Getting Started

College: CNS

Information below is meant to guide first-year students in getting started with this major and choosing appropriate courses. More advanced students interested in this major would also likely start with proposed foundation/pre-requisite courses. Please refer to the Major page located in the left menu bar to learn about the full major requirements.

How to Explore the Major

Suggested General Education Courses:

All Undergraduates are required to satisfy the General Education Requirements. Guidelines for students are available at www.umass.edu/gened. Students should choose a wide variety of Gen Ed courses, providing breadth of experience.

General Education classes are selected according to student interests and goals: For students with a vocational teaching interest, we recommend PSYCH 100 - Introductory Psychology. For students interested in animal-related businesses, we recommend ECON 103 - Intro. to Microeconomics.

Suggested Major and Pre-Requisite Courses

BIOLOGY 151-152 and BIOLOGY 153 (lab)
CHEM 111-112
ENGLWRIT 112 and other gen ed courses
MATH 104 or MATH 127* Students with a score of 20 or better on the Algebra portion of the Math Placement Exam can register for both MATH 127 and CHEM 111 in the Fall.
(NOTE: If their Algebra score is between 16 and 19, students should take MATH 104 in the Fall and CHEM 111 in the Spring. If their Algebra score is between 0 and 15, CHEM 111 must be taken after successful completion of both MATH 101 and MATH 102.)
ANIMLSCI 101 (Fall) and ANIMLSCI 103 (Spring) Animal Science majors --or--
ANIMLSCI 105 and 105L (Fall) and ANIMLSCI 115 and 115L (Spring) restricted to Veterinary Technology Majors

*MATH 127 is required for the Pre-Vet. major and recommended for the Biotechnology concentration in the Animal Science major.

BIOLOGY 151 should be taken by the second semester of the freshmen year and CHEM 111 by the first semester of the sophomore year. Animal Science courses usually taken by second year students require minimum grades in BIOLOGY 151 (C or better) and CHEM 111 (C- or better). Since these Animal Science courses are prerequisites for upper level Animal Science courses, students with low grades in BIOLOGY 151 and CHEM 111 should reevaluate their timeline to graduate and their choice of major.

For transfer students with sophomore/junior standing, with the instructor’s permission, ANIMLSCI 103 can be taken without the prerequisite ANIMLSCI 101 with one caveat: that the student will be responsible for the material covered in ANIMLSCI 101. For graduation clearance, a science elective at the 400-level or higher can substitute for ANIMLSCI 101. It is highly recommended that students have previously completed one year of Biology (equivalent to BIOLOGY 151-152 and 153) and one year of college level General Chemistry (equivalent to CHEM 111/112).

How to Declare/Change into the Major

For current & admitted students: This major is unrestricted which means any student may declare the major. Unrestricted majors must meet with the Chief Undergraduate Advisor.

Animal Science Major - students choose the Animal Management, or Biotechnology and Research, or Equine Science Concentration when they enter.
Veterinary Technology Major - students intending to work as veterinary nurses. Email Dr. Rubin at ajrubin@umass.edu to set up an advising appointment to enroll in Veterinary Technology classes
Pre-Veterinary Science Major - All students enter as Animal Science majors to qualify for the Pre-Veterinary Science Major students must:
Achieve a weighted GPA of B- (2.700) or better in the following required courses and complete the Pre-Veterinary Science Major GPA Calculation Form and submit the form to the vasci@umass.edu
ANIMLSCI 103 - Intro to Animal Management
ANIMLSCI 220 - Anatomy & Physiology of Domestic Animal
ANIMLSCI 285 – Cellular and Molecular Biology
BIOLOGY 151, 152, 153 - Introduction to Biology and lab
CHEM 111 & 112 - Inorganic Chemistry
CHEM 261 - Organic Chemistry
MATH 127 – Calculus

Summary of Requirements for the Major

Refer to the Major page located in the left menu bar to learn more.

BS - Pre-Veterinary Major		83 credits
BS - Animal Science - Biotechnology concentration		83 credits
BS - Animal Science - Animal Management or Equine Science concentration		85 credits
BS - Veterinary Technology Major		95 credits

Is there a minor?
No. A minor is not available.

For further information about the Animal Science and Pre-Veterinary Science majors, contact:
Susan Marston, PhD
Chief Undergraduate Advisor
smarston@umass.edu

For information about the Veterinary Technology major, contact:
Amy Rubin, DVM
Director, Veterinary Technology
ajrubin@umass.edu