Animal Sciences and Industry Bachelor's Degree
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Animal Sciences and Industry Bachelor’s Degree
The animal sciences and industry online bachelor’s degree, with five curriculum options, will prepare you for employment in the agriculture and food industry.
This program will provide you with a foundation of basic science and animal biology and then build your knowledge in the areas of business, communications, food/meat processing, livestock production and marketing.
The animal products option will prepare you for a career in the food industry with coursework centered on the wholesomeness of animal products and includes a food science minor.
The business option will prepare you for entering the broad field of agribusiness with the opportunity to earn a business minor.
The communications and marketing option is for those interested in journalism, advertising, editing or public relations.
The production management option will prepare you for a career in livestock production, including genetics, breeding, feeding and animal welfare.
The science/pre-veterinary option is designed for those seeking an advanced degree or admission to a college of veterinary medicine, or who are pursuing a career in research.
*This estimate includes online tuition and College of Agriculture fees and is for illustrative purposes only. Your hours and costs will differ depending on your transfer hours, course choices and your academic progress. See more about tuition and financial aid.
Career Prospect Highlights
Median Salary
Nationwide Median Salary
Jobs 2022
Jobs Nationwide
Job Growth
5-Year Nationwide Job Growth
Admission Requirements
All students are required to meet the general university admission requirements.
Additional Requirements
- Reside within the U.S. (active-duty U.S. military personnel and dependents are exempt)
Careers
Graduates of the animal sciences and industry bachelor’s program may work in fields such as:
- animal health
- animal health pharmaceutical
- animal nutrition
- food safety
- laboratory
- product development
- production
- quality control
- sales and marketing
Considering attending veterinary school? The College of Veterinary Medicine at K-State does accept the prerequisite courses taken in the animal sciences and industry bachelor's degree, but not all schools do. Make sure to verify compatibility with any veterinary school to which you plan to apply.
Animal Products Curriculum
General Courses (20 credits)
- BIOL 198 - Principles of Biology (4 credits)
- CHM 110 - General Chemistry (3 credits)
- CHM 111 - General Chemistry Lab (1 credit)
- COMM 105 - Public Speaking IA (2 credits) OR
COMM 106 - Public Speaking I (3 credits) - ENGL 100 - Expository Writing I (3 credits)
- ENGL 200 - Expository Writing II (3 credits)
- MATH 100 - College Algebra (3 credits)
Agriculture (minimum 5 credits)
- 1-credit courses do not apply.
Biosciences (9 credits)
- BIOCH 265 - Introduction to Organic and Biochemistry (5 credits)
- BIOL 455 - General Microbiology (4 credits)*
Business and Economics (12 credits)
- ACCTG 231 - Accounting for Business Operations (3 credits)
- Three additional courses
Communications (3 credits)
- AGCOM 400 - Agricultural Business Communications (3 credits)
- ENGL 516 - Written Communication in the Sciences (3 credits)
- MC 110 - Mass Communication in Society (3 credits)
Humanities/Social Science (9 credits)
- ECON 110 - Principles of Macroeconomics (3 credits)
- Two additional courses
Statistics/Computer Science/Math (6 credits)
Select 1:
- STAT 325 - Intro to Statistics (3 credits)
- STAT 350 - Business and Economic Statistics (3 credits)
Minimum 3 credits:
- CIS 101 - Intro to Information Technology (1 credit)
- CIS 102 - Intro PC/Spreadsheet (1 credit)
- CIS 103 - Intro PC/Database (1 credit)
- CIS 104 - Intro PC/Word Processing (1 credit)
- MATH 150 - Plane Trigonometry (3 credits)
- MATH 205 - General Calculus and Linear Algebra (3 credits)
- STAT 351 - Business and Economic Statistics II (3 credits)
Animal Science/Food Science (28 credits)
- ASI 102 - Principles of Animal Science (3 credits)
- ASI 105 - Animal Science Lab (1 credit)
- ASI 106 - Dairy and Poultry Science Lab (1 credit)*
- ASI 318 - Fundamentals of Nutrition (3 credits)
- ASI 580 - Career Preparation (1 credit)
- FDSCI 302 - Intro to Food Science (3 credits)
- FDSCI 600 - Food Microbiology (2 credits)
- FDSCI 601 - Food Microbiology Lab (2 credits)* OR
FDSCI 307 - Applied Microbiology for Meat and Poultry Processors (3 credits) - FDSCI 690 - Principles of HACCP and HARPC (3 credits)
- FDSCI 695 - Quality Assurance of Food Products (3 credits)
- ASI 350 - Meat Science (3 credits)
Select 1:
- ASI 515 - Beef Science (3 credits)
- ASI 535 - Swine Science (3 credits)
Animal Science/Food Science Electives (18 credits)
- ASI 500 - Genetics (3 credits)
- ASI 510 - Animal Breeding Principles (3 credits)
- ASI 533 - Anatomy and Physiology (4 credits)
- ASI 599 - Animal Science Internship (1-6 credits)
- ASI 640 - Poultry Products Technology (3 credits)
- ASI 650 - Identification and Data Management of Food Animals (2 credits)
- FDSCI 305 - Fundamentals of Food Processing (3 credits)
- FDSCI 603 - Food Science Internship (1-6 credits)
- FDSCI 710 - Kosher and Halal Food Regulations (2 credits)
Unrestricted Electives (7-11 credits)
*Course is not available online at K-State.
