Animal Science

Major Requirements

Major: Animal Science

Degree Type: B.S.
Minimum Degree Credits to Graduate: 120

University Degree Requirements

  1. Satisfactory completion of all requirements of the curriculum in which one is enrolled.
  2. Earn a minimum total of 120 credits in approved coursework.  Some academic programs exceed this minimum.
  3. Satisfactory completion of the general education requirements as specified by the university.
  4. A minimum institutional GPA of 2.00 based on work taken at NDSU.
  5. At least 30 credits must be NDSU resident credits.  Resident credits include credits registered and paid for at NDSU.
  6. At least 36 credits presented for graduation must be in courses numbered 300 or higher.
  7. Students presenting transfer credit must meet the NDSU residence credits and the minimum upper level credit. Of the 30 credits earned in residence, a minimum of 15 semester credits must be in courses numbered 300 or above, and 15 semester credits must be in the student’s curricula for their declared major.

For complete information, please refer to the Degree and Graduation Requirements section of this Bulletin.

University General Education Requirements

A list of university approved general education courses and administrative policies are available here.

Category C: Communication12
College Composition I
College Composition II
Fundamentals of Public Speaking
Upper Division Writing
Category R: Quantitative Reasoning 3
Category S: Science and Technology 10
Category A: Humanities and Fine Arts 6
Category B: Social and Behavioral Sciences 6
Category W: Wellness 2
Category D: Cultural Diversity *†
Category G: Global Perspectives *†
Total Credits39
*

Courses for category D & G are satisfied by completing D & G designated courses in another general education category.

General education courses may be used to satisfy requirements for both general education and the major, minor, and program emphases, where applicable. Students should carefully review major requirements to determine if specific courses can also satisfy these general education categories.

Major Requirements

Required Core Courses for Animal Science
ANSC 114Introduction to Animal Sciences3
ECON 201Principles of Microeconomics (May satisfy general education category B and G)3
MATH 103College Algebra3
or MATH 105 Trigonometry
or MATH 107 Precalculus
or MATH 146 Applied Calculus I
STAT 330Introductory Statistics (May satisfy general education category R)3
ANSC 218Anatomy and Physiology of Domestic Animals3
Select one of the following:1
Student Success Techniques - Animal and Equine Science
Student Success Techniques - Animal Sciences with Pre-Veterinary Medicine Emphasis
Student Success Techniques - Nontraditional & Transfer Students
Student Success Techniques: Veterinary Technology
ANSC 240Meat Animal Evaluation and Marketing3
ANSC 300Domestic Animal Behavior and Management3
ANSC 323Fundamentals of Nutrition3
ANSC 324Applied Animal Nutrition3
ANSC 463
463L
Physiology of Reproduction
and Physiology of Reproduction Laboratory
4
ANSC 478Research and Issues in Animal Agriculture3
Select one of the following:2
Global Seminar
Undergraduate Research (research experience)
Field Experience (internship experience)
Select one of the following:3
Equine Industry and Production Systems
Sheep Industry and Production Systems
Swine Production/Pork Industry Systems
Beef Industry and Production Systems
Dairy Industry and Production Systems
Program Option
Students must select one program option of interest to complete the major. The standard option for this major is the Animal Production, Management and Husbandry. Students who wish to declare an option other than the standard option must officially declare that option with the Office of Registration and Records.44-48
Total Credits84-88
Option 1: Animal Production, Management, & Husbandry Option (Standard)
AGEC 242Introduction to Agricultural Management3
AGEC 244Agricultural Marketing3
BIOC 260Elements of Biochemistry4
MICR 202
202L
Introductory Microbiology
and Introductory Microbiology Lab (May satisfy general education category S)
3
PLSC 315Genetics (May satisfy general education category S)3
Select one from the following:4
Concepts of Biology
and Non-Majors Biology Lab (May satisfy general education category S)
General Biology I
and General Biology I Laboratory
Select one from the following:4
Chemical Concepts and Applications
and Chem Concepts and Applications Lab (May satisfy general education category S)
General Chemistry I
and General Chemistry I Laboratory (May satisfy general education category S)
Select one the following evaluation courses:2
Meat Grading and Evaluation
Livestock Evaluation
Dairy Cattle Evaluation
Equine Evaluation
ANSC 340Principles of Meat Science3
ANSC 357Animal Genetics3
ANSC 370Fundamentals/Animal Disease3
ANSC 380Livestock Sales and Marketing2
ANSC 480Equine Industry and Production Systems3
or ANSC 482 Sheep Industry and Production Systems
or ANSC 484 Swine Production/Pork Industry Systems
or ANSC 485
or ANSC 486 Beef Industry and Production Systems
or ANSC 488 Dairy Industry and Production Systems
Animal Production, Management, and Husbandry Elective (choose from any level PLSC, NRM, RNG, or SOIL)6
Total Credits46
Option 2: Animal Agribusiness Option
ACCT 102Fundamentals of Accounting3
AGEC 242Introduction to Agricultural Management3
AGEC 244Agricultural Marketing3
AGEC 246Introduction to Agricultural Finance3
Select one from the following:4
Concepts of Biology
and Non-Majors Biology Lab (May satisfy general education category S)
General Biology I
and General Biology I Laboratory
Select one from the following:4
Chemical Concepts and Applications
and Chem Concepts and Applications Lab (May satisfy general education category S)
General Chemistry I
and General Chemistry I Laboratory (May satisfy general education category S)
Select one of the following evaluation courses:2
Meat Grading and Evaluation
Livestock Evaluation
Dairy Cattle Evaluation
Equine Evaluation
ANSC 357Animal Genetics3
ANSC 380Livestock Sales and Marketing2
ECON 202Principles of Macroeconomics (May satisfy general education category B)3
PLSC 315Genetics (May satisfy general education category S)3
AGEC elective300-400 level6
Animal Agribusiness Electives (choose from 300+ level ANSC, AGEC, ECON, PLSC or RNG)9
Total Credits48
Option 3: Biomedical Science Option1

