Frequently Asked Questions by students considering the Cornell Animal Science program
The Animal Science major offers an opportunity to apply animal biology, biochemistry, molecular biology, and other life sciences to the study of animal breeding and genetics, nutrition, physiology, growth, behavior, and management. The curriculum is unusually flexible with the application of principles to a great variety of species...from farm animals to pets, laboratory animals, and even exotics. Students are encouraged, with the help of a faculty advisor, to plan an individual curriculum in line with their interests and career goals. Because the program is so flexible and the field so diverse, animal science graduates go in many interesting directions...research, veterinary medicine, animal production, agribusiness, biotechnology, medicine, conservation, education, Peace Corps, and many others. This major provides excellent preparation for students who will take a position (perhaps on a farm, in a lab, or in an agribusiness or pharmaceutical firm) immediately upon graduation, as well as those (approximately 40%) who plan to enter graduate or professional schools to obtain advanced degrees in such fields as genetics, physiology, nutrition, growth biology, human medicine or veterinary medicine.
Curricula are tailored to the interests of the individual student. Students may be urged to emphasize basic physical and biological science courses in preparation for graduate training and teaching or research careers in more specialized disciplines of animal sciences. Students whose career interests are in animal production or agribusiness are urged to take courses in complementary disciplines such as business, food science, and agronomy. A Dairy Fellows Program in dairy production and farm management is available for students to gain an understanding of the integration and the application of management principles and programs with new technology.
For Animal Science Department information, contact:
W. Ronald Butler, Chair and Professoranscinfo@cornell.edu
149 Morrison Hall
Cornell University
Ithaca, NY 14853
phone: (607)255-2862