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Dairy Science

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Students majoring in Dairy Science will complete the degree requirements listed here. If desired, a student may also include the specialized option in pre-veterinary medicine. A minimum of 15 credits of animal science coursework must be earned at Iowa State University. 

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon graduation, students should be able to:

  • Demonstrate a comprehensive knowledge of dairy science, dairy management, and agribusiness.
  • Exhibit effective communication skills.
  • Integrate information to solve problems.
  • Effectively employ skills as a self-learner.
  • Participate as team leaders and team builders.
  • Demonstrate awareness of contemporary issues that drive change in animal industries.

Total Degree Requirement: 128 cr.

Only 65 cr. from a two-year institution may apply which may include up to 16 technical cr.; 9 P-NP cr. of free electives; 2.00 minimum GPA.

International Perspectives
Approved International Perspectives course3
 U.S. Diversity
Approved U.S. Diversity course3
Communications Proficiency
English composition6
Speech fundamentals3
Total Credits9
Communication/Library
ENGL 1500Critical Thinking and Communication3
ENGL 2500Written, Oral, Visual, and Electronic Composition3
LIB 1600Introduction to College Level Research1
One course from the following:3
Presentation and Sales Strategies for Agricultural Audiences
Survey of Agriculture and Life Sciences Communication
Professional Communication
Fundamentals of Public Speaking
Total Credits10
 Humanities and Social Sciences
Approved Humanities course3
Approved Social Science course3
Total Credits6
Ethics
Approved Ethics course3
Mathematics and Business
One course from the following:3
Principles of Microeconomics
Principles of Macroeconomics
Financial Accounting
One course from the following:3-4
Principles of Statistics
Introduction to Statistics
Introduction to Business Statistics I
One course from the following:3-4
College Algebra
Discrete Mathematics for Business and Social Sciences
Survey of Calculus
Calculus I
Total Credits9-11
 Biological Sciences
BIOL 2110Principles of Biology I3
BIOL 2110LPrinciples of Biology Laboratory I1
BIOL 2120Principles of Biology II3
BIOL 2120LPrinciples of Biology Laboratory II1
BIOL 3130Principles of Genetics3
or GEN 3200 Genetics, Agriculture and Biotechnology
MICRO 2010
2010L
Introduction to Microbiology
and Introductory Microbiology Laboratory
3-4
or MICRO 3020
3020L
Biology of Microorganisms
and Microbiology Laboratory
Total Credits14-15
 Physical Sciences
A minimum of 8 credits are required. These requirements are specific to option and are listed with each option below.
Dairy Sciences Option
ANS 1010Working with Animals2
ANS 1100Orientation in Animal Science and ISU1
ANS 1140Survey of the Animal Industry2
ANS 2100Career Preparation in Animal Science1
ANS 2110Issues Facing Animal Science1
ANS 2140Domestic Animal Physiology3
ANS 2140LDomestic Animal Anatomy and Physiology Lab1
ANS 2350Dairy Cattle Science3
ANS 2700
2700L
Foods of Animal Origin
and Foods of Animal Origin Laboratory
3
or FSHN 1010 Food and the Consumer
ANS 3190Animal Nutrition3
ANS 3200Animal Feeds and Feeding3
ANS 3310Domestic Animal Reproduction3
ANS 3370Lactation3
ANS 3520Genetic Improvement of Domestic Animals3
ANS 4110Addressing Issues in Animal Science1
ANS 4340Dairy Systems Management3
ANS 4350Applied Dairy Farm Evaluation3
CHEM 1630
1630L
College Chemistry
and Laboratory in College Chemistry
5
or CHEM 1770
1770L
General Chemistry I
and Laboratory in General Chemistry I
CHEM 3310Organic Chemistry I3
or BBMB 2210 Structure and Reactions in Biochemical Processes
Four credits (minimum) from the following:4
Forage Crop Management
Laboratory Methods in Animal Reproduction: Livestock, Companion, and Laboratory Animals
Laboratory Methods in Animal Reproduction: Equine
Embryo Transfer and Related Technologies
Domestic Animal Behavior and Well-Being
Growth and Development of Domestic Animals
Fresh Meat Science and Applied Muscle Biology
Equine Systems Management
Advanced Animal Nutrition
Companion Animal Systems Management
Swine Systems Management
Beef Cattle Systems Management
Sheep Systems Management
Science and Technology of Value Added Meat Products
Cooperatives
Food Quality Management and Control
Food Laws and Regulations
Food Analysis
Medical Microbiology
Introductory Parasitology
Insects and Our Health
Microbial Genetics and Genomics
Microbiological Safety of Foods of Animal Origins
Food Microbiology
Food Microbiology
Immunology
VDPAM 4870Livestock Disease Prevention3
Total Credits54
Additional free electives for the Dairy Sciences option26-29
Pre-Veterinary Medicine Option
ANS 1010Working with Animals2
ANS 1100Orientation in Animal Science and ISU1
ANS 1140Survey of the Animal Industry2
ANS 2100Career Preparation in Animal Science1
ANS 2110Issues Facing Animal Science1
ANS 2140Domestic Animal Physiology3
ANS 2140LDomestic Animal Anatomy and Physiology Lab1
ANS 2350Dairy Cattle Science3
ANS 2700
2700L
Foods of Animal Origin
and Foods of Animal Origin Laboratory
3
or FSHN 1010 Food and the Consumer
ANS 3190Animal Nutrition3
ANS 3200Animal Feeds and Feeding3
ANS 3310Domestic Animal Reproduction3
ANS 3370Lactation3
ANS 3520Genetic Improvement of Domestic Animals3
ANS 4110Addressing Issues in Animal Science1
ANS 4340Dairy Systems Management3
ANS 4350Applied Dairy Farm Evaluation3
CHEM 1770General Chemistry I4
CHEM 1770LLaboratory in General Chemistry I1
CHEM 1780General Chemistry II3
CHEM 3310Organic Chemistry I3
CHEM 3310LLaboratory in Organic Chemistry I1
BBMB 3010Survey of Biochemistry3
or BBMB 3160 Principles of Biochemistry
or BBMB 4040 Biochemistry I
or BBMB 4200 Mammalian Biochemistry
PHYS 1310
1310L
General Physics I
and General Physics I Laboratory
5
Four credits (minimum) from the following:4
Forage Crop Management
ANS 3320ALaboratory Methods in Animal Reproduction: Livestock, Companion, and Laboratory Animals1
or ANS 3320E Laboratory Methods in Animal Reproduction: Equine
Domestic Animal Behavior and Well-Being
Growth and Development of Domestic Animals
Fresh Meat Science and Applied Muscle Biology
Equine Systems Management
Advanced Animal Nutrition
Companion Animal Systems Management
Swine Systems Management
Beef Cattle Systems Management
Sheep Systems Management
Science and Technology of Value Added Meat Products
Cooperatives
Food Laws and Regulations
Food Analysis
Medical Microbiology
Introductory Parasitology
Insects and Our Health
Microbial Genetics and Genomics
Microbiological Safety of Foods of Animal Origins
Food Microbiology Laboratory
Total Credits64
Additional free electives for the Pre-Veterinary Medicine Option11-14

