ANSC Elective Courses
Animal Science (ANSC) Electives
Application of behavior of cattle, horses, sheep, goats, swine, poultry, and companion animals to their management, training, and welfare. Basic principles of genetics and physiology of behavior, perception, training, learning, motivation, and stress with consideration of integrated behavioral management and animal welfare. Students are required to have access to an animal that they will train throughout the semester; the Department of Animal Science will not necessarily provide animals for training. Taught concurrently with SAAS 202.
Enrollment Requirements: Open to Animal Science, Pathobiology and Veterinary Science, Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources majors; others by consent. Recommended preparation: ANSC 1001.
Offered: Spring
(Also offered as NUSC 1645.) An introductory level course for students interested in the application of science to food. Nutritional and functional attributes of various food constituents are discussed. Issues concerning food processing and food safety are covered. CA 3.
Content Areas: CA3: Science & Technology
Topics of Inquiry: TOI6: Science & Empirical Inq
Offered: Spring, Summer
Basic concepts of the nutrition, physiology, health and management of companion animals. Taught with SAAS 276. CA 3.
Content Areas: CA3: Science & Technology
Topics of Inquiry: TOI6: Science & Empirical Inq
Offered: Spring
Variable topics.
May be repeated for credit
Offered: Varies
Credits, prerequisites and hours as determined by the Senate Curricula and Course Committee. May be repeated for credit with a change in topic.
Offered: Varies
Basic concepts of nutrition, physiology, health, genetics, and management of companion animals emphasizing cats and dogs, but less common ones will also be discussed. Management will encompass keeping companion animals, and behavioral, and mental health management concerns. Also taught with SAAS 276.
Enrollment Requirements: ANSC 1001 or SAAS 101 and ANSC 1111 or SAAS 113.
Offered: Spring
Develop hands-on and managerial skills in the handling and care of growing and mature dairy animals. Develop teamwork and communication skills in a dairy environment. Students taking this course will be assigned a final grade of S (satisfactory) or U (unsatisfactory).
Enrollment Requirements: Open to Animal Science majors and minors.
Offered: Fall
Develop hands-on and managerial skills in the handling and care followed in an equine operation. Develop teamwork and communication skills required by equine employers. Students taking this course will be assigned a final grade of S (satisfactory) or U (unsatisfactory).
Offered: Fall, Spring
Contact Department Main Office for list of current topics and instructors. May be repeated for credit with a change of topic.
May be repeated for a total of 6 credits
Offered: Varies
A multiple day field trip format. Students in this course will travel with the instructor to visit and tour agri-businesses that represent commercial aspects of different animal science activities. Students will interview agri-business personnel and gain an understanding of how agricultural principles are applied in the field. Each student must submit a formal written report for evaluation and meet all other course requirements as specified by the instructor. Field trip is required. Students taking this course will be assigned a final grade of S (satisfactory) or U (unsatisfactory). May be repeated for credit with a change in topic.
May be repeated for credit
Offered: Varies
Contact Department Main Office for list of current topics and instructors. May be repeated for credit with a change of topic.
May be repeated for credit
Offered: Varies
May be repeated for credit. Students taking this course will be assigned a final grade of S (satisfactory) or U (unsatisfactory).
May be repeated for credit
Offered: Varies
Oversee and teach Training assistants to ensure appropriate animal handling, training, fitting, and showing instruction to Introduction to Animal Science students. Teach and assist Introduction to Animal Science students at weekly practices, along with Training assistants.
Enrollment Requirements: ANSC 3420 or SAAS 420; instructor consent required.
May be repeated for a total of 6 credits
Offered: Fall
Designed to develop technical and managerial skills necessary for operating horse breeding farms. Programs for herd health, hoof care, nutrition, breeding, foaling, and record keeping will be included.
Enrollment Requirements: ANSC 2251. Open to sophomores or higher.
Offered: Spring
Open to all University students interested in pleasure horses. The principles of horse management and horsemanship.
