 3
CH 202 Quantitative Chemistry Laboratory 1
Select one of the following: 3
Communication for Engineering and Technology
Communication for Business and Management
Communication for Science and Research
GN 311 Principles of Genetics 4
GEP US Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion 3
PO/FM Restricted Electives 3
 Hours17
Fourth Year
Fall Semester
MB 351 General Microbiology 3
MB 352 General Microbiology Laboratory 1
PO 404 Avian Anatomy and Physiology 1 4
GEP Interdisciplinary Perspectives 3
ACC/ARE/BUS/EC Electives 3
 Hours14
Spring Semester
PO 435 Poultry Incubation & Breeding 1 4
PO 401 Poultry Diseases 4
GEP Interdisciplinary Perspectives 3
Free Elective 3
 Hours14
 Total Hours120
1

A grade of C- or higher is required.

Career Opportunities

The transition from small farm to large commercial poultry operations has created more specialized positions than there are available poultry science graduates. Production-oriented positions and off-the-farm operations in areas such as processing and distribution offer new job opportunities. Allied industries such as: feed manufacturing, equipment sales, financing, pharmaceutical development and research — need additional employees trained in Poultry Science. Graduates are employed in the communication and public relations sectors, as teachers, and extension and research specialists and as veterinarians.

Career Titles

  • Animal Husbandry Worker Supervisor
  • Animal Kennel Manager
  • Animal Scientist
  • Farmers and Ranchers
  • Food & Drug Inspector

Learn More About Careers

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