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Online Animal Science Graduate Certificate

The animal science graduate certificate is designed to provide you with courses in the major disciplinary areas of animal science. The goal of the program is to offer foundation courses across many facets of animal science, serving as a basis for further study in one of the disciplines, or in a particular animal species.

Program Summary

Cost per credit hour:

2024-2025: $610
2025-2026: $622
Learn more

Graduate Certificate

15 Hours

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    What You Will Learn

    This graduate certificate offers foundational courses, serving as a basis for further study. Students may choose to learn about nutrition, breeding and genetics, meat science, animal physiology, growth and development, or animal production and management.

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    How You Will Learn

    Designed for working professionals, our courses are 100% online. You'll engage in coursework through a virtual classroom, with offerings available from six reputable universities. Start and end dates may vary depending on the universities instructing your courses each semester.

University Contacts

Click on the campus coordinator name to get their contact information. Click on the university name to learn more about how IDEA works at that campus.

Clemson University
University of Georgia
North Carolina State University
North Dakota State University
Oklahoma State University
South Dakota State University
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Is the animal science graduate certificate right for me?

Our courses include a wide variety of learners. You may be right for this certificate program if you:

  • Work in the animal science industries
  • Have a bachelor of science degree in animal science or closely related field
  • Work for an animal production company
  • Have a job title such as vet tech, zookeeper, animal control officer, animal care or lab technician, quality assurance, inspector, or sales representative
  • Need additional education to advance in your career
  • Teach agriculture classes in high schools and community colleges
  • Are preparing to apply to vet school and want an opportunity to strengthen your content knowledge
  • Are in the middle of a master’s degree or Ph.D. program and looking for supplemental courses

You may choose to use this certificate as a stepping stone to begin your master’s degree in animal science.

Black and white dairy cows in a small fenced area.

What will I learn through the animal science program?

Topics include:

  • Nutrition
  • Breeding and genetics
  • Meat science
  • Animal physiology
  • Growth and development
  • Animal production and management

To see a full list of courses available through the animal science graduate certificate and when they're offered, visit the course planner. Consult your academic advisor at your home university before enrolling. 

IDEA Student Handbook

Certificate titles vary by university.  Consult each university for the certificate title as it will appear on the diploma.Courses offered through this program may be combined with courses from closely affiliated IDEA programs to creat areas of emphasis such as nutrition, animal genetics, or beef cattle producation and management.

Check out courses in the following programs that might be a good fit for your educational goals:

Program Information at Participating Universities

In the animal science graduate certificate program, six universities collaborate to provide a unique learning experience. Learn more about the programs at each university.

Meet Our Faculty

You will learn from expert faculty who bring real-life experience to the coursework and are committed to helping you transition your learning beyond the online classroom into your career.