Veterinary & Animal Sciences: Now What?
Quick Facts: Veterinarians
Found on the Occupational Outlook Handbook
- 2021 Median Pay: $100,370 per year
- Entry-Level Education: Doctoral or professional degree
- Work Experience in a Related Occupation: None
- On-the-job Training: None
- Number of Jobs, 2020: 86,800
- Job Outlook, 2020-30: 17% (Much faster than average)
- Employment Change, 2020-30: 14,500
What is Animal Science?
Animal science is the study of animals that live alongside humans. People rely on animals for food, fiber, labor and companionship. Using knowledge form the fields of physiology, biology, nutrition, genetics, husbandry, molecular biology, ethics, animal behavior, public health, and communication, animal scientists help us to understand and manage these animals. Animal science is used to maximize the efficiency, output, safety, and sustainability of farming and food production techniques. A degree in animal sciences can prepare you for a wide range of jobs in agriculture and related biomedical fields. Some with an animal science degree plan to continue on to veterinary school after graduation.
What Can I Do With A Bachelor’s Degree In Animal Science
- Animal Health Product Sales
- Housing & Environmental Quality Specialist
- Feed Sales/Management
- Livestock Insurance Representative
- Livestock Equipment Sales/Mgt
- Livestock Procurement
- Animal Scientist
- Field Representative
- Researcher
- Consultant
- A.I. Breeding Technician
- Livestock Feedlot Operator
- Research and Lab Technician
- Public Relations Specialist
- Market Forecaster
- Livestock Marketing Specialist
- Sales
- Technical Representative
- Teacher
- Food/Meat Product Development
- Quality Assurance
- Food Service Management
- Farm Management
- Dairy Equipment Specialist
- Market Reporter
- Meat Grader
- Financial Analyst
- Financial Representative
- Extension Specialist
Who Could I Work For?
- Animal breeders
- Animal shelters
- Biotech companies
- Dairy industry
- Universities and schools
- Equine industry
- Feed manufacturers
- Historic farms
- Veterinary hospitals
- Human societies
- Pharmaceutical companies
- Research foundations
- Wildlife rehabilitation groups
- Zoos
- Federal government agencies, such as:
- Department of Agriculture
- Department of Interior
- Department of Health and Human Services
- Environmental Protection Agency
- State government agencies, such as:
- Department of Agriculture
- Department of Commerce
- Department of Environmental Protection
- Department of Health
Farm Organizations
- Beef cattle production
- Stocker or grower programs
- Feedlot
- Milk production
- Swine
- Farrowing operations
- Grower/finisher operations
- Farrow to finish
- Sheep
- Stocker or grower programs
- Feed/slaughter inspection
- Private consulting
- Wheat pasture growing/finishing programs
- Poultry
- Broiler production
- Egg production
- Horses
- Mare Breeding Farm
- Training facility
- Livestock feed
- Production, Sales, and Distribution
Technology Development and Application (Biotechnology)
- Laboratory technical support
- Animal caretakers
- Research scientists
- Genetics and Animal Breeding
- Population genetics
- Molecular genetics
- Genetic engineering
- Reproductive management
- Endocrinology
- Cloning
- Embryo technology
- Nutrition
- Feeding programs
- Nutrition/reproduction interactions
- Nutrition/health/immunity interactions
Food Science
- Product development
- Food processing
- Fermentation
- Grain companies
Veterinary Medicine
- Practice
- Research
- Product development
- Teaching
- Inspection
Meat or dairy foods
- Production
- Product development
- Quality control
- Distribution and marketing
Teaching
- High school
- Junior college
- University
Where Might I Do an Internship in Animal Science?
UMass Amherst animal science majors have done internships at the following sites:
- Agri-Mark
- Amherst (Town of)
- Andover Animal Hospital
- Associates of Cape Cod
- Banfield Pet Hospital
- Biogen Idec Inc
- Blue Star Equiculture
- Cambridge Veterinary Care
- CampusLIVE Inc
- CBSET INC.
