Major structure
Overview
This major is available in the Bachelor of Science.
In the Animal Science and Management major, you’ll develop expertise in the biology, care, and ethical management of animals.
Major structure
The Animal Science and Management major is made up of seven subjects (87.5 credit points) taken in your second and third year. Each subject is worth 12.5 credit points. Level 2 subjects are usually taken in second year, and Level 3 subjects in third year.
To complete this major, you’ll need:
- 25 credit points of Level 2 major core
- 12.5 credit points of Level 2 major elective
- 12.5 credit points of Level 3 major core
- 25 credit points of Level 3 major elective
- 12.5 credit points of Level 3 capstone
The rest of your degree will consist of a Level 1 science core subject, your choice of elective subjects in science, and breadth (non-science) subjects.
Further information
You can find detailed information about your major – including structure, subject availability, and participation requirements – in the Handbook.
You can also explore your study pathway and sample course plans through My Course Planner.
Sample course plan
View some sample course plans to help you select subjects that will meet the requirements for this major.
Animal Science and Management Start-year intake
These sample study plans assume that students have undertaken VCE Units 3/4 Chemistry, or equivalent. If students have not completed this previously, they may first need to enrol in CHEM10007 Fundamentals of Chemistry in their first semester The prerequisite for the core subject Animal Systems Analysis (ANSC30009) is one of AGRI30030, ANSC30001, ANSC30003 or ANSC30004, which are all also major electives. Mid-year commencing students will need to take one of these prerequisites in their second year to complete in three years.
Year 1
100 pts
- major – 12.5 pts
- elective – 12.5 pts
- elective – 12.5 pts
- breadth – 12.5 pts
Year 2
100 pts
- Topics in Animal Health – major – ANSC20003 – 12.5 pts
- elective – 12.5 pts
- elective – 12.5 pts
- breadth – 12.5 pts
Year 3
100 pts
Explore this major
Explore the subjects you could choose as part of this major.
Students must complete all required core subjects
| Accordion | |
|---|---|
| Animal Physiology and Growth · 12.5 pts |
Physiology is the integrative study of the control of normal body function. This subject will examine the functions of different cell types and their interactions in organs and tissues; mechanisms by which organs are controlled and their functions are regulated; thermoregulatory processes and fluid balance; the physiology of the nervous system, of digestion, circulation, respiration, and excretion; the processes of growth and development, and factors that can be manipulated to alter animal performance under normal conditions. |
| Topics in Animal Health · 12.5 pts |
This subject explores major topics on animal health or relevance to the agricultural industries, domestic animal management and society in general. It focuses on the roles and perspectives of the personnel involved i.e. farmers, horse stud and stable workers, animal enterprise managers, laboratory workers and veterinarians. The topics include disease risks to humans (zoonotic diseases), organisational responses to disease outbreaks, bio-security, the epidemiology approach to eradication and control programs, evaluating diagnostic procedures, monitoring animal health, implications for animal enterprise management. |
| Animal Welfare and Ethics · 12.5 pts |
This subject develops knowledge and understanding of systems for regulating body function, and physiological and behavioural processes that are utilised by animals in response to environmental challenges. This basis will allow students to evaluate and assess animal welfare and ethical issues that confront livestock production and amenity use of animals in society. The subject will also develop knowledge in adaptation, preference testing, cognition, and short and long-term biological responses. Specific topics covered include;
|
| Animal Systems Analysis · 12.5 pts |
Effective management of animal systems requires an appreciation of the context in which that management is carried out. This context may be predominantly social, environmental or commercial or combinations thereof. The application of scientific knowledge in conjunction with an appreciation of context, individual- or societal-goals is the domain of systems analysis and thinking. This subject aims to develop the skills required to analyse these interactions and support decision-making in animal enterprises. Students will examine real world situations, and align the scientific with the social. Assessment work will see students required to clearly identify problems to be solved, analyse options for solving the problems and then provide evidence-based assessment to support their decisions. It is designed to enable students to work effectively with the owners and managers of animal businesses in bringing about change in their system. |
Students select subjects according to the major requirements
| Accordion | |
|---|---|
| Biochemistry in Agricultural Systems · 12.5 pts |
An understanding of the chemical processes that occur in living organisms is essential to understanding how plants, animals and microbes function, and therefore the best management practices that will result in optimal health and productivity. This subject is designed to introduce students to the discipline of biochemistry, to allow them to develop a basic understanding of the biological chemistry underpinning function at the cellular and system levels. Topics covered will include: cellular structure and biochemical function, structure of biomolecules including proteins, lipids and carbohydrates, energy generating pathways, photosynthesis, metabolism, fixation and assimilation of nitrogen, transformation of metals, phosphorus and sulphur, comparative metabolism in ruminants and avians and the regulation of metabolism by hormones and isoprenoids. |
| Applied Animal Behaviour · 12.5 pts |
This subject allows students to examine the behaviour of farm, companion and laboratory animals and highlights the processes and factors involved in cause and effect manipulating behavioural functionality. The subject will train students to describe, record and measure behaviour, examine the development of behaviour in a range of species; examine the effects of stimuli and communications; motivation, decision making, learning and memory; genetic and hormonal basis of behaviour; organisation, social, sexual, maternal, and dam-neonate interactions. Topics covered include:
|
| Applied Animal Reproduction & Genetics · 12.5 pts |
The aim of this subject is to give students of animal science a fundamental understanding of both applied reproductive biology and genetics. This will enable students to develop the skills necessary for management of reproductive performance and to implement genetic improvement of domestic animals. The content includes comparative structure and function of reproductive organs; endocrinology and neuro-endocrinology of reproductive cycles; environmental and genetic influences on reproduction, interventions to manipulate reproduction; reproductive biotechnologies; breeding values and selection indices; inbreeding and crossbreeding; applied animal genomics. |
| Production Animal Health · 12.5 pts |
This subject introduces students to the major factors influencing the health of production animals. Students will learn the principles of health, understand how to analyse data to identify disease, and investigate significant infectious and non-infectious causes of disease in production systems. Students will develop an understanding of how the type of production system will influence disease risk and development in production animals, and begin to understand how management of the whole production system is key in maximising animal health and production. |
| Production Animal Physiology · 12.5 pts |
Efficient production relies on keeping animals in their optimal physiological state. The aim of this subject is to provide in depth knowledge of animal physiology as it pertains to the production of food and fibre. Furthermore this subject will cover industry scenarios that compromise efficient production, the impacts on animal physiology and amelioration strategies. The topics to be covered include: Pathways that regulate growth; Physiology of Lactation; Physiology of Reproduction; Environmental physiology; Muscle biology as it pertains to meat quality; and Feed intake regulation. |
| Biochemistry and Molecular Biology · 12.5 pts |
This subject is an introduction to the field of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, building on 1st year chemical principles relating molecular structure to biological function. The content includes a detailed introduction to the structure of biological building blocks (amino acids, nucleic acids, carbohydrates and lipids). The subject covers the structure and function of proteins, including the properties of enzymes, their regulation and kinetic behaviour. How nucleic acids replicate information, are maintained and repaired and serve as a template for the synthesis of RNAs and proteins (i.e. molecular biology) is addressed. The structure of lipids is examined to show their major biological roles, particularly as components of cell membranes. Metabolic pathways (glycolysis, gluconeogenesis, glycogen metabolism, TCA cycle and oxidative phosphorylation) will complete this core coverage of essential biochemistry. The subject is designed to stand alone, but it complements the laboratory experiences in the subject BCMB20005 “Techniques in Molecular Science”, Each of these level-2 subjects can be taken independently, concurrently or in either order. |