Turn your passion for animals into a career: you’ll do that here.

Agribusiness is a challenging, rewarding, multi-faceted industry. From large multinational corporations to emerging food manufacturing and input supply firms, there is a strong demand by agribusiness firms for more and better employees trained in both management and the agricultural sciences.

Agribusiness: Animal Science majors take a variety of business-related courses such as accounting, management, marketing, sales, and finance while focusing on option-specific courses like animal reproduction, animal breed improvement, animal diseases, nutrition, horse science, and beef production.

What You’ll Do

As an agribusiness: animal science major at Southeast, you’ll gain real-world learning experience including many opportunities outside the classroom, including:

  • Business-related courses, so you’re knowledgeable about the agriculture and management sides of business.
  • Earn valuable professional experience by completing an internship or research project.
  • Use technology ranging from natural systems to artificial insemination.
  • Plan for the safe and efficient future use of our animals, land, and natural resources.

What Can You Do with an Animal Science Degree?

Your education is just one piece to launching an extraordinary career. Once you’ve mastered the material, you still have to find the job you want, make the right connections, sell your knowledge and experience—and if all this is giving you anxiety, don’t panic. SEMO’s Career Services office is here to help you with the next step. They’ll provide the expertise and support you need, so you’re landing your dream job in no time. 

Career Options for Graduates

  • Agriculture Sales Representative
  • Extension Agent
  • Farm Manager
  • Loan Officer
  • Operations Manager
  • Quality Control Analyst
  • Research Technician
  • USDA Meat Grader
  • Cattle or Grain Merchandiser
  • Reproduction Specialist
  • Breed Association Marketing
  • Therapeutic Riding Trainer
  • Feed Lot Manager

Agribusiness: Animal Science (BS) Degree Map

Explore the courses you'll need to complete your degree.

Outcomes & Careers

  • $75k  

    Farmer, Rancher, and Other Agricultural Manager

    According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual salary for a farmer, rancher, and other agricultural manager is $75,760.   

  • $74k  

    Agricultural and Food Scientists

    According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual salary for an agricultural and food scientist is $74,940.

  • $50k  

    Biological Technicians

    According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the mean annual salary for an biological technicians $49,650.

What You'll Study

Degree Map

As an animal science major, you’ll be in a high demand field, not just to produce food, but also to package, transport, market, regulate, and finance it. You’ll complete a minimum of 120 credit hours, the General Education program, and 39 senior division hours (300-599).

Required Courses:

  • AG111 Agribusiness Orientation (1)
  • AG140 Communicating in Agriculture (3)
  • AG208 Agriculture Bus Data Analysis (3)
  • AG245 Agricultural Economics (3)
  • AG250 Agribusiness Management (3)
  • AG334 Agribusiness Finance (3)
  • AG340 Agriculture Safety (3)
  • AG355 Agriculture Seminar (2)
  • AG447 Mktg of Agri Products (3)
  • AG470 Agribusiness Sales (3)
  • AO120 Plant Science (3)
  • AO125 Plant Science Lab (1)
  • AY101 Animal Science (3)
  • HO110 Intro to Horticulture (3)
Choose 3 hours:
  • AG381 Agribusiness Management II (3)
  • AC221 Principles of Accounting I (3)
Choose 3 hours:
  • AG465 Agriculture Internship (3-6)
  • AG469 Undergrad Research (3)

Animal Science

  • AY105 Animal Science Experiences (1)
  • AY106 System & Structure of Livestock Animals (1)
  • AY302 Animal Immunology (2)
  • AY304 Principles of Animal Nutrition (3)
  • AY350 Animal Reproduction (3)
  • AY375 Animal Breed Improvement (3)
Choose 3 hours:
  • AY306 Companion Animal Diseases (3)
  • AY360 Livestock Diseases (3)
    Choose 17 hours from:
  • AG371 Topics in Agriculture (2)
  • AG436 Agricultureal Ethics (3)
  • AO301 Forages (3)
  • AY200 Companion Animals (3)
  • AY205 Horse Science (3)
  • AY210 Animal Welfare (2)
  • AY220 Animal Handling (1)
  • AY222 Swine Science (3)
  • AY240 Beef Production (3)
  • AY300 Domestic Animal A&P I (3)
  • AY305 Advanced Horse Science (3)
  • AY310 Domestic Animal A&P II (3)
  • AY320 Meat Science (3)
  • AY333 Livestock Behavior and Management (3)
  • AY425 Feeding Nonruminants (3)
  • AY435 Feeding Ruminants (3)
  • AY440 Adv Beef Production (3)
  • AY455 Form & Function of Livestock Animals (3)

