Catalog Description

Advisory: Eligibility for ENGL C1000
Hours: 108 (54 lecture, 54 laboratory)
Description: A scientific approach to the field of animal science and the interrelationships of domestic animals and their contribution to the modern agriculture industry. Introduces various disciplines, including cell function, genetics, anatomy and physiology, reproduction, nutrition, animal health, animal products and animal behavior. (C-ID AG-AS 104) (CSU, UC)

Course Student Learning Outcomes

  • CSLO #1: Compare and contrast animal uses, meat consumption, and animal product consumption across different cultures and world economies.
  • CSLO #2: Relate the fundamental physiology of domestic animals to the anatomy of key body systems, including (but not limited to) cardiovascular, reproductive, digestive, endocrine, exocrine, immune, and muscular systems.
  • CSLO #3: Apply basic biological principles to the management of domestic animal species.
  • CSLO #4: Evaluate current technologies in animal production and analyze their effects on management practices.

Effective Term

Fall 2026

Course Type

Credit - Degree-applicable

Contact Hours

108

Outside of Class Hours

108

Total Student Learning Hours

216

Course Objectives

Lecture Objectives:
1. Explain the economic and cultural importance of animal agriculture globally, nationally, statewide, and locally.
2. Compare and contrast animal uses and meat/animal product consumption across cultures and world economies.
3. Describe domestication and the development of domestic species and breeds through selective breeding.
4. Evaluate data from experiments designed using the scientific method.
5. Write a scientific paper based on data collected in the course, following the  Journal of Animal Science format.
6. Relate cell structure to function, including cell theory, the cell cycle, cell division, and gametogenesis.
7. Explain and diagram fundamental genetic principles: mitosis, meiosis, DNA replication and structure/function, protein synthesis, and gene expression.
8. Calculate gene frequency, probability, and genetic change.
9. Identify basic internal and external anatomy of domestic animals using correct terminology.
10. Relate the fundamental physiology of domestic animals to the anatomy of major body systems, including (but not limited to) cardiovascular, reproductive, digestive, endocrine, exocrine, immune, and muscular systems.
11. Describe the effects of key hormones such as (but not limited to) progesterone, estradiol, prostaglandin, testosterone, FSH, LH, GnRH, somatotropin, epinephrine, cortisol, and thyroxin.
12. Compare digestive systems of domestic animal species and the nutritive value of their feedstuffs.
13. Assess nutrient requirements based on an animal's stage in the biological cycle.
14. Relate basic animal behaviors to environmental conditions, domestication, health, and performance.
15. Apply fundamental biological principles to the management of domestic animal species.
16. Evaluate current animal production technologies, including (but are not limited to) biotechnology, artificial insemination, embryo transfer, and methods for testing animal products for contamination.
17. Analyze current issues in animal agriculture.
18. Compare the physiological and economic effects of various diseases in domestic animals and evaluate their impact on human health.
19. Apply basic management strategies for disease control and prevention.
Laboratory Objectives:
1. Demonstrate understanding of the methods and limitations of scientific inquiry in the natural sciences.
2. Perform basic techniques in biotechnology, hematology, and microbiology.
3. Safely restrain small and large animals, prioritizing the welfare of both the handler and animal.
4. Design and conduct an experiment using the scientific method with appropriate data collection and analysis.
5. Evaluate live and post-mortem animal for health, conformation, and anatomical identification.
6. Demonstrate proper procedures for artificial insemination, embryo transfer, and testing of animal products for contamination.

General Education Information

  • Approved College Associate Degree GE Applicability
    • AA/AS - Life Sciences
    • AS - Life Science Lab
    • AA/AS - Natural Sciences Laboratory
  • CSU GE Applicability (Recommended-requires CSU approval)
    • CSUGE - B2 Life Science
    • CSUGE - B3 Lab Activity
  • Cal-GETC Applicability (Recommended - Requires External Approval)
    • Cal-GETC 5B - Biological Science
    • Cal-GETC 5C - Laboratory Science
  • IGETC Applicability (Recommended-requires CSU/UC approval)
    • IGETC - 5B Biological Science
    • IGETC - 5C Laboratory Science
    • IGETC - 5L Laboratory Science

