Undergraduate Course Catalog 2011-2012

Thompson School of Applied Science

» http://www.thompsonschool.unh.edu/

Applied Animal Science (AAS)

Professor: Andrew B. Conroy
Associate Professor: Laurie Chapman-Bosco
Lecturer: Sarah Proctor

Applied animal science (AAS) provides students with hands-on practical skills combined with knowledge and understanding of the latest technology. The core program provides a solid background in anatomy, physiology, nutrition, health, and animal breeding. In addition, students choose a concentration in equine management, dairy management, or small animal care. Each concentration also allows for choices of elective courses in other areas.

Practical learning experience is provided at the UNH equine facilities and the Thomas P. Fairchild Dairy Teaching and Research Center and the UNH Organic Dairy Farm. The Thompson School also operates its own grooming shop and biology laboratories. The curriculum has a number of animal-related educational partnerships, including one with the New Hampshire SPCA in Stratham, NH, the Cocheco Valley Humane Society, and field trips to many animal-related businesses.

Admissions Requirements

Applicants to the applied animal science program area must present college preparatory English and at least two years of satisfactory work in both college preparatory mathematics and science (one of the sciences being biology, with a lab). One year of high school chemistry is also highly recommended.

Curriculum Fee

Applied animal science, all specializations: $605*

*This one-time, nonrefundable curriculum fee is required to cover lab materials, specialized equipment maintenance, and transportation that is unique to the applied nature of the concentration. The curriculum fee covers the entire two-year course of study for one concentration. There may be additional course fees for specific, high-cost courses. Any non-TSAS student may be assessed specific course fees, details of which are included in each semester's Time and Room Schedule. All fees are subject to change.

Applied Animal Science Curriculum Standards

Applied animal science students must maintain a minimum 2.0 cumulative grade-point average in AAS classes after two semesters (minimum 26 credits) to take additional AAS classes. Students with AAS averages lower than 2.0 must repeat classes with lower grades and raise their average to the required 2.0 before taking additional AAS classes. Students must have a minimum cumulative 2.0 grade-point average in AAS classes to qualify for graduation from the program.

Dairy Management

To work in the highly technical, rapidly changing field of dairy management, students must become well versed in the many aspects of dairy farm operation and management. In the dairy management specialization, students put into practice immediately many of the skills learned in the classroom. Students learn to balance rations, identify and treat diseases, read a bull proof, and gain many other skills. They work at the University’s dairy farm, a modern and well-equipped teaching and research center, where they collaborate to manage the CREAM (Cooperative for Real Education in Agriculture) herd. Students are also involved with the new organic dairy facility.

Students learn the business of farming through field exercises in land management, forage production, financial management, and computer use on a dairy farm as well as through continued practical experience with cattle. The program prepares students to work both on the farm and in related businesses.

Thompson School Dairy Management has a unique arrangement with the baccalaureate dairy management major. Students may start with the Thompson School program, obtain their associate in applied science (A.A.S.) degree then transfer to the four-year dairy management major and obtain a B.S. in two additional years with a full-time course of study. This allows students to receive two degrees in as little as four years or obtain their A.A.S. degree and work in the field to later return for a B.S. Students wishing to follow this course of action need to work closely with their advisers and maintain a grade of C or better in key applied animal science courses.

Career Opportunities:

Herd manager, agricultural sales and/or service employee, farm manager, artificial insemination (AI) technician, crop manager, farm or farm-business owner.

Dairy Management Program of Study

First Year, Fall Semester

Abbreviation	Course Number	Title	Credits
AAS	228	Anatomy and Physiology of Domestic Animals	4
AAS	231	Introduction to Animal Science	4
AAS	244	Introduction to Dairy Herd Management	4
COM	209	Expository Writing and Reading	4
TSAS	205	Computers in the Workplace	2

First year, Spring Semester

Abbreviation	Course Number	Title	Credits
AAS	242	Introduction to Business in Applied Animal Science	2
AAS	423	Dairy Selection	2
AAS	434	Equipment and Facilities Management	3
AAS	439	Fundamentals of Animal Health	3
COM	212	Technical Writing	2
MTH	202	Math II	3

Second Year, Fall Semester

Abbreviation	Course Number	Title	Credits
AAS	235	Animal Nutrition	3
AAS	275	CREAM (Cooperative for Real Education in Agricultural Management)	4
AAS	297	Work Experience (summer)	0
AAS	432	Introduction to Forage and Grassland Management	3
AAS	546	Animal Business Applications	4
SSCI	20__	Social Science Course	4

Second Year, Spring Semester

Abbreviation	Course Number	Title	Credits
AAS	240	Animal Breeding	3
AAS	275	CREAM (see above)	4
AAS	574	Dairy Cattle Disease Seminar	2
SSCI	2__	Social Science Course	2 - 4
		Elective(s)	4

Recommended electives include

Abbreviation	Course Number	Title	Credits
AAS	221	Large Animal Behavior and Handling	2
AM		Agricultural Mechanization courses	4

Total: 67 - 70 credits

Equine Management

The equine industry in New England encompasses many different facilities and disciplines. Students in the equine management concentration combine courses in the most recent technical information with related practical experience. They gain hands-on experience in bandaging, selection, ration-balancing by computer, fitting and care of equipment, and farm and barn analysis. They also acquire decision making and managerial skills. Graduates have a solid foundation to pursue either employment or additional educational opportunities upon completion of the program.

The riding focus at UNH is balance seat with schooling in dressage, cross country, and stadium jumping. Thompson School students in horsemanship classes ride in the UNH program and have the opportunity to compete in intercollegiate shows.

