Agricultural Animal Science

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

Protect Ecosystems, Animal Health, and Food Systems

This program blends biology, animal health, and environmental science to prepare students to care for livestock in ways that prioritize animal welfare, sustainable practices, and responsible land use.

Graduates of the program are ready for careers in livestock management, animal health, agricultural outreach, and more. Whether your goal is to manage a sustainable farm, consult on feed strategies, work with public agencies like the USDA, or shape food system policy, this degree equips you with the tools to lead in a field that’s rapidly evolving.

CAREER OUTLOOK

What Can I Do With a Bachelor’s in
Agricultural Animal Science?

13 K

Agricultural Inspectors jobs in the U.S., 2023*

$ 51 K

Median salary for Agricultural Inspectors, U.S. 2024*

+ 5 %

Projected 10 year growth for Agricultural Inspectors, 2033*

*Source: ONet Online/U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Unity cannot guarantee employment. Salary data represents averaged earnings for occupations listed and includes workers at all levels of education and experience.

In the BS in Agricultural Animal Science Program You’ll Learn To:

Apply animal genetics, nutrition, and environmental principles to promote ethical and productive care.
Compare anatomy and physiology across domesticated species to improve health and management decisions.
Implement science-based animal care through best practices in health, behavior, and handling for safe, sustainable livestock management.
Use scientific methods to collect data, test predictions, and develop actionable solutions in animal agriculture.
Design effective livestock facilities using the latest research in welfare, housing, and environmental management to ensure animal well-being.

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What Will You Study

Agricultural Animal Science
Course Examples

Animal Comparative Physiology

This course is a systematic study of the function of internal animal systems, from the cellular to the organ-system level, with particular emphasis on thermoregulation and the circulatory, respiratory, endocrine, and nervous systems.

Animal Nutrition

This course will introduce you to the basic fundamentals of animal nutrition as they apply to captive and wild animal species. You will identify and describe the gastrointestinal tract’s (GIT) unique structure and function among different species and how it contributes to the absorption of nutrients.

Sustainable Livestock Health, Nutrition, and Care

Through this course you’ll learn specific factors addressing both large production facilities and small or backyard farms are addressed. Animal welfare, livestock behavior, nutritional basics and monitoring, health and handling practices, and sustainability are the main topics of study.

FAQ

Learn More About Degrees and Careers in Agricultural Animal Science

Agricultural animal science is a field of study that focuses on the scientific understanding of animals, including their biology, health, and welfare. It encompasses various aspects related to the care, breeding, nutrition, genetics, physiology, and health of livestock.

The BS in Agricultural Animal Science examines the scientific principles supporting the effective and sustainable raising of livestock. This program emphasizes the application of animal biology, chemistry, nutrition, and physiology to the study of breeding and genetics, growth, behavior, and management of animals raised for agricultural purposes, including meat, milk, fiber, and other products. Students will gain a strong foundation for careers in livestock management, the agricultural industry, and related scientific fields. This program also provides a strong foundation for students interested in further studies in animal science or veterinary medicine with a focus on production animals.

Your online education should be affordable and manageable. Thanks to our promise to keep tuition flat through 2030, you won’t be burdened with unexpected increases or fees.

Our team of Distance Education concierges will work with you through the admissions process to help you plan and pay for your degree. Learn more about the costs here.

Our comprehensive 120-credit program can be tailored to fit your schedule and goals! Completion time is flexible, determined by the number of credits you choose to take each term (8 terms/year) and less time with transfer credits. Without transfer credits, you can anticipate the following completion times:

24 credits/year: Complete in just 5 years
30 credits/year: Achieve your degree in 4 years
48 credits/year: Fast-track your education in only 2.6 years

General Education Core: 36 credits
Environmental Professional Core: 13 credits
Elective Courses: 32 credits
Program Core: 39 credits

ANIM 205: Animal Nutrition
ANIM 301: Animal Husbandry and Genetics
ANIM 302: Animal Comparative Anatomy
ANIM 304: Animal Comparative Physiology
ANIM 310: Sustainable Livestock Health, Nutrition, and Care
ANIM 410: Sustainable Livestock Management
BIOL 301: Animal Behavior: The Evolution, Ecology, and Social Behavior of Animals
BIOL 310: Microbiology
BIOL 315: Cell Biology
CHEM 103: Chemistry II
CHEM 104: Chemistry II Laboratory
CHEM 201: Organic Chemistry I
CHEM 202: Organic Chemistry I Laboratory
CHEM 301: Biochemistry
CHEM 302: Biochemistry Laboratory

For course requirements and a better look into your program, view our full course catalog. Then apply online for free to get started.

Bachelor’s in Agricultural Animal Science Academic Information

Degree Requirements and Courses Needed

The agricultural animal science degree requires 120 credits. You may transfer in up to 90 credits from outside institutions. View our full course catalog for a better look into your program. Then apply online for free to get started.

Realizing Your Potential. Protecting Your Planet.

Why Unity Distance Education?

