The Bachelor of Science in Animal Science

Total Course Requirements for the Bachelor's Degree: 120 units

See Bachelor's Degree Requirements in the University Catalog for complete details on general degree requirements. A minimum of 40 units, including those required for the major, must be upper division.

A suggested Major Academic Plan (MAP) has been prepared to help students meet all graduation requirements within four years. You can view MAPs on the Degree MAPs page in the University Catalog or you can request a plan from your major advisor.

General Education Pathway Requirements: 48 units

See General Education in the University Catalog and the Class Schedule for the most current information on General Education Pathway Requirements and course offerings.

This major has approved GE modifications. See below for information on how to apply these modifications.

ANSC 101 is an approved major course substitution for Life Sciences (B2).
AGRI 482 is an approved major course substitution for Upper-Division Social Sciences.

Diversity Course Requirements: 6 units

See Diversity Requirements in the University Catalog. Most courses taken to satisfy these requirements may also apply to General Education .

Literacy Requirement:

See Mathematics and Writing Requirements in the University Catalog. Writing proficiency in the major is a graduation requirement and may be demonstrated through satisfactory completion of a course in your major which has been designated as the Writing Proficiency (WP) course for the semester in which you take the course. Students who earn below a C- are required to repeat the course and earn a C- or higher to receive WP credit. See the Class Schedule for the designated WP courses for each semester. You must pass ENGL 130I or JOUR 130I (or equivalent) with a C- or higher before you may register for a WP course.

Course Requirements for the Major: 83 units

Completion of the following courses, or their approved transfer equivalents, is required of all candidates for this degree.

Lower-Division Requirements: 33 units

2 courses required:

SUBJ NUM	Title	Units	Semester Offered	Course Flags
AGRI 180	The University Experience	1.0	FS
A college success course for agricultural majors new to California State University, Chico. The course will explore the academic and social opportunities and resources available to promote successful completion of the student's educational goals. Meets the first half of the semester. 1 hour discussion. Credit/no credit grading. (000198)
MATH 105	Statistics	3.0	FS	GE
Prerequisites: Completion of ELM requirement. Summary of numerical data, elementary probability, distributions, and introduction to statistical inference. A grade of C- or higher is required for GE credit. 1.5 hours lecture, 1.5 hours discussion. This is an approved General Education course. (005501)

1 course selected from:

SUBJ NUM	Title	Units	Semester Offered	Course Flags
CHEM 107	General Chemistry for Applied Sciences	4.0	FS	GE
Prerequisites: Completion of ELM requirement, Intermediate Algebra. A survey of the principles of chemistry, primarily for students in agriculture, industry and technology, and pre-nursing. 3 hours lecture, 3 hours laboratory. This is an approved General Education course. (001826)
CHEM 111	General Chemistry	4.0	FS	GE
Prerequisites: Second-year high school algebra; one year high school chemistry. (One year of high school physics and one year of high school mathematics past Algebra II are recommended.) Principles of chemistry for students in science, medical, and related professions. Atomic structure, chemical bonding, stoichiometry, periodic table, gases, solids, liquids, solutions, and equilibrium. 3 hours lecture, 3 hours laboratory. This is an approved General Education course. (001816)

1 course selected from:

SUBJ NUM	Title	Units	Semester Offered	Course Flags
CHEM 108	Organic Chemistry for Applied Sciences	4.0	FS	GE
Prerequisites: CHEM 107 or CHEM 111 or equivalent. A survey of organic chemistry primarily for agriculture, industry and technology, and pre-nursing students. 3 hours lecture, 3 hours laboratory. This is an approved General Education course. (001828)
CHEM 112	General Chemistry	4.0	FS
Prerequisites: CHEM 111 with a grade of C- or better. A continuation of CHEM 111. Chemical energetics, rates of reaction, acids and bases, solubility, oxidation-reduction, and nuclear chemistry. 3 hours lecture, 3 hours laboratory. (001817)

2 courses required:

SUBJ NUM	Title	Units	Semester Offered
ANSC 101	Introduction to Animal Science	3.0	FS
An overview, using a scientific perspective, of farm animals. Highlights anatomy and physiology of farm animals, reproduction, nutrition, animal health, animal products, animal behavior, and pertinent social issues, such as animal rights. Includes human opportunity to influence trait inheritance, population densities, and productivity. 2 hours lecture, 3 hours laboratory. (000419)
ANSC 230	Animal Feeds and Nutrition	3.0	FS
An introduction to the nutrition of domestic and wild animals with emphasis on appropriate nutrition for various activities. A survey of the integration of feed production and animal production systems. Computer formulation and analysis of diets to achieve desired performance levels of animals. 2 hours lecture, 2 hours activity. (000434)

