REQUIREMENTS

The major requires:
7 credits (minimum) introductory animal sciences & genetics
3 in biology
8 in inorganic chemistry
3 in mathematics

Also required:
9-12 credits in basic science
24 credits of concentration courses
26-29 credits of supporting electives approved for the major

A total of 130 credits is required for graduation.

Graduation requirements include a strong foundation of basic science requirements, general education requirements, free electives, concentration, and supporting courses.

ACADEMIC OPTIONS

Preveterinary Option
This option is designed to to prepare students for admission to schools of veterinary medicine.

Animal health is an integral part of animal science, and the veterinarian is the key professional in the field. Admission to schools offering the D.V.M. degree requires superior academic achievement, completion of challenging undergraduate coursework, and knowledge and experience in the field of veterinary medicine. Extracurricular activities and personal qualities are also taken into consideration.

Admission to veterinary school is highly competitive. Students are encouraged to explore secondary career objectives. Those not accepted for veterinary training will be well prepared to pursue graduate programs in animal physiology and health.

Courses in this option are designed to meet requirements of virtually all schools of veterinary medicine in the US. Veterinary school admission requirements are subject to change and are not uniform. It is essential that students keep abreast of requirements for specific institutions they wish to apply to.

In addition to requirements of the major, students must complete a two-semester sequence in organic chemistry, biochemistry, microbiology, general physics, introductory calculus, intermediate calculus or statistical methods in research, and animal anatomy and physiology.

Strong faculty advising, with support from the URI Health Professions Advisory Committee and the Animal & Veterinary Science Club, help students gain admission to veterinary programs.

Animal Science Option
This option is a multi-disciplinary approach to the study of applied animal biology (animal nutrition, physiology, behavior, and disease). A strong preparatory background in basic sciences is needed.

Students seek employment in technical areas and/or continue studies in specialized graduate programs. In addition to requirements of the major, students must complete course work in organic chemistry, introductory calculus, and microbiology, as well as a course in animal anatomy and physiology.

Remaining credit requirements are selected from concentration courses and supporting electives approved for this option.

Animal Management Option
Research techniques and procedures for animal care are emphasized along with a strong background in the sciences. Students with this training and animal experience would be employed in research and teaching facilities as animal technicians, animal technologists, supervisors of animal technicians, and assistant research project leaders.

In addition to the requirements of the major, students must complete the following basic science requirements: four to eight credits in Organic chemistry, three in statistical methods. Six credits in animal management, three credits in animal anatomy and physiology, and three credits of general nutrition are required in concentration. The remaining credits will be selected from the concentration courses and supporting electives approved for this option.

HANDS-ON LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES
This major provides many hands-on opportunities, even at the earliest stages of study. Students work and study at the Peckham Farm Animal Center, where they can work with sheep, dairy goats, poultry, horses, and, on a limited basis, dairy cattle. Most of these opportunities are in conjunction with course work.

Students are also encouraged to pursue a variety of internships and special projects. Recent internships completed by students include:

Farm & Equine Internship - William H. Miner Institute
Mystic Marine Life Aquarium
Roger Williams Park Zoo, Providence, RI

Recent special projects include research in control of reproduction in sheep, animal well-being, and Lyme disease.

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES
Careers in the animal sciences are numerous. Veterinarians work in private practice, in small or large animal medicine, in federal, state and local assignments dealing with disease control and public health, and in teaching and research. Food and drug companies hire veterinarians for product development and testing.

Other career opportunities include positions with zoos, wildlife preserves, aquariums, racetracks, laboratory animal facilities, etc. There are also specializations in non-practice areas such as pathology, medical computing science, and scientific administration.

Animal scientists find employment as physiologists, nutritionists, geneticists, and technical personnel in all phases of animal production, research, service, business, and education. Agribusiness hires animal scientists for their expertise in testing and developing products and in formulating product recommendations.

Federal and state agencies provide diverse animal-related opportunities in areas such as animal health, genetics, husbandry, physiology, nutrition, and behavior.

FURTHER STUDIES
The strong science preparation in this major provides excellent preparation for further graduate studies in animal science, for veterinary school, and for medical school.

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