What is applied animal science?

Have you ever wondered how farmers care for animals, produce the food we eat, or keep livestock healthy? Applied animal science gives you the chance to explore all of that and more. As the world's demand for meat, milk, and fiber continues to grow, there is an increasing need for professionals who understand how to raise and care for animals responsibly and sustainably. In applied animal science, you'll learn about animal health, nutrition, breeding, behavior, housing, and management while gaining practical skills that prepare you for a wide range of careers.

Why study applied animal science at UNH?

Students handle farm animals starting week one. Labs and comprehensive animal facilities introduce students to a wide range of subjects and give students firsthand experience turning knowledge into practice. Students, UNH is one of only three universities that offers students an opportunity to work with and manage every aspect of a dairy herd on campus through the UNH CREAM (Cooperative Real Education in Agriculture Management) program. Students can also work with poultry in our Poultry Experiential Education Program (PEEP) and sheep as part of the livestock management course. After obtaining an associate degree in applied animal science, qualified students may then transfer to the university’s four-year major and obtain a bachelor’s degree.

Potential careers

Agricultural sales/service employee
Artificial insemination (AI) technician
Crop manager
Farm-business owner
Farm manager
Farm owner
Herd manager

Curriculum & Requirements

01

Program Description

The demand for and production of meat, milk and fiber from animals is expected to continue to grow for decades to come. Students interested in working in the highly technical, rapidly changing field of farm animal production and management, must become well versed in the many species of farm animals, including breeding, feeding, health care, housing and marketing. In the animal agriculture concentration, students apply many of the skills learned in the classroom on farms in the first few semesters of the program. Students learn to work safely with farm livestock and/or poultry. They visit farms and engage in hands-on activities with their instructors. Students will learn to balance rations, identify and treat diseases. They will design appropriate buildings, fences, and learn how to properly care for the land and environment necessary to support farm animals. Students visit and interact with nearby farms with sheep, goats, swine as well as dairy and beef cattle.

Students are encouraged to embrace opportunities to work and study at the University’s farms. UNH maintains two modern and well-equipped dairy teaching and research centers, and as an option students interested in dairy cattle can also collaborate to manage the CREAM (Cooperative for Real Education in Agriculture) herd. All students will also study at the UNH Organic Dairy Research Farm. Students will have the chance to also work with horses, sheep, and poultry on campus.

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

The Thompson School’s Animal Agriculture program is in a unique position with the baccalaureate animal science major. Students may start with the Thompson School program, obtain their associate in applied science (A.A.S.) degree then transfer to a four-year major. There they would obtain a B.S. with two additional academic years of full-time 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 adviser and maintain a grade of C or better in key applied animal science courses.

Career Opportunities

Herd or flock manager, agricultural sales and/or service employee, farm manager, artificial insemination (AI) technician, crop manager, farm owner, or animal care or training professional.

Admissions Requirements

Applicants to the applied animal science program area must present four years of college preparatory English and at least two years, preferably three years of satisfactory work in college preparatory science (one of the sciences being biology, with a lab). One year of laboratory college preparatory chemistry is highly recommended. Also required are three years of social science, and three years of college preparatory mathematics.

02

Degree Plan

Sample Degree Plan

This sample degree plan serves as a general guide; students collaborate with their academic advisor to develop a personalized degree plan to meet their academic goals and program requirements.

Plan of Study Grid
First Year
Fall		Credits
ANSC 421	Introduction to Animal Science	4
ENGL 401	First-Year Writing (DISC)	4
VTEC 435	Animal Health and Laboratory Diagnostics	4
Discovery or AAS 425 ¹		4
	Credits	16
Spring
AAS 423	Dairy Selection	2
AAS 434	Equipment and Facilities Management	3
ADMN 400	Introduction to Business	4
BIOL 412	Introductory Biology: Evolution, Biodiversity and Ecology	4
Discovery Course - Social Science		4
	Credits	17
Second Year
Fall
AAS 432	Introduction to Forage and Grassland Management	3
AAS 597	Applied Animal Science Work Experience	0
ANSC 427 or ANSC 605 or ANSC 698	Introduction to Equine Science or Poultry Production and Health Management or Cooperative for Real Education in Agricultural Management (CREAM)	4
Discovery Course: Quantitative Reasoning, PAUL 450 or other		4
Discovery		4
Elective		2
	Credits	17
Spring
ANSC 406	Careers in Animal Science	1
ANSC 543	Technical Writing in Animal Sciences	2
ANSC 548	Agricultural Business Management	4
ANSC 698 or ANSC 603	Cooperative for Real Education in Agricultural Management (CREAM) or Introduction to Livestock Management	4
Elective or Discovery if AAS 425 was taken Freshman year ¹		3
	Credits	14
	Total Credits	64