1 course selected from:

SUBJ NUM	Title	Units	Semester Offered	Course Flags
ABUS 101	Introduction to Agricultural Business and Economics	3.0	FS	GE
The role of agricultural business in the economy. Introductory economic and business principles and their application to the solution of agricultural problems. 3 hours lecture. This is an approved General Education course. (000014)
ABUS 261	Farm Accounting	3.0	FS
Introduction to the principles of farm accounting, farm business record keeping, agribusiness management, financial analysis, and enterprise budgeting. 3 hours lecture. (000020)

1 course selected from:

SUBJ NUM	Title	Units	Semester Offered
AGET 120	Introduction to Agricultural Mechanics	3.0	FA
Selection, care, and use of common tools; study of safety, common materials and skills used in electrical, plumbing, woodworking, metal work, and land measurement in the field of agriculture. 2 hours lecture, 3 hours laboratory. (000166)
AGET 150	Agricultural Machine Systems	3.0	SP
Principles of operation, adjustments, calibration, and safety of wheel and track-type tractors including implements and equipment commonly used in California agriculture. 2 hours lecture, 3 hours laboratory. (000164)

1 course selected from:

SUBJ NUM	Title	Units	Semester Offered	Course Flags
PSSC 101	Introduction to Plant Science	3.0	FS	GE
Plant structure, growth, reproduction, and responses to the environment. How humans modify plants and the environment to grow crops. 2 hours lecture, 3 hours laboratory. This is an approved General Education course. (007765)
PSSC 250	Introduction to Soil Science	3.0	FS
Prerequisites: CHEM 107 or CHEM 111. Soil biology, fertility, chemistry, physical properties, taxonomy and their applications to agricultural management and environmental enhancement. Relationships of soils to the world food supply and population. 2 hours lecture, 3 hours laboratory. (007776)

6 units selected from:

Any combination of lower division courses in Agriculture (AGRI), Agricultural Engineering Technology (AGET), Animal Science (ANSC), Plant Science (PSSC), Agricultural Business (ABUS), Biology (BIOL), and Chemistry (CHEM). All courses must be approved by your advisor.

Upper-Division Requirements: 50 units

9 courses required:

SUBJ NUM	Title	Units	Semester Offered	Course Flags
AGRI 305	Agricultural Genetics and Biotechnology	4.0	FA
Prerequisites: ANSC 101 or PSSC 101; CHEM 107 or CHEM 111. Mendelian inheritance, gene structure and action, sex-related inheritance, linkage and mapping, aneuploidy, polyploidy, population and quantitative inheritance, inbreeding and heterosis. Activities feature techniques in biotechnology with agricultural applications. 3 hours lecture, 2 hours activity. (000211)
AGRI 331	Agricultural Ecology	3.0	FS
Prerequisites: Completion of lower-division core or faculty permission. An interdisciplinary treatment of physical and biological environments used for agriculture. Historical and ecological nature of agriculture its impact on the landscape and society. Comparison of sustainable and non-sustainable agricultural practices. 2 hours lecture, 3 hours laboratory. (000206)
AGRI 482	Agricultural Issues	3.0	FS	GW
Prerequisites: ENGL 130 or JOUR 130 (or equivalent) with a grade of C- or higher. An examination of major issues confronting agriculture emphasizing critical thinking, research, and balancing complex, and often opposing views of the role of agriculture in society. The course uses group work and presentations to enhance written and oral communication skills. This is the capstone course for AGRI, ANSC, and ABUS majors. 3 hours lecture. This is an approved Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement course; a grade of C- or higher certifies writing proficiency for majors. (000229)
AGRI 490	Agricultural Experimental Research	4.0	FS
Prerequisites: AGRI 331. Students will design and execute applied agriculture research projects that seek to improve the management of agricultural enterprises. Students will learn the most common experimental designs for agricultural research, utilize computer programs to analyze and interpret experimental data and further develop scientific writing skills. 3 hours lecture, 1 hour discussion. (000223)
ANSC 301	Intermediate Animal Systems	3.0	FS
Prerequisites: ANSC 101. An overview of world and United States animal production systems, emphasizing the scientific principles and management of large and small ruminants (beef, dairy, sheep, goats), monogastrics (swine, equine), as well as meat, poultry, and aquaculture. 2 hours lecture, 3 hours laboratory. (000455)
ANSC 330	Animal Nutrition	3.0	FS
Prerequisites: ANSC 101, ANSC 230. A study of the nutritive requirements of animals for maintenance, growth, lactation, reproduction and other bodily functions. Intermediary metabolism of nutrients, chemical and animal analysis of feedstuffs, design and implementation of nutrition studies and writing of a scientific paper. 2 hours seminar, 3 hours laboratory. (000465)
ANSC 340	Reproductive Physiology of Domestic Animals	3.0	FA
Prerequisites: ANSC 101. The physiological mechanisms of reproduction in domestic animal species. Principles of reproductive anatomy, gamete formation, endocrinology, cyclicity and parturition. The laboratory experience will emphasize theory learned in lecture and will include uses of reproductive technology to maximize reproductive efficiency and fertility. 2 hours seminar, 3 hours laboratory. (000467)
ANSC 360	Animal Health and Disease	3.0	SP
Prerequisites: ANSC 101. A study of disease processes in livestock. Principles of disease organisms and the physiology of infection. Mechanisms in which the body combats infections, i.e., immune response. Herd health considerations for disease prevention and treatment. 3 hours lecture. (000466)
ANSC 440	Anatomy and Physiology of Domestic Animals	3.0	FS
Prerequisites: ANSC 101, CHEM 107. CHEM 108 is recommended. Comparative study of anatomy and physiology of organ systems, with major emphasis on farm animals. 2 hours lecture, 3 hours laboratory. (000456)

