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Dairy Science

This is an archived copy of the 2023-2024 catalog. To access the most recent version of the catalog, please visit http://catalog.iastate.edu.

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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 150Critical Thinking and Communication3
ENGL 250Written, Oral, Visual, and Electronic Composition3
LIB 160Introduction 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 211Principles of Biology I3
BIOL 211LPrinciples of Biology Laboratory I1
BIOL 212Principles of Biology II3
BIOL 212LPrinciples of Biology Laboratory II1
BIOL 313Principles of Genetics3
or GEN 320 Genetics, Agriculture and Biotechnology
MICRO 201
201L
Introduction to Microbiology
and Introductory Microbiology Laboratory
3-4
or MICRO 302
302L
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
AN S 101Working with Animals2
AN S 110Orientation in Animal Science and ISU1
AN S 114Survey of the Animal Industry2
AN S 210Career Preparation in Animal Science1
AN S 211Issues Facing Animal Science1
AN S 214Domestic Animal Physiology3
AN S 214LDomestic Animal Anatomy and Physiology Lab1
AN S 235Dairy Cattle Science3
AN S 270
270L
Foods of Animal Origin
and Foods of Animal Origin Laboratory
3
or FS HN 101 Food and the Consumer
AN S 319Animal Nutrition3
AN S 320Animal Feeds and Feeding3
AN S 331Domestic Animal Reproduction3
AN S 337Lactation3
AN S 352Genetic Improvement of Domestic Animals3
AN S 411Addressing Issues in Animal Science1
AN S 434Dairy Systems Management3
AN S 435Applied Dairy Farm Evaluation3
CHEM 163
163L
College Chemistry
and Laboratory in College Chemistry
5
or CHEM 177
177L
General Chemistry I
and Laboratory in General Chemistry I
CHEM 331Organic Chemistry I3
or BBMB 221 Structure and Reactions in Biochemical Processes
Four credits (minimum) from the following:4
Forage Crop Management
Laboratory Methods in Animal Reproduction
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
Livestock Disease Prevention
Total Credits51
Additional free electives for the Dairy Sciences option26-29
Pre-Veterinary Medicine Option
AN S 101Working with Animals2
AN S 110Orientation in Animal Science and ISU1
AN S 114Survey of the Animal Industry2
AN S 210Career Preparation in Animal Science1
AN S 211Issues Facing Animal Science1
AN S 214Domestic Animal Physiology3
AN S 214LDomestic Animal Anatomy and Physiology Lab1
AN S 235Dairy Cattle Science3
AN S 270
270L
Foods of Animal Origin
and Foods of Animal Origin Laboratory
3
or FS HN 101 Food and the Consumer
AN S 319Animal Nutrition3
AN S 320Animal Feeds and Feeding3
AN S 331Domestic Animal Reproduction3
AN S 337Lactation3
AN S 352Genetic Improvement of Domestic Animals3
AN S 411Addressing Issues in Animal Science1
AN S 434Dairy Systems Management3
AN S 435Applied Dairy Farm Evaluation3
CHEM 177General Chemistry I4
CHEM 177LLaboratory in General Chemistry I1
CHEM 178General Chemistry II3
CHEM 331Organic Chemistry I3
CHEM 331LLaboratory in Organic Chemistry I1
BBMB 301Survey of Biochemistry3
or BBMB 316 Principles of Biochemistry
or BBMB 404 Biochemistry I
or BBMB 420 Mammalian Biochemistry
PHYS 131
131L
General Physics I
and General Physics I Laboratory
5
Four credits (minimum) from the following:4
Forage Crop Management
Laboratory Methods in Animal Reproduction
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 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 Credits63
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
AN S 1101AN S 1142
AN S 1012CHEM 177 or 1634
BIOL 2113CHEM 177L or 163L1
BIOL 211L1Humanities - elecitve list3
ENGL 1503SP CM 212, AGEDS 311, AGEDS 327, or COMST 2143
LIB 1601STAT 101, 104, or 2263-4
MATH 140, 150, 160, or 1653-4 
Social Science - elective list3 
 17-18 16-17
Sophomore
FallCreditsSpringCredits
AN S 2111AN S 2101
AN S 2353AN S 270 & 270L or FS HN 1013
BIOL 2123AN S 2143
BIOL 212L1AN S 214L1
BBMB 2213ENGL 2503
ECON 1013MICRO 201 or 3022-3
Free elective3MICRO 201L or 302L1
 Free elective3
 17 17-18
Junior
FallCreditsSpringCredits
AN S 3193AN S 3203
AN S 3313AN S 3523
GEN 320 or BIOL 3133AN S 3373
US diversity - elective list3Free elective3
Free elective3Ethics - elective list3
 15 15
Senior
FallCreditsSpringCredits
AN S 4111AN S 4353
AN S 4343International perspective - elective list3
AN S elective3AN S 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 AN S 110 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
AN S 1101AN S 1142
AN S 1012CHEM 1774
BIOL 2113CHEM 177L1
BIOL 211L1Humanities - elective list3
ENGL 1503SP CM 212, AGEDS 311, AGEDS 327, or COMST 2143
LIB 1601STAT 101, 104, or 2263-4
MATH 140, 150, 160, or 1653-4 
Social Science - elective list3 
 17-18 16-17
Sophomore
FallCreditsSpringCredits
AN S 2111AN S 2101
AN S 2353AN S 270 & 270L or FS HN 1013
BIOL 2123AN S 2143
BIOL 212L1AN S 214L1
CHEM 1783CHEM 3313
ECON 1013CHEM 331L1
Ethics - elective list3ENGL 2503
 Free elective3
 17 18
Junior
FallCreditsSpringCredits
AN S 3193AN S 3203
AN S 3313AN S 3523
GEN 320 or BIOL 3133AN S 3373
CHEM 3323BBMB 301, 316, 404, or 4203
MICRO 201 or 3022-3US diversity - elective list3
MICRO 201L or 302L1 
 15-16 15
Senior
FallCreditsSpringCredits
AN S 4111AN S 4353
AN S 4343International Perspective - elective list3
AN S elective3AN S elective3
PHYS 1314Free elective3
PHYS 131L1Free 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)