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Animal Sciences Department

Animal Sciences Department

Current Students

The Department of Animal Sciences undergraduate program offers four specializations: Animal Biology, Equine, and Food Animal. The Animal Biology Specialization is a pre-professional track, leading to application to professional programs such as Medicine, Veterinary Medicine, Pharmacy, and Dentistry. The Equine Specialization leads to careers supporting the horse industry. Within the Food Animal specialization, students may choose from coursework related to beef cattle, dairy cattle, or the safety and processing of meat, and prepare for careers supporting those industries. Integrative Animal Sciences is for students who are interested in exploring a discipline, rather than a species. 

Animal Sciences Career Pathways

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Undergraduate Opportunities

Semester Guides and Resources

  • Animal Biology Specialization

    The Animal Biology Specialization prepares students to enter professional programs, such as vet school, and animal industries.

    • Animal Biology Approved Electives

    Freshman Semester Guide:

    • Fall
      • Beginning with CHM 1025
    • Fall
      • Beginning with CHM 2045
    • Summer B

    Transfer Semester Guide:

    • Fall
    • Spring
    • Summer A/C
    • Summer B

     

    UF Vet Med Pre-Vet Resources

  • Equine Specialization

    The Equine Specialization prepares students to enter into careers in the equine industry.

    • Equine Approved Practica

    Freshman Semester Guide:

    • Fall
    • Summer

    Transfer Semester Guide:

    • Fall
    • Spring
    • Summer

    PaCE Semester Guide:

    • PaCE

     

  • Food Animal Specialization

    The Food Animal Specialization prepares students to enter into careers in animal agriculture. Students can pick courses based on the following focus areas: beef, dairy, swine, meats, and food safety.

    • Approved Electives

    Freshman Semester Guide:

    • Fall
    • Summer B

    Transfer Semester Guide:

    • Fall
    • Spring
    • Summer

    PaCE Semester Guide:

    • PaCE
  • Integrative Animal Sciences Specialization

    For students who wish to obtain a customized degree in animal sciences with a focus on a discipline rather than an animal species. Examples include the integration of the animal sciences with advanced training in artificial intelligence, reproduction, animal behavior, or environmental sciences. 

    This plan requires students to create a specific degree plan and work closely with an ANS faculty mentor of choice, as well as an academic advisor. 

    Schedule with an Academic Advisor to discuss your degree plan!

    Integrative Animal Sciences Advising Guide

    Integrative Animal Sciences Approve Electives

     

Degree Options

  • Change of Major

    If you are a currently enrolled UF student considering changing your major to Animal Sciences, please make an appointment with an advisor to discuss your eligibility.

    If an advisor approves of your change of major, you will need to complete the CALS Change of Major Form.

  • Adding a Minor

    A minor is a recognized concentration of study in a subject area outside of the major, consisting of at least 15 credits of appropriate coursework.

    Eligibility

    • Gave an established UF GPA of 2.0 or higher
    • Be on track for your major
    • Have 45 hours earned
    • Be able to complete the minor in a timely fashion
    • Complete a minimum of 6 credits exclusive to the minor (credits that will not count toward major(s) or other minors)

    Explore the over 100 UF Minors and their requirements here.

     

     

  • Learn about Double Majoring, Combination, Joint, and Dual Degrees at UF

    Combination, joint, and dual degree programs are specialized pathways that provide academically qualified students the opportunity to enhance their educational experience and strengthen their career preparation or readiness for future academic pursuits.

    • A combination degree program, sometimes referred to as a combined degree program, is one where the University of Florida awards more than one degree from an overlapping course of study. Combination degrees often allow a shorter time for completion due to the sharing of some coursework between the degree programs (these result in double-counted credits; see Item 3 in this policy). At the University of Florida, this type of program includes any combination of undergraduate, graduate, and professional degree programs. The resulting combination program will consist of at least 120 credit hours counted toward the undergraduate degree and at least 30 credit hours counted toward the graduate degree, with up to 12 credit hours of double-counted graduate coursework.  

    Example: A student is admitted to veterinary school before completing the B.S. degree. After the first year of vet school, up to 12 credit hours of vet coursework could potentially be double-counted so that the B.S. could be conferred.

    • A dual degree program (also called a dual academic award) is one whereby students study at the University of Florida and at another institution, and each institution awards a separate program completion credential bearing its own name, seal, and signature.
    • A joint degree program (or joint academic award) is one whereby students study at the University of Florida and one or more participant institutions and are awarded a single program completion credential bearing the names, seals, and signatures of each of the participant institutions.
    • A double major permits students to pursue multiple majors within the same degree program. In general, students are not permitted to pursue more than two majors. A student completing multiple majors that have the same degree within the colleges of Agricultural and Life Sciences, Business Administration, Fine Arts, or Liberal Arts and Sciences will receive a single degree. The transcript will list the degree and each major. 

    The full details of the UF Policy regarding combination, joint, and dual degrees are available in this document: UF Combination Joint and Dual Degree Policy

Questions?

Jeanie Houk
Academic Advisor

2250 Shealy Drive
Gainesville, FL 32608
Bldg 459 Rm 100A
352-392-9739
jeanie.houk@ufl.edu

Savannah Linzmaier
Academic Advisor

2250 Shealy Drive
Gainesville, FL 32608
Bldg 459 Rm 100B
352-392-2455
slinzmaier@ufl.edu 

Dr. Jason Scheffler
Undergraduate Coordinator

2250 Shealy Drive
Gainesville, FL 32608
Bldg 459 Rm 100C
352-392-9155
jmscheff@ufl.edu

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Department of Animal Sciences
P.O. Box 110910, Gainesville, FL 32611-0910
(352) 392-1981

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