- Como Park Zoo/Conservatory
- Dakin Pioneer Valley
- Days End Farm Horse Rescue
- Diggity Service Dogs
- Drumlin Farm & Sanctuary
- Franklin Park Zoo
- Humane Society
- Jon Turati Farrier Service
- Lincoln Park Zoo
- Mass Audobon
- Medicine Mammals
- MIT Div. of Comparative Medicine
- MSPCA
- New England Aquarium
- New England Wildlife Center
- N. Attleboro Animal Clinic
- Novartis
- Rep. Chris Hodgkins
- Riverbend Animal Hospital
- Rozalia Project
- Sova Animal Hospital
- Stewart Equine Clinic
- The Alex Foundation
- Tufts Veterinary School
- UMass Mullins Center
- Vet’s First Choice
- Walt Disney World
- Westford Emergency Animal Hospital
- Westside Animal Clinic
- Windham Animal Hospital
- Wildlife Center Silicon Valley
- Wyeth Biotech
- Zoo in Forest Park (The)
- Zoo New England
What Does A Veterinarian Do?
Thinking about going onto vet school and curious about the profession?
Veterinarians typically do the following:
- Examine animals to diagnose their health problems
- Treat and dress wounds
- Perform surgery on animals
- Test for and vaccinate against diseases
- Operate medical equipment such as x-ray machines
- Advise animal owners about general care, medical conditions, and treatments
- Prescribe medication
- Euthanize animals
Veterinarians in private clinical practices treat the injuries and illnesses of pets and farm animals with a variety of medical equipment, including surgical tools and x-ray machines. They provide treatment for animals that is similar to what a doctor would do to treat humans. The following are common types of veterinarians:
- Companion animal veterinarians treat pets and generally work in private clinics. According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, 77 percent of veterinarians who work in private clinical practice treat pets. They most often care for cats and dogs, but also treat other pets, such as birds, ferrets, and rabbits. These veterinarians diagnose animal health problems, consult with owners of animals, and carry out medical procedures, such as vaccinations and setting fractures.
- Equine veterinarians work with horses. About 6 percent of private practice veterinarians treat horses.
- Food animal veterinarians work with farm animals such as pigs, cattle, and sheep. About 8 percent of private practice veterinarians treat food animals. They spend much of their time at farms and ranches treating illnesses and injuries and testing for and vaccinating against disease. They also may advise owners or managers about feeding, housing, and general health practices.
- Food safety and inspection veterinarians inspect livestock and animal products and enforce government food safety regulations. They may inspect livestock, checking the animals for E. coli and other transmittable diseases. They check for food purity and sanitation by inspecting food products, animals and carcasses, and slaughtering and processing plants. Others may work along the country’s borders in food safety and security, ensuring abundant and safe food supplies.
- Research veterinarians work in laboratories, conducting clinical research on human and animal health problems. These veterinarians may perform tests on animals to identify the effects of drug therapies, or they may test new surgical techniques. They may also research how to prevent, control, or eliminate food- and animal-borne illnesses and diseases.
Important Transferable Qualities To Include On Your Resume for ANY Animal Sciences Job
- Compassion. Veterinarians must be compassionate when working with animals and their owners. They must treat animals with kindness and must be sensitive when dealing with the owners of sick pets.
- Decision-making skills. Veterinarians must decide the correct method for treating the injuries and illnesses of animals. Deciding between euthanizing and treating a sick animal, for instance, can be very difficult.
- Interpersonal skills. Strong communication skills are essential for veterinarians, who must be able to explain treatment options to animal owners and give instructions to their staff.
- Management skills. Management skills are important for those veterinarians who are in charge of running private clinics or laboratories. In these settings, they are responsible for providing direction, delegating work, and overseeing daily operations.
- Manual dexterity. Manual dexterity is important for veterinarians because they must control their hand movements and be precise when treating injuries and performing surgery.
- Problem-solving skills. Veterinarians need strong problem-solving skills because they must figure out what is ailing animals. Those who test animals to determine the effects of drug therapies also need excellent diagnostic skills.
What Do Employers Look For?
(Source: NACE Job Outlook 2022, Courtesy of the National Association of College and Employers | www.naceweb.org)
Top 10 Things Employers Look for on Your Resume
- Problem-solving skills
- Analytical/quantitative skills
- Ability to work in a team
- Communication skills (written)
- Initiative
- Strong work ethic
- Technical skills
- Flexibility/adaptability
- Detail-oriented
- Leadership
7 Things That Give You an Advantage in the Job Market
- Internship with the organization
- Internship within the industry
- Major
- Leadership position
- General work experience
- Extracurricular activities
- High GPA (3.0 or above)