Animal Science Technology

This curriculum is designed to prepare students for careers in the production, processing, and distribution of livestock, swine, and poultry and their products according to scientific principles essential to efficient and profitable operation.

Students should learn skills necessary for the operation of efficient and profitable livestock, swine, and poultry enterprises. Coursework includes production practices, animal health, nutrition, reproduction, and management.

Graduates should qualify for entry-level jobs as herd or flock managers, field service persons, feed salespersons, equipment salespersons, feed mill workers, buyers of poultry and livestock, owners/operators, farm managers, department supervisors, field service representatives, and waste management technicians.

Learning Outcomes

  • Evaluate production, management, and marketing decisions and be able to effectively communicate those decisions.
  • Recognize the effects of animal health, management, genetics, environment, and nutrition in livestock production and their interactions. 
  • Understand the impact the livestock industries have on local, state, national, and international levels.

Contact Information

Image of Frank Blevins
Frank Blevins, BS
Lead Instructor of Animal Science and Agribusiness
Phone: 336-838-6188
fdblevins615@wilkescc.edu

Pathways

First Year – Fall Semester

  • ACA 115: Success and Study Skills
  • ACM 110: Intro to Animal Care
  • ANS 110: Animal Science
  • ANS 111: Sustainable Livestock Management
  • ANS 118: Intro to Animal Science Industry
  • ANS 130: Poultry Production
  • ENG 111: Writing and Inquiry

First Year – Spring Semester

  • AGR 111: Basic Farm Maintenance
  • AGR 212: Farm Business Management
  • ANS 115: Animal Feeds and Nutrition
  • ANS 116: Intro to the Equine Industry
  • BIO 140: Environmental Biology
  • ETR 220: Innovation and Creativity

First Year – Summer Term

  • WBL 111: Work-Based Learning I

Second Year – Fall Semester

  • AGR 261: Agronomy
  • ANS 120: Beef Production
  • ANS 150: Animal Health Management
  • ANS 170: Sheep and Goat Production
  • ANS 216: Livestock Ind Mechanization
  • Social/Behavioral Science Elective

Second Year – Spring Semester

  • ACM 112: Facility Management
  • ANS 140: Swine Production
  • ANS 210: Livestock Prod Issues
  • COM 120: Intro to Interpersonal Communication
  • Humanities Elective

Fall Semester

  • ACA 115: Success and Study Skills
  • ACM 110: Intro to Animal Care
  • ANS 110: Animal Science
  • ANS 111: Sustainable Livestock Management
  • ANS 118: Intro to Animal Science Industry
  • ANS 130: Poultry Production
  • ENG 111: Writing and Inquiry

Spring Semester

  • AGR 111: Basic Farm Maintenance
  • AGR 212: Farm Business Management
  • ANS 115: Animal Feeds and Nutrition
  • ANS 116: Intro to the Equine Industry
  • BIO 140: Environmental Biology
  • ETR 220: Innovation and Creativity

Summer Term

  • WBL 111: Work-Based Learning I

  • AGR 111: Basic Farm Maintenance
  • ACM 112: Facility Management
  • AGR 261: Agronomy
  • ANS 110: Animal Science
  • ANS 216: Livestock Ind Mechanization

  • ACM 110: Intro to Animal Care
  • ANS 110: Animal Science
  • ANS 111: Sustainable Livestock Management
  • ANS 118: Intro to Animal Science Industry
  • ANS 130: Poultry Production

  • ANS 120: Beef Production
  • ANS 130: Poultry Production
  • ANS 140: Swine Production
  • ANS 170: Sheep and Goat Production

  • ANS 110: Animal Science
  • ANS 115: Animal Feeds & Nutrition
  • ANS 120: Beef Production
  • ANS 150: Animal Health Management

  • ACM 110: Intro to Animal Care
  • ANS 111: Sustainable Livestock Management
  • ANS 115: Animal Feeds & Nutrition
  • ANS 116: Intro to the Equine Industry
  • ANS 150: Animal Health Management

Technical Standards

The Applied Animal Science Technology program technical standards have been developed to inform students of the nonacademic essential functions of the program and profession. Examples are not all inclusive.

Standard Essential Function Examples
Communication
Oral / Written
  • Skills sufficient to communicate information and ideas so others will understand
  • Communicate with coworkers and customers
Mobility / Motor Skills
  • Motor skills sufficient to move the hands and use hands to grasp or manipulate objects
  • Mobility sufficient to maneuver in varied terrain
  • Mobility sufficient to perform physical activities that require considerable use of arms and legs and moving the whole body
  • Ability to safely operate in and around machinery
  • Use hand tools and laboratory equipment
  • Physical activities may include:
    • Stooping
    • Reaching
    • Squatting
    • Lifting
    • Bending
  • Safely operate farm machinery
Physical Strength and Stamina
  • Ability to lift and carry objects
  • Ability to maintain balance
  • Carry and transfer bagged animal feed
  • Work on slippery or uneven surfaces
Sensory

  • Sight
  • Sound
  • Taste
  • Touch
  • Smell
  • Visual skills sufficient to see details at close range
  • Ability to tolerate scents/dander
  • Ability to hear equipment to address maintenance issue
  • Ability to touch and locate anatomy on animals
  • Recognize the effects of animal health
  • Encounter scents and or dander related to animals, feeds, or waste
  • Recognize a malfunctioning fan motor
  • Locating a vein on an animal to draw blood
Environmental / Occupational Exposure
  • Possible exposure to common allergens
  • Possible exposure to extreme weather conditions
  • Able to tolerate variations in lighting
  • Chemicals, toxins, dust, fumes
  • Prolonged periods in various outdoor climates (heat, cold, rain)
Field or Industry Professional Standards
  • Safely work with livestock and machinery
  • Visiting farms and diagnosing livestock and equipment issues

Disability Services Statement

Wilkes Community College is an ADA compliant institution. WCC does not discriminate based on a disability in the admissions process or in access to its programs, services, and/or activities for qualified individuals who meet eligibility requirements. WCC will provide reasonable accommodations for individuals with documented disabilities who are eligible to receive or participate in college programs, services, and/or activities. If a student believes that he/she cannot meet one or more of a program’s essential functions without accommodations, the student is encouraged to disclose this to Disability Services as soon as possible.

Associate to Bachelor Agreements

An Associate to Bachelor agreement is an opportunity for students to complete their Associate's degree at Wilkes Community College and then transfer into a specified program at a partnering four-year institution for their Bachelor's degree. Wilkes Community College has the following Associate to Bachelor agreements for our Animal Science Technology graduates: