The Bachelor of Animal Science is a four year undergraduate degree with an integrated Honours stream.Study in this degree commences with a broad foundation in biological sciences, and in the third and final years, offers alternative streams of study in wildlife, captive vertebrates, horses, companion animals, livestock, or research.
The course provides instruction in the basic sciences, research skills and the health, welfare, behaviour, nutrition, genetics and breeding of animals, including farm animals, pets, performance animals, wildlife and zoo animals. Other characteristics of the course include a component in practical skills, including animal handling and the development of skills which will prepare students for lifelong learning and effective communication with scientists and lay people.
Graduates from this program can expect to pursue careers in research, teaching, commerce, government advisory or regulatory roles, and industries allied to animal health, welfare, nutrition, and the management of populations of free-living or captive wild animals.
Animal scientists work in all parts of the world – from the plains and jungles of Africa to the research laboratories of the world’s foremost universities; with all types of animals from the smallest pets to the largest farm animals, horses or wild animals in a wide range of disciplines including nutrition, reproduction, genetics, welfare, behaviour, health and pharmacology.
The same staff who teach and conduct research in the Veterinary and Equine Science degrees will be delivering the key subjects in the Animal Science degree.
Students who enrol in this course will enjoy learning in some of the best facilities of their kind in the world, with laboratories, museums, practical classrooms, animal handling facilities and digital learning resources that have been recently completed for the Veterinary Science degree
at CSU.
Students who have studied and successfully completed subjects at other universities which are likely to be equivalent to subjects in the CSU Animal Science degree may apply for credit for those subjects when enrolling. Credit will be granted for subjects which are equivalent in content and standard, at the discretion of the relevant Course Coordinator.
To graduate, students must satisfactorily complete 256 points, comprising 32 subjects. For students in the Honours stream, determination of the grade of Honours will depend on coursework performance in year four of the course, as well as performance in the research project.
Students will graduate from the Bachelor of Animal Science with the award BAnimalSc. Successful completion of the research stream will earn the award BAnimalSc(Hons).
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| Fee information | Australian & New Zealand students International students |
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| Admission rank cut-offs | 72.55 |
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| Mail your application | International students |
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| Recruitment agent | International students |
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The four-year Bachelor of Animal Science will comprise a core 24 subjects (192 points) plus eight electives (64 points), giving a total of 256 points.
The restricted electives are based around the following themes:
For the Honours stream, the course will comprise a core 24 subjects (192 points), two electives (16 points) and a research project (48 points), giving a total of 256 points.
Year one
Year one provides a strong foundation in the essential sciences with the study of chemistry and biology and introduces some of the important disciplines of animal science, with studies of genetics, physiology, anatomy and animal behaviour and welfare. Introduction to Animal Science in the first semester provides a background on our use of animals for food and fibre and on the sustainability of wildlife in their environment. Practical skills in animal handling and 12 weeks of extracurricular practical experience are important aspects of this subject.
Year two
Year two broadens the base of the animal science disciplines with the study of reproduction, microbiology, nutrition, growth and development, behaviour and welfare. Previous chemistry studies lead on to biochemistry – the chemistry of life – taught simultaneously with biotechnology, which explores the rapidly growing commercial exploitation of the molecular make-up of the living cell.
Year three
In year three, studies of animal health, parasites and parasitic disease and therapeutics build on the foundation subjects to examine the principles of disease and health management in animals and animal populations. In addition to ruminant production, students are allowed to select two subjects from a wide range of electives such as captive vertebrate management, wildlife, livestock, horses or companion animals to suit their own career interests. The year is rounded out with a course on experimental design and analysis. Students attaining a high academic standard will be offered the opportunity to enter the Research Honours stream in year four.
Year four
All students complete a course on critical reviews of topical issues relating to animals in our world. For those who have attained high marks in their first three years, a research project equivalent to six subjects will be offered. The research may be based on campus or with industry or academic partners either in Australia or overseas. The remainder of the year will consist of an additional core subject (Animal Nutrition 2) for non-Honours and Statistical Reasoning for Honours students plus six electives (non-Honours) or a research project of equivalent length (Honours). The electives will be chosen from the wide range on offer in biology, veterinary, equine and agricultural science at CSU. During their training students will be encouraged to spend one semester in a similar program in a University in another country subject to approval of course material undertaken for crediting to CSU's degree program.
An indicative course structure and enrolment pattern are available in the CSU Handbook.
To be admitted into the course, prospective students need to indicate their likelihood of success through:
Previous studies include:
NSW and interstate school leavers are normally selected on the basis of their Australian Tertiary Admissions Rank (ATAR) or interstate equivalent. You may also be admitted on the basis of a strong performance in subjects relevant to your course preferences.
Currently no secondary school subjects are prerequisites for admission to particular CSU courses however some courses assume a certain level of knowledge. This will be specified in the course information if applicable.
Applicants will be deemed to have sufficient English proficiency if they:
All other applicants must explicitly demonstrate proficiency.
Acceptable tests for English proficiency
Any of the following results, attained within the last two years, can be used to demonstrate English proficiency:
An applicant who does not otherwise meet the University’s requirements may be admitted on the recommendation of the Dean of the appropriate faculty.
You may also be admitted to a course based on other attainments and experience. These may include:
CSU places great emphasis on services to its students. It is a leader in the provision of online services and, in particular, the use of the internet in the support of teaching, administration and communications with students.
The online environment is so integrated into all aspects of student life and the learning experience at CSU that the University now assumes that all on campus and distance education students at CSU will have ongoing access to an internet connected computer capable of communicating with CSU online systems.
Students enrolled in Information Technology subjects (i.e. with an ITC subject code) may be required to have additional hardware and/or software that is deemed essential for the completion of the learning activities in that subject.
There are a limited number of places available in the course and entry will be competitive based on the University Admissions Index or equivalent from previous studies.
For all inquiries about Charles Sturt University courses, please contact info.csu on:
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