Animal, Dairy and Veterinary Sciences

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Department Head: Kenneth L. White
Location: Agricultural Science 230
Phone: (435) 797-2162
FAX: (435) 797-2118
E-mail: advsdept@advs.usu.edu
WWW: http://www.advs.usu.edu

Associate Department Head of Academic Programs:

Thomas D. Bunch, Agricultural Science 228, (435) 797-2148, tom.bunch@usu.edu

Associate Department Head of Extension and Outreach:

Dale R. ZoBell, Agricultural Science 246, (435) 797-2144, dale.zobell@usu.edu

Undergraduate Advisor:

Tami Spackman, Agricultural Science 252, (435) 797-2150, tami.spackman@usu.edu

Degrees offered: Bachelor of Science (BS) in Animal, Dairy and Veterinary Sciences; Master of Science (MS) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Animal, Dairy and Veterinary Sciences; MS and PhD degrees in Toxicology are available through the Interdepartmental Toxicology program

Undergraduate Emphases: Animal and Dairy Science, Biotechnology, Bioveterinary Science, and Equine Science and Management

Graduate Specializations: Animal Health and Disease, Animal Management, Animal Molecular Genetics, Animal Nutrition and Reproduction and Development

Undergraduate Programs

Objectives

Bachelor’s degree students majoring in Animal, Dairy and Veterinary Sciences may choose a program from four career emphasis areas: Animal and Dairy Science, Biotechnology, Bioveterinary Science, and Equine Science and Management.

The curricula in the Animal and Dairy Science Emphasis is designed to prepare students for a variety of rewarding careers in the dynamic disciplines of animal and dairy agriculture. Teaching and research facilities, as well as the USU livestock herds and flocks, are available for   hands-on practical laboratory experiences, along with faculty mentored research projects. Graduates from this emphasis may seek careers in animal or dairy production and management; in state or federal government agricultural agencies; and in fields that support or interact with  animal agriculture, such as corporate agribusiness, wholesale and retail marketing and sales, commodity trading, animal product processing, agricultural cooperatives, and producer/commodity associations. This emphasis may also prepare students for advanced degrees in areas such as animal research in genetics, reproductive biology, nutrition, and management. An especially close student advisor relationship is required to help students develop, schedule, and accelerate their personal undergraduate degree program and is essential for professional success in these areas.

The Biotechnology Emphasis is designed to prepare students who earn a bachelor’s degree for careers in the expanding biotechnology industry or for graduate study in related fields. Nationwide there are more than 1,200 biotechnology/biopharmaceutical companies with additional start-ups developing every year. Increases in federal funding for research in animal biotechnology, along with heightened private sector activity, have led to unprecedented career prospects in molecular biology, genomics, bioinformatics, developmental biology, and associated areas. USU has made a major commitment to biotechnology since 1986. The ADVS Department is heavily involved in biotechnology research and teaching, and the resources of the Center for Integrated BioSystems are also available to support this emphasis.

The ADVS Department offers a strong program in preveterinary study leading to the BS degree in the Bioveterinary Science Emphasis. This is not a college of veterinary medicine, but a preveterinary program. The degree is a nonterminal program designed primarily for those students who intend to apply  to veterinary school. This program consists of three to four years of study, after which the student is eligible to apply to several veterinary schools. The preveterinary program can be individually tailored to maximize a student’s chances of gaining acceptance into a school of veterinary medicine. If a student is uncertain of his or her interests and aptitudes for veterinary medicine, the program is an excellent opportunity to gain experience and make career choices. The student who wants to test his or her potential in a veterinary career should first enroll  in the preveterinary program and then later can simultaneously develop a major in another field. Students should consult with the ADVS academic advisor and the preveterinary program coordinator to develop a program of study which best meets their needs and requirements.

There are many exciting career paths in the equine industry, and the ADVS Department has the resources and courses to prepare students to determine their path. The Equine Science and Management Emphasis provides an education that will place students among the most  sought-after graduates in the equine industry. The program offers courses, internships, volunteer activities, and clubs that prepare students specifically for careers in various aspects of the equine industry. Students will be able to obtain hands-on experiences in the classroom, arena,  and stabling facilities. Opportunities will be available in horsemanship, training, managing horses of all ages, stallion handling and breeding, and mare and foal care.

