Animal Sciences course catalog
All 57 recorded UW–Madison courses in this department, including courses not offered this term. Open a course for prerequisites, historical grades and instructors.
ANSCI 135: Grand Challenges and Career Opportunities in Animal and Dairy Sciences
1 credits
Covers the current key challenges and opportunities in the broad fields of animal agriculture, animal biology, animal health, and veterinary medicine, as well as internship and career opportunities and professional development activities that will maximize the value of an undergraduate career at UW-Madison and provide preparation for post-graduation endeavors.
ANSCI 140: Introduction to Poultry: From Backyard Chickens to Commercial Production
Credits unavailable
Overview of poultry science and production. Topics include anatomy and physiology, nutrition, health, reproduction, genetics, egg and meat quality, and management. Includes information on poultry flocks of various sizes and purposes, from hobby flocks to commercial production.
ANSCI 200: The Biology and Appreciation of Companion Animals
3 credits
A systematic coverage of many of the animals (including birds) that humans keep as their social companions. The classification, nutritional requirements, environmental considerations, reproductive habits, health, legal aspects and economics of companion animals and their supportive organizations.
ANSCI 210: You and Your Food: Farm to Table
Credits unavailable
Develop an understanding of the global food supply from farm to table by exploring ruminant animals, non-ruminant animals including insects, and selected agricultural materials. Topics such as the following will be discussed: land usage, environmental impacts from different feeding operations, utilization of food waste, and health risks associated with food consumption.
ANSCI 232: Care and Management of Dogs and Cats
Credits unavailable
Covers a broad range of knowledge regarding current best practices in the care and management of dogs and cats from a veterinary medical perspective. Focuses on these animals kept as pets, with additional information about other scenarios adjacent to pet ownership (e.g. breeding or working animals) provided when relevant. Discusses ethical considerations and healthcare choices that a pet owner may face throughout their dog or cat's lifespan from an evidence-based perspective. Presents topics ranging from acquiring a pet, to training and veterinary care, to end-of-life decisions with the goal of dispelling common myths and misinformation.
ANSCI 240: Ancient Animals and Peoples
Credits unavailable
Provides an introduction to human and animal relationships from prehistory to the present. Examines how animals have influenced social and economic structures of past societies, with a focus on the advent of domestication. Explores the cultural and economic changes that domestication has had on human societies, as well as the behavioral, genetic, and morphological changes that this process had on once wild animals. Emphasizes the methods used to retrace human-animal interactions, drawing on cross-cultural examples from anthropology, ethnozoology, archaeology, history, and genetics.
ANSCI 245: Animal Welfare
3 credits
Explores animal welfare topics from the animal's perspective. Analyzes contemporary welfare issues and policies based on our scientific understanding of the experiences of animals. Emphasizes farmed animals, but also draws on examples from zoo, lab, and companion animals.
ANSCI 289: Honors Independent Study
Credits unavailable
Honors research work under direct guidance of a faculty member in an area of Animal Sciences. Students are responsible for arranging the work and credits with the supervising instructor.
ANSCI 299: Independent Study
1–3 credits
Individual introductory to intermediate work under direct guidance of a faculty member in an area of Animal Sciences. Students are responsible for arranging the work and credits with the supervising instructor.
ANSCI 324: Applied Companion Animal Behavior and Learning
3 credits
Explore companion animal behavior and learning. Examine species-specific and abnormal behavior in a variety of environments where companion animals exist. Investigate basic learning principles and how they can be applied to companion animals.
ANSCI 336: Animal Growth and Development
3 credits
Covers growth and development of an animal from a single cell to an organism and factors such as nutrition, hormone, genetics and gut microbials influencing growth and development in both cell and tissue levels. Includes the molecular and cellular basis of prenatal and postnatal growth and development. Focuses on development and growth of tissues including muscle, adipose, connective, mammary, and bone tissues that are associated with animal production. Also includes the use of growth promotants in livestock to improve growth performance and increase the quality of carcasses and animal production.
