Animal and Veterinary Biosciences

Studying the biology of domesticated animals helps us better understand their health. The major addresses important issues related to animal health and welfare, biomedical advancements, food safety, precision livestock farming, and land and water stewardship.

Students in the Animal and Veterinary Biosciences major learn about cattle, swine, sheep, horses, poultry, and goats, as well as companion animals such as cats and dogs. They also examine recent discoveries connecting human and animal health.

The Department of Animal and Dairy Sciences is home to the undergraduate program in Animal and Veterinary Biosciences. The department produces skilled leaders in animal agriculture and sustainable food systems while embracing innovation and technology. A 10:1 student-faculty ratio and small classes allow for meaningful connections among students and instructors.

Students can take courses on an assortment of topics including animal breeding, veterinary genetics, animal health and welfare, physiology, and animal nutrition, utilizing various animals as a vehicle for learning. The major offers a science-focused path for students interested in veterinary medicine, animal science, bioscience, or other graduate programs.

Learn Through Hands-On, Real World Experiences

The program emphasizes hands-on learning, and students choose from more than a dozen lab courses covering animal handling, reproductive biology, veterinary genetics, animal welfare, meat science and biologics, and more. Field courses look at international agriculture and sustainability.  The department encourages animal and veterinary biosciences majors to get involved with internships and conduct research with faculty and staff.

Build Community and Networks

Animal and veterinary biosciences majors find a welcoming community where professors know their students and can provide guidance based on their specific goals. Outside of the classroom, students can join several student organizations including the Pre Vet Association, Saddle and Sirloin Club, Poultry Club, Badger Dairy Club, and Badger Meat Science Club.

Customize a Path of Study

Students can choose from a variety of breadth and depth courses to explore their interests within the major, customizing their coursework to fit their career goals. Course flexibility allows students to complete several pre-veterinary requirements, as well as adding a certificate or second major in another area of interest. Students can elect to complete Honors in Animal and Veterinary Biosciences.

Make a Strong Start

The department offers an introductory seminar course that helps students maximize their education, develop professional skills, and make informed decisions about their classes, internships, and career path. Multiple Animal Science courses are open to first-year students, offering additional opportunities to establish connections to the major.

Gain Global Perspective

Students are encouraged to study abroad; the department offers globally focused courses that look at livestock production, health, animal agriculture, and sustainable development. Students can find more information on the International Academic Programs website and the CALS study abroad advising page.

To declare this major, students must be admitted to UW–Madison and the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences (CALS). For information about becoming a CALS first-year or transfer student, see Entering the College.

Students who attend Student Orientation, Advising, and Registration (SOAR) with the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences have the option to declare this major at SOAR.  Students may otherwise declare after they have begun their undergraduate studies. For more information, contact the advisor listed in the Contact Information box.

University General Education Requirements

All undergraduate students at the University of Wisconsin–Madison are required to fulfill a minimum set of common university general education requirements to ensure that every graduate acquires the essential core of an undergraduate education. This core establishes a foundation for living a productive life, being a citizen of the world, appreciating aesthetic values, and engaging in lifelong learning in a continually changing world. Various schools and colleges will have requirements in addition to the requirements listed below. Consult your advisor for assistance, as needed. For additional information, see the university Undergraduate General Education Requirements section of the Guide.

General Education

• Breadth-Humanities/Literature/Arts: 6 credits
• Breadth-Natural Science: 4 to 6 credits, consisting of one 4- or 5-credit course with a laboratory component; or two courses providing a total of 6 credits
• Breadth-Social Studies: 3 credits
• Communication Part A & Part B*
• Ethnic Studies*
• Quantitative Reasoning Part A & Part B*
• * The mortarboard symbol appears before the title of any course that fulfills one of the Communication Part A or Part B, Ethnic Studies, or Quantitative Reasoning Part A or Part B requirements.

College of Agricultural and Life Sciences Requirements

In addition to the University General Education Requirements, all undergraduate students in CALS must satisfy a set of college and major requirements. Courses may not double count within university requirements (General Education and Breadth) or within college requirements (First-Year Seminar, International Studies, Science, and Capstone), but courses counted toward university requirements may also be used to satisfy a college and/or a major requirement; similarly, courses counted toward college requirements may also be used to satisfy a university and/or a major requirement.

Quality of Work: Students must maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.000 to remain in good standing and be eligible for graduation.

Residency: Students must complete 30 degree credits in residence at UW-Madison after earning 86 credits toward their undergraduate degree.

First Year Seminar: 1
International Studies: 3
Physical Science Fundamentals: 4-5
CHEM 103: General Chemistry I
or CHEM 108: Chemistry in Our World
or CHEM 109: Advanced General Chemistry
Biological Science: 5
Additional Science (Biological, Physical, or Natural): 3
Science Breadth (Biological, Physical, Natural, or Social): 3
CALS Capstone Learning Experience: included in the requirements of each CALS major (see “Major Requirements”)

Summary of Major Requirements

Mathematics and Science Foundation: 19-25 credits
Animal & Veterinary Biosciences Core Requirements: 37-38 credits
Capstone in Major: 2-3 credits
Total Credits: 58-66 credits

Animal & Veterinary Biosciences Major Requirements

Mathematics
Complete one of the following (or may be satisfied by placement exam): 3-5 credits
MATH 112: Algebra
MATH 114: Algebra and Trigonometry
Statistics
Complete one of the following: 3 credits
STAT 301: Introduction to Statistical Methods
STAT 371: Introductory Applied Statistics for the Life Sciences
Chemistry
Complete one of the following: 5-9 credits
CHEM 103 & CHEM 104: General Chemistry I and General Chemistry II
CHEM 109: Advanced General Chemistry
Biology
Complete one of the following: 5 credits
BIOLOGY/BOTANY/ZOOLOGY 151, BIOLOGY/ZOOLOGY 101, & BIOLOGY/ZOOLOGY 102: Introductory Biology, Animal Biology, and Animal Biology Laboratory
Biochemistry
Complete one of the following: 3 credits
BIOCHEM 301: Survey of Biochemistry
BIOCHEM 501: Introduction to Biochemistry
Introduction to the Major
Complete the following: 4 credits
AN SCI/DY SCI 101: Introduction to Animal Sciences
AN SCI/DY SCI 102: Introduction to Animal Sciences Laboratory
Animal Science Core
Complete four courses from the following¹: 11-12 credits
AN SCI 245: Animal Welfare
AN SCI/DY SCI/NUTRI SCI 311: Comparative Animal Nutrition
AN SCI/DY SCI 320: Animal Health and Disease
AN SCI/DY SCI 361: Introduction to Animal and Veterinary Genetics
AN SCI/DY SCI 373: Animal Physiology
Animal Biology Depth
Complete at least 10 credits from the following: 10 credits
AN SCI 245: Animal Welfare¹
AN SCI/FOOD SCI 305: Introduction to Meat Science and Technology
AN SCI/DY SCI/NUTRI SCI 311: Comparative Animal Nutrition¹
AN SCI/DY SCI 320: Animal Health and Disease¹
AN SCI 336: Animal Growth and Development
AN SCI/DY SCI 361: Introduction to Animal and Veterinary Genetics¹
AN SCI/DY SCI 362: Veterinary Genetics
or AN SCI/DY SCI 363: Principles of Animal Breeding
AN SCI 366: Concepts in Genomics
AN SCI/DY SCI 373: Animal Physiology ¹
DY SCI 378: Lactation Physiology
AN SCI/DY SCI 414: Ruminant Nutrition & Metabolism
AN SCI 415: Application of Monogastric Nutrition Principles
AN SCI 420: Microbiomes of Animal Systems
AN SCI/DY SCI 434: Reproductive Physiology
Major Breadth
Complete at least 12 credits from the following: 12 credits
AN SCI 200: The Biology and Appreciation of Companion Animals
DY SCI 233: Dairy Herd Management I
DY SCI 234: Dairy Herd Management II
AN SCI/BSE 344: Digital Technologies for Animal Monitoring
AN SCI 399: Coordinative Internship/Cooperative Education Coordinative Internship/Cooperative Education (Footnote 2 applies to both AN SCI 399 and 699) ²
or AN SCI 699: Special Problems
A A E 422: Food Systems and Supply Chains
AN SCI 431: Beef Cattle Production
AN SCI 432: Swine Production
AN SCI/FOOD SCI 515: Commercial Meat Processing
DY SCI 534: Reproductive Management of Dairy Cattle
BIOLOGY/BOTANY/ZOOLOGY 152: Introductory Biology
or BIOLOGY/BOTANY 130: General Botany
CHEM 343: Organic Chemistry I
PHYSICS 103: General Physics
MICROBIO 303: Biology of Microorganisms
M M & I/ENTOM/PATH-BIO/ZOOLOGY 350: Parasitology
Capstone in Major
Complete one of the following: 2-3 credits
AN SCI 435: Animal Sciences Proseminar
DY SCI 535: Dairy Farm Management Practicum
Total Credits: 58-66