Business Curriculum
General Courses (19 credits)
- BIOL 198 - Principles of Biology (4 credits)
- CHM 110 - General Chemistry (3 credits)
- CHM 111 - General Chemistry Lab (1 credit)
- COMM 105 - Public Speaking IA (2 credits) OR
COMM 106 - Public Speaking I (3 credits) - ENGL 100 - Expository Writing I (3 credits)
- ENGL 200 - Expository Writing II (3 credits)
- MATH 100 - College Algebra (3 credits)
Agriculture (8 credits)
- AGEC 120 - Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness (3 credits)
- Two courses from two other agriculture departments; NOT from AGCOM. 1-credit courses do not apply.
Business and Economics (24 credits)
- ACCTG 231 - Accounting for Business Operations (3 credits)
- ACCTG 241 - Accounting for Investing and Financing (3 credits)
- Six additional courses
Communications (2-5 credits)
- AGCOM 400 - Agricultural Business Communications (3 credits)
- ENGL 417 - Written Communication for the Workplace (3 credits)
- ENGL 516 - Written Communication for the Sciences (3 credits)
- MC 110 - Mass Communication in Society (3 credits)
- Other courses as approved by the department
Humanities/Social Science (9 credits)
- ECON 110 - Principles of Macroeconomics (3 credits)
- Two additional courses
Statistics/Computer Science/Math (3 credits)
- CIS - any course
- MATH 150-799
- STAT 325 - Intro to Statistics (3 credits)
- STAT 350 - Business and Economic Statistics (3 credits)
- STAT 351 - Business and Economic Statistics II (3 credits)
Animal Science Core (30 credits)
- ASI 102 - Principles of Animal Science (3 credits)
- ASI 318 - Fundamentals of Nutrition (3 credits)
- ASI 320 - Principles of Feeding (3 credits)
- ASI 400 - Farm Animal Reproduction (3 credits)
- ASI 480 - Animal Science and Industry Career Preparation (1 credit)
- ASI 500 - Genetics (3 credits)
- ASI 533 - Anatomy and Physiology (4 credits)
Lab Courses (select two)
- ASI 105 - Animal Science Lab (1 credit)
- ASI 106 - Dairy and Poultry Science Lab (1 credit)
- ASI 107 - Companion Animal and Horse Lab (1 credit)
Animal Products (select one)
- ASI 350 - Meat Science (3 credits)
- ASI 640 - Poultry Products Technology (3 credits)
- FDSCI 305 - Fundamentals of Food Processing (3 credits)
Animal Management (select two):
- ASI 515 - Beef Science (3 credits)
- ASI 520 - Companion Animal Management (3 credits)
- ASI 521 - Horse Science (3 credits)
Animal Science Electives (12 credits)
- ASI 504 - Equine Reproductive Management (3 credits)
- ASI 510 - Animal Breeding Principles (3 credits)
- ASI 540 - Principles of Animal Disease Control (3 credits)
- ASI 599 - Animal Science Internship (1-6 credits)
- ASI 602 - Equine Breeding and Genetics (2 credits)
- ASI 650 - Identification and Data Management of Food Animals (2 credits)
- ASI 655 - Behavior of Domestic Animals (3 credits)
- ASI 675 - Monogastric Nutrition (1 credit)
- ASI 678 - Equine Nutrition (1 credit)
- ASI 680 - Ruminant Nutrition (1 credit)
- Other courses as approved by the department
Unrestricted Electives (8-12 credits)
Communications and Marketing Curriculum
General Courses (20 credits)
- BIOL 198 - Principles of Biology (4 credits)
- CHM 110 - General Chemistry (3 credits)
- CHM 111 - General Chemistry Lab (1 credit)
- COMM 105 - Public Speaking IA (2 credits) OR
COMM 106 - Public Speaking I (3 credits) - ENGL 100 - Expository Writing I (3 credits)
- ENGL 200 - Expository Writing II (3 credits)
- MATH 100 - College Algebra (3 credits)
Agriculture (5 credits)
- Two courses from two other agriculture departments; NOT from AGCOM. 1-credit courses do not apply.
