College of Agriculture

Our Mission

Mission

The Animal Science Program at California State University-Chico delivers high-quality undergraduate education that will prepare graduates for diverse career opportunities within the food animal and fiber industry. 

Vision

Through teaching, research and service, the Chico State Animal Science Program inspires the next generation of animal scientists to meet current and future challenges and opportunities within animal agriculture. 

Programmatic Goals

  • Provide a high-quality undergraduate Animal Science program through innovative pedagogy, experiential learning, and relevant scholarship. 
    • Students will be technically competent in core animal science disciplines (nutrition, health, reproduction, genetics, behavior, meats, food safety, and public health, and animal well-being). 
    • Students will be technically competent in one or more food animal species (beef, sheep, swine or dairy) 
  • Enrich Animal Science student well-being and promote civic engagement through industry partnerships, internships, and co-curricular experiences. 
    • Provide students opportunities to be on competitive teams (AQ, Livestock, Meats, Rangeland Cup, etc.) 
    • Counsel our students not just on academics, but also internship and career opportunities 
    • Integrate current, relevant issues throughout the curriculum 
    • Honor the distinct values, beliefs, values, identities, and cultures of our students, faculty, staff, and community. 
  • Drive intellectual curiosity and inclusion by integrating under-represented students in applied research and creative works that address important issues in animal agriculture.  
    • Integrate research throughout our curriculum (reading literature, research design, applied research). 
    • Increase opportunities for students to present scientific information (local, state, national). 
  • Integrate regenerative and sustainable food animal production methods throughout the curriculum to ensure wise stewardship of resources and to improve ecological processes.  
    • Students will define the impact of livestock production practices and methods on agricultural landscapes and within ecological systems. 

Our Program

The Bachelor of Science in Animal Science is a science-based program stressing production and management of livestock, with an emphasis on food animal nutrition, reproduction, genetics, and growth. The major in Animal Science is designed to provide the student with a sound foundation in the science upon which the production of food animals depends. Students learn to integrate business, animal production, plant production, and issues which face the agricultural industry in today's sensitive food production environment.

The lower-division core of courses introduces the student to the basic principles of agricultural science, including animal science, plant science, agribusiness, basic science, and statistics.  The upper-division core provides the student with the opportunity to develop an understanding of how agricultural production fits into the world through courses in agro ecology and forage and rangeland management.  In addition, the student is trained in critical thinking and problem solving through courses in agricultural research methods, management experience, and understanding and communicating major agricultural issues. This major gives further preparation through courses in genetics, nutrition, health, and reproduction. In consultation with their advisors, students create a concentration of courses that best match their career goals. These concentrations tend to focus on animal production, animal industry and business, or pre-professional for those students interested in food animal veterinary medicine or pursuing graduate school.

Resources:

Major Academic Plan
Course Offerings(opens in new window)

Co-curricular activities:

Student clubs and teams

Internships:

Although students are not required to complete an internship as part of the major, many take advantage of this opportunity to network with industry contacts and gain invaluable experience. Students who complete internships are also eligible to receive units of upper division elective credit.

Service and Outreach Opportunities:

Students in the Animal Science major have the opportunity to participate in numerous service activities throughout the campus and local communities. Additionally, some of the outreach activities directly related to the major include the statewide FFA Field Day, Beef Day, Swine Education Day, and Sheep and Goat Day.

Student Projects:

Numerous students have conducted undergraduate research projects in the field of animal science. Some examples of previous research include:

  • Phenotypic relationships of residual feed intake with growth and carcass performance traits of spring-born Angus bulls (presented at the 2009 Western Section American Society of Animal Science)
  • Effect of low and high concentrate supplementation on milk production, milk quality, and overall profitability in a pasture-based organic dairy (poster presented at the 2009 Agriculture and Applied Economics Association annual meeting)
  • Relationship between residual feed intake and growth performance, EPD profiles, and values indices of spring-born Angus bulls (presented at the 2008 Western Section American Society of Animal Science)