ANSCI 361: Breeding and Genetics of Livestock and Companion Animals
Credits unavailable
Introduces the concepts and tools of quantitative genetics and applies them to the improvement of livestock and companion animals, making it highly relevant to veterinary medicine, animal health, and breeding program design. Using real and simulated data, valuate breeding values, interpret genetic evaluations, explore crossbreeding systems, and understand how genetic principles guide decisions in both production animals and clinical/reproductive settings.
ANSCI 362: Veterinary Genetics
Credits unavailable
The molecular basis for the inheritance of monogenic and polygenic traits related to animal disease and production. Genetic defects, their discovery, diagnosis, and treatment. Examines the molecular basis underlying the inheritance of monogenic and polygenic traits related to animal disease and production. Topics include genetic defects and their discovery, diagnosis, and treatment, as well as gene-environment interactions. Learn the molecular mechanisms of animal diseases and integrate concepts from multiple disciplines to understand how environmental factors influence gene activity and, ultimately, phenotypes. Emphasizes the role of epigenetics in livestock production, reproduction, and animal health. Explore how biomedical research can be applied to address both human and animal research questions.
ANSCI 366: Concepts in Genomics
3 credits
Genomics has revolutionized many fields of science, including animal breeding, plant breeding, physiology, microbiology, and human medicine. A basic overview of the latest concepts in genomics, including 3D genome organization, the importance of genome annotation, the use of genomic testing in plant and animal breeding, the potential of genomic prediction on human medicine, and the latest advances in omics integration.
ANSCI 375: Special Topics
1–4 credits
Various topics in Animal Science of current interest to undergraduate students.
ANSCI 377: Integrative Animal Physiology Laboratory
Credits unavailable
Provides immersive, hands-on training in large animal procedural and surgical techniques to develop knowledge and appreciation for the interconnectivity and interdependence between physiological processes of the various organ systems. Serves as an introduction to translatable skills for careers in biomedical animal research, veterinary medicine, or human medicine.
ANSCI 399: Coordinative Internship/cooperative Education
1–8 credits
An internship under guidance of a faculty or instructional academic staff member in Animal and Dairy Sciences and internship site supervisor. Students are responsible for arranging the work and credits with the faculty or instructional academic staff member and the internship site supervisor.
ANSCI 400: Study Abroad in Animal Sciences
Credits unavailable
A study abroad equivalency that does not equate to a UW-Madison course. Requires current enrollment in a UW-Madison sponsored study abroad program.
ANSCI 415: Application of Monogastric Nutrition Principles
3 credits
Nutrient requirements for growth and production of monogastric animals to include swine, poultry, and companion animals. Discuss concepts of establishing nutrient requirements and feeding strategies. Laboratory exercises are designed to develop problem solving skills required for the assessment of nutritional adequacy and economical soundness of feeding programs.
ANSCI 420: Microbiomes of Animal Systems
Credits unavailable
Provides a knowledgebase in both theoretical and applied scientific approaches associated with microbiome sciences in animal production systems. Covers the basic principles of microbiology through applied practical approaches in using cross-species comparisons in companion and agricultural species from classical microbiological techniques to novel next-generation sequence-based approaches.
ANSCI 431: Beef Cattle Production
Credits unavailable
Application of genetics, systems of mating, physiology, nutrition and economics to the production of beef.
ANSCI 432: Swine Production
Credits unavailable
Application of research findings in breeding, feeding, management and marketing to modernize production. Lab may include farm visits, practical exercises in testing changes, and "tools" used by producers.
ANSCI 435: Animal Sciences Proseminar
2 credits
Methods of assessing information quality are studied. Each student develops an analytical and critical seminar on a topic of personal interest in the animal sciences.
ANSCI 610: Quantitative Genetics
Credits unavailable
An advanced approach with emphasis on statistical foundations. Classical theory with extensions to maternal and paternal effects. Selection theory is considered in depth.
ANSCI 681: Senior Honor Thesis
2–4 credits
Individual study for majors completing theses for Honors degrees as arranged with a faculty member.
ANSCI 682: Senior Honors Thesis
2–4 credits
Second semester of individual study for majors completing theses for Honors degrees as arranged with a faculty member.