Marketing and Business (12 credits)
- MKTG 400 - Introduction to Marketing (3 credits)
- Three additional courses
Humanities/Social Science (9 credits)
- ECON 110 - Principles of Macroeconomics (3 credits)
- Two additional courses
Statistics/Computer Science/Math (3 credits)
- CIS - any course
- MATH 150 - Plane Trigonometry (3 credits)
- MATH 205 - General Calculus and Linear Algebra (3 credits)
- STAT 325 - Intro to Statistics (3 credits)
- STAT 350 - Business and Economic Statistics (3 credits)
- STAT 351 - Business and Economic Statistics II (3 credits)
Communications Core (27 credits)
- AGCOM 210 - Layout and Design Principles (3 credits)
- MC 110 - Mass Communication in Society (3 credits)
- MC 130 - Writing and Conventions and Mechanics (1 credit)
- MC 466 - Law of Mass Communication (3 credits)
- AGCOM 110 - Introduction to Ag Communications (2 credits) OR
MC 131 - Media Writing Styles and Platforms (1 credit) AND
MC 132 - Writing Perspectives (1 credit)
Principles of Mass Communications (select one)
- MC 120 - Principles of Advertising (3 credits)
- MC 160 - Principles of Journalism (3 credits)
- MC 180 - Principles of Public Relations (3 credits)
Writing Intensive Course (select one)
- MC 200 - News Reporting and Writing Across Platforms (3 credits)
- MC 280 - Advertising and Public Relations Writing (3 credits)
Upper-Level Mass Communication Courses (6 credits)
- 300-level mass communications course
- 400-level or above mass communications course
Communications Electives (3 credits)
- AGCOM 310-799
- COMM 311-799
- ENGL 417 - Written Communication for the Workplace (3 credits)
- ENGL 516 - Written Communication for the Sciences (3 credits)
Animal Science Core (27 credits)
- ASI 102 - Principles of Animal Science (3 credits)
- ASI 318 - Fundamentals of Nutrition (3 credits)
- ASI 400 - Farm Animal Reproduction (3 credits)
- ASI 480 - Animal Science and Industry Career Preparation (1 credit)
- ASI 500 - Genetics (3 credits)
- ASI 533 - Anatomy and Physiology (4 credits)
Lab Course (select one)
- ASI 105 - Animal Science Lab (1 credit)
- ASI 106 - Dairy and Poultry Science Lab (1 credit)
- ASI 107 - Companion Animal and Horse Lab (1 credit)
Animal Products (select one)
- ASI 350 - Meat Science (3 credits)
- ASI 640 - Poultry Products Technology (3 credits)
- FDSCI 305 - Fundamentals of Food Processing (3 credits)
Animal Management (select two)
- ASI 515 - Beef Science (3 credits)
- ASI 520 - Companion Animal Management (3 credits)
- ASI 521 - Horse Science (3 credits)
Animal Science Electives (9 credits)
- ASI 320 - Principles of Feeding (3 credits)
- ASI 504 - Equine Reproductive Management (3 credits)
- ASI 510 - Animal Breeding Principles (3 credits)
- ASI 533 - Anatomy and Physiology (4 credits)
- ASI 540 - Principles of Animal Disease Control (3 credits)
- ASI 599 - Animal Science Internship (1-6 credits)
- ASI 602 - Equine Breeding and Genetics (2 credits)
- ASI 640 - Poultry Products Technology (3 credits)
- ASI 650 - Identification and Data Management of Food Animals (2 credits)
- ASI 655 - Behavior of Domestic Animals (3 credits)
- ASI 675 - Monogastric Nutrition (1 credit)
- ASI 678 - Equine Nutrition (1 credit)
- ASI 680 - Ruminant Nutrition (1 credit)
Unrestricted Electives (8-11 credits)
Science/Pre-veterinary Curriculum
General Courses (20 credits)
- BIOL 198 - Principles of Biology (4 credits)
