Animals play a major role in our lives through agriculture, recreation, biomedical sciences, and companionship. The mission of the Department of Animal and Veterinary Sciences is to provide a high quality, broad-based education emphasizing animals and their interactions with humans.
Graduates enter veterinary or other professional schools, pursue careers in biomedical sciences, agribusiness, companion animal and equine care and management, zoos and aquaria, or education. Students work closely with faculty advisors to tailor their programs toward specific career goals.
The Department of Animal and Veterinary Sciences actively encourages participation in undergraduate research, internships, and study abroad. Students have the opportunity to develop a well-rounded curriculum by complementing their classroom learning with laboratory and hands-on practical experiences.
Animal Biosciences AMP
Animal Biosciences M.S.
Animal Biosciences Ph.D.
Cellular, Molecular, and Biomedical Sciences Ph.D.
Food Systems M.S.
Food Systems Ph.D.
See the online Graduate Catalogue for more information
Courses
ASCI 1000. Introductory Animal Sciences. 0 or 3 Credits.
An overview of the genetics, nutrition, reproduction, and management of livestock and recreation species; introduction to animal behavior, animal disease, and biotechnology. Prerequisite: Animal Science major or Instructor permission. Catamount Core: N2.
ASCI 1040. Intro to Animal Nutrition. 3 Credits.
Comprehensive study of specific nutrients in terms of their digestion, availability, function, and utilization in animals.
ASCI 1070. ABCs of Biosecurity. 3 Credits.
Covers the acronyms of relevant agencies, organizations, and preparedness strategies for agrosecurity, biosecurity, and communication to protect food and agriculture from disaster. Introduces food and agriculture threats, vulnerabilities, and disease disaster mitigation strategies.
ASCI 1090. One Health: an Exploration. 3 Credits.
Explores the interconnection of human, animal, and environmental health, covering topics like pollution, zoonoses, and comparative medicine. Examines the science behind these issues and what can be done about them and the role of other factors such as economics, culture, and the skills needed to tackle them. Catamount Core: SU.
ASCI 1100. The World of Working Animals. 3 Credits.
Explores the diversity of working animals including many lesser known animals such as landmine-sniffing Gambian pouched rats and military marine mammals, the people with which they work, the context of their job, the human-animal bonds that are formed, and some of the challenges faced. Catamount Core: D2, N1.
ASCI 1400. Intro to the Horse. 3 Credits.
Starting with evolution and domestication and progressing to current breeds, colors, uses, health, and management of horses, provides a basic understanding of one of our most beloved domestic animals. No prior horse experience or knowledge is required. Catamount Core: N1.
ASCI 1410. Beginner Horseback Riding. 1 Credit.
Instruction in the basics of balanced seat horseback riding, including both ground skills (grooming, tacking and untacking) and mounted skills (mounting, dismounting, walking, trotting, cantering). Emphasizes safety and control.
ASCI 1450. Horse Barn Cooperative. 1 Credit.
Develops skills in the practical aspects of equine management of individual horses and horses maintained in a group setting using hands-on experiences and peer teaching. Students care for their own horse or an Animal Science horse. Prerequisites: For students currently accepted into the UVM Horse Barn Cooperative Program or currently enrolled in ASCI 2400; Instructor permission.
ASCI 1500. Companion Animal Care & Mgmt. 3 Credits.
Scientific principles of nutrition, breeding selection, health, management practices, pet therapy, and animal bonding. Primary emphasis on cat and dog.
ASCI 1510. Understanding & Speaking Dog. 3 Credits.
With dogs as a model, explores the impact of genetic modification and selection, neonatal to adult development of the brain, the science of how the brain learns, human involvement and its impact, and the factual language of dogs. Prerequisite: Animal Science major or minor, Psychological Science major.
ASCI 1990. Special Topics. 1-18 Credits.
See Schedule of Courses for specific titles.
ASCI 1991. Internship. 1-3 Credits.
On-site supervised work experience combined with a structured academic learning plan directed by a faculty member or a faculty-staff team in which a faculty member is the instructor of record, for which academic credit is awarded. Offered at department discretion.
ASCI 1993. Independent Study. 1-18 Credits.
