Future Students

Animal Science

In addition, many people switch from plant to animal sources as incomes rise.

Animal scientists enable farmers to supply the demand for food and fibre from animal sources in a sustainable way by applying scientific, economic and social knowledge. Many animals are high value because they attract tourists but are becoming endangered while others are growing to pest proportions.

Wildlife conservationists are controlling pests and reintroducing endangered species into the environment. By earning a degree in Animal Science, you can prepare yourself for a career in food and fibre production or in wildlife conservation and management. 

Level 1
In Level 1 you will study Agriculture, Environment and Society; Core Concepts in Biology; Plant and Animal Biology; Cell Biology; Environmental Economics; and  Terrestrial Ecosystems  to provide the foundation for your studies. Terrestrial Ecostystems addresses current perspectives in nutrient, water and energy flows in different terrestrial ecosystems, along with the economic and resource implications.  Depending on your TEE subjects, you may also need to study Chemistry and Mathematics.

Level 2
Level 2 studies will expand your general knowledge through the study of Animal Science; Biometrics; Genetics; Science Communication; Plant Physiology, and one of Ecology or Earth Surface Processes and Soils. 

Level 3
In Level 3 you begin to specialise, studying units in Animal Nutrition; Animal Ethics and Welfare; Animal Production; Biometrics; Science Communication for Change in Industry and Community, and one of Wildlife Conservation and Management or Environmental and Resource Economics.

Level 4
In level 4 you will undertake an animal science supervised research project worth 50 per cent of your mark for fourth year. In addition you will choose units from the elective list.

You may earn Honours based on your marks for the project plus your best marks from Level Three units.

Each semester you will normally have at least one optional unit. You can select your optional units from subject areas such as: Animal Ecology; Animal Genetics, Animal Production; Environmental Economics; Environmental Management; Human Geography; Land, Soil and Water Systems; Marine and Coastal Management; Marine Biology, Physical Geography; Plant Conservation Biology; Plant Ecology; Plant Genetics; Plant Production/Agronomy; Science Communication; and Wildlife Management. 

If you are interested in finding out which subjects you will study then have a look at the Course Outline. This will show you the core units and the options for the course, along with course rules.

You will notice that each unit has a unit code, for example BIOL1130. The first number in the unit code indicates the level of the unit - in this case level one. For a more detailed description of a particular unit, click on the unit code.

Career opportunities

There are many opportunities for graduates in Animal Science including the fibre, agricultural, food, biomedical science, fisheries and pastoral industries. Examples include positions with animal and wildlife conservation and welfare groups, natural resource management organisations, wildlife parks or zoos, research institutions such as CSIRO, universities and colleges of advanced education, agricultural, stock or chemical companies and biotechnology companies.