¹ Courses cannot count for both Animal Science Core and Depth.
² Maximum of 3 credits.

Honors in the Major

Students admitted to the university and to the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences are invited to apply to be considered for admission to the CALS Honors Program.

Admission Criteria for New First-Year Students:

• Complete program application including essay questions

Admission Criteria for Transfer and Continuing UW-Madison Students:

• UW-Madison cumulative GPA of at least 3.25
• Complete program application including essay questions

How to Apply
The application is available on the CALS Honors Program website. Applications are accepted at any time.
New first-year students with accepted applications will automatically be enrolled in Honors in Research. It is possible to switch to Honors in the Major in the student’s first semester on campus after receiving approval from the advisor for that major. Transfer and continuing students may apply directly to Honors in Research or Honors in the Major (after approval from the major advisor).

Requirements
All CALS Honors programs have the following requirements:

• Earn at least a cumulative 3.25 GPA at UW-Madison (some programs have higher requirements)
• Complete the program-specific requirements listed below
• Submit completed thesis documentation to CALS Academic Affairs

To earn Honors in the Major, students are required to take at least 20 honors credits. In addition, students must take AN SCI 681 Senior Honors Thesis and AN SCI 682 Senior Honors Thesis when completing their thesis project; please see the Honors Program page for more information.

Total Degree
To receive a bachelor’s degree from UW-Madison, students must earn a minimum of 120 degree credits. The requirements for some programs may exceed 120 degree credits. Students should consult with their college or department advisor for information on specific credit requirements.

Residency
Degree candidates are required to earn a minimum of 30 credits in residence at UW-Madison. “In residence” means on the UW-Madison campus with an undergraduate degree classification. “In residence” credit also includes UW-Madison courses offered in distance or online formats and credits earned in UW-Madison Study Abroad/Study Away programs.

Quality of Work
Undergraduate students must maintain the minimum grade point average specified by the school, college, for academic program to remain in good academic standing. Students whose academic performance drops below these minimum thresholds will be placed on academic probation.

1. Define biological processes and explain their role in animal health and management
2. Apply scientific concepts and critical thinking skills to identify and analyze real world problems in animals and veterinary biosciences
3. Develop scientific competencies and communication skills needed for advanced careers in animal or veterinary biosciences

Below you will find three sample four-year plans. These plans represent a range of interest and career-based options for completing the Animal and Veterinary Biosciences major. Your individual plan will look different from these plans. You should customize your own program of study in consultation with your advisor.

Advising

Each student receives one-on-one guidance from their professional advisor. Academic advisors will help students build an individualized, four-year plan. Many Animal and Veterinary Biosciences majors complete certificates or double majors. Customary examples include Life Sciences Communication, Genetics and Genomics, Global Health, CALS Business Management, and opportunities outside of CALS, such as foreign languages, depending on the students’ interests.

Career Opportunities

All students have a faculty mentor to assist with their career planning.