2 courses selected from:

SUBJ NUM	Title	Units	Semester Offered
ANSC 350	Meat and the Consumer	3.0	FS
Muscle growth and composition, nutritional and health concerns, meat safety and advances in product development, preparation and storage. 2 hours lecture, 3 hours laboratory. (000447)
ANSC 471	Advanced Beef Cattle Management and Production	3.0	SP
Prerequisites: ANSC 101, ANSC 271 or faculty permission. Advanced instruction of world and United States beef production systems. Investigation of the segmentation of the beef industry, including seedstock, commercial cow-calf, stocker, feedlot, packer, retailer and consumer. Integrated beef production systems are evaluated based on consideration of genetics, nutrition, health, reproduction, product, forage management and marketing. 2 hours seminar, 3 hours laboratory. (000459)
ANSC 474	Dairy Production and Management	3.0	FA
Prerequisites: ANSC 101. A comprehensive study of large dairy management with emphasis placed on efficient reproduction and nutrition. Additional studies include evaluation of replacement heifer development scenarios, cow comfort, and record keeping systems. 2 hours lecture, 3 hours laboratory. (000463)

15 units selected from:

Any combination of upper division courses in Agriculture (AGRI), Agricultural Engineering Technology (AGET), Animal Science (ANSC), Plant Science (PSSC), Agricultural Business (ABUS), Biology (BIOL), and Chemistry (CHEM). All courses must be approved by your advisor. A minimum of three UD ABUS units are recommended.

Electives Requirement:

To complete the total units required for the bachelor's degree, select additional elective courses from the total University offerings. You should consult with an advisor regarding the selection of courses which will provide breadth to your University experience and possibly apply to a supportive second major or minor.

Students may double count only one approved upper-division General Education theme course with a required option elective.

Grading Requirement:

All courses taken to fulfill major course requirements must be taken for a letter grade except those courses specified by the department as Credit/No Credit grading only.

Advising Requirement:

Advising is mandatory for all majors in this degree program. Consult your undergraduate advisor for specific information.

Honors in the Major:

Honors in the Major is a program of independent work in your major. It requires 6 units of honors course work completed over two semesters.

The Honors in the Major program allows you to work closely with a faculty mentor in your area of interest on an original performance or research project. This year-long collaboration allows you to work in your field at a professional level and culminates in a public presentation of your work. Students sometimes take their projects beyond the University for submission in professional journals, presentation at conferences, or academic competition. Such experience is valuable for graduate school and professional life. Your honors work will be recognized at your graduation, on your permanent transcripts, and on your diploma. It is often accompanied by letters of commendation from your mentor in the department or the department chair.

Some common features of Honors in the Major program are:

You must take 6 units of Honors in the Major course work. All 6 units are honors classes (marked by a suffix of H), and at least 3 of these units are independent study (399H, 499H, 599H) as specified by your department. You must complete each class with a minimum grade of B.
You must have completed 9 units of upper-division course work or 21 overall units in your major before you can be admitted to Honors in the Major. Check the requirements for your major carefully, as there may be specific courses that must be included in these units.
Your cumulative GPA should be at least 3.5 or within the top 5% of majors in your department.
Your GPA in your major should be at least 3.5 or within the top 5% of majors in your department.
Most students apply for or are invited to participate in Honors in the Major during the second semester of their junior year. Then they complete the 6 units of course work over the two semesters of their senior year.
Your honors work culminates with a public presentation of your honors project.

While Honors in the Major is part of the Honors Program, each department administers its own program. Please contact your major department or major advisor to apply.