Animal Science includes the fields of beef, poultry, swine, dairy, equine, and veterinary science.

Animal Science provides instruction and practical experience in judging, breeding, feeding, and managing livestock. Through course selection, the student may prepare for livestock farming, management, business or graduate study in animal science or veterinary medicine. Selection of directed electives permits special training for work with animal feed companies; milk, egg, or poultry operations; food processing industries; managerial or marketing groups; supply and equipment cooperatives; agricultural extension services; public relations; and other organizations associated with animal production or management.

Opportunities are afforded students in Animal Science to obtain practical experiences in beef, dairy, and equine operation and management through the University herds of registered beef cattle, dairy cattle, swine, sheep, and horses. The Equine Center offers students the opportunity to participate in many aspects of the equine industry. Students participate in training and riding sessions and all aspects of equine husbandry such as nutrition, fitting, showing, and breeding. A meats laboratory for the study of meat cutting, preservation, storage and utilization, and a dairy processing plant equipped for processing fluid milk and manufacturing dairy products provide students opportunities for acquiring scientific and practical experiences in different aspects of processing meat and dairy products. Dairy, meat, and plant products produced by the department are sold through the Tech Farm Salesroom, located on South Campus.

Students who want to pursue a career in veterinary medicine may complete their pre-veterinary medicine course requirements at Louisiana Tech University. Completion of the course requirements for admission to a professional veterinary school usually requires 3-4 years of selected course work. Not only do students participate in classroom sessions, but also gain valuable "hands-on" experience in laboratory sessions. An on-staff veterinarian advises pre-veterinary medicine students as to course selection, course load and job opportunities for work experience. Students completing the pre-veterinary medicine requirements at Louisiana Tech University are highly competitive with students from other universities seeking admission to a professional veterinary school.

Animal Science Curriculum (B.S.)

Freshman Year
Animal Science 111	3
Arts (GER)	3
Biological Sciences 130, 131, 132, 133	8
English (GER)	6
Mathematics 100 or 101 and 112	6
Social Sciences (GER)	3
Plant Science 101	3
Total	32
Sophomore Year
Animal Science 201, 202, 204 or 211	3
Biological Sciences 260 or 214	4
English 201 or 202	3
History (GER)	3
Agricultural Business 220	3
Speech 110 or 377	3
Computer Literacy (GER)	3
Directed Electives*	2
Chemistry 100, 101, 102, 103, 104	8
Total	32
Junior Year
Animal Science 301, 309, 405	9
English 303	3
Biological Sciences 200 or 310	3
Plant Science 211, 310	6
Directed Electives*	6
Agricultural Business (any 300 or 400 level)	3
Total	30
Senior Year
Agricultural Science 411	1
Animal Science 315 or 407 or 408 or 410 or 411	3
Animal Science 318, 401, 409	7
Social Science (GER)	6
Agricultural Science 320	3
Directed Electives*	10
Total	30
TOTAL SEMESTER HOURS	124

(GER): General Education Requirements

*Directed Electives chosen by student in consultation with advisor from one of the following concentrations:

Dairy Concentration
Animal Science 202 and 407
Directed Electives:  Animal Science 305 and 307;
6 hours of Agricultural Sciences 477 or 478 or 479;
and 6 additional directed elective hours

Equine Science Concentration Directed Electives
Animal Science 411;
Directive Electives: Animal Science 220, 222, 307, 340, 411, and 440;
plus 3 additional directed elective hours

Livestock Production Concentration (19 hours)
Animal Science 204 and 315;
Directed Electives: 307, 410 and 418;
and 9 additional directed elective hours

General Animal Science Concentration
Animal Science 307 plus 15 hours of directed electives

Pre-Veterinary Medicine Concentration
Directed Electives:  Chemistry 250, 251, 252, and 351;
Physics 209, 210;
Animal Science 307

Notes:
1. A maximum of 6 credit hours of AGSC 477, 478, or 479 (Cooperative Education Work Experience) can be applied toward this curriculum.
2. A maximum of 6 credit hours of any combination of ANSC 225 and ANSC 425 (Special Problems in Animal Science) can be applied toward this curriculum.

Students in the Pre-Veterinary Medicine Concentration who have an exceptional grade point average and an acceptable score on the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) or Graduate Record Examination (GRE), may wish to apply for admission to veterinary school during their junior year. Such a student may receive a Bachelor of Science degree in Animal Science from Louisiana Tech University after completing one year of veterinary school if they meet the following criteria: (1) completion of 90 credit hours, (2) completion of the General Education Requirements, (3) completion of the following Agricultural Sciences requirements: Animal Science 111, 301, 307, 309, 409; Bacteriology 214 or 260; Biological Sciences 130, 131, 132, 133; Chemistry 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 250, 251, 252, 351; Plant Science 211; statistics elective. The student must arrange for transfer of credit and follow the procedures applicable for graduation at Louisiana Tech University.

Application for admission to the veterinary program at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge is made in October for admisison in August of the following year. The GRE score must be provided at application for admisison.

Requirements for a Minor in Animal Science: 21 hours with a minimum of 9 hours in 300-400 level courses. Courses may be selected from Animal Science 111 plus any combination of other Animal Science courses.