Students graduating with a degree in Animal and Veterinary Biosciences can enter a number of career fields. These include nutrition and genetics, health and welfare, animal management and monitoring technology, meat science and biologics, food and animal research, and teaching. Many students go on to pursue professional education in veterinary medicine, graduate programs in animal science, or human medicine.

Professors

• Weigel, Kent (Chair)
• Khatib, Hasan (Associate Chair)
• Adcock, Sarah
• Arriola Apelo, Sebastian
• Cabrera, Victor
• Claus, Jim
• Crenshaw, Thomas
• Dorea, Joao
• Ferraretto, Luiz
• Fricke, Paul
• Guo, Wei
• Hernandez, Laura
• Kirkpatrick, Brian
• Laporta, Jimena
• Leone, Vanessa
• Parrish, John
• Peñagaricano, Francisco
• Reed, Jess
• Richards, Mark
• Ricke, Steve
• Rosa, Guilherme
• Shanmuganayagam, Dhanansayan (Dhanu)
• Sindelar, Jeffrey
• Van Os, Jennifer
• Wattiaux, Michel
• White, Heather
• Wiltbank, Milo

Instructors/Lecturers

• Halbach, Theodore
• Kean, Ron
• O’Rourke, Bernadette
• Ronk, Eric

Advisor

• Sandberg, Liv

https://andysci.wisc.edu/about-us/faculty-and-staff/

Internships

Animal and veterinary biosciences majors take part in a number of internships around campus and beyond. Past students interned at veterinary clinics and hospitals, genetics companies, animal feed companies, Extension, food companies, farms, animal pharmaceutical companies, animal councils, humane societies, and more.

On campus opportunities at department animal care facilities, UW veterinary school, and at Bucky’s Varsity Meats give students hands-on experience each semester.

Research Experience

There are numerous opportunities to conduct research with faculty and staff in the department. Around 75 percent of Animal and Veterinary Biosciences majors have completed independent study projects. Several research stipends are available, and some students also take part in research as part of an honors thesis.

Student Organizations

By joining a student organization, animal and veterinary biosciences majors connect with other students and build relationships with faculty and staff. Organizations of particular interest to Animal and Veterinary Biosciences students include Pre Vet Association, Saddle and Sirloin Club, Poultry Club, Badger Dairy Club, and Badger Meat Science Club.

There are additional opportunities for students to get involved in animal or agriculture related organizations on campus such as Hoofer Riding Club, Association of Women in Agriculture, Babcock House, and Collegiate FFA.

Global Engagement

The department encourages students to study abroad and offers globally focused courses that look at animal health, animal agriculture, and sustainable development. Students can find more information on the International Academic Programs website and the CALS study abroad advising page.

Community Engagement and Volunteering

Animal and veterinary biosciences students engage in a number of volunteer opportunities including working at the Livestock Lab, the Poultry Research Lab, the Dairy Cattle Center, Bucky’s Varsity Meats, and Animal Farm Units. Students also participate in undergraduate student recruitment events, 4-H and Extension events, Dane County Humane Society, and spay/neuter clinics.

On campus, the Morgridge Center for Public Service provides resources to help students connect with volunteer opportunities based on their interests and goals.

The Animal and Veterinary Biosciences program awards $25,000 – 35,000 in annual scholarships. Students in the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences receive more than $1.25 million in scholarships annually. Learn more about college scholarships here.

Campus facilities offering students hands-on experience include:

• The Livestock Laboratory accommodates research on multiple species and includes a surgery room.
• The Poultry Research Laboratory houses chickens and other birds.
• The state-of-the-art Meat Science & Animal Biologics Discovery Building houses a meat processing facility, retail shop, and advanced laboratories.
• A network of off-campus Agricultural Research Stations serve as living laboratories for agricultural animal research.
• The School of Veterinary Medicine animal clinics and research labs offer experiences for undergraduate students.
• The Dairy Cattle Center houses more than 80 dairy cows on campus in a tie-stall barn.