- CHM 210 - Chemistry I (4 credits)
- COMM 105 - Public Speaking IA (2 credits) OR
COMM 106 - Public Speaking I (3 credits) - ENGL 100 - Expository Writing I (3 credits)
- ENGL 200 - Expository Writing II (3 credits)
- MATH 100 - College Algebra (3 credits)
Agriculture (5 credits)
- Two courses from two other agriculture departments; NOT from AGCOM. 1-credit courses do not apply.
Biosciences (7 credits)
- BIOL 455 - General Microbiology (4 credits)*
- BIOCH 521 - General Biochemistry (3 credits)
Business and Economics (6 credits)
- Business or economics courses approved by the department
Chemistry (9 credits)
- CHM 230 - Chemistry II (4 credits)
- CHM 350 - General Organic Chemistry (3 credits)
- CHM 531 - Organic Chemistry I (3 credits)
- CHM 550 - Organic Chemistry II (3 credits)
Chemistry Lab (select one)
- CHM 351 - General Organic Chemistry Laboratory (2 credits)
- CHM 532 - Organic Chemistry Laboratory (2 credits)*
Communications (2-5 credits)
- AGCOM 400 - Agricultural Business Communications (3 credits)
- ENGL 417 - Written Communication for the Workplace (3 credits)
- ENGL 516 - Written Communication for the Sciences (3 credits)
- MC 110 - Mass Communication in Society (3 credits)
- Other communications courses approved by the department
Humanities/Social Science (9 credits)
- ECON 110 - Principles of Macroeconomics (3 credits)
- Two additional courses
Statistics/Physics/Math (6 credits)
- MATH 150 - Plane Trigonometry (3 credits)
- MATH 205 - General Calculus and Linear Algebra (3 credits)
- PHYS 113 - General Physics I (4 credits)*
- PHYS 114 - General Physics II (4 credits)*
- STAT 325 - Intro to Statistics (3 credits)
- STAT 350 - Business and Economic Statistics (3 credits)
- STAT 351 - Business and Economic Statistics II (3 credits)
Animal Science Core (26 credits)
- ASI 102 - Principles of Animal Science (3 credits)
- ASI 105 - Animal Science Lab (1 credit)
- ASI 106 - Dairy and Poultry Science Lab (1 credit)
- ASI 107 - Companion Animal and Horse Lab (1 credit)
- ASI 318 - Fundamentals of Nutrition (3 credits)
- ASI 320 - Principles of Feeding (3 credits)
- ASI 400 - Farm Animal Reproduction (3 credits)
- ASI 480 - Animal Science and Industry Career Preparation (1 credit)
- ASI 500 - Genetics (3 credits)
Animal Products (select one)
- ASI 350 - Meat Science (3 credits)
- ASI 640 - Poultry Products Technology (3 credits)
- FDSCI 305 - Fundamentals of Food Processing (3 credits)
Animal Management (select two)
- ASI 515 - Beef Science (3 credits)
- ASI 520 - Companion Animal Management (3 credits)
- ASI 521 - Horse Science (3 credits)
Animal Science Electives (12 credits)
- ASI 504 - Equine Reproductive Management (3 credits)
- ASI 510 - Animal Breeding Principles (3 credits)
- ASI 533 - Anatomy and Physiology (4 credits)
- ASI 540 - Principles of Animal Disease Control (3 credits)
- ASI 599 - Animal Science Internship (1-6 credits)
- ASI 602 - Equine Breeding and Genetics (2 credits)
- ASI 640 - Poultry Products Technology (3 credits)
- ASI 650 - Identification and Data Management of Food Animals (2 credits)
- ASI 655 - Behavior of Domestic Animals (3 credits)
- ASI 675 - Monogastric Nutrition (1 credit)
- ASI 678 - Equine Nutrition (1 credit)
- ASI 680 - Ruminant Nutrition (1 credit)
Unrestricted Electives (13-17 credits)
*Course is not available online at K-State.
