Undergraduate Animal Science students are required to take ANSC 1105: Careers in Animal Science, which provides a glimpse into the wide variety of unique fields open to anyone with a passion for animals. Learn more about the course and what it offers students!
Each Friday morning, students from across campus shuffle into Frank Morrison Hall, ready to get a glimpse into an exciting new field of animal science. As they settle into their seats, the weekly guest speaker begins their lecture, enthusiastic about sharing their passion for the field.
The course is headed by Lindsay Glasner, undergraduate program coordinator for Cornell Animal Science, who invites guest lecturers to speak on their professional experiences. Speakers are often Cornell alumni and industry professionals who offer diverse perspectives and unique career trajectories which may resonate with students.
"Dr. Jessica Rothman comes in regularly to speak. She's an amazing woman who received her bachelor's, master's and Ph.D. from Cornell Animal Science,” said Glasner. “Now she's a professor of Anthropology at Hunter College studying the nutrition and ecology of wild primates in the field."
"Students get excited when they realize they could be the next Jane Goodall!"
Guest speakers walk students through the paths they took to their current careers. Sharing their daily experiences and how they work with animals in their profession, speakers help students discover unfamiliar career opportunities and new interests.
“It's all about exposing students to the diversity of careers and industries they can explore with a degree in animal science,” said guest speaker, Katie Schoenberg, B.S. ’03, Ph.D. ’11, portfolio and product manager with Elanco Animal Health and adjunct assistant professor in Cornell’s Department of Animal Science. “We can also serve the agriculture industries by bringing them passionate and successful students."
Hear from current students
“Coming into this class, I had a set idea that I wanted to work with wildlife and infectious disease. Now I see that there is so much I can explore that I never would have wanted to do before. Last week, we learned about digital agriculture with Julio Giordano, and I realized the technology used in digital ag can be applied to the wildlife research I’m pursuing.”
- Rhiyan Gray ’26
Hear from current students
“I liked hearing from the speakers from the vet school. It was helpful to hear from the neurosurgeon, who discussed the ups and downs of his field. There were also the actual veterinary students who had done their undergrad at Cornell, too, so they gave us advice on what classes to take in the concentration.”
- Ashley Schiller ’26
Hear from current students
“When I first came here, I thought I wanted to be a vet, and then I switched pretty soon after starting my first semester. This class helped me realize that it’s okay to switch to different opportunities. Many speakers talked about how they came in wanting to do one thing, then suddenly realized they wanted to do something else. I enjoyed hearing from Anusha Shankar from the Lab of Ornithology because I’m interested in wildlife biology.”
- Kaysha Williams ’26



“I went into my freshman year only wanting to study canine and feline veterinary medicine, but now I’m interested in companion exotics and maybe even large farm animals,” said student Marissa De Leon ’25. “I am also now pursuing minors in education and marine biology due to what I learned from the speakers in the class.”
“We are so young and have yet to discover so many of our passions,” said student Ariana Rivera ’25. “Although I am still in the pre-veterinary route, this course has challenged me to step out of my comfort zone and approach my career with a more open mindset.”
First-year and transfer students often take the course in their first semester at Cornell. Careers in Animal Science aids a transition into college life and provides professional development opportunities such as drafting 4-year course plans, perfecting resumes and even applying to internships. Skills like emailing and networking are also emphasized in the course curriculum.
"Students come in with their eyes on a career opportunity, so together we build a resume tailored to the position," Glasner added. "They'll go through the resume critique process, craft a cover letter and submit their application. It’s so rewarding to see students get accepted to their dream internships or jobs.”
Glasner hopes to introduce more campus resources to new students, supporting them as they discover their academic and career interests. De Leon and Rivera encourage future students to reach out to guest speakers after class to learn more, ask for advice, or thank them for their lectures.
Rivera added, “Careers in Animal Science allow one-on-one interactions with professionals from many careers. Students should take advantage of the opportunity! This could lead to great connections that can later help you in your career or even lead you to find a new passion in animal science.”
"Be curious and ask questions,” said Schoenberg, B.S. ’03, Ph.D. ’11.
“Take the blinders off and expose yourself to new experiences, new people and new perspectives. You might find something surprising!"
Tyler Collinson ’25 is an Animal Science major and student writer for the Cornell CALS Department of Animal Science.
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