Department of Animal Science

The Department of Animal Science strives to prepare students for life after graduation with quality classroom instruction, hands-on experience, industry interaction.

The department is known for its practical, hands-on approach to instruction. To allow for as much student exposure to real-life experiences as possible in an academic program, farm and ranch operations involving 800 acres of land and eight major teaching centers are utilized as agricultural laboratories. In addition to the animal facilities, several classrooms, indoor laboratories, two indoor-teaching pavilions, and an indoor equine arena are utilized in providing students with valuable how-to experiences. We also have a newly built Animal and Plant Science Center that houses indoor laboratories, covered arenas, working pens, and animal facilities that will allow students to learn many aspects of animal production.

Located near our beautiful main campus, students gain relevant hands-on experience with livestock, equipment, and technology on a daily basis. The Department boasts a unique atmosphere that connects students personally with faculty engaged in applicable research and teaching. Students are part of a large student base with individualized attention to reduce the likely hood of remaining anonymous. Students can explore academic options in multiple concentration areas that better prepare them for the workforce or advanced academic degrees.

Tarleton Student Feeding Cattle

Interim Department Head: Dr. Trinette Jones

Office: Joe W. Autry Building, 116

Tarleton State Equine Center Logo
Tarleton State Ag Center Logo
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Tarleton State Southwest Regional Dairy Center Logo

B.S. in Animal Science

  • Science Provides a strong foundation in the scientific aspects of animal production, nutrition, reproduction, anatomy, and physiology. Supporting course work in chemistry, biology, and math provides students with the background necessary for understanding the complex physiology and biology of animal function and performance.
  • Business Combination of a strong foundation in animal science and basic business courses needed by graduates entering commercial and business enterprises related to animal agriculture.
  • Animal Production Stresses the practical aspects of commercial livestock production. Designed for students who expect and desire a career in the commercial production, marketing, and/or promotion phases of the livestock industry.
  • Pre-Veterinary Medicine Includes all necessary prerequisites for application to the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) program at Texas A&M University and other professional veterinary medicine schools. Acceptance into a DVM program is competitive. Students are encouraged to work closely with their academic advisor in planning their program of study. 
  • Meat & Food Science Applications of science, business, and animal production to food production, processing, and safety. The course work will prepare students for careers in meat science, meat and food processing, and food safety.
  • Range and Ranch Management Similar to the Animal Production concentration but provides students an additional emphasis in livestock production in the range conditions of the western U. S. This concentration contains the courses required for the Federal Government’s GS-454 “Range Management Specialist” position.

M.S. in Animal Science

Ph.D. in Animal & Natural Resource Sciences

B.A.S. in Veterinary Technology

Certificates in Animal Science

Certificate of Equine Science

Certificate in Shelter Animal Medicine

Certificate in Dairy Science

TAMU College of Veterinary Medicine MOA

As a Texas A&M University System member, Tarleton State University has a formal partnership via a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences (CVM). Under this agreement, up to five additional students from Tarleton State University will be admitted each year to the TAMU CMV if they meet the academic requirements of the MOA program. Specific MOA requirements.

The number of students admitted to the DVM program from each of the four MOA universities is not limited to five each. Students from each of the MOA universities may apply and be admitted through the standard admissions progress outside of the MOA. Meeting the minimum criteria for admissions does not guarantee a student’s admission to the DVM Professional Program under an MOA. 

For questions about this program, please contact Dr. Barry Lambert, Dean of the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources.

“The most notable lesson out of the thousands learned here at Tarleton has been that it doesn’t matter where you come from or the experience you show up to campus with. The professors and employees at Tarleton grant you the tools and knowledge to achieve your goals and reward hard work when its put forth.”

Johnathan Baker
Tarleton Student walking with pig

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The Purple Tractor

The Purple Tractor is a merchandising teaching laboratory at Tarleton State University. It was created for students within the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources to learn how to make and market agricultural products including fresh and frozen meats, vegetables, and nursery plants. All products are produced by Tarleton students in Tarleton classrooms, barns, and fields. Proceeds from sales at The Purple Tractor help recoup the teaching expenses at our Agricultural Center, so that it all goes back to enhance the student experience.