Product Management Curriculum
General Courses (20 credits)
- BIOL 198 - Principles of Biology (4 credits)
- CHM 110 - General Chemistry (3 credits)
- CHM 111 - General Chemistry Lab (1 credit)
- COMM 105 - Public Speaking IA (2 credits) OR
COMM 106 - Public Speaking I (3 credits) - ENGL 100 - Expository Writing I (3 credits)
- ENGL 200 - Expository Writing II (3 credits)
- MATH 100 - College Algebra (3 credits)
Agriculture (minimum 8 credits)
- AGEC 120 - Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness (3 credits)*
- Two additional courses
Biosciences (5 credits)
- BIOCH 265 - Introduction to Organic and Biochemistry (5 credits)
Business and Economics (15 credits)
- ACCTG 231 - Accounting for Business Operations (3 credits)
Minimum 12 credits:
- AGEC 516 - Agricultural Law and Economics (3 credits)
- FINAN 450 - Principles of Finance (3 credits)
- PFP 105 - Introduction to Personal Financial Planning (3 credits)
- MANGT 420 - Principles of Management (3 credits)
- MANGT 430 - Business Law I (3 credits)
- MANGT 531 - Human Resources Management (3 credits)
- MKTG 400 - Introduction to Marketing (3 credits)
- MKTG 450 - Consumer Behavior (3 credits)
- MKTG 542 - Fundamentals of Professional Selling (3 credits)
Communications (2-5 credits)
- AGCOM 400 - Agricultural Business Communications (3 credits)
- ENGL 516 - Written Communication in the Sciences (3 credits)
- MC 110 - Mass Communication in Society (3 credits)
Humanities/Social Science (9 credits)
- ECON 110 - Principles of Macroeconomics (3 credits)
- Two additional courses
Statistics/Computer Science/Math (3 credits)
- STAT 325 - Intro to Statistics (3 credits)
- STAT 350 - Business and Economic Statistics (3 credits)
- Any CIS course
Animal Science (34 credits)
- ASI 102 - Principles of Animal Science (3 credits)
- ASI 318 - Fundamentals of Nutrition (3 credits)
- ASI 320 - Principles of Feeding (3 credits)
- ASI 400 - Farm Animal Reproduction (3 credits)
- ASI 500 - Genetics (3 credits)
- ASI 510 - Animal Breeding Principles (3 credits)
- ASI 533 - Anatomy and Physiology (4 credits)
- ASI 580 - Career Preparation (1 credit)
Select 2:
- ASI 105 - Animal Science Lab (1 credit)
- ASI 106 - Dairy and Poultry Science Lab (1 credit)*
- ASI 107 - Companion Animal and Horse Lab (1 credit)*
Select 1:
- ASI 350 - Meat Science (3 credits)
- ASI 640 - Poultry Products Technology (3 credits)
- FDSCI 305 - Fundamentals of Food Processing (3 credits)
Select 2:
- ASI 515 - Beef Science (3 credits)
- ASI 520 - Companion Animal Management (3 credits)
- ASI 521 - Horse Science (3 credits)
- ASI 535 - Swine Science (3 credits)
Upper-Level ASI Electives (12 credits)
Unrestricted Electives (12-16 credits)
*Course is not available online at K-State.
Transfer Equivalency
K-State offers online tools that allow you to see how previous coursework taken at another accredited institution will transfer to K-State. You can search by course or by program curriculum.
Michael Connell, '15
While enrolled at K-State, Michael used what he was learning to help develop a program for technical large animal rescue for the state of Nevada.
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