College of Agriculture & Natural Resources Department of Animal Science

Companion and Exotic Animal Biology Concentration is a program for students who aspire to work with animals that are companions or provide esthetic value to humans. This program includes the core courses for animal science, minimal management of animals, focus on science, and electives in diverse areas such as zoology or wildlife. This concentration can also be a path for students to prepare for and apply to veterinary college but these requirements are not illustrated below.

Students interested to attend veterinary college must clarify all requirements with advisor or with the college to which they intend to apply.

For requirements to apply for admission into the MSU College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM), visit the web pages for the College of Veterinary Medicine Future Student DVM Program.

⇒ Course Descriptions

Department Requirements

All of the Following Courses

ANS 282 - Companion Animal Biology and Management

• Credits: 3
• Semesters: Fall, Spring

BS 162 - Organismal and Population Biology

• Credits: 3
• Prerequisites: BS 161 or BS 181H or LB 145
• Semesters: Fall, Spring, Summer

BS 172 - Organismal Biology Laboratory

• Credits: 2
• Prerequisites: (BS 162 or concurrently) or (BS 182H or concurrently)
• Semesters: Fall, Spring, Summer

CEM 161 - Chemistry Laboratory I

• Credits: 1
• Prerequisites: (CEM 141 or concurrently) or (CEM 151 or concurrently) or (CEM 181H or concurrently) or (LB 171 or concurrently)
• Semesters: Fall, Spring, Summer

CEM 252 - Organic Chemistry II

• Credits: 3
• Prerequisites: CEM 251
• Semesters: Fall, Spring, Summer

CEM 255 - Organic Chemistry Laboratory

• Credits: 2
• Prerequisites: (CEM 252 or concurrently) and (CEM 161 or LB 171L or CEM 185H)
• Semesters: Fall, Spring, Summer

IBIO 328 - Comparative Anatomy and Biology of Vertebrates

• Credits: 4
• Prerequisites: (BS 162 or LB 144 or BS 182H) and completion of Tier I writing requirement
• Semesters: Spring

TOTAL CREDITS 17

One of the Following Courses

BMB 200 - Introduction to Biochemistry

• Credits: 4
• Prerequisites: CEM 143 or CEM 251 or CEM 351
• Recommended Background: CEM 252 or CEM 352
• Semesters: Fall

BMB 401 - Comprehensive Biochemistry

• Credits: 4
• Prerequisites: CEM 252 or CEM 352
• Recommended Background: BS 161 or BS 181H or LB 145
• Semesters: Fall, Spring, Summer

TOTAL CREDITS 4

Six Credits of the Following Courses

ANS 305 - Applied Animal Behavior

• Credits: 3
• Prerequisites: BS 161 or LB 145 or BS 181H
• Semesters: Spring

ANS 409 - Advancements in Reproduction

• Credits: 3
• Prerequisites: BS 161 or PSL 250
• Semesters: Fall

ANS 413 - Non-Ruminant Nutrition

• Credits: 4
• Prerequisites: ANS 110 and ANS 313 and (STT 200 or STT 201 or STT 464). Not open to freshmen or sophomores.
• Recommended Background: BMB 200 or BMB 401
• Semesters: Fall

ANS 435 - Mammary Physiology

• Credits: 4
• Prerequisites: (BS 161 or LB 145 or BS 181H) and (ANS 313 and ANS 315). Not open to freshmen and not open to sophomores.
• Semesters: Spring

ANS 483 - Ruminant Nutrition

• Credits: 3
• Prerequisites: ANS 313. Not open to freshmen and not open to sophomores.
• Recommended Background: (ANS 315 or concurrently) and (BMB 200 or concurrently) or (BMB 401 or concurrently)
• Semesters: Spring

TOTAL CREDITS 6 – 7

Eleven Credits of the Following Courses

ANS 407 - Food and Animal Toxicology

• Credits: 3
• Prerequisites: BS 161 or LB 145 or BS 181H
• Not open to freshmen or sophomores.
• Semesters: Fall

ANS 418 - Animal Agriculture and the Environment

• Credits: 3
• Prerequisites: (BS 161 or LB 145 or BS 181H) and (CEM 143 or CEM 251)
• Recommended Background: CSS 210
• Semesters: Fall

ANS 425 - Principles of Biotechnology

• Credits: 3
• Prerequisites: (BS 161 or BS 181H or LB 145) and (CEM 143 or CEM 251)
• Semesters: Spring

ANS 445 - Equine Exercise Physiology

• Credits: 4
• Recommended Background: ANS 313 and ANS 315
• Semesters: Fall

ANS 455 - Avian Physiology

• Credits: 4
• Recommended Background: ANS 315
• Semesters: Spring

IBIO 313 - Animal Behavior

• Credits: 3
• Prerequisites: BS 162 or LB 144 or BS 182H. Not open to freshmen.
• Semesters: Spring, Summer

IBIO 341 - Fundamental Genetics

• Credits: 4
• Prerequisites: BS 161 or LB 145 or BS 181H
• Semesters: Fall, Spring, Summer

IBIO 355 - Ecology

• Credits: 3
• Prerequisites: BS 162 or LB 144 or BS 182H
• Semesters: Fall, Spring, Summer

IBIO 369 - Introduction to Zoo and Aquarium Science

• Credits: 3
• Prerequisites: BS 162 or LB 144 or BS 182H
• Semesters: Spring

TOTAL CREDITS 11 – 13

One of the Following Experiential Courses

ANS 492 - Undergraduate Research

• Credits: 3
• Open to juniors or seniors in the Animal Science Major. Department approval of research required.
• Semesters: Fall, Spring, Summer

ANS 493 - Professional Internship

• Credits: 3
• Open to juniors or seniors in the Animal Science Major. Department approval of internship required.
• Semesters: Fall, Spring, Summer

ANS 300A, C, D, E - Advanced Judging Course

• Credits: 2-6
• Prerequisites: Corresponding 200-level Introductory Judging Course.
• Semesters: Fall

Study Abroad

• Credits: 3-6
• See the Office of Study Abroad website for program opportunities or meet with your Animal Science Advisor.
• Semesters: Fall, Spring, Summer

TOTAL CREDITS 3 – 6

ANS majors also must complete Core Courses requirements along with their selected concentration.