Animal Science Major
Animal Science majors learn from internationally recognized professors in all aspects of domestic animal biology: breeding, genetics, nutrition, physiology, growth, behavior, and management.
Although there is no official “pre-vet” major at Cornell, the Animal Science major provides stellar preparation for veterinary school, both in and out of the classroom.
Cornell’s Animal Science major also offers students the opportunity to:
- graduate with distinction in research
- receive top-notch training for careers in the dairy industry through the Dairy Fellows Program
Sample Classes
AN SC 2210 – Principles of Animal Genetics
Examination of basic genetic principles and their application to the improvement of domestic animals, with emphasis on the effects of selection on animal populations and an introduction to the application of molecular techniques to animal improvement.
AN SC 3200 – Comparative Animal Nutrition and Toxicology: Horses, Dogs, Cats and More
At the end of this course, students will:
- Be able to match feed resources to the physiological needs of horses, dogs, cats, rabbits, deer, reindeer, birds, reptiles, and a variety of other animals found at home, in zoos, rehabilitation centers, on ranches and farms
- Understand the intellectual processes by which a successful, science-based feeding strategy should be developed for animals without a history of domestication
- Understand the evolutionary and physiological basis for some of the diversity in nutritional strategies and toxicological vulnerabilities found among animals
AN SC 3510 – Dairy Herd Management
Application of scientific principles to practical herd management with components of reproduction, milking, housing, records, and production economics. Laboratories emphasize practical applications, analyses of alternatives, decision-making, field trips, and discussion.
What recent graduates are doing
- Student at Cornell’s College of Veterinary Medicine
- Biotechnologist
- Animal genetic counselor
- Livestock/dairy manager