Enrollment Requirements: Not open to students who have passed ANSC 3456.
Offered: Fall, Spring
Techniques related to training the driving horse will be described. Prior working experience with horses is recommended.
Enrollment Requirements: Open to juniors or higher.
Offered: Fall
Management of the pregnant mare and neonatal foal, including foaling practices, foal handling, and postpartum care of the mare.
Enrollment Requirements: ANSC 3452; instructor consent required.
Offered: Spring
Fundamental ground work and techniques used to train young horses. Prior working experience with horses recommended.
Enrollment Requirements: Instructor consent.
May be repeated for a total of 4 credits
Offered: Fall, Spring
Theory, fundamentals and practice of backing a horse, training horse to accept the rider, and the natural aids. Intermediate level riding skills required. May be repeated once for a maximum of four credits.
Enrollment Requirements: Instructor consent. Recommended preparation: Intermediate level riding skills.
May be repeated for a total of 4 credits
Offered: Spring
Training horses for riding, showing, and lessons using the Dressage Training Scale. Advanced level riding skills are required. May be repeated once for a maximum of four credits.
Enrollment Requirements: Instructor consent. Recommended preparation: Advanced level riding skills.
May be repeated for a total of 4 credits
Offered: Fall, Spring
Provides students with an opportunity to apply concepts of equine rehabilitation. May be repeated once with change in specific rehabilitation activity.
Enrollment Requirements: ANSC 3551 and instructor consent.
May be repeated for a total of 4 credits
Offered: Fall, Spring
Different modes of therapy, business topics, and management skills related to the equine rehabilitation field.
Enrollment Requirements: Instructor consent.
Offered: Spring
Participation in all phases of dairy herd management including decision-making activities, with particular emphasis on impact of decisions on financial health and stability. Course requires participation beyond specific semester calendars. May be repeated twice for credit.
Enrollment Requirements: Open to juniors or higher.
May be repeated for a total of 3 credits
Offered: Fall, Spring
An introduction to the evaluation of dairy cattle on the basis of conformation. Breed classification and type improvement programs, score card criteria in relation to longevity, physiological efficiency and performance are included. Attention is also given to fitting and showing methods. Field trips may be required.
Enrollment Requirements: Open to juniors or higher.
Offered: Spring
Classification, form to function relationships, grades and value differences of livestock are included. Objective and subjective methods of appraisal are used to evaluate beef cattle, horses, sheep and swine. Taught with SAAS 274.
Enrollment Requirements: Not open for credit to graduate students.
Offered: Spring
Intensive training in the evaluation of selected species of farm animals or their products. Type standards and the relation of anatomical features to physiological function are emphasized. Evaluation skills including justification of decisions will be developed. Intercollegiate dairy cattle, horse, livestock, poultry judging teams will be selected from this course. Field trips are required, some of which may occur prior to the start of the semester. Taught with SAAS 275.
Enrollment Requirements: Open to juniors or higher. Not open for credit to graduate students.
May be repeated for a total of 4 credits
Offered: Fall
Practical experience, knowledge, and professional skills in a work environment related to animal science. Based on a contract and learning experience syllabus. Students taking this course will be assigned a final grade of S (satisfactory) or U (unsatisfactory).
Enrollment Requirements: Open to students who have earned a minimum of 24 credits and instructor consent.
May be repeated for credit
Offered: Summer
Students taking this course will be assigned a final grade of S (satisfactory) or U (unsatisfactory). Credits and hours by arrangement.
Enrollment Requirements: Open to juniors or higher.
May be repeated for credit
Offered: Varies
Variable topics.
May be repeated for credit
Offered: Varies
Credits and hours by arrangement. May be repeated for credit with a change of topic. Contact Department Main Office for list of current topics and instructors.
May be repeated for credit
Offered: Varies
Contact Department Main Office for list of current topics and instructors. May be repeated with a change of topic.
May be repeated for a total of 6 credits
Offered: Varies
Practical experience gained in teaching methods and materials preparation and assisting student learning through written and verbal communication.
