Prospective Students

Current Announcements

Schedule an appointment to learn more about UMD Animal & Avian Sciences today! 

If you are a current UMD student and interested in switching into or double majoring/degree with ANSC, please begin the process by initiating a Major Change in TerpEngage.  Once you indicate that you would like to switch to ANSC the system will provide you further details on the steps you need to take to make the change.

Ongoing- AGNR Info Sessions- Meet with our College's recruitment officers to explore our programs, meet with students, and take tours of our facilities.  Make sure to register here

2/1/24- ANSC Major Change Workshop- Are you a current UMD student interested in switching into the Animal Science Major?  Register here to attend our major change workshop!

2/28/24- ANSC Major Change Workshop- Are you a current UMD student interested in switching into the Animal Science Major?  Register here to attend our major change workshop!

3/26/24- ANSC Major Change Workshop- Are you a current UMD student interested in switching into the Animal Science Major?  Register here to attend our major change workshop!

4/12/24- ANSC Major Change Workshop- Are you a current UMD student interested in switching into the Animal Science Major?  Register here to attend our major change workshop!

5/2/24- ANSC Major Change Workshop- Are you a current UMD student interested in switching into the Animal Science Major?  Register here to attend our major change workshop!

If you have further questions please contact us at ansc-undergrad-prog@umd.edu or at 301-405-1373.

ANSC Information Session

Welcome to ANSC at UMD, we are delighted you are interested in our program! Look around and explore what we have to offer; if you have more questions about our program and/or would like to schedule a tour of our campus farm, reach out to us at ansc-undergrad-prog@umd.edu.

Ready to plan your future at UMD Animal Sciences?

      Apply      
      Today!      

The ANSC Major:

... is a great program for a pre-veterinary student.

... provides a strong foundation for graduate school.

... can prepare you for many jobs working with animals or on animal issues.

Which Track Will You Choose?

Within the Animal Science undergraduate program, there are three focuses of study or tracks:

  1. Animal Care and Management

  2. Pre-Science/Pre-Professional

  3. Combined Ag VetMed

Learn more about the different tracks!

Animal Care and Management (0104A)

  • Careers in equine, poultry, livestock, laboratory animal

  • Production, nutrition, health, policies

  • Biology, Chemistry

  • Animal management and advanced animal electives

Pre-Science/Pre-Professional (0104E)

  • Veterinary, dental, medical, graduate schools

  • Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Biochemistry

  • Some animal management and advanced animal electives

Combined Ag VetMed (1299D)

  • Accelerated veterinary school application timeline: Junior year

  • Same requirements as Pre-Science/Pre-Professional

  • Finish 4th year either at veterinary school or as a Pre-Science/Pre-Professional track

*Not a graduating option

Which Species is Right for You?

The ANSC department has many species-specific courses and clubs to help you get involved with your species of focus or interest!

Horse

Classes

ANSC 105 - Horse Care Practicum

ANSC 232 - Horse Management

ANSC 237 - Equine Reproductive Management

ANSC 282 - Grazing Animal Management

ANSC 330 - Equine Science

Clubs
Other
Experiences
  • Internships in the equine industry

  • Working on the campus “farm crew”

  • Student research projects related to equine studies

  • Being an undergraduate teaching assistant for an equine studies course

Sheep

Classes

ANSC 245 - Sheep Management

Clubs
Other
Experiences
  • Showing a lamb on “Ag day” (Maryland Day)

  • MD Sheep and Wool Festival

  • Student research projects related to small ruminants

  • Working on the campus “farm crew”

  • Being an undergraduate teaching assistant for the sheep management course

Cows, Pigs, Livestock

Classes

ANSC 220 - Livestock Management

ANSC 242 - Dairy Cattle Management

ANSC 282 - Grazing Animal Management

Clubs
Other
Experiences
  • Internships on and off campus

  • Working on the campus “farm crew”

  • Student research projects related to livestock species

  • Being an undergraduate teaching assistant for the livestock management course

Poultry

Classes

ANSC 262 - Commercial Poultry Management

ANSC 452 - Avian Physiology

Clubs
Other
Experiences
  • Internships in the poultry industry

  • Student research projects related to poultry studies
  • Being an undergraduate teaching assistant for the commercial poultry management course

Laboratory Animals

Classes

ANSC 255 - Aquaculture

ANSC 260 - Laboratory Animal Management

ANSC 455 - Applied Animal Behavior

ANSC 453 - Animal Welfare and Bioethics

Clubs
Other
Experiences
  • Working in our departmental animal facility, a research lab on campus, or UMD’s central animal facility as an animal caretaker

  • Internships in the lab animal industry and the federal agencies that interact with it

  • Student independent study projects related to laboratory management

Small Animals, Cats, Dogs

Classes

ANSC 250 - Companion Animal Care and Management

ANSC 260 - Laboratory Animal Management

ANSC 455 - Applied Animal Behavior

Clubs
Other
Experiences
  • Internships in the companion animal industry, animal shelters, veterinary hospitals

  • Student independent study projects related to companion animal studies

  • Being an undergraduate teaching assistant for the companion animal management course

Information for Prospective Students:

Freshmen and Freshmen Connection Students

Admitted Freshmen

Freshmen Connection

AP/IB Score Transfer Credit - see which UMD courses you have credit for based on your test scores

Math Placement Exam

Ag Forward/IAA

Agriculture Forward at Maryland (Ag Forward) is an accelerated program for first-year college students who plan to pursue a career in agriculture and natural resources. Ag Forward students are advised on a curriculum plan that allows them to become degree-seeking after only one year at the IAA. They take many courses that meet both requirements for the Certificate in Applied Agriculture and their desired four-year major. Within four years, completers can earn both a certificate from the IAA and a bachelor's degree from one of the programs in the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources (AGNR).

Major Changes within UMD

If you are a current UMD student and interested in switching into or double majoring/degree with ANSC, please begin the process by initiating a Major Change in TerpEngage.  Once you indicate that you would like to switch to ANSC the system will provide you further details on the steps you need to take to make the change.

If you have any further questions about this process, please email ansc-undergrad-prog@umd.edu.

Date Time Location Register
March 26th 2pm Virtual Register here
April 12th 11am Virtual Register here
May 6th 10am Virtual Register here

 

Transfer Students

 

Planning to transfer to ANSC? Follow these steps!

  1. Contact the Office of Pre-Transfer Advising for directions
  2. Review the curriculum worksheets for the major
  3. Compare your completed courses to the Transfer Credit Evaluation Center to see what you will have credit for
  4. If you have an associates degree - you do not need to complete individual General Education requirements (exception: Professional Writing [FSPW]). 
  5. Have you AP and IB courses sent to UMD directly from College Board or the International Baccalaureate Program - they won’t be included in your college transcript

*Note: It often takes transfer students 2.5 - 3 years to graduate from our program, as most of our courses are only offered once per year.

Recommended courses to complete at your 2 year institution

  • Calculus (MATH120, 130, 140)
  • Cellular Biology (BSCI170/171) and Evolutionary Biology (BSCI160/161)
  • General Chemistry (CHEM131/132)

*Note: UMD does not accept transfer credit for CHEM272

Have a course that hasn’t been evaluated for equivalency yet?

Courses may be submitted for evaluation using the guidelines provided by the Transfer Credit Center