Thompson School equine management has an articulation agreement for students wishing to pursue a B.S. in the four-year equine studies major following graduation from the Thompson School. This B.S. could be obtained either in equine industry and management (Track I) with four additional semesters, or in therapeutic horseback riding (Track II) in five additional semesters. With this articulation, students may obtain both an associate degree in applied science (A.A.S.) and a B.S. in as little as four years with full-time coursework, or obtain their A.A.S., work in the field, and return for their B.S. at a later date. Students wishing to take advantage of these articulation agreements need to work closely with their advisers. An additional financial benefit may be realized by students following this articulation as the equine management concentration is part of the New England Regional Student Program. [please put in link to catalog for this]

Career Opportunities:

Barn manager, breeding farm manager, sales (tack shops, grain stores), horse show manager, veterinary assistant/equine practice, riding instructor (with additional studies).

Equine Management Program of Study

First Year, Fall Semester

Abbreviation	Course Number	Title	Credits
AAS	228	Anatomy and Physiology of Domestic Animals	4
AAS	231	Introduction to Animal Science	4
AAS	437	Equine Handling and Care Techniques	4
ANSC	411	ANSC Introduction to Equine Science	1
COM	209	Expository Writing and Reading	4
TSAS	205	Computers in the Workplace	2

First Year, Spring Semester

Abbreviation	Course Number	Title	Credits
AAS	236	Equine Show Preparation and Competition	1
AAS	242	Introduction to Business in Applied Animal Science	2
AAS	426	Equine Conformation and Lameness	4
AAS	434	Equipment and Facilities Management	3
AAS	439	Fundamentals of Animal Health	3
COM	212	Technical Writing	2
MTH	202	Math II	3

Second Year, Fall Semester

Abbreviation	Course Number	Title	Credits
AAS	235	Animal Nutrition	3
AAS	292	Light Horse handline (Half Semester II)	1
AAS	297	Work Experience (summer)	0
AAS	432	Introduction to Forage and Grassland Management	3
AAS	546	Animal Business Applications	4
AAS	547	Applied Equine Management	3
SSCI	201	Human Relations	4

Second Year, Spring Semester

Abbreviation	Course Number	Title	Credits
AAS	240	Animal Breeding	3
AAS	252	Equine Health Management	4
AAS	253	Equine Competition Management	2
ANSC	402	ANSC: Horsemanship	3
SSCI	20__	Elective(s)	2 - 4
		Elective(s)	2 - 5

Recommended electives (when offered)

Abbreviation	Course Number	Title	Credits
AAS	272	Comparative Equine Operations	1
AAS	293	Equine Field Operations	1 - 3
ANSC	411	Introduction to Equine Science	1

Total: 65 - 75 credits

Small Animal Care

Animal companionship provides millions of people with an oasis in a hectic, impersonal world, and pet owners consistently seek additional advice on the care of their animals. The small animal care concentration prepares students to work in companion animal care positions of all types.

In their first year, students gain experience in breed types, behavior, genetics, restraint, and training of dogs and cats. Students also master laboratory procedures such as fecal examination and heartworm testing. In addition, the students learn the basics of grooming, nutrition, first aid, disease prevention, medication administration, and toxicology. During their second year, students spend four hours a week at the New Hampshire SPCA or Cocheco Valley Humane Society performing all aspects of animal care while they continue with their academic coursework.

Small animal care is very flexible with recommended elective courses. Second-year students choose classes based on their career goals. Career tracks include veterinary hospital employment, employment in the humane/animal control fields, employment or ownership within the boarding/grooming/daycare industry, or positions in laboratory animal care.

Career Opportunities:

Veterinary assistant, laboratory animal caregiver, pet store manager, pet groomer, kennel manager, animal care and control technician, animal-assisted activities/therapy volunteer and/or coordinator.

Small Animal Care Program of Study

First Year, Fall Semester

Abbreviation	Course Number	Title	Credits
AAS	228	Anatomy and Physiology of Domestic Animals	4
AAS	230	Small Animal Breeds and Behavior	4
AAS	231	Introduction to Animal Science	4
COM	209	Expository Writing and Reading	4
TSAS	205	Computers in the Workplace	2

First Year, Spring Semester

Abbreviation	Course Number	Title	Credits
AAS	218	Careers in Small Animal Care	1
AAS	222	Small Animal Grooming	2
AAS	242	Introduction to Business in Applied Animal Science	2
AAS	249	Small Animal Care Techniques	3
AAS	439	Fundamentals of Animal Health	3
COM	212	Technical Writing	2
MTH	202	Math II	3

Second Year, Fall Semester

Abbreviation	Course Number	Title	Credits
AAS	235	Animal Nutrition	3
AAS	279	Small Animal Care Practicum	2
AAS	297	Summer Work Experience	0
AAS	546	Animal Business Applications	4
SSCI	201	Human Relations	4
AAS	2___	AAS Elective	2-4

Second Year, Spring Semester

Abbreviation	Course Number	Title	Credits
AAS	224	Small Animal Management	4
AAS	240	Animal Breeding	3
AAS	2__	Applied Animal Science Elective	2 - 4
AAS	2___	Applied Animal Science Elective	2 - 4
SSCI	2___	Social Science Course	2 - 4
		Elective	2 - 4

Recommended AAS Electives (when offered)

Abbreviation	Course Number	Title	Credits
AAS	219	Animal Cruelty: NH Laws, Investigations and Prosecution	1
AAS	221	Large Animal Behavior and Handling	2
AAS	227	Small Animal Diseases	2
AAS	236	Equine Show Preparation and Competition	1
AAS	237	Equine Management Techniques	4
AAS	251	Human/Animal Bond	2
AAS	254	Animal Assisted Activities and Therapy	2
		ABM Courses (permission required)	Var
		CSL Courses (for students interested in working with non-profit organizations)	Var

Total: 64 - 70 credits

» Click to view course offerings

^ back to top