A course which is tailored to fit the interests of a specific student, which occurs outside the traditional classroom/laboratory setting under the supervision of a faculty member, for which credit is awarded. Offered at department discretion.
ASCI 2040. Animal Nutrit, Metab & Feeding. 0 or 4 Credits.
Principles of meeting the nutrient requirements of animals, especially as they relate to the practical problems of formulation and production systems. Prerequisite: Minimum Sophomore standing.
ASCI 2110. Animal Anatomy. 0 or 4 Credits.
A comprehensive study of anatomical structure of vertebrate animals with emphasis on domestic animals. Taught from a systemic anatomy approach and incorporating microscopic and developmental anatomy, comparative vertebrate anatomy, and applied/clinical anatomy. Some physiology will be introduced to reinforce the link between structure and function. Prerequisites: BIOL 1400 or BCOR 1400 or BCOR 1425; CHEM 1100 or CHEM 1400; or Instructor permission.
ASCI 2120. General Physiology. 3 Credits.
A comprehensive review of the physiology of mammalian animals. Prerequisites: ASCI 2110 or ANPS 1190 and ANPS 1200; BIOL 1400, BCOR 1400, or BCOR 1425.
ASCI 2130. Animals in Soc/Animal Welfare. 3 Credits.
Designed to heighten awareness and understanding of human-animal relationships in society, agriculture, and science. Prerequisites: Animal Science major; Sophomore standing.
ASCI 2160. Animal Genetics. 3 Credits.
The study of DNA with an emphasis in genetics of animal species, included but not limited to livestock and companion animals. Topics include patterns of inheritance, molecular genetics, gene regulation, biotechnology, genomics, population and quantitative genetics. Prerequisite: BIOL 1400, BIOL 1450, BCOR 1400, BCOR 1450, or BCOR 1425.
ASCI 2180. Appl Animal Health. 0 or 3 Credits.
A study of small and large domestic animal diseases. Natural response to disease, methods of diagnosis, control, and treatment. Prerequisite: ASCI 1000, a Biology course, or Instructor permission.
ASCI 2240. Forage and Pasture Mgmnt. 4 Credits.
Forage crops and grasslands play a central role in sustainable and diversified agriculture. Covers the scientific principles and practical applications of the production, management, and utilization of perennial and annual forage crops used by livestock and equine. Pre/co-requisite: BIOL 1400 or BIOL 1450 or BCOR 1400 or BCOR 1450 or PBIO 1040 or PBIO 1060 or Instructor permission. Cross-listed with: ALE 2430.
ASCI 2300. CREAM 1. 4 Credits.
The first of a two-course sequence. Students perform the work and make the financial and management decisions associated with the CREAM dairy herd. Prerequisites: Sophomore standing; Instructor permission.
ASCI 2310. CREAM 2. 4 Credits.
The second of a two-course sequence. Students perform the work and make the financial and management decisions associated with the CREAM dairy herd. Prerequisites: Sophomore standing; Instructor permission.
ASCI 2400. Equus. 2-4 Credits.
A hands-on equine management experience. Students perform horse duties, recordkeeping, and make financial and management decisions on a horse boarding operation. Prerequisites: ASCI 1000 or ASCI 1400.
ASCI 2410. Intermediate Horseback Riding. 1 Credit.
Students gain further experience with balanced seat horseback riding, including ground skills (grooming, tacking and untacking) and mounted skills (walking, trotting and cantering). Emphasizes safety and control. Prerequisites: Instructor permission. Student should be able to walk, trot and canter off the lunge line.
ASCI 2420. Equine Training Techniques. 0 or 3 Credits.
Behavior modification and training of the young horse under saddle and in the cart. Introduction to interdisciplinary directions open to the equine athlete and to conditioning programs associated with these options. Prerequisite: ASCI 1000 or ASCI 1400.
ASCI 2430. Equine Instructing Techniques. 0 or 2 Credits.
Examines philosophies, concepts and teaching-learning strategies needed for the development of sound equine instructing skills. Students gain hands-on horseback riding teaching experience during the second half of the semester in a supported environment. Prerequisite: ASCI 1000 or ASCI 1400.
ASCI 2450. Horse Barn Coop Exec Committee. 1 Credit.