Enrollment Requirements: Instructor consent required. Open only to students with demonstrated competency in target course material.
May be repeated for a total of 3 credits
Offered: Varies
The techniques and procedures of teaching equitation including the theories of riding and teaching methods. Practice teaching will be required under the supervision of the instructor. Taught with SAAS 257.
Enrollment Requirements: Intermediate II or above riding experience required.
Offered: Spring
Animal Science (RH) (SAAS) Electives
Application of behavior of cattle, horses, sheep, goats, swine, poultry, and companion animals to their management, training, and welfare. Basic principles of genetics and physiology of behavior, perception, training, learning, motivation, and stress with consideration of integrated behavioral management and animal welfare. Students are required to have access to an animal that they will train throughout the semester; the Department of Animal Science will not necessarily provide animals for training. Taught concurrently with ANSC 1602.
Enrollment Requirements: Recommended preparation: SAAS 101.
Offered: Spring
An introduction to meat, dairy and poultry products. Issues concerning regulatory standards, nutritive value, safety and quality assessment will be emphasized. Laboratories will emphasize the production and processing of these animal food products. Taught with ANSC 3343.
Offered: Spring
Includes horse types and breeds and their nutrition, breeding, evaluation, behavior, care and management with attention given to detailed studies of the problems and practices of horse production and use. Taught with ANSC 2251.
Offered: Fall, Spring
Designed to develop technical and managerial skills necessary for operating horse farms. Programs for herd health, hoof care, nutrition, breeding, foaling and record keeping will be included.
Enrollment Requirements: SAAS 251.
Offered: Spring
Fundamental ground work and training techniques used when working with young horses.
Enrollment Requirements: Prior working experience with horses is highly recommended.
Offered: Fall
The techniques and procedures of teaching equitation including the theories of riding and teaching methods. Practice teaching will be required under the supervision of the instructor. Taught with ANSC 4457.
Offered: Spring
Management of dairy cattle including milking procedures, sanitation, selection, nutrition, reproduction, physiology and anatomy of milk secretion and record keeping. Field trip required. Taught with ANSC 3261.
Offered: Fall
The organization and management of dairy farms with emphasis upon business and economic decision making. Management programs in the areas of nutrition, disease control, waste management, selection, reproduction and milking will be evaluated. Field trips are required.
Offered: Spring
A practical application of scientific principles in the poultry industry. It will include classification, selection methods, breeding, incubation and chick development, brooding, nutrient requirements, processing and management practices.
Offered: Spring
An introduction to sustainable agriculture, as related to alternative farm animal production. Basic economics will be discussed in preparation for the creation of a farm business plan. Laboratory/discussion periods will include student presentations and hands-on activities. Field trips required.
Offered: Fall
Biological and economic aspects of beef, sheep, and swine production. Field trips required. Taught with ANSC 3273.
Offered: Fall
Classification, form to function relationships, grades and value differences of livestock are included. Objective and subjective methods of appraisal are used to evaluate beef cattle, sheep and swine. Taught with ANSC 3674.
Offered: Spring
Intensive training in the evaluation of selected species of farm animals or their products. Type standards and the relation of anatomical features to physiological function are emphasized. Evaluation skills including justification of decisions will be developed. Students enrolled in this course will have the option to participate on intercollegiate animal and product evaluation teams. Field trips are required, some of which may occur prior to the start of the semester. Taught with ANSC 3675.
May be repeated for a total of 2 credits
Offered: Fall
Basic concepts of nutrition, physiology, health, genetics, and management of companion animals emphasizing cats and dogs, but less common ones will also be discussed. Management will encompass keeping companion animals, and behavioral, and mental health management concerns. Taught with ANSC 2276.
Enrollment Requirements: SAAS 101 and SAAS 113.