ANSCI 691: Thesis
2 credits
Individual study for majors completing theses as arranged with a faculty member.
ANSCI 692: Thesis
Credits unavailable
Second semester of individual study for majors completing theses as arranged with a faculty member.
ANSCI 699: Special Problems
1–3 credits
Individual advanced work in an area of Animal Sciences under the direct guidance of a faculty member.
ANSCI 795: Graduate Teaching in Animal and Dairy Sciences
1 credits
Instructional orientation to teaching at the higher education level in animal and dairy sciences. Direct teaching experience under faculty supervision, including course development, instructional delivery, student assessment, and evaluation. Hands-on engagement via assisting in teaching activities such as syllabus design, lecture preparation, lab and discussion facilitation, exam and quiz creation, and grading. Self-analyze teaching performance, receive constructive feedback, and explore best practices in pedagogy.
ANSCI 799: Practicum in Animal Sciences Teaching
1–3 credits
Instructional orientation to teaching at the higher education level in the agricultural and life sciences, direct teaching experience under faculty supervision, experience in testing and evaluation of students, and the analysis of teaching performance.
ANSCI 865: Design and Analysis of Biological Studies
Credits unavailable
Experimental design and proper data analysis are critical processes for scientific research. Planning and performing research studies have statistical implications that influence how results are interpreted. Learn the fundamentals of generalized linear models, experimental design, and data analysis using common examples from biological studies.
ANSCI 875: Special Topics
1–4 credits
Specialized subject matter of current interest to graduate students.
ANSCI 990: Research
1–12 credits
Independent research in preparation of a graduate thesis under supervision of a faculty member.
ANSCI/BSE 344: Digital Technologies for Animal Monitoring
Credits unavailable
Introduces key concepts of sensor technology used for livestock and companion animal monitoring and veterinary medicine. Describes applications of Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems for livestock animals and veterinary medicine, including animal monitoring, computer-aided diagnosis, and optimized farm management decisions.
ANSCI/DYSCI 101: Introduction to Animal Sciences
3 credits
An overview of animal sciences covering anatomy, physiology, nutrition, reproduction, genetics, management, animal welfare, and behavior of domesticated animals. Food animals are emphasized to discuss their contributions to humans.
ANSCI/DYSCI 102: Introduction to Animal Sciences Laboratory
1 credits
Hands-on experience and demonstrations to develop practical skills with animals and to better understand the application of science to food production animals. It covers anatomy, physiology, nutrition, reproduction, genetics, management, animal welfare, and behavior of domesticated animals.
ANSCI/DYSCI 320: Animal Health and Disease
Credits unavailable
Provides an introduction to and exploration of the interconnectivity between factors that affect health and disease and the central role of the immune system using infectious disease in animals as a key focus. Explores principal causes and identification of animal diseases, common diseases of farm animals, zoonoses and public health, disease prevention and management including biosecurity measures and host immune responses. Fosters appreciation for the translatability and universality of knowledge between human and animal health and disease.
ANSCI/DYSCI 363: Principles of Animal Breeding
Credits unavailable
Application of the principles of quantitative genetics to the improvement of livestock and poultry; breeding value estimation and selection techniques; effects of inbreeding and hybrid vigor; crossbreeding systems.
ANSCI/DYSCI 370: Livestock Production and Health in Agricultural Development
Credits unavailable
Physical, biological and social nature of animal agriculture systems and their improvement in developing countries; analysis of the state of livestock research and development in the developing countries and the world role of U.S. animal agriculture.
ANSCI/DYSCI 373: Animal Physiology
3 credits
Covers physiological processes that regulate the body and the anatomy and function of different physiological systems. Includes interactions between organ systems, analysis of a single organ system from the molecular to the organismal, and comparisons and contrasts of organ systems among different domestic animal species.
ANSCI/DYSCI 414: Ruminant Nutrition & Metabolism
3 credits
Integrates nutritional and biochemical concepts to understand digestive and metabolic processes in dairy and beef cattle, which are then quantitatively represented to predict and manipulate production and health outcomes.
