Agriculture, Veterinary and Rangeland Sciences

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103 Fleischmann Agriculture
(775) 784-6135

The Department of Agriculture, Veterinary, and Rangeland Sciences offers three Major programs:

• Agricultural Science, B.S. – three different emphases (animals, plants, or general agriculture) provide students with theoretical and practical training in agriculture, animal science and agribusiness. Curriculum may include livestock production, meat science, plant breeding, horticulture, agronomy, and agribusiness.
• Rangeland Ecology and Management, B.S. – prepares students for science-based management of rangeland resources.  Curriculum includes restoration ecology, resource and wildlife management, range-livestock interactions, soils, ecohydrology, and animal nutrition. A Minor is also available.
• Veterinary Science, B.S. – science-based preparation for students interested in careers in the animal health professions with a curriculum including biochemistry, genetics, veterinary anatomy and physiology, animal reproduction, microbiology, and animal nutrition and production.

The Department of Agriculture, Veterinary and Rangeland Sciences cooperates with the Department of Education to offer dual degrees: a Bachelor of Science with a major in Agricultural Science and a Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education through the Nevada Teach program.

• Nevada Teach Agricultural Science and Secondary Education, B.S./B.S.S.Ed. - This program is administered jointly between the College of Agriculture, Biotechnology, and Natural Resources and the College of Education and Human Development to prepare graduates for careers in high school agricultural education.  The four-year curriculum is structured after the innovative UTeach model for secondary STEM teacher training, with a heavy emphasis on agricultural science and practical classroom experiences supervised by highly-experienced Master teachers.  Practical training in classrooms begins in the freshman year and continues throughout the program.  Graduates will have completed all requirements for state licensure in Agricultural Education, and will have Bachelor’s degrees in Agricultural Science as well as Secondary Education within a 4-year timeline.

Graduates will be prepared to be leaders in agriculture education and enjoy a career of service.  Students will also be prepared for agriculture-related positions in business and industry through the coursework in crop and livestock production, soils, and farm business management.

PROGRAM DESCRIPTIONS:

AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE, B.S.

The Bachelor of Science program in Agricultural Science provides students with a solid background in agricultural science, one of today’s fastest growing career fields. Graduates from this program are provided a balance of theoretical and practical training that makes them highly competitive for employment or acceptance into the best graduate programs.  The program allows students to specialize in plant sciences, animal science, or general agriculture. The Animal and Plant Science emphases are designed to prepare students for agriculture related high tech careers in the private and public sectors. The General Agriculture track blends a strong business background with the most current livestock and crop production applications.

RANGELAND ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT, B.S.

The Rangeland Ecology and Management major prepares students for science-based management of the multiple uses of rangeland resources. The inter-disciplinary curriculum provides graduates with the knowledge and skills needed to synthesize information about plant ecology, soils, wildlife species, livestock use, watershed functions, and land use policy to conserve and restore rangeland ecosystems. Students integrate classroom knowledge and field experiences to gain a solid foundation for a professional career in rangeland management.

The curriculum meets U.S. Civil Service requirements for range conservationist and soil conservationist. It is possible, with a few additional courses, to meet U.S. Civil Service requirements for soil scientist and ecologist.  Students with such training are generally employed by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Natural Resource Conservation Service, U.S. Forest Service, or private companies involved in reclamation, restoration, monitoring or management of rangelands.

VETERINARY SCIENCE, B.S.

This four-year program prepares students for careers in veterinary medicine and animal health.  Students who complete the program will meet the requirements for entry into most U.S. schools of veterinary medicine.
Graduates can earn a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) upon completion of this degree and acceptance into an accredited veterinary school. The Veterinary Science degree can be used to fulfill the eligibility requirements for the “Technician-in-Training” veterinary technician licensure program in Nevada.

The pre-veterinary program offers students intensive advisement, and internship with veterinary practitioners and scholarships from the Gordon MacMillan endowment. Students are selected by schools of veterinary medicine based on the following factors: high academic performance, written communication, practical experience in some phase of veterinary medicine, references, motivation, personal interview, and the results of standardized examinations.

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