Program: Animal Science (B.S.) - Industry Relations Specialization - South Dakota State University

2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog

Apr 15, 2025

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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.

Academic Requirements

Animal Science majors must achieve a minimum of a 2.0 GPA in Animal Science core courses for successful graduation. Core courses include AS 101-101L, AS 219, AS 241-241L, AS 319-319L, AS 332, AS 333-333L, AS 389, and 2 capstone courses in which the students receive the highest grades (if they take more than 2). Capstone courses include AS 445-445L, AS 450, AS 474-474L, AS 475-475L, AS 476-476L, AS 477-477L, and AS 478-478L.

Requirements for Animal Science Major - Industry Relations 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 101 - Biology Survey I (COM) [SGR #6, HSDC] Credits: 2 and BIOL 101L - Biology Survey I Lab (COM) [SGR #6, HSDC] Credits: 1
  or BIOL 151 - General Biology I (COM) [SGR #6, HSDC] Credits: 3 and BIOL 151L - General Biology I Lab (COM) [SGR #6, HSDC] Credits: 1
- BIOL 103 - Biology Survey II (COM) [SGR #6, HSDC] Credits: 2 and BIOL 103L - Biology Survey II Lab (COM) [SGR #6, HSDC] Credits: 1
  or 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

ACCT 210 - Principles of Accounting I (COM) Credits: 3
or AGEC 354 - Agricultural Marketing and Prices Credits: 3
ADV 476 - Global and Multicultural Advertising Credits: 3
or CMST 470 - Intercultural Communication (COM) Credits: 3
or GLST 280 - Developing Intercultural Competence Credits: 3
or GLST 489 - Capstone Intercultural Competencies Credits: 3
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 285 - Livestock Evaluation and Marketing Credits: 2
AS 285L - Livestock Evaluation and Marketing 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 106 - Chemistry Survey (COM) [SGR #6, HSDC] Credits: 3
and CHEM 106L - Chemistry Survey Lab (COM) [SGR #6, HSDC] Credits: 1
or CHEM 112 - General Chemistry I (COM) [SGR #6, HSDC] Credits: 3
and CHEM 112L - General Chemistry I Lab (COM) [SGR #6, HSDC] Credits: 1
CHEM 108 - Organic and Biochemistry (COM) [SGR #6, HSDC] Credits: 4
CHEM 108L - Organic and Biochemistry Lab (COM) [SGR #6, HSDC] Credits: 1
CMST 311 - Business and Professional Communication (COM) Credits: 3
LDR 210 - Foundations of Leadership Credits: 3
or LDR 310 - Leadership in Context (COM) Credits: 3
or LDR 435 - Organizational Leadership and Team Development Credits: 3
MCOM 210 - Basic Media Writing (COM) Credits: 3
VET 223 - Anatomy and Physiology of Domestic Animals Credits: 3
VET 223L - Anatomy and Physiology of Domestic Animals Lab Credits: 1
VET 403 - Animal Diseases and Their Control Credits: 3

Experiential Learning Requirement

Select at least one credit from the following list. Credits: 1

ABS 482 - International Experience Credits: 1-4
AS 322 - Advanced Livestock Evaluation Credits: 1
AS 400 - Judging Team Credits: 1-2
AS 491 - Independent Study (COM) Credits: 1-3
AS 494 - Internship (COM) Credits: 1-12
AS 498 - Research (COM) Credits: 1-3

Capstone Requirements

Select from the following. Credits: 9

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

Select from the following

Select a total of six credits from the following. Must select from a minimum of two (2) prefixes. Credits: 6

ADV 314 - Digital Promotions Credits: 3
ADV 411 - Media Analytics Credits: 3
CMST 201 - Interpersonal Communication (COM) [SGR #3, HSDC] Credits: 3
CMST 320 - Communication in Interviewing (COM) Credits: 3
CMST 434 - Small Group Communication (COM) Credits: 3
MCOM 219 - Social Media Strategies Credits: 3
MCOM 270 - Data Analysis in Communication Credits: 3
MCOM 331 - Video Production (COM) Credits: 3
MCOM 430 - Media Law (COM) Credits: 3
PUBR 243 - Public Relations Principles (COM) Credits: 3
PUBR 345 - Public Relations Writing Credits: 3

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*	30-34 Credit Hours
Major Requirements	75-77 Credit Hours
Electives**	9-15 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.

Animal Science (B.S.) - Industry Relations Specialization

Animal Science (B.S.) - Industry Relations Specialization

Location(s): Brookings Main CampusClose