Students interested in veterinary school should consider this option.   The option meets most veterinary school prerequisites.  Consultation with an adviser is recommended.

ANSC 357Animal Genetics3
ANSC 444Livestock Muscle Physiology3
BIOC 260Elements of Biochemistry4
BIOL 150
150L
General Biology I
and General Biology I Laboratory
4
BIOL 151
151L
General Biology II
and General Biology II Laboratory
4
CHEM 121
121L
General Chemistry I
and General Chemistry I Laboratory (May satisfy general education category S)
4
CHEM 122
122L
General Chemistry II
and General Chemistry II Laboratory (May satisfy general education category S)
4
CHEM 240Survey of Organic Chemistry3
or CHEM 341 Organic Chemistry I
MICR 350
350L
General Microbiology
and General Microbiology Lab
5
PLSC 315Genetics (May satisfy general education category S)3
Select one from the following:4
Fundamentals of Physics
and Fundamentals of Physics Laboratory (May satisfy general education category S)
College Physics I
and College Physics I Laboratory (May satisfy general education category S)
Biomedical Science Elective (choose from 300+ level ANSC, BIOC, BIOL, CHEM, MICR, PHYS OR ZOO)3
Total Credits44
1

Accelerated Undergraduate Animal Science Biomedical Sciences option to Master of Public Health Degree

  • Students enrolled in the Biomedical Sciences option may participate in an accelerated undergraduate to graduate program (B.S. Animal Science degree to Master of Public Health degree).
  • Students will complete and submit a required Accelerated Degree Program Declaration form identifying no more than 15 credits of graduate coursework to be counted towards their B.S. degree.
  • A minimum 3.00 cumulative GPA must be maintained by students in the accelerated degree program.

Degree Requirements and Notes                                                                                      

  • Students must earn a minimum 2.00 cumulative GPA for courses that satisfy major requirements
  • Transfer grades must be ‘C’ or higher to count toward major requirements

Minor Requirements

Minor: Animal Science

Required Credits: 16

Minor Requirements

Required Courses
ANSC 114Introduction to Animal Sciences3
ANSC 223Introduction to Animal Nutrition2
ANSC 220Livestock Production3
ANSC 240Meat Animal Evaluation and Marketing3
Elective Courses *5
Must include one of the following courses:
Domestic Animal Behavior and Management
ANSC 314
Fundamentals of Nutrition
Applied Animal Nutrition
Principles of Meat Science
Animal Genetics
Fundamentals/Animal Disease
Livestock Muscle Physiology
Physiology of Reproduction
Growing and Finishing Cattle Management
Remaining credits may come from those listed above or the following courses:
Meat Grading and Evaluation
Livestock Evaluation
Dairy Cattle Evaluation
Fundamentals of Meat Processing
Livestock Sales and Marketing
ANSC 426
Total Credits16
*

 Enrolling in two 2-credit courses will not fulfill elective requirements.

Minor Requirements and Notes:                                                                   

  • A minimum of 8 credits must be taken at NDSU.
  • Students must earn a minimum 2.00 GPA for the minor requirements.