Additional Requirements: (Some courses may fulfill General Education requirements.)

Choose 4-5 hours:
  • CH181 Basic Principles of Chemistry (5)
  • CH184/185 General Chemistry I and Lab (4)
Choose 3 hours:
  • MA116 Precalculus A (3)
  • MA155 Statistical Reasoning (3)

Some requirements may be fulfilled by coursework in major program.

  • Social and Behavioral Sciences – 6 hours
  • Constitution Requirement – 3 hours
  • Written Communication – 6 hours
  • Oral Communication – 3 hours
  • Natural Sciences – 7 hours (from two disciplines, one to include a lab)
  • Mathematics – 3 hours
  • Humanities & Fine Arts – 9 hours (from at least two disciplines)
  • Additional requirements – 5 hours (to include UI100 for native students)
  • Civics examination

Freshman Year    

Fall Semester (14 Hours)     
  • UI100 (1) 
  • EN100 (3) 
  • AY101 (3) 
  • AY105 (1)
  • MA116/155 (3)
  • General Education (3) 
Spring Semester (14 Hours)     
  • AG111 (1)
  • AG208 (3) 
  • AG245 (3) 
  • AO120 (3)
  • AO125 (1)
  • HO110 (3) 

Sophomore Year    

Fall Semester (13-14 Hours) 
  • CH181 or 184/185 (4-5) 
  • Animal Science Elective (3)
  • General Education (3) 
  • General Education (3) 
Spring Semester (15 Hours)    
  • AG250 (3) 
  • Animal Science Elective (3)
  • Animal Science Elective (3)
  • General Education (3) 
  • General Education (3) 

Junior Year    

Fall Semester (16 Hours)    
  • AC221 or AG381 (3) 
  • AG355 (2) 
  • AY302 (2) 
  • AY304 (3) 
  • General Education (3) 
  • General Education (3) 
Spring Semester (15 Hours)     
  • AG140 (3) 
  • AG334 (3) 
  • AG470 (3) 
  • AY306/360 (3) 
  • General Education (3)

Senior Year    

Fall Semester (15 Hours)    
  • AG350 (3) 
  • AY447 (3) 
  • Animal Science Elective (3)
  • Elective (3) 
  • Elective (3)
Spring Semester (15 Hours)  
  • AG340 (3)
  • AY375 (3)
  • Animal Science Elective (3)
  • Animal Science Elective (3) 
  • Elective (3) 
Summer Session (3 hours)
  • AG465/469 (3)

Get Funding for Your Education

Missouri’s opened the door to a more educated workforce. We want to help you walk through it. If you’re an adult learner and a Missouri resident returning to college, learn about the Fast Track Workforce Incentive Grant. It’s a statewide financial aid program that can be used to pursue a certificate, degree or industry-recognized credential in a high need area in Missouri. This major is eligible for the Fast Track grant.

Become a Redhawk.

Do more than dream about the future. Take the first steps to make it all happen.

Paying for College

Your hard work can pay off big because the Department of Agriculture offers about $650,000 in scholarships to students.

Hands-on Learning

There’s no better way to learn than by getting your hands dirty, and you’ll do just that at SEMO. From digging in the dirt at our greenhouse to working with animals at the Agriculture Research Center, you’ll get real-world experience from day one.

Contact Us
Location
Office
Rhodes Hall 102
Mailing Address
One University Plaza, MS 6100
Cape Girardeau, Missouri 63701