Animal Science (B.S.) - Food Animal Health Specialization

Location(s): Brookings Main Campus

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Student holding a pig.

Program Coordinator/Contact

Rosie Nold, Professor and Assistant Department Head
Department of Animal Science
Animal Science Complex 116
605-688-5459

Program Information

The Animal Science program provides instruction in livestock breeding, feeding, management, selection, evaluation, and marketing, along with meat science, and equine studies. Courses emphasize the principles of genetics, nutrition, physiology, and meats as they affect production and management of livestock and animal products. Beef cattle, horses, sheep, and swine are the primary species discussed in courses.

The specializations allow students to focus their studies on Industry Relations, Production Management, Science, or Food Animal Health. The Production Management Specialization provides flexibility for students to complete courses and minors in related areas of interest. The Science and Food Animal Health Specializations are designed to meet course requirements of the Pre-Veterinary Medicine curriculum for the SDSU Professional Program in Veterinary Medicine and some other veterinary schools. In the Industry Relations Specialization students gain the fundamentals of animal science disciplines, paired with training in communication skills and leadership to enhance their opportunities in many animal and animal products based careers.

Course Delivery Format

The Animal Science program provides hands-on experiences in the classroom, laboratories, field trips, and at the livestock teaching units.

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the Animal Science major with a Food Animal Health Specialization, students will:

Acquire knowledge of the core sciences and best management practices that are the foundation of animal science and husbandry.
Demonstrate effective written and oral communication skills using a variety of mediums and with various audience types and apply techniques to critically evaluate communication strategies regarding animal agriculture.
Demonstrate the ability to function as an effective member of a team.
Develop fact-based comparisons of both sides of contemporary issues that impact diversity, inclusion, equity, and professional ethics as related to animal agriculture.
Interpret, critically evaluate, and apply information in order to recognize problems and create solutions.

Admission and Eligibility Requirements

SDSU Professional (DVM) Program in Veterinary Medicine VFAST (Veterinary Food Animal Scholar Track)

Who is eligible for VFAST?

Eligible students must be/have/complete:

Enrolled in South Dakota State University as a full-time student pursuing an Animal Science major.
Experience working, caring for, and/or volunteering with food animals, including beef cattle, dairy cattle, swine, sheep, goats, poultry, etc.
Demonstrated a firm commitment to practice rural and food animal medicine upon graduation from the SDSU-U of M 2 + 2 Professional (DVM) Program in Veterinary Medicine. (Rural Veterinary Medicine is the practice of veterinary medicine in non-metropolitan communities (where agriculture is an essential component of the economy), in a manner that addresses the needs of a local community across a spectrum of health care among the animal populations present.)
Complete the VFAST application. Applications are accepted one time per year and are due by the application deadline in the spring semester. Applicants with a strong academic record and extensive food animal related experience will be asked to participate in an admissions interview.

In addition, students must meet the following:

Will have at least two additional semesters of enrollment at SDSU after the VFAST application is submitted and prior to graduation and/or 2 + 2 PPVM start.
Have not previously received a Bachelor’s degree.
Completed at least two semesters of full-time attendance with coursework graded A-F by the end of the spring semester in which the application is submitted.

Applicants meeting or exceeding the following requirements will have the best chance for selection into the SDSU PPVM VFAST Program:

Competitive ACT scores (at least 25) and/or SAT Scores (at least 1140).
Competitive high school rank (if applicable) and GPA.
Complete first-year coursework consistent with admissions requirements for SDSU’s Professional Program in Veterinary Medicine (e.g. chemistry, biology, math, English).
Maintain full-time college enrollment in both fall and spring semesters (at least 12 credit hours per semester).
SDSU cumulative GPA of at least 3.5 on a 4.0 scale.
SDSU pre-veterinary courses GPA typically above 3.4 on a 4.0 scale.
Demonstrate extensive experience related to food animal medicine (e.g. working in a mixed animal or food animal veterinary practice, farm or ranch experience, participation in FFA or 4-H, other experience(s) related to rural-focused mixed or food animal veterinary practices).

Applying to VFAST

The application process will be coordinated through the SDSU Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences. Contact the Director of Professional Programs (605-688-6645) for more information.

Documents required for application will include an application form, transcripts and three letters of recommendation. At least one letter should come from a veterinarian who can validate the applicant’s potential as a rural-focused mixed or food animal veterinary practitioner. Other letters of reference should confirm the applicants’ scholarly discipline, dedication, compassion, work ethic, agricultural perspective, capability, drive, etc.

Completing the VFAST program

VFAST program participants must meet the following criteria in order to gain full admission to the DVM program:

Continue to complete the courses outlined in the Animal Science major - Food Animal Health Specialization, including animal production courses.
Complete all required pre-veterinary coursework.
Maintain an SDSU cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.5 or higher.
Continue to participate in food animal related activities and experiences.

