A high school diploma with the following
specific courses:
4 English
2 Algebra I & II
1 Geometry
2 Lab Science (including chemistry or physics)
2 History/Social Studies
Academic electives (to equal at least 17 total credits)
To ensure current mathematical skills, students should take a mathematics course during their senior year of high school.
Major Requirements
B.S. in Animal Science or Animal Business, or Natural Resource Management
Students are given the opportunity to choose any minor on campus as an area of specialization.
Student interested in Production Agriculture or Animal Husbandry may select the Animal Science degree plan as their major and may select Range and Wildlife Management, Food Science, Agronomy, Biology, or Chemistry as a minor.
Students interested in Animal Business and Sales may select the Animal Business degree plan as their major and may select a minor in Finance, Accounting, Management, Marketing, and/or Economics.
Students may choose Journalism or Communication as supporting concentrations if they are interested in pursuing careers in Agricultural Broadcasting, Agricultural Journalism.
A four-year degree in animal science prepares students for animal-related careers in zoos, stables, farms, pet shops and kennels, dude ranches, year-round camps, or research settings. Those planning to move on to Veterinary Medicine need to take the additional chemistry and physics classes that most vet schools require. A degree in animal science will show the veterinary schools admissions committees that you are serious about a career with animals and have the experience to back it up.
Students preparing to go into dentistry, medicine or veterinary medicine take many of the same entry courses. These suggested courses should aid students in preparing for medical fields, but successful completion of these courses does not ensure entry into professional schools. A student usually must earn a bachelor’s degree in any area of interest before being considered by a professional school. Final acceptance by a professional school is based on analysis of previous college work, special entrance examinations and other criteria.
All pre-professional areas in this program guide require two years of chemistry, one year of physics, and one to two years of biology/zoology. A student’s mathematics skills should extend through a minimum of Mathematics 1432, Trigonometry. Students should begin the appropriate course sequences as soon as practical.
The professional fields of dentistry, medicine and veterinary medicine are well known for their social, psychological, economic and essential benefits to both patient and practitioner. Entry into professional schools is very competitive; successful entrants will have superior character and excellent performance in courses and admissions tests.
To gain entry to the Bachelor of Veterinary Science/Bachelor of Veterinary Biology course, applicants are required to demonstrate:
a high level of academic ability through previous studies
an interest in, and commitment to, rural Australia, veterinary science and animal production
an understanding of the unique ethical and practical issues that confront veterinarians involved with rural practice and animal production
the capacity to communicate effectively both orally and in writing
Previous studies
Previous studies include:
the NSW Higher School Certificate or interstate/overseas equivalent
a completed or part-completed course of a university (equivalent to at least one year of full-time study)
NSW and interstate school leavers are normally selected on the basis of their Universities Admissions Index (UAI) or interstate equivalent. Currently no secondary school subjects are prerequisites for admission to the Bachelor of Veterinary Science/Bachelor of Veterinary Biology course however students with a strong interest in science would be expected to do chemistry if attending a school where it is offered.
Biology 160, 210; Chemistry minor with Chemistry 365 as the elective; Physics 203 and 204; Mathematics 111 or 120 or 355; freshman English; 6 credits of social science and humanities; additional helpful courses include Biology 281 or 285, 333, 362, and 388. If you are considering veterinary research, take at least some of Biology 310, 314, 317, 382, 433, and 498 (both immunology and recombinant DNA laboratory).
A student who wishes to prepare for application to schools of veterinary medicine should acquire a broad foundation in the natural sciences, mathematics, humanities and the social sciences. The requirements for entry into schools of veterinary medicine are more variable than those for schools of medicine and dentistry. A student pursuing a career in veterinary medicine should major in biology or chemistry and consult the pre-veterinary advisor.
These professional schools accept students with majors in a variety of fields. Regardless of major, however, a strong science and math background and a high score on the appropriate admission’s test increase the probability of acceptance into the professional school of choice. Most students at NSU who are planning these careers major in biology with minors in chemistry and/or psychology.