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Animal Science

Major in Animal Science at University of Delaware: youtube.com/watch?v=bbwiUx6If2s

College of Agriculture and Natural Resources

Department of Animal and Food Sciences

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Contribute to the world’s complex relationship between animals, humans and the environment

Domestic animals are an essential part of daily life and also provide people companionship and therapeutic support. Animals are an important source of food and fiber and also provide companionship and therapeutic support for people. Additionally, animals can serve as models for biomedical breakthroughs. The broad applied training within UD’s animal science major prepares graduates for a variety of careers in animal care, animal production, and related allied industry fields. You will become knowledgeable in animal nutrition, health, behavior, physiology, genetics, reproduction and management. You will also develop an understanding of the complex relationships between domestic animals (livestock and pets), wild animals, humans and our shared environment (known as One Health). You can even raise and train a service dog in your residence hall through our student organizations!

AREAS OF STUDY

Animal Nutrition
Anatomy
Genetics
Physiology
Animal Behavior
Animal Welfare

CAREER OPTIONS

Laboratory Animal Care Technician
Manager of Animal Sanctuary or Shelter
Animal Care Educator
Zookeeper
Animal Feeds Technical Support
Equine Manager
Animal Health Products Technical Support

GRADUATE PROGRAMS

Animal Nutrition
Animal Genetics and Breeding
Avian Health
Animal Microbiology
Animal Virology
Food Safety

What’s special about this program?

Our combination of courses in basic sciences and hands-on experience with animals makes our program truly stand apart. From your first semester, you will work with horses, dairy and beef cows, sheep, pigs, and even blue hens on our 350-acre farm. Step into our horse barn to assess equine gaits or learn fundamentals of equine therapeutic riding. Learn how feed intake impacts milk yields in the classroom, then see effects firsthand with cows in the dairy milking parlor. Our milk is then processed and returned to our own UDairy Creamery, where you will experience both the science and business of making ice cream and cheese. Gain a truly global perspective of the world food import and export economy and sustainable animal production through our immersive study abroad program in New Zealand. Event conduct nutritional, genetics, or disease research that improves animal and human health.

Get Involved

Ag Ambassadors

Agricultural College Council (AgCC)

Alpha Gamma Rho Fraternity (AGR)

Alpha Zeta (AZ)

American Society of Landscape Architects Student Chapter

Animal Science Club

Beekeeping Club

Blue Hen Birding

Collegiate 4-H

Collegiate FFA

Entomology Club

Equestrian Team

Food Marketing Club

Food Recovery Network

Food Science Club

Horticulture Club

Hydroponics Club

Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Related Sciences (MANNRS)

Pre-Veterinary Club

Philadelphia Flower Show Club

Sigma Alpha Sorority (SA)

Students for the Environment

The Wildlife Society

Sample curriculum

FRESHMAN

ANFS100	Animals and Human Culture
ANFS101	Animals, Science and Society
ANFS112	Animal Handling Lab
ANFS240	Functional Anatomy of Domestic Animals
UNIV101	First-Year Experience
ENGL110	First-Year Writing
MATH221	Calculus
BISC207	Introductory Biology I
BISC217	Introductory Biology I Laboratory
CHEM103	General Chemistry I
CHEM133	General Chemistry I Laboratory
STAT200	Basic Statistical Practice
APEC150 OR University Breadth	Economics of Agriculture and Natural Resources OR University Breadth Requirement
	University Breadth/Multicultural course

SOPHOMORE

AGRI224

One Health

ANFS350

Animal Behavior and Welfare

BISC208

Introductory Biology II

BISC218

Introductory Biology II Laboratory

ANFS240

Functional Anatomy of Domestic Animals with Lab

ANFS265

Career Development

CHEM104

General Chemistry II

CHEM134

General Chemistry II Laboratory

Electives (or minor course)

University Breadth Courses

JUNIOR

ANFS345	Introduction to Animal Physiology
ANFS340	Introduction to Animal Environment Management
	Animal and Food Sciences 400 Level Elective No. 1
ANFS300	Principles of Animal and Plant Genetics
CHEM213 OR CHEM321	Elementary Organic Chemistry OR Organic Chemistry I
CHEM214 OR ANFS475 OR CHEM527	Elementary Biochemistry OR Veterinary Biochemistry OR Introductory Biochemistry
COMM212	Public Speaking and Professional Presentation
	Additional elective credits