Requirements for Animal Science Major - Food Animal Health Specialization: 120 Credits

Bachelor of Science

System General Education Requirements

Goal #1 Written Communication: SGR #1 Elective Credits: 6
Goal #2 Oral Communication: SGR #2 Elective Credits: 3
Goal #3 Social Sciences: ECON 201 - Principles of Microeconomics (COM) [SGR #3, HSDC] Credits: 3 and SGR #3 Elective Credits: 3
Goal #4 Arts and Humanities: SGR #4 Electives Credits: 6
Goal #5 Mathematics: MATH 114 - College Algebra (COM) [SGR #5, HSDC] Credits: 3 or MATH 115 - Precalculus (COM) [SGR #5, HSDC] Credits: 5 or MATH 121 - Survey of Calculus (COM) [SGR #5, HSDC] Credits: 4 and MATH 121L - Survey of Calculus Lab [HSDC] Credits: 1 or MATH 123 - Calculus I (COM) [SGR #5, HSDC] Credits: 4
Goal #6 Natural Sciences: BIOL 151 - General Biology I (COM) [SGR #6, HSDC] Credits: 3 , BIOL 151L - General Biology I Lab (COM) [SGR #6, HSDC] Credits: 1 , BIOL 153 - General Biology II (COM) [SGR #6, HSDC] Credits: 3 , and BIOL 153L - General Biology II Lab (COM) [SGR #6, HSDC] Credits: 1

Major Requirements

AS 101 - Introduction to Animal Science Credits: 3
AS 101L - Introduction to Animal Science Lab Credits: 1
AS 119 - Opportunities in Animal and Veterinary Science Credits: 1
AS 120 - Survey of Animal Science Credits: 1
or VET 120 - Introduction to Veterinary Medicine Credits: 1
AS 219 - Principles of Animal Nutrition Credits: 3
AS 241 - Introduction to Meat Science Credits: 2
AS 241L - Introduction to Meat Science Lab Credits: 1
AS 319 - Livestock Feeds and Feeding Credits: 2
AS 319L - Livestock Feeds and Feeding Lab Credits: 1
AS 332 - Livestock Breeding and Genetics Credits: 4
AS 333 - Livestock Reproduction Credits: 2
AS 333L - Livestock Reproduction Lab Credits: 1
AS 389 - Current Issues in Animal Science Credits: 3
CHEM 112 - General Chemistry I (COM) [SGR #6, HSDC] Credits: 3
CHEM 112L - General Chemistry I Lab (COM) [SGR #6, HSDC] Credits: 1
CHEM 114 - General Chemistry II (COM) [SGR #6, HSDC] Credits: 3
CHEM 114L - General Chemistry II Lab (COM) [SGR #6, HSDC] Credits: 1
CHEM 326 - Organic Chemistry I (COM) Credits: 3
CHEM 326L - Organic Chemistry I Lab (COM) Credits: 1
CHEM 328 - Organic Chemistry II (COM) Credits: 3
CHEM 328L - Organic Chemistry II Lab (COM) Credits: 1
CHEM 464 - Biochemistry I (COM) Credits: 3
MICR 231 - General Microbiology (COM) [SGR #6, HSDC] Credits: 4
and MICR 231L - General Microbiology Lab (COM) [SGR #6, HSDC] Credits: 0
or MICR 233 - Introductory Microbiology Credits: 3
and MICR 233L - Introductory Microbiology Lab Credits: 1
NRM 282 - Natural Resource Statistics Credits: 2
and NRM 282L - Natural Resource Statistics Lab Credits: 1
or STAT 281 - Introduction to Statistics (COM) [SGR #5, HSDC] Credits: 3
PHYS 111 - Introduction to Physics I (COM) [SGR #6, HSDC] Credits: 3
PHYS 111L - Introduction to Physics I Lab (COM) [SGR #6, HSDC] Credits: 1
PHYS 113 - Introduction to Physics II (COM) [SGR #6, HSDC] Credits: 3
PHYS 113L - Introduction to Physics II Lab (COM) [SGR #6, HSDC] Credits: 1
VET 223 - Anatomy and Physiology of Domestic Animals Credits: 3
VET 223L - Anatomy and Physiology of Domestic Animals Lab Credits: 1
VET 602 - Integrated Biochemistry and Physiology Credits: 7
VET 604 - Clinical Skills I Credits: 1
VET 606 - Critical Scientific Reading Credits: 1
VET 625 - Basic Pathology Credits: 2
VET 626 - Agents of Disease I Credits: 4
VET 627 - Preventative Medicine Credits: 4

Capstone Requirements

Select from the following. Credits: 6
*One course must be AS 474 -AS 474L , AS 475 -AS 475L , AS 476 -AS 476L , AS 477 -AS 477L , or AS 478 -AS 478L .

AS 445 - Value-Added Meat Products Credits: 2
AS 445L - Value-Added Meat Products Lab Credits: 1
AS 450 - Meat Product Safety and HACCP Credits: 3
AS 474 - Cow/Calf Management Credits: 2
AS 474L - Cow/Calf Management Lab Credits: 1
AS 475 - Feedlot Operations and Management Credits: 2
AS 475L - Feedlot Operations and Management Lab Credits: 1
AS 476 - Horse Production Credits: 2
AS 476L - Horse Production Lab Credits: 1
AS 477 - Sheep and Wool Production Credits: 2
AS 477L - Sheep and Wool Production Lab Credits: 1
AS 478 - Swine Production Credits: 2
AS 478L - Swine Production Lab Credits: 1

Electives

Taken as needed to complete any additional degree requirements.

Total Required Credits: 120

Summary of Program Requirements

Bachelor of Science
System General Education Requirements*	32-34 Credit Hours
Major Requirements	88 Credit Hours
Electives**	0 Credit Hours

*System General Education Requirements for students pursuing a baccalaureate degree shall include a minimum of 30 credit hours. Some general education coursework may be counted for Major Requirements and Supporting Coursework.
**Taken as needed to complete any additional degree requirements.

Academic Advising Guide Sheet

The goal of the academic advising guide sheets and sample plans of study is to promote undergraduate student success by guiding all students to timely completion of an undergraduate degree. Students are not limited to the course sequence provided for their academic program. Instead, the sample plan of study is one possible path to completing your degree and is meant to be used as a guide for planning purposes in consultation with an academic advisor. The plans also help students prepare for meetings with their academic advisor and track their progress in their selected academic program.