Instruction in the ADVS Department also encompasses a diversified co-curricular program including allied clubs, intercollegiate livestock judging and rodeo teams, and involvement with their respective professional societies.

Preveterinary Program

Preveterinary students take courses required by veterinary schools. Classes should be planned to assure meeting the current requirements for the veterinary schools to which the student plans to apply for admission. In most cases, preveterinary preparation requires a major portion of three academic years. Students accepted into veterinary school prior to completion of their BS degree may transfer credits back to USU for completion of their BS degree in Bioveterinary Science.

Utah participates in WICHE (Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education) which provides state subsidization of Utah resident (5 years or longer at the time of application) students entering any veterinary school that is a WICHE-participating school. At present this includes  Colorado State University, Washington State University, and Oregon State University. The State of Utah also provides some support for a limited number of resident students who enroll at non-WICHE veterinary schools in the continental United States. Students may also apply to other veterinary schools as out-of-state applicants.

Requirements

Departmental Admission Requirements

Undergraduate admission requirements for the Animal and Dairy Science, Biotechnology, and Equine Science and Management emphases are the same as those described for the University. Students in good standing may apply for admission to the department. New freshmen admitted to USU in good standing qualify for admission to the Bioveterinary Science emphasis. Students with less than 60 semester credits transferring from other institutions need a 2.2 transfer GPA, and students with less than 60 semester credits transferring from other USU majors need a 2.0 GPA for admission to the Bioveterinary Science emphasis. All students with 60 or more semester credits need a 2.75 total GPA to be admitted to advanced standing in Bioveterinary Science.

Departmental Standards

The following minimum requirements apply to all students working  toward a bachelor’s degree in Animal, Dairy and Veterinary Sciences. Bachelor’s degree candidates must comply with these requirements in order to graduate: (1) courses required for the major may be repeated only once to improve a grade, and (2) courses required for the major may not be taken for pass-fail credit. In addition to these requirements, candidates must attain a grade point average of at least 2.50 in the ADVS courses specified as requirements in their emphasis curricula to graduate. Animal and Dairy Science, Biotechnology, and Equine Science and Management emphases candidates must attain an overall GPA of at least 2.25 to graduate. Bioveterinary Science emphasis candidates must attain an overall GPA of at least 3.0 to graduate.

Academic Advising

Successful completion of a bachelor’s degree program in the ADVS Department requires that a very close student-academic advisor relationship be established and continued through each student’s bachelor’s degree program. Each student must take the responsibility of establishing this close working relationship with his or her advisor. Doing this soon after a student’s acceptance into the department can keep academic problems to a minimum.

Suggested Four-year Plans

Suggested semester-by-semester four-year plans for students working toward a Bachelor of Science degree are available in the Animal, Dairy and Veterinary Sciences Department.

Students should consult with their advisor to develop a plan of study tailored to their individual needs and interests.

Honors

There is also an Honors Plan for students desiring a BS degree “with Honors” in Animal, Dairy and Veterinary Sciences. For details, students should contact their academic advisor.

Undergraduate Program Assessment

The ADVS Department assessment plan defines learning objectives for each of its undergraduate emphases. These learning objectives are mapped to each of the required courses in each emphasis, so that they may be evaluated for their contribution to emphasis goals. Outcome  measures have also been defined for each emphasis, and a process has been implemented to conduct exit interviews with all graduating students in Animal, Dairy and Veterinary Sciences. Rate of admission to a professional veterinary medical program has been identified as the critical outcome measure for the Bioveterinary Science emphasis. The ADVS Department Curriculum Committee oversees the assessment process, with input from the ADVS Department Internship and Placement Committee. The ADVS Curriculum Committee reports its assessment findings to the ADVS department head, as well as to faculty members, and incorporates these findings in its regular ongoing and periodic comprehensive reviews and revisions of the ADVS Department undergraduate emphases.

Learning Objectives

Animal and Dairy Science Emphasis

The following Disciplinary Knowledge objectives apply:

1. Attain knowledge in mathematics and basic sciences required for disciplinary competency.
2. Know the nature, intent, and scope of animal and dairy science.
3. Attain depth in two subfields of animal and dairy science.
4. Achieve understanding in the disciplines of animal genetics, health, nutrition, and reproduction.
5. Integrate knowledge from the various disciplines to effectively conduct livestock operations.

