Gig'em Chicken

Undergraduate Curriculum in Poultry Science


     Growth of the poultry industry has created need for scientific, technical and business knowledge in the various fields important to successful poultry production. In few fields of science is an understanding of the basic sciences, nutrition, genetics, physiology, diseases, biotechnology, processing and marketing more rewarding than in the modern, intensive methods of poultry and food production. Students are trained in the necessary background, analytical skills, problem solving and leadership for complex production units, hatcheries, integrated feed mills, processing plants and research laboratories. Rapid industry growth provides many career opportunities for graduates. Students are given two emphasis areas in which to specialize their education toward their selected career goals. The University Core Curriculum courses and the Poultry Science Core courses are required for both emphases. Students then complete a B. S. degree in either emphasis area by completing the respective emphasis area courses. All students are strongly encouraged to get early and frequent academic counseling which is readily available.
     Students completing a B.S. degree in the industry emphasis find employment with the poultry and food industries in positions such as corporate management, quality assurance, sales or technical support in live production, processing or marketing Students in this emphasis also get positions with pharmaceutical and equipment companies, with industry trade publications and in various university and public service positions.
     Students completing a B.S. degree in the technical emphasis are prepared for advanced study in biochemistry, nutrition, physiology, molecular genetics, reproduction, processing technology, microbiology or environmental science and for eventual professional employment in research, teaching, or public service. This curriculum can be easily tailored to meet the veterinary medicine preprofessional requirements.

For the 2007-2008 Academic year

Credit Hours
Courses used to satisfy University Core Curriculum
46
Poultry Science Core Courses
35
Support Courses for Industry Emphasis
or
Support Courses for Technical Emphasis
39

39
TOTAL HOURS FOR BACHELOR OF SCIENCE DEGREE
120

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University Core Curriculum
(Both Emphases)

Course
Credits
ENGL 104 - Composition and Rhetoric
3
COMM 203 - Public Speaking
or
ENGL 301
- Technical Writing1
or
ENGL 210 - Scientific and Technical Writing1
3
or
3
or
3
CHEM 101 - Fundamentals of Chemistry I
4
BIOL 113/123 - Introductory Biology
or
ZOOL 107
4
MATH 141 - Business Mathematics I
3

MATH 142 - Business Mathematics II1
or
PHIL 240 - Introduction to Logic1

3
or
3

Humanities elective*

3
Visual & performing arts elective*
3

AGEC 105 - Introduction to Agricultural Economics

3
Social sciences elective*
3
KINE 199 - Required Physical Activity*
1
KINE 198 - Health and Fitness Activity*
1
POLS 206 - American National Government
3
POLS 207 - State and Local Government
3
History electives*
6


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Poultry Science Core Courses
(Both Emphases)

Required Courses
Credits
POSC 201 - General Avian Science
3
POSC 302 - Avian Science Laboratory
1
POSC 308 - Avian Anatomy and Physiology
3
POSC 309 - Poultry Meat Production
4
POSC 326 - Commercial Egg Industry
3
POSC 381 - Seminar
1
POSC 406 - Poultry Processing and Products
4
POSC 411 - Poultry Nutrition
3
POSC 412 - Poultry Feed Formulation
1
POSC 414 - Avian Genetics and Breeding
3
POSC 427 - Animal Waste Management
3
POSC 429 - Advanced Food Bacteriology
4
POSC 481 - Poultry Science Systems
2

 

Support Courses for Industry Emphasis

 

Required Courses
Credits
ACCT 209 - Survey of Accounting Principles
or
AGEC 314
- Marketing Agricultural Products
3
or
3
AGLS 101 - Modern Agricultural Systems & Renewable Natural Resources
1
Business/Management Elective3
3
GENE 310 - Principles of Heredity
3
CHEM 222 - Elements of Organic & Biological Chemistry
3
FSTC 326 - Food Bacteriology
3
STAT 301 - Introduction to Biometry
3
VTPB 334 - Poultry Diseases
4
Electives2
16

 

Support Courses for Technical Emphasis

Required Courses
Credits
CHEM 102 - Fundamentals of Chemistry II
4
CHEM 227/237 - Organic Chemistry I
4

MICR 351 - Fundamentals of Microbiology1
or
VTPB 405 - Principles & Application of Biomedical Microbiology1
(uses 1 free elective credit)

4

5
BICH 303 - Elements of Biological Chemistry
3
STAT 301 - Introduction to Biometry
3
VTPB 334 - Poultry Diseases
4
GENE 301 - Genetics
4
Electives2
13

*Six hours must be selected from the International Cultural Diversity section from page 18 in catalogue 126.

1. Students should choose one of the two classes listed for each category (i.e. MATH 142 or PHIL 240).

2. To be utilized by students to enhance the science and/or business aspects of their undergraduate program. Also, students should have computer literacy (having completed 1 year of computer science in high school) or they must use 3 hours for a computer class (AGLS 201; RENR 201 or INFO 207).

3. To be selected from ACCT 210, 229; AGEC 330, 340, 344, 448; INFO 209; ECON 202 or 203; MGMT 211, 212, 373


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by Liz Hirschler
Copyright © 1996 --

Poultry Science Department
, Texas A&M University