Course information

With UNE's Bachelor of Animal Science you will graduate with knowledge and skills in the science-based fundamentals that underpin the relationships with and management of animals, plus acquire the practical experience to be on track for a rewarding career in rapidly changing animal-related industries. You will develop expertise in a specialist area through your major in livestock science or animal bioscience.

Enhance your science-based qualifications and future fit your career across a range of workplace contexts.

Why study the Bachelor of Animal Science with UNE?

UNE's three-year Bachelor of Animal Science will equip you with a holistic understanding of general and specialist animal science fundamentals including animal nutrition, physiology, genetics and human-animal interactions, then allow you to specialise in livestock science, or animal bioscience. You'll explore your chosen major in depth with an extensive range of minors to hone your specific focus.

Our major and minor streams enable you to develop the expertise needed for careers in the animal production, breeding and genetics, health and nutrition industries; in the management and conservation of wildlife and management of feral pest species; and in research to support animal industries.

Studying an animal science course at UNE offers you the opportunity to:

• Anchor your theoretical and practical knowledge with 12-weeks of practical experience, focusing on real-world applications and workplace situations to improve your employability as a graduate.

• Experience real-life animal management systems through our commercial and government partners.

• Learn hands-on through our world class facilities including the Centre for Animal Research and Teaching. The Centre contains a significant number of state-of-the-art integrated animal housing and handling facilities with allied laboratories dedicated to research and teaching.

• Access the latest technology and techniques at our innovative SMART Farms. With properties covering 3,655 hectares, including farms within minutes of campus, the UNE SMART Farms are diverse and valuable teaching and research resources that you will utilise during your course. The farms support a range of disciplines including natural and agricultural ecosystems, poultry, livestock and canine sciences, precision agriculture and zoology.

What makes our course different?

UNE's Bachelor of Animal Science offers you the opportunity to:

• Major in Livestock Science or Animal Bioscience, and complement your major by choosing from a range of minors that have been designed with feedback from industry and our students.

• Learn from world-leading and ground-breaking researchers in animal behaviour, nutrition, sustainability, business, genetics, nutrition and physiology, research methods, sheep and wool and wildlife.

• Participate in an international exchange program at one of our partner universities.

• Study in class sizes that are small enough to provide great support from academic mentors, but large enough for peer-to-peer group work with other students.

• Develop the technical skills and expert knowledge to work in animal science now and in the future.

• Study flexibly either on campus, or online with short on campus experience in your own time. If you choose to study online, some units include mandatory intensive schools on campus, which give you the opportunity to interact and engage face-to-face with your peers and academic staff and gain essential practical skills.

• Complete your course in three years (full time) or up to ten years (part time).

• High achieving students in the Bachelor of Animal Science have the option of undertaking UNE's Bachelor of Science with Honours as a fourth year of study, where you will complete a research project and dissertation on a topic that interests you. Graduates who achieve the appropriate level of Honours are eligible to apply for a research master's degree or a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD).

Course structure

To qualify for the award a candidate must pass units to the value of 144 credit points with not more than 60 credit points at 100-level, at least 36 credit points at 300-level and not more than 12 credit points at 400-level.

• Animal Production Systems and Products

• Animal Function, Health and Welfare 

• Animal Handling

• Animal Physiology
  

• Applied Animal Nutrition 

• Biochemistry and Microbiology for Rural Science

• Introduction to Biology: Cells and Life 

• Organisms to Ecosystems 

• Chemistry I 

• Foundational Quantitative Methods for Environmental and Rural Sciences (QMER100) – 6 credit points

Career outcomes

• Our strong industry connections and robust research culture mean that we understand what skills and knowledge are valued by prospective employers in the animal science sector. Depending on the specialisation focus you choose in studying for your Bachelor of Animal Science, your career could include opportunities in:

• animal production industries

• animal breeding or nutrition services

• national parks and wildlife services

• service and detector dog industries  

• animal feed industry

• zoos.

Course outcomes

• The Bachelor of Animal Science is designed for those interested in the relationship with and management of animals in a rapidly changing world. The Bachelor of Animal Science aims to produce scientists with a holistic, specialist knowledge of animal biology, function and management. Through this degree, students will gain a mechanistic understanding of general and specialist animal science fundamentals. They will learn to apply this scientific knowledge in a variety of different animal systems, including animals for production, for companionship and in wild ecosystems. By completing a mandatory 12 weeks of practical experience, students will anchor their theoretical and practical knowledge to real-world application and careers in animal science.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

• demonstrate a coherent understanding of animal science by articulating the methods of animal science and explaining why current scientific knowledge is both contestable and testable by creative inquiry and by explaining the role and relevance of animal science in society and for sustainability of life;

• exhibit depth and breadth of knowledge of animal science by demonstrating well-developed understanding of the core concepts of animal science and a specific disciplinary area of animal science, and ability to integrate knowledge from other disciplines to provide informed solutions to complex problems in animal science;

• critically analyse and solve complex problems in animal science by gathering, synthesising and critically evaluating information from a range of sources, designing and conducting experiments, selecting and applying practical and/or theoretical techniques or tools in order to conduct an investigation and collecting, accurately recording, interpreting and drawing conclusions from data;

• effectively synthesise and communicate animal science results, information or arguments, using a range of modes (including oral, written, and visual) for a variety of purposes and audiences; and

• be accountable for their own learning and scientific work by being independent and self-directed learners; working effectively, responsibly, ethically, culturally appropriately, and safely in the handling of animals, chemicals and biological materials; demonstrating knowledge of the regulatory frameworks relevant to their disciplinary area; and personally practicing ethical conduct.