Skills and Career Competencies objectives are as follows:

1. Comprehend reading materials appropriate to course levels.
2. Communicate effectively in oral and written forms.
3. Conduct library research using modern methods.
4. Use a computer for written work, presentations, and research.
5. Attain proficiency in basic techniques of animal management.

Biotechnology Emphasis

The following Disciplinary Knowledge objectives apply:

1. Attain a working knowledge of biological mechanisms, including genetics, reproduction, and microbiology.
2. Acquire a working knowledge of mathematics, including calculus and statistics.
3. Achieve a working knowledge of chemistry, including inorganic, organic, and biochemistry.
4. Attain a basic knowledge of animal biotechnology and ethics.

Skills and Career Competencies objectives are as follows:

1. Understand and perform molecular cloning.
2. Understand and perform cell culture procedures.
3. Understand and perform protein purification.
4. Communicate effectively in oral and written forms.
5. Achieve quantitative competency.
6. Conduct scientific-literature searches using modern methods.

Bioveterinary Science Emphasis

The following Disciplinary Knowledge objectives apply:

1. Attain a working knowledge of biological mechanisms, including molecular genetics.
2. Acquire a working knowledge of mathematics, including calculus and statistics.
3. Achieve a working knowledge of chemistry, including inorganic, organic, and biochemistry.
4. Acquire a basic knowledge of general physics.
5. Attain a basic knowledge of animal production, including breeding, nutrition, and reproduction.
6. Achieve a basic understanding of health and disease mechanisms.
7. Understand the ethics and profession of veterinary medicine.

Skills and Career Competencies objectives are as follows:

1. Communicate effectively in oral and written forms.
2. Achieve quantitative competency.
3. Conduct scientific literature searches using modern methods.

Equine Science and Management Emphasis

The following Disciplinary Knowledge objectives apply:

1. Attain knowledge in mathematics and basic sciences required for disciplinary competency.
2. Know the nature, intent, and scope of equine science and management.
3. Attain depth in two subfields of equine science and management.
4. Achieve understanding in the disciplines of equine behavior, health, nutrition, and reproduction of horses.
5. Integrate knowledge from the various disciplines to effectively conduct equine operations.

Skills and Career Competencies objectives are as follows:

1. Comprehend reading materials appropriate to course levels.
2. Communicate effectively in oral and written forms.
3. Conduct library research using modern methods.
4. Use a computer for written work, presentations, and research.
5. Attain proficiency in basic techniques of equine science and management.

Undergraduate Research Opportunities

Students interested in pursuing undergraduate research opportunities in the ADVS Department should contact Tami Spackman, Agricultural Science 242, tami.spackman@usu.edu, (435) 797-2150, for information and referrals.

Departmental Honors

Students who would like to experience greater academic depth within their major are encouraged to enroll in departmental honors. Through original, independent work, Honors students enjoy the benefits of close supervision and mentoring, as they work one-on-one with faculty in select upper-division departmental courses. Honors students also complete a senior project, which provides another opportunity to collaborate with faculty on a problem that is significant, both personally and in the student’s discipline. Participating in departmental honors enhances students’ chances for obtaining fellowships and admission to graduate school.

ADVS students qualify for acceptance into the departmental honors program by having a cumulative GPA of 3.3 or better at the time of application. The program of study requires the completion of 15 credits of upper-division (3000-level or above) classwork as follows: One credit of HONR 4800  Thesis/Project Seminar; 3 to 6 credits of HONR 4900  , Senior Thesis/Project; and 8 to 11 credits of upper-division Honors coursework by contract (3 credits may be taken outside the ADVS Department). Completion of the degree requires a cumulative GPA of 3.3 and a 3.5 GPA in upper-division Honors classes. Examples of departmental classes which may be suitable as Honors courses by contract are ADVS 3000 , ADVS 3200 , ADVS 3500 , 3510, ADVS 4200 , ADVS 4560 , ADVS 5160 , 5240, ADVS 5260 , ADVS 5350 , ADVS 5400 , ADVS 5520 , ADVS 5530 , ADVS 5690 , ADVS 5700 , and ADVS 5820 . Students should plan their Honors Program early, so that their thesis project can be completed during the first semester of their senior year, and their last semester can be used to write and present their thesis.

