Animal Science (AS) Agriculture & Natural Resources Total Units: 28.0

Term Effective: Fall 2011

The requirements for this program of study are effective beginning the semester shown above. If you began working on this program before the effective semester, you may not be affected by the changes. Consult with the program contact person or the department chair to determine your eligibility to complete the program under previous requirements.

Term Inactive: Spring 2014

Associate Degree Requirements:

The major is one of several requirements students need to fulfill in order to be awarded the Associate Degree, the highest level of academic achievement recognized by Santa Rosa Junior College. Please note that all of the following requirements must be met in order for the degree to be conferred:

For all students admitted for the Fall 2009 term or any term thereafter, a grade of "C" or better, or "P" if the course is taken on a pass/no pass basis, is required for each course applied toward the major.

Previous Versions:

Animal Science - effective Spring 2011
Animal Science - effective Fall 2010
Animal Science - effective Summer 2007
Animal Science - effective Summer 2006
Animal Science - effective Spring 2005

Description:

Animal Science is the study of animals that provide food, fiber, & companionship for mankind. Technological advances in the animal sciences have contributed to a safe, healthy, abundant, & inexpensive food supply. Income from animal agriculture contributes to more than 50 percent of the economic returns of American agriculture to the U.S. economy and accordingly, career opportunities abound for those trained in animal science.. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) reported that more than 48,000 jobs will be created annually for graduates with expertise in agriculture and related industries. By majoring in animal science at Santa Rosa Junior College, you can prepare yourself for one or more of the over 500 different jobs related to animal agriculture including:

  • Allied animal industries such as feed & equipment manufacturers, artificial breeding associations, pharmaceutical firms, meat processors, & food distributors employ animal scientists in various technical, managerial, administrative, public relations, & sales positions.
  • Breeding & livestock marketing organizations employ animal scientists as field representatives, managers, consultants, market forecasters, & public relations specialists.
  • Food processors, meat packers, & related industries seek persons with meat science background for positions in management, product & process development, purchasing, quality assurance, technical & consumer services, advertising, & sales.
  • Government agencies employ persons with undergraduate or advanced training in the animal sciences as administrative or technical specialists in livestock marketing, forecasting, environmental regulation, animal health, disease control, meats inspection, & public information.
  • Livestock breeders & feedlot operators seek persons with strong animal sciences & business training for positions in production management, animal nutrition, physiology, & behavior.
  • Researchers & laboratory technicians are employed by many government agencies & private firms, working in such specialized fields as animal breeding & reproduction, health maintenance & disease control, animal nutrition, computer modeling, animal housing, waste management, environmental quality, & processing, handling, & quality control with meat, milk, eggs, & other animal products.
  • State & national organizations such as the National Cattlemen's Association, National Pork Producers Council, the National Dairy Herd Improvement Association, & others employ animal scientists to promote, educate, & work in the public sector with consumers of animal products.
  • Universities, colleges, & other educational organizations employ persons with advanced animal sciences training as teachers, researchers, laboratory technicians, & extension specialists.
  • Writers & communicators with animal sciences training are employed by the various animal industries in advertising, publications work, & public information activities.
  • Zoos, kennels, animal clinics, horse farms, animal preserves, & similar facilities offer many positions as animal caretakers, technicians, gamekeepers, & veterinary assistants.
  • Formal training in the basic animal sciences provides essential background for professional careers in Veterinary Medicine.
To prepare students for these exciting career opportunities Santa Rosa Junior College’s Animal Science Program provides student with a broad training in animal husbandry. Students gain knowledge in both lecture classes & hands-on laboratories using Santa Rosa Junior College’s 365-acre Shone Farm – a diversified college farm that is literally an outdoor field laboratory & learning environment including a multitude of feeding, care, & restraint facilities for the livestock program, featuring herds of cattle & sheep & a small feed lot for hogs. In addition, a new Ag Pavilion houses indoor & outdoor arenas, & surrounding horse paddocks & corrals.

Program Student Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the major, the students will be able to:

  1. Identify and implement sustainable livestock management practices that will improve livestock quality, provide efficacious management, protect the natural resources and ensure economic viability of the livestock industry;
  2. demonstrate a working knowledge of animal production life cycles to develop a ranch management calendar that incorporates scientifically based management decisions and the latest technological advances in livestock husbandry;
  3. name and demonstrate proper use of equipment that humanely confines, treats or protects livestock;
  4. identify and evaluate livestock anatomy and physiology and relate form to function;
  5. demonstrate knowledge of practical reproductive management of livestock species;
  6. define livestock nutritional needs and demonstrate proper feeding techniques related to growth, development and finishing of livestock;
  7. list common infectious diseases and parasites and explain the role of preventative health; and
  8. explain marketing strategies and market classification of livestock and their products.

This program of study is also available as a certificate option. Students interested in a suggested order for taking classes in this program, can view the recommended course sequence. For more information see the Agriculture Department website.

Program Requirements:

The requirements for the Animal Science program are:

  • Complete 28.0 units from
    • Animal Science Major Requirements
    • Information Learning Resources Requirement

Animal Science Major Requirements - complete 27.00 units
ANSCI 2Veterinary Practices3.00
ANSCI 20Basic Animal Science3.00
ANSCI 26Livestock Evaluation3.00
ANSCI 51Anatomy and Physiology of Farm Animals3.00
ANSCI 61Livestock Feeding and Nutrition3.00
ANSCI 171Livestock Behavior and Humane Management1.00
Complete any combination totaling at least 6.00 units from the following:
CourseDescriptionUnits
ANSCI 27Beef Cattle Science3.00
ANSCI 28Sheep Science3.00
ANSCI 29Dairy Cattle Industry/Dairy Cattle Science3.00
ANSCI 150Poultry Husbandry3.00
EQSCI 25Equine Science3.00
Complete any combination totaling at least 3.00 units from the following:
CourseDescriptionUnits
AGRI 20Introduction to Plant Science3.00
ANSCI 91Rangeland Management3.00
Complete any combination totaling at least 2.00 units from the following:
CourseDescriptionUnits
AGMEC 60Agricultural Machinery & Equipment Skills2.00
WELD 70Beginning Welding: Fundamentals2.00
 
Information Learning Resources Requirement - complete 1.00 units
Complete any combination totaling at least 1.00 units from the following:
CourseDescriptionUnits
LIR 10Introduction to Information Literacy1.00
LIR 30Introduction to Information Literacy for Research Projects1.00

Course Prerequisites and Advisories:

Courses in a program of study may have prerequisites or advisories; that is, courses that must or should be completed before taking that course. Please check for prerequisites or advisories by clicking on the course numbers in the Program Requirements section.

Contact
Information
Phone Email Website
(707) 527-4363
srjcmajor002024@santarosa.edu