ANSCI/DYSCI 434: Reproductive Physiology
3 credits
Principles of reproductive physiology, improvement of fertility, and artificial insemination.
ANSCI/DYSCI 824: Ruminant Nutritional Physiology I
4 credits
Focuses on rumen microbiology, metabolite modeling, as well as protein and VFA nutrition and metabolism.
ANSCI/DYSCI 825: Ruminant Nutritional Physiology II
Credits unavailable
Focuses on calf and heifer nutrition, regulation of dry matter intake, plant and forage chemistry, vitamins, lipids, and starch.
ANSCI/DYSCI 931: Seminar in Animal Nutrition
Credits unavailable
Discussion of literature that has a bearing on animal nutrition. Students are to survey the literature and present a seminar.
ANSCI/DYSCI/FOODSCI/SOILSCI 472: Animal Agriculture and Global Sustainable Development
Credits unavailable
Explores global agriculture and sustainable development, highlighting the interdependence between U.S. agriculture and agriculture in emerging economies. Uses a regional approach with crop and livestock case studies to examine topics such as population and food security, immigration, environmental impacts, crop and livestock production, global trade, sustainability, the role of women in agriculture, and the contribution of dairy products to a healthy diet.
ANSCI/DYSCI/GENETICS 951: Seminar in Animal Breeding
Credits unavailable
ANSCI/DYSCI/NUTRSCI 311: Comparative Animal Nutrition
Credits unavailable
Nutrients and their assimilation, function, and interactions that affect metabolism in mammals. Differences among species will be used to emphasize unique digestive and physiological functions and how these differences affect metabolism of nutrients. Humans will be used in some comparisons. Follows physiological progression of nutrients, starting with an overview of the digestive tract followed by water and builds on specific roles of nutrients and substrates needed to provide basic processes required for maintenance, tissue accretion, and homeostatic regulation of nutrients.
ANSCI/FOODSCI 305: Introduction to Meat Science and Technology
4 credits
Application of biological, technological, and economical principles to muscle and related tissue utilized for food.
ANSCI/FOODSCI 321: Food Laws and Regulations
Credits unavailable
Food laws and regulations, regulatory and commerical grading standards used in the food industry.
ANSCI/FOODSCI 515: Commercial Meat Processing
Credits unavailable
Principles and procedures in the commercial manufacture of processed meat products; sausage manufacturing, curing, smoking, freezing and packaging.
ANSCI/FOODSCI 710: Chemistry of the Food Lipids
Credits unavailable
Chemical constitution, structures, reactions, stereochemistry of fats, phospholipids, related compounds; methods of isolation, characterization; synthesis; relation of structure to physical properties.
ANSCI/FOODSCI 711: Food Biochemistry
3 credits
Explores methods for interrogating structure-function relationships, molecular profiles, and microstructure of foods. Provides hands-on experience using computational approaches to model protein-small molecule interactions, analysis of small molecules using high-resolution MS, and protein composition and morphology with fluorescence spectroscopy and microscopy. Knowledge of food chemistry or organic chemistry (such asFOOD SCI 410,CHEM 341,343, or345) required.
ANSCI/GENETICS/POPHLTH 849: Genomic Epidemiology
Credits unavailable
An introduction to genomic epidemiology, including a general overview of genetics and Mendelian and complex inheritance, as well as various elements of study design, such as participant ascertainment; phenotype definition; biologic sample selection; genotyping, sequencing, and quality control; measurement of covariates; and choice of analytic methods. Briefly covers original study designs; focuses on current study designs.
ANSCI/NUTRSCI 626: Experimental Diet Design
Credits unavailable
Discuss nutrient requirements, composition of ingredients used to meet requirements and the mathematical steps involved in diet formulation with emphasis on research animals and human subjects.
ANSCI/OBS&GYN/ZOOLOGY 954: Seminar in Endocrinology-reproductive Physiology
1 credits
Promotes scientific and professional development. Presenters develop and deliver research presentations to a scientific audience, field questions, and receive critiques about their presentation style and scientific approach. Additional presentations include professional development, career advancement opportunities, and topics of interest to the endocrinology and reproduction community at large.