Student leaders, chosen by their Horse Barn Cooperative peers and Horse Barn Faculty Advisor(s), oversee the management of the UVM Horse Barn, including facilities, schedule, events, horse care, and student responsibilities. Students are supported by the Horse Barn Faculty Advisor(s). Prerequisites: ASCI 1450 and Instructor permission.
ASCI 2470. Equine Enterprise Management. 3 Credits.
Provides guidelines for understanding risks, liabilities and other pertinent topics necessary for running a successful equine-related business. Prerequisite: ASCI 1000 or ASCI 1400.
ASCI 2480. Horse Health and Disease. 3 Credits.
After an introduction to equine anatomy and physiology, students are presented with common diseases and their corresponding description, cause, clinical signs, diagnosis, treatment, prognosis and prevention. Weekly small-group case studies highlight core principles. Optional hands-on opportunities at UVM Horse Barn. Prerequisite: ASCI 1000 or ASCI 1400.
ASCI 2600. Zoos, Exotics & Endang Species. 3 Credits.
From gorillas to golden lion tamarinds, how human attitudes, activities, utilization, and management strategies impact wild and captive animal populations. Prerequisite: ASCI 1000, BIOL 1400, BIOL 1450, BCOR 1400, or BCOR 1450.
ASCI 2700. Wildlife Hlth & Consrvation. 3 Credits.
Explores wildlife health in the context of conservation. How is health defined? How does it relate to conservation at the population/species level? What are major threats to wildlife health? What tools can be used to understand, detect, and manage it? What ethical issues arise? What might a career in this field look like? Prerequisites: BCOR 1400 and BCOR 1450; or BIOL 1400 and BIOL 1450; or BCOR 1425. Catamount Core: SU.
ASCI 2990. Special Topics. 1-18 Credits.
See Schedule of Courses for specific titles.
ASCI 2991. Internship. 1-18 Credits.
On-site supervised work experience combined with a structured academic learning plan directed by a faculty member or a faculty-staff team in which a faculty member is the instructor of record, for which academic credit is awarded. Offered at department discretion. Prerequisite: Instructor permission.
ASCI 2993. Independent Study. 1-18 Credits.
A course which is tailored to fit the interests of a specific student, which occurs outside the traditional classroom/laboratory setting under the supervision of a faculty member, for which credit is awarded. Offered at department discretion.
ASCI 2994. Teaching Assistantship. 1-3 Credits.
Undergraduate student service as a teaching assistant, usually in an introductory level course in the discipline, for which credit is awarded. Offered at department discretion.
ASCI 2995. Undergraduate Research. 1-18 Credits.
Undergraduate student work on individual or small team research projects under the supervision of a faculty member, for which credit is awarded. Offered at department discretion. Prerequisites: Junior standing; Department Chair permission.
ASCI 3040. Advanced Animal Nutrition. 0 or 4 Credits.
Discusses the principles of meeting the nutrient requirements of animals, including an introduction to feedstuffs, animal metabolism and feed formulation for domestic or captive vertebrate animals. Prerequisites: ASCI 1040, ASCI 2110; or Instructor permission. Pre/co-requisite: ASCI 2120. Catamount Core: N2.
ASCI 3080. Molecular Epidemiol Infect Dis. 3 Credits.
Provides a foundation of knowledge on the use of molecular biology tools to study infectious disease problems; explores how biologists and health scientists link epidemiological methods and molecular biology techniques to address global health issues. Prerequisites: Minimum Junior standing, one 2000-level course in BioCore, Biology, Health, Health Sciences, or Microbiology and Molecular Genetics or ASCI 2180 or ASCI 2170 or Graduate student standing or Instructor permission.
ASCI 3150. Physiology of Reproduction. 3 Credits.
Fundamental principles of the physiology of reproduction with emphasis on, but not limited to, farm animals. Prerequisite: ASCI 2110 and ASCI 2120; or ASCI 2105; or Instructor permission.
ASCI 3160. Topics in Applied Reproduction. 1 Credit.
Laboratory for fundamental principles of the physiology of reproduction with emphasis on, but not limited to, farm animals. Must be taken concurrently with ASCI 3150. Topics vary by offering; periodic offering at intervals that may exceed four years. Prerequisites: ASCI 2110 and ASCI 2120; or ASCI 2105; or Instructor permission. Co-requisite: ASCI 3150.