 * The Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine academic requirements are met by completion of this option (http://vetmed.iastate.edu/academics/prospective-students/admissions/academic-requirements).

Dairy Science, B.S. - General

Freshman
FallCreditsSpringCredits
ANS 11001ANS 11402
ANS 10102CHEM 1770 or 16304
BIOL 21103CHEM 1770L or 1630L1
BIOL 2110L1Humanities - elecitve list3
ENGL 15003SPCM 2120, AGEDS 3110, AGEDS 3270, or COMST 21403
LIB 16001STAT 1010, 1040, or 22603-4
MATH 1400, 1500, 1600, or 16503-4 
Social Science - elective list3 
 17-18 16-17
Sophomore
FallCreditsSpringCredits
ANS 21101ANS 21001
ANS 23503ANS 2700 & 2700L or FSHN 10103
BIOL 21203ANS 21403
BIOL 2120L1ANS 2140L1
BBMB 22103ENGL 25003
ECON 10103MICRO 2010 or 30202-3
Free elective3MICRO 2010L or 3020L1
 Free elective3
 17 17-18
Junior
FallCreditsSpringCredits
ANS 31903ANS 32003
ANS 33103ANS 35203
GEN 3200 or BIOL 31303ANS 33703
US diversity - elective list3Free elective3
Free elective3Ethics - elective list3
 15 15
Senior
FallCreditsSpringCredits
ANS 41101ANS 43503
ANS 43403International perspective - elective list3
ANS elective3ANS elective3
Free Elective3Free elective3
Free elective3Free Elective4
Free elective3 
 16 16
 

Important Note: This is only one of many equally-sound schedule sequences.

 

Free electives and specified group electives are often chosen to complement the student's career focus. The student's academic advisor assists with developing scheduling schemes that prepare students individually for careers in the animal industry. They are explained fully in ANS 1100 and through appointments with the student's advisor in Dairy Science. Typical career areas include Advanced Degree in Dairy Science, Business and Finance, Agriculture Promotion and Information, Dairy Food Industry, Agricultural Sales and Marketing, International Agriculture, Animal Production and General Agribusiness and Pre-Veterinary Medicine.

Dairy Science, B.S. - Pre-Veterinary Medicine option

Freshman
FallCreditsSpringCredits
ANS 11001ANS 11402
ANS 10102CHEM 17704
BIOL 21103CHEM 1770L1
BIOL 2110L1Humanities - elective list3
ENGL 15003SPCM 2120, AGEDS 3110, AGEDS 3270, or COMST 21403
LIB 16001STAT 1010, 1040, or 22603-4
MATH 1400, 1500, 1600, or 16503-4 
Social Science - elective list3 
 17-18 16-17
Sophomore
FallCreditsSpringCredits
ANS 21101ANS 21001
ANS 23503ANS 2700 & 2700L or FSHN 10103
BIOL 21203ANS 21403
BIOL 2120L1ANS 2140L1
CHEM 17803CHEM 33103
ECON 10103CHEM 3310L1
Ethics - elective list3ENGL 25003
 Free elective3
 17 18
Junior
FallCreditsSpringCredits
ANS 31903ANS 32003
ANS 33103ANS 35203
GEN 3200 or BIOL 31303ANS 33703
CHEM 33203BBMB 3010, 3160, 4040, or 42003
MICRO 2010 or 30202-3US diversity - elective list3
MICRO 2010L or 3020L1 
 15-16 15
Senior
FallCreditsSpringCredits
ANS 41101ANS 43503
ANS 43403International Perspective - elective list3
ANS elective3ANS elective3
PHYS 13104Free elective3
PHYS 1310L1Free elective4
Free elective4 
 16 16
*

Credits currently required for application to Veterinary Medicine program at ISU (55 credits)

 

General Chemistry with lab (7)

Organic Chemistry with lab (4)

Biochemistry (3)

General Physics with lab (4)

General Biology with lab (8)

Genetics/Animal Breeding (3)

Mammalian Anatomy and/or Physiology (3)

English Composition (6)

Oral Communication (3)

Humanities and/or Social Science (8)

Other Electives (8)