ADVS Career Opportunities
Receiving a degree in Animal, Dairy, and Veterinary Sciences opens a wide range of possibilities. Approximately 40% of our Animal and Dairy Science undergraduates continue their education at graduate schools and 85% of those completing the Bioveterinary Sciences emphasis go on to veterinary school.
Additionally, recent statistics show there are more job openings available nationally for individuals trained in the agricultural sciences than there are graduates to fill them. Our graduates are seizing opportunities in many different areas. Learn more about career paths specific to your studies below:
Undergraduate
- Animal and Dairy Science
Emphasis - Biotechnology
Emphasis - Bioveterinary Science
Emphasis - Equine Science and Management
Emphasis
Animal and Dairy Science Emphasis:
- Production and management: beef cattle, sheep, horses, swine, dairy cattle, etc.
- Marketing and sales:
- Corporate animal agriculture enterprises
- Feed and milling companies
- Animal drugs and pharmaceutical companies
- Ranching and farm equipment
- Livestock sales (registered and commercial)
- Field representatives for livestock breed associations (i.e., Angus Association)
- Artificial insemination and embryo technology services (i.e., ABS)
- Research technicians at private, state and/or federal research facilities
- Food processing and marketing of meat and other edible animal products
- USDA animal food production inspection and grading
- Feedlot management
- International animal development programs (United Nations FAO, VOCA, USAID, etc.)
- Livestock financing, credit, and banking (i.e., Farm Credit)
- Livestock transportation services
- Livestock order buyer, commission agent, etc.
- Real estate appraisal and sales for ranch/farm properties.
Biotechnology Emphasis
- Laboratory technical support
- Animal caretakers
- Research scientists
- Genetics and animal breeding
- Population genetics
- Molecular genetics
- Epigenetics
- Reproductive management
- Endocrinology
- Cloning
- Embryo technology
- Nutrition
- Feeding programs
- Nutrition/reproduction interactions
- Nutrition/health/immunity interactions
- Environmental physiology
Bioveterinary Science Emphasis:
This program is designed primarily for those students who intend to apply to veterinary or graduate school.
Equine Science and Management Emphasis:
- Equine training and management
- Breeding technology
- Sales of equine supplies
- Equine marketing and promotions
Graduate
Animal, Dairy and Veterinary Sciences - MS or PhD
Nearly all graduates of the PhD program pursue careers as university faculty and researchers. Additionally, many MS graduates go on to doctoral programs. Graduates can also work in the following areas:
- Pharmaceutical research
- Reproduction clinics, both animal and human
- Public health
- Veterinary medicine
- Agribusiness
- Animal management
- Animal feed industry
- Nutritional companies
- Diagnostic medicine
- Medical technicians, both animal and human
Toxicology - MS or PhD
Students who graduate in toxicology can pursue the following careers:
- Pharmaceutical research (often working for government regulatory agencies like the Environmental Protection Agency)
- Public health (industrial hygienists working to reduce workplace exposure)
- Mining industries (reducing environmental impacts of mine waste)
- Environmental remediation (stabilizing polluted sites)
- Professor, academia
Graduates with a PhD are more likely to work in these areas as research project leaders than those who receive the MS.
Veterinary Public Health - MPH
Veterinarians who receive an MPH degree can increase their ability to become board certified in Veterinary Preventive Medicine and can seek out diverse positions in public health organizations, academia, and industry that offer opportunities for leadership roles, professional development, and higher pay and benefits. These organizations include:
- Local, state, and federal health and environmental agencies
- Colleges and universities
- Health care organizations
- Agricultural and food industries
- International agricultural and development organizations
Potential positions for MPH graduates include:
- Public health veterinarian
- Veterinary epidemiologist
- Animal food safety specialist
- Wildlife public health specialist
- Research and management positions in government, academia, and industry
*For other career opportunities, visit Career Services.