Maria Rivera, a third-year University of Wisconsin–Madison pre-veterinary student has wanted to be a veterinarian since she was very little. She imagines a future working with small animals in her own general practice, or perhaps specializing in surgery. A new UW–Madison major — animal and veterinary biosciences — will get her several steps closer to living that dream.
The new major is for students who care about animals’ health, well-being, and their relationships to humans and the environment. This can be from the smallest companion and service animals to the largest livestock. With an array of course choices, students can tailor their studies to prepare for veterinary school or a multitude of other careers. The major makes it easier for students to add a certificate or study abroad and graduate more quickly.
“We’re adapting to directions students are already going,” says Kent Weigel, chair of the Department of Animal and Dairy Sciences. “With more options and fewer required courses, students can dig deeper into the traditional disciplines. They can also also explore emerging topics like animal welfare, microbiome studies, sustainability as well as digital agriculture. This allows them to really pursue or discover their true passions.”
Hands-on research opportunities for undergraduate students are abundant on the UW campus. More than 75 percent of students in the Department of Animal and Dairy Sciences complete independent studies or research before they graduate. Many get involved just weeks into their first year. Moving forward, the department plans to expand opportunities to learn about and study companion and service animals.
Students are already flocking to the new major. Rivera was an animal sciences major but chose to switch to animal and veterinary biosciences. This year she’s excited to have the flexibility to take two courses that truly fit her interests. She’ll have time to be a teaching assistant for an introductory animal sciences course. She can also be more involved with her many career-related extracurriculars.
“I am super happy I [chose] Madison,” says Rivera. “I can’t imagine not having the clubs or the cows at the Dairy Cattle Center. I’ve been in the field,worked on research, and I’m so unbelievably impressed with the resources and organizations we have here.”
The job outlook is favorable for veterinarians, animal care specialists and other animal-related fields, with projected growth ranging from seven to 30 percent over the next decade. Most of these graduates will grow Wisconsin’s workforce.
Liv Sandberg, undergraduate student services coordinator and advisor for the Department of Animal and Dairy Sciences, thinks the new major strikes the perfect balance between rigorously preparing pre-vet students for veterinary school, while ensuring a path to success for students interested in other careers.
“When a student comes to me, they might be really interested in going to vet school, but ultimately they just want to work with animals,” says Sandberg. “Whatever they decide, they can remain in our major and have a pathway to accomplish all that they want to do.”
That pathway could be in welfare, genetics, nutrition, meat science or animal biologics, for example. New for the coming academic year, all students in the department will be paired with faculty mentors in their sophomore year, further helping them find the academic and career path that is right for them.
The animal and veterinary biosciences major, housed in the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, is available to declare for Fall 2023. Current animal science majors have the option of finishing out their current academic plan or migrating to the new major. For more information visit: https://go.wisc.edu/AnVetBioSciMajor.
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