Claw Your Way into Animal Science

Animal Science, also known as Animal Bioscience, is a unique study of the biology and management of wild and domesticated animals. A degree in animal science will provide all animal lovers with the opportunity to gain scientific backgrounds on animal biology, including scientific research methods. This study will also help students acquire hands-on working experience with animals such as livestock species, domesticated pets and other exotic creatures.

Animal Science is an important field in science and technology because it helps maintain the wellbeing of livestock for both environmental health and human reliance. Be a part of the community to improve our future in agriculture and animal production. Take a look at more information below!

How to get into Animal Science?

The entry requirements for studying animal science usually requires a student to complete two science-based subjects, preferably biology and chemistry, at A-Level education or equivalent. There is also an average percentage that students must reach during to be considered for the course. These requirements also depends on the university chosen for studies.  

What will you study in Animal Science?

A course in Animal Science will take you on a knowledgeable adventure of understanding animal care, livestock production, breeding and disease control through learning about animal behaviour, veterinary science, agriculture, biotechnology, and animal physiology. Although the study is science-focused, there will also be units on business, economics and management as the subject can be integrated in multiple disciplines.

And many more options!

Careers and alternative careers in Animal Science:

Having a degree in Animal Science will open up many opportunities for a student. According to the American Society of Animal Science, there are more than 500 types of jobs that an Animal Science graduate can pursue. Some popular careers include:

• Veterinary Assistants care for animal’s daily needs. They also make sure that operating rooms and their equipment are clean and sterilized for examinations and other uses.
• Lab Technicians perform hands-on practical work in laboratories. They can specialise in medicine, biology, and chemistry especially with a degree in animal science.
• Zoologists are scientists that research the origins and developments of various species to understand issues in animal interactions, behaviors and diseases. Some Zoologists may also be Zookeepers who are responsible for routine tasks that maintain the wellbeing of zoo animals.
• Animal Scientist conducts research into the genetics, nutrition, reproduction, growth and developments of farm animals for production. They can also be considered Food Scientists for safe animal produce.
• Animal Caretakers provide care and assists the needs for farm animals such as cattle, swine, sheep, poultry, equine and aquatic creatures, and domesticated pets.
• Animal Breeding Technicians are concerned with the feeding, housing, health, production, propagation and marketing of various animals. They can work in a variety of areas including pastures, zoos, conservations, laboratories and many more.
• Habitat Specialists are specialised zoologists that design and build homes for animals at zoos and conservations.

Because biology is such a broad scientific field, Animal Science also opens doors to alternative careers that are not directly related to subject, this includes:

• Plant Scientists works in the agriculture and conduct research on plant life, soil, crops and food supply to ensure the safety and wellbeing of our food production. Just like Animal Scientists, they can also be considered as Food Scientist as the focus on crop production.
• Environmental Scientists have the responsibilities to prevent, maintain and find solutions to environmental problems. They collect and compiled natural data and analyze samples to identify environmental threats.
• Conservation Scientists advises communities, individuals or organizations of the best ways to conserve their lands while using it. It should have knowledge in ecology, conservational science, environmental science and other inter disciplines.

QS Rankings: Top 10 Universities for Animal Science (2016):

1. University of California, Davis
2. Cornell University
3. Wageningen University and Research Center
4. University of California, Berkeley
5. Ghent University
6. University of British Columbia
7. University of Oxford
8. Harvard University
9. Michigan State University
10. University of Florida