Animal and Veterinary Sciences (B.S.)

FAST FACTS ›

  • Women make up almost 94 percent of our undergraduate student body.
  • You’ll work with livestock and poultry, gaining useful skills to prepare you for veterinary school, research or industry.
  • A revolutionary fowl cholera vaccine invented by Clemson researchers has saved the international turkey industry more than $300 million.
  • Clemson has six livestock farms — beef, dairy, equine, poultry, swine and sheep.
ABOUT.

Do you love animals? Do you enjoy science? Then you’ll certainly find the animal and veterinary sciences major will blend your passions and academic interests. Students in our program learn to apply the core science foundations to issues in animal health, nutrition, food production and management. You’ll select from one of three concentration areas that include animal agribusiness, equine business, or pre-veterinary and science. Although this major has served Clemson students as the most successful means for entrance to veterinary medicine programs, there are many other opportunities to work with or study animals outside of professional school.

CLASSES.

What you'll study:

Through your course work, you’ll be exposed to the science behind the animal. In addition to classes in your chosen major concentration, you’ll also take general courses in chemistry, biology, mathematics, English, social sciences and humanities. Advanced courses cover the practices and principles of feeding, breeding, management, and care of livestock and poultry.

Animal Agribusiness Concentration
Prepare for a career in the animal industries such as production, sales and marketing, business management, advertising and extension. Your courses will give you a global perspective of the animal agriculture industries, and a minor in business administration will support and expand your knowledge of this growing business arena. In addition, you’ll be able to choose classes that focus on one species or a variety.

Equine Business Concentration
Our equine business concentration covers the breadth of the equine species and industry. You must not only understand the use of horses as a recreational animal, but also recognize the complexities of exercise physiology, nutrition and management. In choosing this concentration, you must minor in business administration.

Pre-veterinary and Science Concentration
The pre-veterinary and science concentration allows you to fulfill the prerequisite course work required for entrance into most veterinary schools as well as graduate, medical and dental programs. 

Curriculum:

Popular Minors:

  • Adult/Extension Education
  • Agricultural Business Management
  • Biological Sciences
  • Business Administration
  • Chemistry
  • Microbiology
  • Wildlife and Fisheries Biology

Similar Majors:

BEYOND THE CLASSROOM.

Along with an obvious passion for creatures big and small, it is important that you be able to work on and with animals and learn through a variety of avenues.

Internships and Research Projects:

RESEARCH:
Apply your classroom knowledge to solving problems. Rsearch teams have been working to increase embryonic survival in cattle as well as investigating the pros and cons of raising poultry in cage-free production.
FARMS:
Clemson is home to six research and teaching livestock facilities where you’ll get to work and study extensively starting your first semester. Our department also owns the Brick Barn (home to a flock of Southdown sheep) and a rodeo arena.
VET SCHOOL:
This major provides unrivaled support to students working toward admission into DVM programs. Our advisers guide you through required course work, outside experiences and the complexities of preparing to be a viable candidate.

Connect with Other Students:

CAREERS.

What are students doing at graduation?*

24%

Employed

66%

Grad School

4%

Seeking Employment

6%

Other

Where are students headed at graduation?*

Recent employers and job titles*

  • NC State University — Research Associate
  • Equisure — Equine Insurance Agent
  • Greenwood Genetics Institute — Molecular Laboratory Technologist

Recent graduate schools and sought degree types*

  • University of Georgia — Doctor of Veterinary Medicine
  • Kansas State University — Master of Public Health
  • University of Cincinnati — Doctor of Physical Therapy

Common Career Areas**

  • Farm Production and Management
    • Livestock Production
    • Livestock Feed
    • Meat and Dairy Foods
  • Agribusiness
    • Sales (Livestock, Feed, Pharmaceuticals, Ag Chemical, Supplies and Equipment)
    • Management
    • Marketing
    • Public Relations
    • Customer Service
  • Education
    • Teaching
    • Informal Education
    • Extension
  • Veterinary Medicine
    • Small/Large Animal
    • Food Safety/Inspection
    • Specialty
    • Research
  • Science and Technology
    • Research
    • Product and Process Development
    • Genetics and Animal Breeding
    • Animal Nutrition/Health/Disease Control
    • Animal Behavior/Training/Caretaking
  • Quality Control
    • Livestock Feed Inspection
    • Harvest Operation Inspection
    • Meat and Dairy Inspection
*Represents only Clemson University graduates who completed Michelin® Career Center surveys from 2009 to 2011.
**Used w/permission from Univ. of Tennessee.
FIND OUT MORE.

Have more questions or want more information? Fill out the form below, which goes directly to the following department contact as well as our admissions office.

Katie Black, Student Recruitment Coordinator
888-472-5433 — hulse@clemson.edu