Veterinary Degrees Online

LBCC offers all of the lower-division transfer courses that a potential transfer student in Animal Science needs. These courses provide the proper background for those wanting to further their educational goals. Valuable practical instruction assists students in meeting their objectives. Curriculum completion is the first step toward meeting lower-division requirements for students interested in pursuing a career in teaching. Also available are lower-division transfer courses in a variety of agricultural areas that will provide practical background and experiences for anyone entering the field of education.

Student Learning Outcomes
Students who successfully complete an Associate of Science degree with an emphasis in Animal Science will:
Effectively apply multiple species animal husbandry skills and concepts within the livestock industry and/or as a transfer student.
Use skills acquired to gain employment in animal agriculture.
Effectively research nutrition, management, marketing, health, and reproduction issues.
Communicate effectively (written and oral) using industry specific vocabulary.
Apply appropriate computational/accounting skills and utilize technology for successful money management and other record keeping requirements.

Students who successfully complete an Associate of Science degree with an emphasis in Equine Science will:
Apply equine husbandry skills and concepts successfully as a transfer student.
Research nutritional, basic management, marketing, health, reproduction and training issues in horses.
Interact with professionals unique to the equine industry using appropriate vocabulary.
Manage financial and record keeping operations using appropriate computational skills and technology.

Program Requirements
Students in this program will progress more quickly if they have a firm background in life sciences, physical sciences and math. Program completion requires math, chemistry and biology as well as courses in baccalaureate core perspectives. A cross-section of lower-division agriculture electives are available, providing practical instructional experiences in animal science, economics and crop production.

Facilities
Classes are conducted in modern classrooms and laboratories that have microcomputers, microscopes and other lab equipment for student use. Emphasis is placed on “hands on” experience, and many classes utilize the local livestock producers for in-the-field laboratory exercises

The educational goals of the Department of Pre-Veterinary Medicine are to provide students with knowledge of the basic principles of the pure sciences, including mathematics, physics, chemistry, and biology, as well as the humanities and social sciences. In addition, students are strongly encouraged to participate in a variety of extracurricular activities, such as festivals, athletic activities, and club activities. Upon successful completion of the two-year program, students then advance to the School of Veterinary Medicine to major in veterinary medicine.

Career Preparation
The study of Animal Science is increasingly broad and diverse.
Employment opportunities for Missouri State Animal Science graduates
range from food processing management, pharmaceutical sales, feed
and equipment sales, animal breeding and management to production
farming, horse training and zoo animal management.
The employment picture appears bright for properly prepared
graduates of the animal science curriculum. Numerous national
and regional firms employ our graduates. Those who maintain a
superior college grade point average, are active in at least one student
organization and are willing to be relocated after graduation
have the best prospects for employment.
Academic Program
The Animal Science program normally takes four years to complete
and results in a Bachelor of Science degree. Animal Science is a
comprehensive major, meaning no minor is required.
Students who have completed most of the basic requirements and
have made some decisions on career goals may, in consultation with
their advisors, want to emphasize the basic sciences to prepare for
graduate school. Other students may want to emphasize business
classes to prepare for careers in the many agricultural businesses that
serve animal agriculture. A minimum of 125 credit hours are required
for graduation; this requires that students carry about 16 hours per
semester in order to complete studies in four academic years. Students
are encouraged to complete two units of mathematics, plus chemistry
and biology in high school in preparation for majoring in Animal
Science. High school preparation should also include a background in
speaking, writing and reading.
Courses
Please consult the Missouri State Catalog online at www.missouristate.
edu/catalog for specific course information.
Introduction to Animal Science
Introduction to Horses
Equitation
Dairy and Meat Animal Evaluation
Artificial Insemination and Reproduction
Veterinary Science
Feeds and Feeding
Animal Breeding
Meat Science
Game Bird Production
Advanced Dairy and Meat Animal Evaluation
Swine Production
Dairy Production
Poultry Science
Beef Cattle Production
Light Horse Production
Beef Cattle Marketing
Problems in Animal Science
Physiology of Domestic Animals
Animal Nutrition and Metabolism
Applied Animal Breeding
Senior Seminar