Articulation Information

  • CSU Transferable
  • UC Transferable

Methods of Evaluation

  • Classroom Discussions
    • Example: Students will participate in a group discussion on animal rights versus animal welfare. This discussion will include comparing and contrasting and/or debating various points of view while relating them to current animal management protocols. Students will be evaluated based on participation and incorporating course content.
  • Objective Examinations
    • Example: Example Questions: Propose a hypothesis of your own and explain how you would test it. To receive full credit, students should employ the scientific method to design an experiment to test their hypothesis. Mitochondria a. The most obvious organelle in any eukaryotic cell. It is a membrane-bound organelle and is surrounded by a double membrane. It contains DNA. b. Provides the energy a cell needs to move, divide, produce secretory products, contract - in short, they are the power centers of the cell. c. A double layer of lipids (phospholipid bilayer) but is made quite complex by the presence of numerous proteins that are important to cell activity. These proteins include receptors, pores, and enzymes. It is responsible for the controlled entry and exit of ions in and out of the cell like sodium (Na) potassium (K), calcium (Ca++). d. A membrane-bound structure with a single membrane. It is actually a stack of membrane-bound vesicles that are important in packaging macromolecules for transport elsewhere in the cell. e. None of the above Sex-linked inheritance a. Traits that appear in the phenotype of only one sex b. Traits due to genes carried on autosomes; gene is dominant in one sex and recessive in the other c. Traits coded for by genes carried on the nonhomologous portion of the X chromosome d. None of the above
  • Reports
    • Example: Scientific Paper Assignment (Journal of Animal Science Format) Purpose: The purpose of this assignment is to familiarize students with experimental methodology and interpretation. Writing style, grammar, and sentence structure will be evaluated. Method: A hypothesis will be provided to the class for discussion. From this hypothesis, students will develop an experimental design that will serve to test this experiment in the absence of environmental or genetic variables that may alter or bias the data. Over the course of several weeks students will participate in every aspect of the experiment, including 1)implementation of experimental protocol; 2) collection of research data; 3) summary, analysis and interpretation of research data; 4) development of a scientific paper in journal format. Paper will be assessed based upon correct use of research paper format and a rubric developed by the instructor and shared with students.
  • Skill Demonstrations
    • Example: Students will demonstrate how to properly restrain a sheep after an instructor demonstration. Students will be evaluated on proper technique for animal and human safety.

Repeatable

No

Methods of Instruction

  • Laboratory
  • Lecture/Discussion
  • Distance Learning

Lab:

  1. Instructor will facilitate the design and implementation of a growth study on two breeds of chickens applying the scientific method beginning with formulating a hypothesis. Students will read related research and incorporate it into a write up of the results in the Journal of Animal Science format reporting the data collected in the experiment. They will also evaluate the data and develop conclusions. Lecture Objectives: 3, 4, 5, 15 Laboratory Objectives: 1, 4

Lecture:

  1. Instructor will present a lecture using projected images and handouts containing due dates, topics, learning outcomes and informational web sites to present the concepts used to synchronize bovine estrous. Students will be provided various scenarios and determine the most appropriate estrous synchronization methods. Lecture Objectives: 9, 10, 11, 15, 16

Distance Learning

  1. Instructor will oversee and facilitate a student discussion on animal rights versus animal welfare. Discussion will include comparing and contrasting and/or debating various points of view while relating them to current animal management protocols. Lecture Objectives: 3, 14, 15, 16, 17

Typical Out of Class Assignments

Reading Assignments

1. Read the assigned pages from the textbook and be prepared to discuss the differences in the phases of mitosis; illustrate these differences by using models as well as diagramming them. 2. Read current scientific articles regarding animal science and be prepared to discuss them as well as use the data presented in them for other assignments. For example, read articles from peer-reviewed journals regarding rate of gain in various breeds of chickens and incorporate the data into a scientific paper written in the Journal of Animal Science format reporting the findings of the class research project (which in this case would be looking at rate of gain in various breeds of chickens).

Writing, Problem Solving or Performance

1. Do a series of one page reports on diseases, nutritional deficiencies and supplements, reproductive technology and other facets of animal science. 2. Write a paper on an issue facing animal agriculture. Potential topics include biotechnology, animal waste, and animal welfare.

Other (Term projects, research papers, portfolios, etc.)

1. Maintain a laboratory notebook containing data, observations, calculations, and other information pertinent to the laboratory portion of the course.

Required Materials

  • Introduction to Animal Science
    • Author: Damron
    • Publisher: Prentice Hall
    • Publication Date: 2017
    • Text Edition: 6th
    • Classic Textbook?: No
    • OER Link:
    • OER:
  • Scientific Farm Animal Production
    • Author: Taylor
    • Publisher: Prentice Hall
    • Publication Date: 2019
    • Text Edition: 12th
    • Classic Textbook?: No
    • OER Link:
    • OER:
  • Animal Science: Principles of Production, Management, and Selectio
    • Author: John S. Rayfield (Author), Kasee L. Smith (Author), Jeremy Falk (Author), Kattlyn Wolf (Author), Allen Pettey (Author), Drew Parks Benson (Author), Jessica Fife (Author), Noe A. Gomez (Author)
    • Publisher: Goodheart-Wilcox
    • Publication Date: 2023
    • Text Edition: 1
    • Classic Textbook?: Yes
    • OER Link:
    • OER:
  • Introduction to Animal Science
    • Author: Vera SCaffer
    • Publisher: Syrawood Publishing House
    • Publication Date: 2022
    • Text Edition: 1
    • Classic Textbook?: Yes
    • OER Link:
    • OER:

Other materials and-or supplies required of students that contribute to the cost of the course.