High Educational Value

Nationally recognized educational quality at an affordable price.

Sustainability Core

Committed to sustainable practices to prepare for a future of environmental awareness.

Personalized Guidance

Dedicated to turning career and academic aspirations into tangible achievements.

Transfer-Friendly

Accepting up to 90 transfer credits to graduate sooner and save money.

Inspiring Faculty

Connect with experts who share your passion for working in the animal industry.

Future Success

Ranked #1 independent university in the U.S. by the Social Mobility Index.

Multiple Start Dates

With up to 8 terms a year, you can take a break without jeopardizing financial aid.

Learning Flexibility

Balance life, work, and education by studying when and where you want

Real Students, Real Impact

Real Students, Real Impact

“I chose Unity because I felt like it aligned with me…”

Amanda P.
Bachelor of Science in Animal Science

Read Full Testimonial

Amanda P.
Bachelor of Science in Animal Science

“I chose Unity because I felt like it aligned with me more after doing research. I liked that I had the option to finish my education completely online and that it offered prevet courses unlike other universities.”

Learn from Leaders

Learn from Leaders

PhD, MS, BS in Animal Sciences

Dr. Milca Rosa Velazquez
Global Expert in Animal Science and Nutrition

Learn More About Dr. Rosa-Velazquez

Dr. Milca Rosa Velazquez
Global Expert in Animal Science and Nutrition

Dr. Milca Rosa-Velazquez is a passionate and compassionate Animal Scientist born and raised in Puerto Rico. She received an AS in Pre-Veterinary and a BS in Animal Sciences from the University of Puerto Rico. She later enrolled in the School of Veterinary Medicine at La Complutense University in Madrid, Spain. During her undergraduate studies, she had the opportunity to join a research exchange program with Salamanca University in Spain; it was then that her love for research began.

She received an MS in Animal Sciences from Veracruzana University in Mexico and a PhD from a sandwich program at the Ohio State University and Veracruzana University. Her research focuses on nutritional physiology, health, and epigenetics. It has demonstrated the importance of nutritional supplements in ruminant diets during gestation and its effects on pre- and postnatal offspring growth and health indices. She is an animal welfare advocate. She thinks it is a privilege to work with animals in research. “They are helping us to build a healthier and safer future. Therefore, as caretakers, we should ensure their experience is as pleasant and peaceful as possible.” When not conducting research or teaching, she enjoys traveling and spending time outdoors. She considers herself a citizen of the world. She has lived in different countries, including Spain, Germany, Mexico, Brazil, Puerto Rico, and the USA. She speaks English and Spanish fluently and some German. These have allowed her to work and learn from wonderful researchers from all over the world, explore their different cultures and understand their challenges, and bring back home and everywhere she goes valuable knowledge. She is committed to fostering a workplace culture of belonging, where diversity and inclusion are celebrated, and equity is a core value.

Learn from Leaders

PhD, Master’s, Bachelor’s in Poultry Science

Dr. Zachary Williams
Global Expert in Microbiology and Bacterial Pathogens

Learn More About Dr. Williams

Dr. Zachary Williams
Global Expert in Microbiology and Bacterial Pathogens

Dr. Williams has a Ph.D. from Auburn University, and master’s and bachelor’s degrees from Mississippi State University. All three degrees are in poultry science. Dr. Williams’s research activities include microbiology of broiler litter, and controlling bacterial pathogens with proper litter management. Developing better ways to conduct mass mortality composting (primarily poultry species) during a foreign animal disease outbreak.

Dr. Williams has two children ages 3 and 2. He is currently teaching them how to fish and enjoys going camping and playing with them. During his free time, he ties his own flies for fly fishing, enjoys to run, and is an avid reader.

Learn from Leaders

Ph.D. in Animal Sciences, B.S. and M.S. degrees in the field of monogastric nutrition

Dr. Anoosh Rakhshandeh
Global Expert in Swine Nutrition and Digestive Physiology

Learn More About Dr. Rakhshandeh

Dr. Anoosh Rakhshandeh
Global Expert in Swine Nutrition and Digestive Physiology

Dr. Anoosh Rakhshandeh earned his B.S. and M.S. degrees in the field of monogastric nutrition at Azad University, and his Ph.D. in swine nutrition and immune function at the University of Guelph. He is currently a full-time faculty member in the department of Animal and Food Sciences at Texas Tech University, where the focus of his research and teaching is animal nutrition.

His research explores the nutrient utilization and digestive physiology of animals, as influenced by various stressors. Dr. Rakhshandeh has published over 50 scientific abstracts, short papers, book chapters and peer-reviewed articles in the field of animal nutrition and digestive physiology. Dr. Rakhshandeh worked for the poultry industry for seven years before joining academia as a researcher and educator. During his career, Dr. Rakhshandeh has taught several animal nutrition related courses at the graduate and undergraduate levels, incorporating a student-centered and active learning approach to facilitate student understanding of animal nutrition, as informed by real issues in research, industry, and the environment.