Interested students should contact the Honors Program, Main 15, (435) 797-2715, honors@usu.edu.  Additional information can be found online at: www.usu.edu/honors/

Additional Information and Updates

For more information about Bachelor of Science requirements and the sequence in which courses should be taken, see major requirement sheets. For more information on ADVS Department minors, see minor requirement sheet. These are available from the ADVS Department  advisor’s office (AG S 242). 

For updated information on ADVS programs and course offerings, check the departmental home page at: http://www.advs.usu.edu

Safety and Liability in Classes and Laboratories

Certain classes and laboratories involve a risk of bodily injury or of damage to clothing. Students should take appropriate precautions and wear suitable protective clothing. Some of the risks include handling or being near animals, slick floors or corrals, use of toxic or corrosive substances, and the use of sharp or breakable instruments and equipment. Students should take precautions to avoid fainting during demonstrations or work with animal tissues or operative procedures. Students must assume their own liability protection for travel to and from classes, laboratories, and field trips. The University and its employees assume no liability in the performance of classroom or laboratory instruction or on scheduled field trips, or for other dangerous activities. The student, by voluntarily participating in these classes and activities,  agrees to assume the risk and not hold USU or its staff liable.

Financial Support

In addition to the scholarships and other financial aid available through the University, the department awards designated scholarships to qualified students. The department employs students on a part-time basis to assist with its research and operate its animal facilities. The department also coordinates cooperative education and internship employment opportunities for students. For more information, contact the department.

Graduate Programs

Graduate Programs Coordinator: Thomas D. Bunch
Location: Agricultural Science 228
Phone: (435) 797-2148
FAX: (435) 797-2118
E-mail: tom.bunch@usu.edu

Admission Requirements

In addition to the general admission requirements, applicants should have satisfactory (3.0 GPA or better) grades in completion of previous degree programs. The GRE exam, as well as verbal and quantitative test scores at or above the 40th percentile, is required.

Research

The ADVS department conducts a broad range of basic and applied research in the areas of animal reproduction, animal nutrition, livestock and dairy management, animal health and disease, virology, parasitology, toxicology, cytogenetics, and molecular genetics. Department facilities include over 30 research laboratories on campus and at local and regional animal research facilities. There are research herds and flocks of beef and dairy cattle, sheep, and swine housed close to the University. Research in the department is funded by a multimillion dollar budget derived from support by the Utah Agricultural Experiment Station and by substantial outside contracts and grants. Cooperation with other departments and research centers of the University and with federal collaborators enhances the ADVS research and graduate programs. Significant in this regard are the University Center for Integrated BioSystems, the Utah State Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratories, the Laboratory Animal Research Center, the Center for Environmental Toxicology, the Center for the Genetic Improvement of Livestock, the Institute for Antiviral Research and the on-campus USDA Poisonous Plant Laboratory.

Financial Assistance

Both departmental and research grant support are available to matriculated graduate students on a competitive basis. The department funds graduate assistantships, which are available on a competitive basis to matriculated graduate students who are U.S. citizens, nationals, or  residents. Students interested in departmental assistantships may request an application form from the department or download the form at: http://www.advs.usu.edu/files/uploads/DAinitialapplication06.pdf

Applications for graduate assistantships for the following academic year must be submitted by March 15.

Acceptance to graduate study in the ADVS Department does not constitute a guarantee of financial assistance.

Career Opportunities

Career opportunities are available for students who have earned graduate degrees in the MS and PhD programs offered by the ADVS Department as described below.

MS and PhD Degree Programs

Animal Health and Disease

Career opportunities in this area exist in research, management, and submanagement positions in public and private health research and testing organizations, and in commercial industries in the health field. Graduates from the MS program may seek admission to advanced degree programs in the biological sciences or veterinary medicine.

Animal Management

Career opportunities include extension, private consultation firms, farm and ranch management, sales and service to agricultural producers, agricultural finance, and international programs.

Animal Molecular Genetics

Career opportunities exist in extension university and private research, commercial animal breeding and genetic engineering enterprises, and international programs.

Animal Nutrition

Career opportunities exist in extension, university and private research, the commercial animal feedstuffs industry, private consulting firms, and international programs.