ASCI 3180. Endocrinology. 3 Credits.
Physiology of endocrine and autocrine/paracrine systems and growth factors. Prerequisites: BIOL 1400, BCOR 1400, or BCOR 1425; ASCI 2120, ASCI 2105, or Instructor permission.
ASCI 3200. Lactation Physiology. 3 Credits.
Physiological mechanisms that control and affect lactation in domestic and laboratory animals with emphasis on dairy cattle. Includes mammary anatomy, development and health, and milk synthesis. Prerequisite: CHEM 1100 or CHEM 1400; and ASCI 2105 or both ASCI 2110 and ASCI 2120.
ASCI 3280. Clin Topics:Livestock Medicine. 3 Credits.
An advanced study of diseases in cattle, sheep, goats, and pigs, emphasizing disease detection, pathobiology, treatment and prevention. Prerequisites: ASCI 2180; ASCI 2105 or both ASCI 2110 and ASCI 2120.
ASCI 3300. CREAM Advising. 4 Credits.
Augments learning acquired during previous CREAM experience; students provide technical, logistical, organizational support to the current group of CREAM students. Prerequisite: ASCI 2300 or ASCI 2310.
ASCI 3355. Advanced Dairy Management. 15 Credits.
An intensive, residential program at the Miner Institute providing an in-depth experiential program in the management of the dairy herd. Prerequisite: Junior standing or Farms 2+2 enrollment.
ASCI 3400. Equus Advising. 1-6 Credits.
Students are responsible for overseeing the care and health of the 6 Animal Science teaching horses. In addition, these students schedule and teach riding lessons, provide instruction during class time, oversee and coordinate the completion of weekly chores, and share important information between Coop and Equus. Prerequisites: ASCI 2470, ASCI 2480, ASCI 2400, ASCI 2430 or Instructor permission.
ASCI 3480. Clin Topics Equine Med & Surg. 3 Credits.
Students work through medical and surgical cases from chief complaint to treatment, prognosis and prevention. Diagnostic techniques and treatment options prioritized. Hands-on opportunities include physical, orthopedic, and neurologic exams, as well as field trips to local equine facilities and the UVM Morgan Horse Farm. Prerequisite: ASCI 2480.
ASCI 3490. Lameness in Horses. 0 or 4 Credits.
Focuses on normal equine anatomy related to movement and what happens when horses are injured. Students learn common causes of lameness, as well as how to diagnose, treat, and prevent those causes. Labs are hands-on with horses. Prerequisites: ASCI 2480.
ASCI 3600. Adv Top:Zoo,Exotic,Endang Spec. 3 Credits.
An exploration of modern zoo philosophy and ethics and the extent of human intervention necessary for the preservation of endangered species. Prerequisites: ASCI 2600 and Instructor permission.
ASCI 3990. Special Topics. 1-18 Credits.
Written courses, seminars or topics beyond the scope of existing offerings. See Schedule of Courses for specific titles. Prerequisite: Department Chair permission. May enroll more than once for maximum of fifteen hours.
ASCI 3991. Internship. 1-18 Credits.
On-site supervised work experience combined with a structured academic learning plan directed by a faculty member or a faculty-staff team in which a faculty member is the instructor of record, for which academic credit is awarded. Offered at department discretion.
ASCI 3993. Independent Study. 1-18 Credits.
A course which is tailored to fit the interests of a specific student, which occurs outside the traditional classroom/laboratory setting under the supervision of a faculty member, for which credit is awarded. Offered at department discretion.
ASCI 3994. Teaching Assistantship. 1-3 Credits.
Undergraduate student service as a teaching assistant, usually in an introductory-level course in the discipline, for which credit is awarded. Offered at department discretion.
ASCI 3995. Undergraduate Research. 1-18 Credits.
Undergraduate student work on individual or small team research projects under the supervision of a faculty member, for which credit is awarded. Offered at department discretion.
ASCI 4990. Special Topics. 1-18 Credits.
Written courses, seminars or topics beyond the scope of existing offerings. See Schedule of Courses for specific titles. Prerequisite: Department Chair permission. May enroll more than once for maximum of fifteen hours.