¹: CREAM must be taken both fall and spring semesters
²: 20 credits of Discovery required; including ENGL 401 First-Year Writing, VTEC 435 Animal Health and Laboratory Diagnostics, a Quantitative Reasoning course, a Social Sciences course, and 1 other Discovery course

03

Requirements for the Program

Degree Requirements

Minimum Credit Requirement: 64 credits

Minimum Residency Requirement: 16 credits must be taken at UNH

Minimum GPA: 2.0 required for conferral*

Core Curriculum Required: Discovery Program

Major, Option, and Elective Requirements as indicated.
*Major GPA requirements as indicated.

Applied Animal Science Major Requirements

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

All Applied Animal Science students are required to take:

Course List
Code	Title	Credits
AAS 423	Dairy Selection	2
AAS 432	Introduction to Forage and Grassland Management	3
AAS 434	Equipment and Facilities Management	3
AAS 597	Applied Animal Science Work Experience	0
ADMN 400	Introduction to Business	4
ANSC 406	Careers in Animal Science	1
ANSC 421	Introduction to Animal Science	4
ANSC 543	Technical Writing in Animal Sciences	2
ANSC 548	Agricultural Business Management	4
ANSC 698	Cooperative for Real Education in Agricultural Management (CREAM) ¹	4
or ANSC 603	Introduction to Livestock Management
or ANSC 605	Poultry Production and Health Management
or ANSC 427	Introduction to Equine Science
BIOL 412	Introductory Biology: Evolution, Biodiversity and Ecology	4
ENGL 401	First-Year Writing	4
PAUL 450	Personal Finance (or other Quantitative Reasoning Discovery)	4
VTEC 435	Animal Health and Laboratory Diagnostics	4
Discovery Social Science		4
Discovery Course		4
Electives ²		13
Total Credits		64

20 credits of Discovery courses are required, including Writing Skills (ENGL 401 First-Year Writing), Biological Science (VTEC 435 Animal Health and Laboratory Diagnostics), Quantitative Reasoning (PAUL 450 Personal Finance or other), Social Science, and Discovery elective.

¹: Students that wish to take ANSC 698 Cooperative for Real Education in Agricultural Management (CREAM) must take ANSC 425 Introduction to Dairy Herd Management in their first semester. CREAM is a two semester course (fall/spring).
²: Students without large animal experience are encouraged to enroll in AAS 421 Large Animal Behavior and Handling Techniques, as an elective.

04

Student Learning Outcomes

Program Learning Outcomes

Students will be able to describe the significance and unique characteristics of animal agriculture in New England, including species and breeds most appropriate for various agricultural enterprises.
Students will demonstrate they can handle and restrain a variety of domestic animals for routine care, health management practices and training purposes.
Students will be able to identify and describe the significant anatomical parts of and differences between horses, cattle, small ruminants and poultry.
Students will understand the basis of disease, major pathogens causing disease, the techniques used in identifying parasites and pathogens, as well as keeping animals healthy through biosecurity measures.
Students will gain an applied understanding of animal nutrition, animal selection and breeding and animal health practices through experiential coursework with dairy cattle, livestock and/or poultry.
Students will be able to articulate the career opportunities available in the field of Animal Science.
Students will be able to identify appropriate land, farm management strategies and forage crops in New England for farm animal feeding in the form of hay, silage and pasture.
Students will demonstrate written and oral communication skills necessary for marketing animal products and services, information transfer, and animal related business development and promotion.
Finally, students will demonstrate through the development of an animal related business plan that they understand the importance of market analysis, product promotion, sales techniques, labor management, financial statements, insurance and labor management.