Reproduction and Development

Career opportunities exist in extension; university and private research; the pharmaceutical, embryo transfer, and artificial insemination industries; private consultation; and international programs.

Animal, Dairy and Veterinary Sciences Faculty

Professors
Thomas D. Bunch, cytogenetics, embryo biology
Noelle E. Cockett, molecular genetics, identification of genetic markers
Roger A. Coulombe, Jr., veterinary toxicology, molecular biology
Howard M. Deer, pesticides, environmental toxicology
Jeffery O. Hall, veterinary pathology, toxicology
Lyle G. McNeal, sheep production, wool science
Kenneth L. White, reproductive physiology, developmental biology
Dale R. ZoBell, beef cattle production, management

Research Professors
John D. Morrey, virology, transgenic animals
Kamal A. Rashid, in vitro mutagenesis and DNA repair
Donald F. Smee, viral chemotherapy

Adjunct Professors
J. Talmage Huber, dairy nutrition
Amrit K. Judd, anitviral drug discovery
Kip E. Panter, reproductive physiology
R. Dean Plowman, diary genetics, management
David Price, equine reproduction
Rex S. Spendlove, microbiology

Professors Emeritus
Stanley D. Allen, veterinary medicine, laboratory animal management
Clive W. Arave, behavior, dairy genetics
Clell V. Bagley, veterinary medicine
John E. Butcher, ruminant nutrition
Jay W. Call, veterinary medicine
Warren C. Foote, reproductive physiology
Robert C. Lamb, dairy genetics
James LeGrande Shupe, veterinary science, comparative clinical medicine
Robert W. Sidwell, virology
Ross A. Smart, veterinary diagnostic pathology
Norris J. Stenquist, livestock production, nutrition
Wallace R. Taylor, dairy breeding, dairy herd improvement
Don W. Thomas, veterinary medicine

Associate Professors
Thomas J. Baldwin, veterinary diagnostic pathology
David D. Frame, poultry extension
Young-Min Lee, molecular virology (RNA viruses)
Irina A. Polejaeva, developmental biology, animal models
Lee F. Rickords, molecular genetics, developmental biology
Kerry A. Rood, extension veterinarian
Zhongde Wang, stem cell biology, epigenetics of early embryogenesis, animal transgenesis, and assisted reproduction technology
Allen J. Young, dairy management, reproduction

Adjunct Associate Professors
Dale R. Gardner, analytical chemistry
Stephen T. Lee, analytical chemistry
Bryan L. Stegelmeier, veterinary pathology
Shiquan Wang, cytogenetics, reproductive physiology
J. Christopher Wilson, veterinary medicine, fisheries

Associate Professors Emeritus
Larry M. Slade, equine nutrition, management
Randall D. Wiedmeier, beef cattle nutrition, management

Research Associate Professors
Dale L. Barnard, virology
Christopher J. Davies, immunogenetics
Brian B.Gowen, immunology, virology

Assistant Professors
Abby D. Benninghoff, epigenetics, epigenomics
Jong-Su Eun, ruminant nutrition
S. Clay Isom, gene regulation, animal models
Ramona T. Skirpstunas, bacterial diseases of fish, veterinary pathology, veterinary laboratory
David J. Wilson, dairy cattle, mastitis

Adjunct Assistant Professors
T. Zane Davis, biochemistry
Benedict Green, pharmacology
Breck D. Hunsaker, veterinary immunology
Keven Welch, toxicology

Professional Practice Assistant Professor
David K. Price, science and technology of equine veterinary practice

Research Assistant Professors
Brian B. Gowen, immunology, virology
Justin G. Julander, virology, microbiology
Bart E. Tarbet, virology, microbiology

Clinical Assistant Professors
E. Jane Kelly, veterinary diagnostics
Aaron L. Olsen, animal disease
Rusty D. Stott, clinical veterinarian, animal health

Research Assistant Professor Emeritus
Robert E. Warnick, turkey nutrition

Extension Associate Professor
Scott S. McKendrick, equine science

Lecturers
Brett R. Bowman, animal science/nutrition, manager of Equine Learning Center
Parl Galloway, animal science, manager of Animal Science Farm
Justin A. Jenson, animal science, dairy youth specialist
Jason F. Romney, equine lecturer
Colette F. Tebeau, equine science and management

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