Animal science students usually attend graduate school to gain expertise in a specific area of the field. Common areas of focus include:

• nutrition
• reproductive physiology
• behavior
• animal health and welfare

Completing a graduate degree offers many opportunities for professional careers, such as positions conducting research at colleges and universities or working for companies that specialize in animal nutrition, health, or the rapidly expanding field of biotechnology. Some students pursue a doctoral degree to gain a degree in veterinary medicine.