What Can You Do with an Animal Science Degree?

animal science

Key Takeaways:

  • Animal science degrees lead to careers in veterinary medicine, animal management, research, and animal nutrition, among others.
  • Graduates can work in diverse settings like farms, zoos, laboratories, and government agencies, impacting animal welfare and health.
  • Advanced degrees or certifications enhance career opportunities in specialized fields like animal behavior, reproductive science, and wildlife management.

The good news is that there are many animal science major jobs available for students with the right academic degree and training. Below introduces four potential careers for students with a degree in animal science.

Reviewing Top Animal Science Careers

Research Biologist

Research biologists must perform their duties in accordance with standard operating procedures and laboratory practice regulations. They directly work with animals that are test subjects in scientific experiments. Their responsibilities include dosing, husbandry, observation and documentation. They usually function as lead technician for study groups. Research biologists are in charge of advanced observations, the input of computer protocols and computerized studies of randomization. They perform advanced QA audits, dosing procedures and behavioral evaluations. They will edit, assess and transform computerized data into meaningful conclusions and reports. They are expected to prepare data summaries using spreadsheet programs, such as Excel, and statistical graphing programs, such as Prism.

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Related to Animal Science Careers:

Behavioral Research Technician

Behavioral research technicians will need a working knowledge of neurobehavioral science and behavioral pharmacology. These specialists use their functional understanding of animal handling and behavioral testing procedures to research models of disease, behavior and functioning. They conduct animal studies based on standard experimental protocols that must be completed by certain deadlines. They ensure the functional performance and calibration accuracy of all instrumentation and testing platforms. They regularly interact with other researchers, technicians and scientists to troubleshoot problems and provide assistance with other projects. They must maintain current knowledge of new research technologies and literature reviews by attending seminars and workshops. These technicians finalize test designs, execute experiments with minimal supervision and collect various forms of data.

Laboratory Animal Technician

These research professionals play integral roles in keeping research animals and facilities compliant with exemplary standards. Their main duty is to perform routine husbandry duties and provide hands-on care for research animals. This includes cage sanitation, preparation and maintenance. Laboratory animal technicians operate mechanical washers, perform routine start-up and shut down procedures and use autoclaves to decontaminate cages and equipment. They feed and water animals, sanitize equipment and tools and also provide routine physical maintenance. Laboratory animal technicians record and report any animal abnormalities related to altered eating, drinking and behavior. They often assist with technical procedures related to breeding, diet preparation, specimen collection and animal identification.

Food Production Quality Assurance Supervisor

These professionals oversee quality assurance or improvement programs in food production facilities. They ensure that production staff are effectively meeting customer requirements and order specifications. They are ultimately responsible for the facility meeting regulatory compliance standards that ensure food safety. Every day, they accurately inspection, document and report required information. This involves establishing and enforcing inspection policies, procedures. They oversee administration staff who statistical track and report inspection findings. They lead mandatory internal audits and liaison with government inspectors who visit to perform audits. They must have strong attention to detail, knowledge of inspection requirements and understanding of customer expectations.

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Great Food Science Jobs

Other jobs for animal science majors include veterinary technician, animal trainer, livestock production specialist, and food service sales representative.