Department of Animal Sciences

Undergraduate Information

For more information e-mail: Dodi.Reesman@oregonstate.edu

Are you interested in animals? Do you think a career in veterinary medicine or agribusiness might be right for you? Would you like to attend a Pac-10 university with the atmosphere of a small friendly campus? If so, consider studying Animal Sciences at Oregon State University.

Oregon State University offers studies leading to the bachelor of science degree in Animal Sciences. Students may choose Animal Sciences as either a major or minor area of study. The department also offers graduate studies leading to the master of science and doctor of philosophy degrees.

Animal agriculture is an important part of the economy of Oregon and the nation. It supplies wholesome and nutritional food to millions of people daily. To do this, it requires people with a wide variety of knowledge and skills. In addition to farm or ranch managers, modern animal agriculture requires animal breeders, extension specialists, financiers, food processors, food inspectors, marketing specialists, sales representatives, teachers, technicians, scientists, and veterinarians.

Students who study Animal Sciences learn answers to many important questions such as: How valuable are domestic farm animals to Americans? How can these animals be improved through the application of genetics? How are animal diets formulated, and how are domestic animals cared for? How can animal diseases be prevented? And how are animal products prepared and marketed?

Oregon has a diversity of animal industries. These include beef cattle, dairy cattle, poultry, swine, sheep, and horses. Domestic animals are also of great importance throughout the U.S. Consequently, you can customize your curriculum to emphasize the animal or animals that interest you. Or you can choose a career track curriculum that emphasizes animal production, equine science, business, research, or preveterinary medicine. Regardless of your area of study, an internship in the workplace may be used to complement classroom studies.

Our curriculum provides students with the necessary background to compete in the job market, to qualify for professional study in Veterinary Medicine, or to enter graduate school or a professional school upon receiving the Bachelor of Science degree. There are several options within the Animal Sciences Department. These are: Pre-Veterinary Medicine, Beef, Dairy, Equine Science, Poultry, and Sheep. The Pre-Veterinary option is for students who have an interest in the technical aspects of livestock and poultry production, who are anticipating entering graduate school, or wish to prepare for the professional program in Veterinary Medicine.

Extracurricular activities enable students to share common interests and develop leadership skills. If you study Animal Sciences at OSU, you'll have a wide variety of clubs and campus groups from which to choose. These include the Withycombe Club (Block and Bridle Club), Equine Science, Poultry Club, and Alpha Zeta, an ag honor society. Also available are a Rodeo Team, Livestock and Dairy Judging Teams, and English, Western, and Equestrian Drill Teams. Students may also develop interpersonal skills by serving as peer advisers as they help faculty members advise incoming students and organize special events.

Oregon State University is an excellent educational choice if you are interested in a career in the animal sciences. As the Land Grant university in the state, OSU is committed to educating students for such careers. Our location in the heart of western Oregon's lush Willamette Valley provides an ideal location to observe animal industries in action.

Oregon State University has about 14,500 students representing every state in the U.S. and more than 90 other countries. Corvallis is a low-crime, culturally diverse college town of 45,000 people offering a friendly and relaxed atmosphere. Shopping areas, restaurants, theaters, and parks are within walking distance of campus. The cities of Portland (80 miles north) and Eugene (40 miles south) offer world class performing arts centers, along with a variety of theaters, restaurants, museums, and art galleries.

Recreational opportunities for OSU students abound. Within an hour or two of Corvallis are the snow-capped Cascade Mountains and the sandy beaches of the Pacific Ocean. OSU students regularly spend their free time in activities such as mountain and rock climbing, freshwater and ocean fishing, hiking, camping, mountain and road biking, beachcombing, canoeing, wind surfing, cross-country and downhill skiing, and boating or rafting on nearby whitewater rivers.

If all of this sounds interesting to you, join the growing number of students who are challenged to meet the demands of the future and who are taking advantage of the educational opportunities available through OSU's Department of Animal Sciences.

Interested students should begin preparations during the last two years of high school by emphasizing courses in science and communications. Courses such as math, chemistry, physics, and biology are especially helpful.

Community college students who plan to transfer to Oregon State should contact the University early to ensure that the maximum number of credits are transferred.

Scholarships and other forms of tuition aid are available through the Department of Animal Sciences and the College of Agricultural Sciences.

For more information about:
Financial Aid and Scholarships

Admissions - Prospective Students

Oregon State University Animal Sciences Scholarships

Suggestions for Preparing for a Career in Veterinary Medicine