Offered: Spring
A multiple day field trip format. Students in this course will travel with the instructor to visit and tour agri-businesses that represent commercial aspects of different animal science activities. Students will interview agri-business personnel and gain an understanding of how agricultural principles are applied in the field. Each student must submit a formal written report for evaluation and meet all other course requirements as specified by the instructor. Field trip is required. Students taking this course will be assigned a final grade of S (satisfactory) or U (unsatisfactory).
May be repeated for a total of 1 credits
Offered: Varies
Total credits allowed toward graduation requirements are restricted as outlined in Ratcliffe Hicks section.
Enrollment Requirements: Open to sophomores or higher; open only with consent of instructor.
Offered: Varies
A discussion of current employment opportunities in animal agriculture. In addition, students will prepare resumes and give oral presentations.
Offered: Spring
Total credits allowed toward graduation requirements are restricted as outlined in Ratcliffe Hicks section. Contact Department Main Office for list of current topics and instructors.
May be repeated for credit
Offered: Varies
Contact Department Main Office for list of current topics and instructors.
May be repeated for credit
Enrollment Requirements: Instructor consent.
Offered: Varies
An independent study project is mutually arranged between a student and an instructor. Students are advised to read the Ratcliffe Hicks regulation limiting the number of credits which may be applied to the minimum graduation requirements. Students taking this course will be assigned a final grade of S (satisfactory) or U (unsatisfactory.)
May be repeated for credit
Offered: Varies
Practical experience in common management practices is offered by working in the University facilities under supervision. Students taking this course will be assigned a final grade of S (satisfactory) or U (unsatisfactory).
May be repeated for a total of 2 credits
Offered: Fall, Spring
Practical experience in common management practices is offered by working in the University facilities under supervision. Students taking this course will be assigned a final grade of S (satisfactory) or U (unsatisfactory).
Enrollment Requirements: May not be taken out of sequence after passing SAAS 364.
Offered: Fall, Spring
Continued practical experience in common management practices is offered by working in the University facilities under supervision. Students taking this course will be assigned a final grade of S (satisfactory) or U (unsatisfactory).
Enrollment Requirements: SAAS 363.
Offered: Fall
Practical experience in common management practices is offered by working with livestock species in the University facilities under supervisor. Students taking this course will be assigned a final grade of S (satisfactory) or U (unsatisfactory).
May be repeated for a total of 2 credits
Offered: Fall, Spring
Practical experience in common management practices is offered by working in the University facilities under supervision. Students taking this course will be assigned a final grade of S (satisfactory) or U (unsatisfactory).
May be repeated for credit
Enrollment Requirements: Open only to students in the Ratcliffe Hicks School of Agriculture. Instructor consent required.
Offered: Fall, Spring
Livestock animal handling, training, fitting, and showing techniques for Introduction to Animal Science students at weekly practices.
Enrollment Requirements: Instructor consent.
Offered: Fall
Animal Science (ANSC) (GRAD) Electives
Concepts of data analysis applied to agriculture. Introduction to R/Rstudio and basic elements of coding, data management, data cleaning, graphics, and statistical analysis. The course covers software installation, basic and intermediate usage, and some of the common data analysis tools used in agricultural research. Additionally, the course covers some basic examples of bioinformatics that are commonly used in agriculture. Course includes recorded lectures, notes, homework, two small data analysis projects, and a capstone data analysis project.
Enrollment Requirements: Instructor consent.
Offered: Fall, Spring
Discussion of the basic principles of design and analysis for experiments in animal and food science. Both theory and practical application of designing experiments will be included. Emphasis is placed on data analysis using SAS, highlighting determination of the most appropriate analysis for an experiment and interpretation of output.
Enrollment Requirements: Instructor consent.
Offered: Fall
An assessment of animal growth and metabolism interrelated to nutrition, selection, environment, production and idiosyncrasies among species.
Enrollment Requirements: Instructor consent.
