Curriculum – Bachelor of Science Degree Requirements

Bachelor of Science Degree Requirements:

Click here for printable PDF version (hyperlinked to Registrar’s Major Sheet)

Graduation Requirements

To obtain a Bachelor’s of Science in Animal Science, the following must be completed

• Minimum of 120 credit hours
• Minimum of 2.0 grade point average
• Minimum of 45 credit hours from upper division courses (300 level and above)
• Minimum of 18 credit hours of specialty support courses
• Complete UK core, College of Agriculture, Premajor, Major, Specialty Support, and Option requirements

UK Core:
 
The UK Core (University of Kentucky general education program) goal is to broaden students’ knowledge about themselves, global society and ideals that motivated actions throughout time. The courses designated as part of the UK Core have been established to develop critical thinking and problem solving skills and foster lifelong learning.

The UK Core is comprised of 10 course areas that fall under 4 learning outcomes.  Students must complete a minimum of 30 hours of approved classes to satisfy the UK core requirement
 
Course Areas

1. Intellectual Inquiry
   1. Inquiry in Arts and Creativity – 3 credit hours
   2. Inquiry in the Humanities – 3 credit hours
   3. Inquiry in the Social Sciences – 3 credit hours
   4. Natural, Physical, and Mathematical Science – 3 credit hours
2. Written, Oral and Visual Communication
   1. Composition and Communication I – 3 credit hours
   2. Composition and Communication II – 3 credit hours
3. Quantitative Reasoning
   1. Quantitative Foundations – 3 credit hours
   2. Statistical Inferential Reasoning – 3 credit hours
4. Citizenship
   1. Community, Culture and Citizenship in the USA – 3 credit hours
   2. Global Dynamics – 3 credit hours

Complete list of UK Core approved classes (hyperlinked to UK Core website)

College Requirement:

All incoming freshman students in Animal Science must complete GEN 100 – Issues in Agriculture, Food, and Environment during their first fall semester.  GEN 100 satisfies the Community, Culture and Citizenship in the USA UK Core requirement.
 
Premajor Requirements:
 
A strong foundation in biology, chemistry, and having competency in mathematical skills is essential to understand and appreciate the various disciplines covered in Animal Science.  Required courses: MA 123 – Elementary Calculus and Its Applications or MA 113 – Calculus I, or MA 137 – Calculus I with Life Science Applications (all listed MA courses satisfy the Quantitative Foundations requirement for UK Core); CHE 105 – General College Chemistry I (satisfy the Inquiry in the Natural, Physical and Mathematical Sciences requirement for UK Core); CHE 111 – General Chemistry I Laboratory; CHE 107 – General College Chemistry II; CHE 113 – General Chemistry II Laboratory; BIO 148 – Introductory Biology I ; BIO 152 – Principles of Biology II.
 
Major Requirements:
 
Required Discipline Courses:

• ASC 101 – Domestic Animal Biology
• ASC 102 – Introduction to Livestock and Poultry Production
• ASC 205 – Career Development in Animal Sciences
• ASC 325 – Animal Physiology
• ASC 362 – Animal Breeding and Genetics
• ASC 364 – Reproductive Physiology of Farm Animals
• ASC 378 – Animal Nutrition and Feeding
• ASC 470 – Capstone for Animal Agriculture
• ASC 499 - Academic Enrichment Experience for Animal Sciences

Required Production Courses – select three of the following:

• ASC 340 – Poultry Production
• ASC 404G – Sheep Science
• ASC 406 – Beef Cattle Science
• ASC 408G – Swine Production
• ASC 410G – Equine Science
• ASC 420G – Dairy Cattle Management

Specialty Support: 
  
At least 18 credit hours of 200-level or above courses that are outside of Animal Science must be completed.  Specific requirements may vary depending on a student’s study option.
  
Study Option:
  
Animal Industry Option:
  
Students receive training in the nutrition, reproduction, welfare, and management of domesticated animals.  The option prepares students for careers in agribusiness, farm management, technical sales and/or service, cooperative extension, education, government, and commodities promotion.  Students can choose to further specialize in one of three areas:

• Equine – emphasis on the biology and management of equine animals
• Livestock – emphasis on the biology and management of meat-producing animals
• Dairy – emphasis on the biology and management of commercial milk-producing animals

Food Industry Option: 
Students receive training that emphasizes scientific disciplines related to the processing, chemistry, and safety of animal-derived foods.
  
Pre-Professional Option:   
Students receive training in the basic sciences relevant to animal biology including chemistry, physics, mathematics, genetics, and microbiology.  The option prepares students for advanced studies in veterinary sciences, graduate research, human medicine, or for employment opportunities in the pharmaceutical or research industries.  It is intended to satisfy most entrance requirements to post-graduate programs, but students should work closely with academic advisors to assure that requirement for specific programs are fulfilled.