Courses of Study 2024-2025 
    
    Oct 06, 2024  
Courses of Study 2024-2025

Animal Science


In the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences .


Course Offerings  

Overview

The Animal Science program area offers a coordinated group of courses dealing with the principles of animal management, genetics, nutrition, physiology, and growth biology. Emphasis in subject matter is directed toward domestic animal species, dairy and beef cattle, horses, poultry, pigs, and sheep, while laboratory, companion, and exotic animal species are also included in research and teaching programs. Many science-oriented students elect a program emphasizing supportive preparation in the physical and biological sciences appropriate for graduate, veterinary, or professional study following graduation. Dairy management and the Dairy Management Fellows Program is a popular option among students who want an integrated, industry based program that can prepare them to manage a dairy business or enter a related career. These are examples of the flexibility within these programs that can be developed to meet a student’s career interest related to animals.

Teaching Faculty


T. R. Overton, chair (149 Morrison Hall, 255-2862); J. J. Allen, Y. R. Boisclair, D. J. R. Cherney, J. E. Duan, J. O. Giordano, L. F. Goodale, M. M. Hostens, H. J. Huson, Q. M. Ketterings, Q. K. Kolar, X. G. Lei, J. W. McFadden, Y. A. Ren, V. Selvaraj, N. L. Trottier, M. E. Van Amburgh, E. T. Won

 

BS/DVM Early Enrollment Pathway


Outstanding undergraduate students may be able to enroll for graduate study in the College of Veterinary Medicine prior to completion of their undergraduate program. To be considered, a student must:

  • Fulfill all distribution requirements for the College (e.g., humanities and social sciences, 55 CALS credits, etc.)
  • Fulfill all major requirements for the college.
  • Complete a minimum of 108 of their 120 academic credits toward the Bachelor of Science. No more than 12 academic credits can be substituted from the graduate program to complete the CALS Bachelor of Science degree.
  • Fulfill the University Graduation Requirements .
  • Earn a Bachelor of Sciences degree from CALS at the end of their fourth year.
  • All candidates should confirm eligibility with an advisor in CALS Office of Student Services, 140 Roberts Hall.

College of Veterinary Medicine
Cornell Accelerated 7-Year BS/DVM Pathway:

Criteria for acceptance can be found directly on the College of Veterinary Medicine website.   

Early Acceptance and Registration:

The College of Veterinary Medicine may accept students who are permitted to register in their seventh and/or eighth semester and complete requirements for the Bachelor of Science degree in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. All candidates should confirm eligibility with an advisor in CALS Office of Student Services, 140 Roberts Hall. Criteria for acceptance can be found directly on the College of Veterinary Medicine website

The Major


Declaring the Major


  • No prerequisite courses are necessary before declaring the animal science major.
  • To declare the major and be assigned a major advisor, students should contact the Undergraduate Program Coordinator, Lindsay Glasner (lig27@cornell.edu).

Learning Outcomes


Upon graduating with the Animal Science major, students should be able to:

  • Apply integrated principles of nutrition, physiology, and genetics to define issues, enable reasoning, and devise solutions for progress in animal health and production.
  • Demonstrate hands-on skills for optimal care and management of farm and companion animals.
  • Apply principles of animal welfare to guide evolving practices for the ethical treatment and management of animals.
  • Articulate the environmental impacts of animal agriculture and develop sustainable practices to mitigate any adverse local and global effects.
  • Communicate effectively to deliver evolving scientific content in animal science to producers and the public.
  • Employ analytical skills to think critically, identify knowledge gaps and devise solutions to animal-related issues relevant to health and well-being of society.

Requirements for the Major


  • This is an in-person program at the Ithaca campus.
  • Students must complete a minimum of 36 credits in Animal Science.
  • Completion of one animal science concentration: Integrative Physiology and Nutrition, Pre-Veterinary Medicine, Dairy Management, Applied Animal Biology and Management, or Animal Ecology and Conservation.
  • To receive credit towards the major, students must receive a passing grade or better within a course. Courses cannot be duplicated for multiple major and concentration requirements. 
  • In addition to the major requirements outlined below, all students must meet the college graduation requirements .

Core Coursework


Integrative Physiology and Nutrition Concentration Coursework


Additional Courses (3 credits)

Pre-Veterinary Medicine Concentration Coursework


Dairy Management Concentration Coursework


Applied Animal Biology and Interdisciplinary Studies Concentration Coursework


Additional Courses (3 credits)

Animal Ecology and Conservation


The Minor


Declaring the minor:


  • No prerequisite courses are necessary before joining the minor.
  • To declare a minor, students should contact the Undergraduate Program Coordinator, Lindsay Glasner (lig27@cornell.edu).

Requirements for the minor:


  • Students must complete at least 15 credit hours of animal science courses.
  • Courses must include basic and applied biology of animals (i.e. anatomy, physiology, nutrition, genetics) along with a selection of intermediate or advanced offerings from the animal science curriculum.
  • Special Studies courses do not count towards the 15 credit hours.