Offered: Fall
A comparative study of nutritional, physiological, microbiological, immunological and biochemical aspects of digestion and metabolism in the non-ruminant and ruminant animal. Topics include digestive system structures, utilization of nutrients, energy metabolism, control of nutrient metabolism, and experimental techniques used in the study of animal nutrition. Feedstuffs appropriate to meet nutrient requirements and ration formulation across various physiological stages, growth, gestation, and lactation will be covered in this course. There will be a focus on developing critical thinking skills, reading current literature, and assimilating scientific concepts in written and oral forms.
Enrollment Requirements: Instructor consent.
Offered: Fall
In depth discussion of the effects of exercise on the body with emphasis placed on the physiological mechanisms which allow for adaptation to periods of exercise and inactivity. Idiosyncrasies among the athletic species will be highlighted.
Enrollment Requirements: Instructor consent.
Offered: Spring
In depth discussion on endocrine systems and endocrine function in farm animals with emphasis on hormones involved in metabolism, growth, lactation, feed intake and digestion in cattle, pigs, horses and poultry.
Enrollment Requirements: Instructor consent.
Offered: Spring
Biology, uses, effectiveness and safety of probiotics and prebiotics. Molecular mechanisms underlying the health benefits attributed to the consumption of pre and probiotics. Application of pre and probiotics to promote human and animal health, including safety and regulation. A background in general microbiology or concurrent registration in a microbiology course is recommended.
Enrollment Requirements: Instructor consent.
Offered: Fall
Principles of cell signaling transduction. Major cellular regulatory pathways and interactions between pathway components. Regulatory mechanism of various cellular processes via specific signaling network, and methods used for studying cell-signaling pathways.
Enrollment Requirements: Recommended preparation: Previous three-credit course in cell biology, molecular biology, or biochemistry. Instructor consent.
Offered: Fall
Focuses on the epigenetics and molecular aspects of embryology such as genomic imprinting and X inactivation. Introduces the state of numerous established and emerging embryo biotechnologies such as assisted reproductive technologies; gamete cryopreservation; transgenesis; nuclear transfer (cloning); gene targeting/genome editing; xenotransplantation; embryonic and tissue stem cells, induced pluripotent stem cells and their applications.
Enrollment Requirements: Instructor consent.
Offered: Fall
Production and processing of milk and milk products from a food science perspective, including chemical, physical, and microbiological components. Technological aspects of the transformation of milk into various food products. Public health regulations, good manufacturing practices, cleaning and sanitizing procedures. Unit operations in dairy food manufacturing, packaging, labeling, and quality control procedures.
Enrollment Requirements: Instructor consent.
Offered: Spring
Chemical, physical and biological changes in foods and food macromolecules that occur during processing and storage that affect texture, color, flavor, stability and nutritive qualities. Field trips may be required.
Enrollment Requirements: Instructor consent.
Offered: Spring
Molecular and cellular basis of muscle food physical features and its related muscle biological events.
Enrollment Requirements: Open only to graduate students. Recommended Preparation: ANCS 3343 or CHEM 2241 or CHEM 2443 or one same-level chemistry class. Instructor consent.
Offered: Fall
Mentored experience in developing and presenting lectures and/or laboratory activities for existing ANSC undergraduate courses.
May be repeated for a total of 3 credits
Enrollment Requirements: Instructor consent.
Offered: Varies
Independent research in animal science, livestock production, meats, dairy production, animal nutrition, growth, reproductive physiology, animal breeding, or environmental health.
May be repeated for a total of 24 credits
Enrollment Requirements: Instructor consent.
Offered: Varies
A discussion-based class that prepares students to make oral presentations.
Enrollment Requirements: Instructor consent.
Offered: Spring
Students present a seminar on the topic of their thesis research.
May be repeated for a total of 2 credits
Enrollment Requirements: Instructor consent.
Offered: Fall, Spring
May be repeated for credit with a change of topic.
May be repeated for a total of 6 credits
Enrollment Requirements: Instructor consent.
Offered: Varies
May be repeated for a total of 12 credits
Enrollment Requirements: Instructor consent.
Offered: Varies