Animal Studies, Bachelor of Science (B.S.)
Program Objectives
Animal Studies (ANS) is an interdisciplinary major that concentrates on nonhuman animals, their interactions and relationships with people, and the mutual influences humans and nonhuman animals have on each other’s existence, evolution, and history. Students in Animal Studies receive training in sciences, humanities, and applied fields. Within their cross-disciplinary training, students will choose to emphasize at least one of these areas of study. Graduates of the program will gain knowledge of and be able to evaluate ideas about nonhuman animals, humans, and their mutual influences informatively from diverse perspectives. Upon completion of the ANS degree, graduates will be able to
- analyze contexts and events concerning animals knowledgeably and from diverse points of view;
- elucidate the motives and consequences for diverse human-animal interactions;
- evaluate the impacts of human uses of and attitudes toward animals on individuals and communities, and on evolution and history;
- integrate cross-disciplinary ideas into an awareness of divergent perspectives on animals and humans; and
- use skills and expertise in understanding animals and humans to obtain employment.
Program Requirements
CIP Code: 30.9999
Summary Checklist for General Education
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Element 1 | ||
| A: Written Communication | 3 | |
| B: Written Communication | 3 | |
| C: Oral Communication | 3 | |
| Element 2 | ||
| Quantitative Reasoning | 3 | |
| Element 3 | ||
| A: Arts | 3 | |
| B: Humanities | 3 | |
| Element 4 | ||
| Natural Sciences | 6 | |
| Element 5 | ||
| A: Historical Science | 3 | |
| B: Social Behavioral Science | 3 | |
| Element 6 | ||
| Diversity of Perspectives Experiences | 6 | |
| Total Hours | 36 | |
Students are expected to complete Elements 1 and 2 within their first 60 hours of college credit.
Major
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| University Graduation Requirements | ||
| General Education | 36 | |
| Student Success Seminar | ||
| GSD 101 | Foundations of Learning (waived for transfers with 30+ hrs., not including AP and Dual Credit hours) | 3 |
| Upper division courses (42 hrs. distributed throughout Major/Supporting/Gen Ed/Free Electives categories) | ||
| Major Requirements | ||
| Core Courses | ||
| ANS 200 | Introduction to Animal Studies | 3 |
| Arts & Humanities: | ||
| ANS 320 | Animals in History | 3 |
| PHI 381 | Animal Ethics | 3 |
| SOC 300 | Animals and Society | 3 |
| Choose from one of the following: | 3 | |
| Animals in Literature | ||
or ANS 497 | Topics in Animal Studies | |
Other relevant arts or humanities course approved by Animal Studies Advisor | ||
| Science: | ||
| ANT 306 | Human Evolution | 3 |
| or ANT 371 | Primate Ecology & Sociality | |
| BIO 319 | General Zoology | 4 |
| BIO 316 | Ecology | 4 |
| or BIO 550 | Animal Behavior | |
| PSY 333 | Comparative Psychology | 3 |
| Application: | ||
| AGR 125 | Principles of Animal Science | 3 |
| ANT 370 | Primate Conservation | 3 |
| Choose from one of the following: | 3 | |
| Animals and the Law | ||
Other law-related course approved by Animal Studies Advisor | ||
| Choose from three hours of relevant applied learning or study abroad course | 3 | |
| Career Development: | ||
| ANS 258 | Career Development in Animal Studies | 3 |
| Capstone: | ||
| Choose from one of the following: | 3 | |
| Senior Seminar:___ | ||
or PSY 402 | Independent Work in Psychology | |
or PSY 419 | Research Development Skills II | |
Other relevant thesis option, approved by Animal Studies Advisor | ||
| Supporting Course Requirements | ||
| Choose from five hours of the following: | 5 | |
| Introduction to Cultural Anthropology (Element 5B) G | ||
| Introduction to Biological Anthropology (Element 4) G | ||
| Cell and Molecular Biology and Ecology and Evolution (Element 4) G,1 | ||
| Animal Studies Electives | ||
| Choose from nine hours of relevant courses, approved by Animal Studies Advisor | 9 | |
| Exit Requirements | ||
| ANS 499 | Senior Exit Course in Animal Studies | 0 |
| Free Electives | ||
| Choose from 20 hours of free electives | 20 | |
| Total Hours | 120 | |
- G
Course also satisfies a General Education element. Nine hours are included within the 36 hr. General Education requirement above.
- 1
Three hours of BIO 111 Cell and Molecular Biology/BIO 112 Ecology and Evolution applied to General Education
A mimimum grade of C is required for all courses counted toward the major.