Animal & Food Sciences

Undergraduate Programs

The three undergraduate majors in the Department of Animal & Food Sciences are designed to prepare students for careers and graduate education in several critical areas.  Focusing on applications of scientific principles in the areas of animal agriculture, pre-veterinary medicine, animal biosciences, food systems, and food processing, safety and development, the department’s programs offer a variety of ways to study animal and food sciences.

The Animal and Food Sciences major applies the principles of biology, chemistry and biochemistry to animal agriculture and food systems and  encompasses a wide range of instruction, including animal nutrition; animal health and molecular biology; food science and its interactions with animal agriculture, physiology, genetics, and reproduction; and dairy, livestock and poultry management.  Beginning with the first semester, ANFS majors begin gaining experience with domesticated animals at the University’s on-site, 350-acre teaching and research complex. 

The global employment outlook is increasingly good for Animal and Food Sciences majors.  A degree in this major prepares students for entry-level technical, research, sales, and marketing positions in the animal and food industries as well as the chemical, health industries.  Government agencies, zoos, aquariums, and veterinary practices may also offer employment opportunities for students.

In Food Science, students obtain a broad background in the sciences (chemistry, biology, physics and math) as a basis for in-depth studies of the food science disciplines of food chemistry, food processing, food engineering, food microbiology, and food product development. Electives provide the opportunity for course work in areas such as business, material science or molecular biology and allow students to obtain specialized knowledge in other fields important to Food Science. Graduates of the major will have acquired the skills and knowledge for a successful and well-paid career in all sectors of society concerned with the development and production of safe and healthy food. The major also lays the foundation for students who want to pursue an advanced degree in Food Science. 

The Pre-Veterinary and Animal Biosciences major focuses on the study of scientific principles required for undergraduate students who are interested in pursuing a career in the fields of veterinary medicine and animal biosciences.   With coursework in chemistry, biology, physics, and animal sciences, the curriculum is designed to meet the admission requirements for many U.S. veterinary schools and to prepare students for graduate degrees in areas related to animal agriculture and biological sciences.  Field study and laboratory work with domesticated animals on our 350-acre teaching and research complex is an integral part of the Pre-Veterinary and Animal Biosciences major.

To view degree requirements and course descriptions, see the Undergraduate Catalog.

The Faculty

At Delaware, students in the Animal and Food Sciences department have the unique opportunity to work closely with the department’s faculty, which includes leading scholars in fields of animal nutrition and physiology, immunology, virology, molecular biology, animal production, management, food science, and food safety.  All major courses and laboratories are taught by faculty, ensuring that students have easy access to these specialists.  All faculty have active research programs and support undergraduate involvement in their laboratory and field research.

Academic Enrichment

We recognize that learning happens in places other than in the classroom.  Students in the ANFS department are encouraged to enrich their educations in the following ways:

Internships:  Opportunities exist with veterinary practices, zoos, aquariums, stables, farms, food companies, agrichemical companies, pharmaceutical companies, and non-profit agencies.  Students can earn academic credit for these experiences.

Research:   For those considering graduate school, an undergraduate research experience is invaluable.  The ANFS department is a leader in providing these opportunities for its students.  For those wanting an extra challenge, the Degree with Distinction, which requires a written thesis and defense, is available.  To learn more, see ANFS Undergraduate Research.

Study Abroad:   From fireside chats on the Tanzanian plains to homework assignments on an Antarctic glacier, ANFS students go all around the globe to enrich their academic experiences.  The College of Agriculture and Natural Resources sponsors programs in New Zealand, Australia, Costa Rica, Puerto Rico, Tanzania, Ecuador, Antarctica, and Brazil.  Many students also participate in study abroad programs led by other departments, who travel to Spain, England, France, Germany, Japan and beyond. 

Student Organizations:  There is something for everyone at Delaware, where we offer everything from sports to service groups, religious and political organizations to theatre and musical groups. For those ANFS students looking for organizations related to their majors, we offer the Animal Science Club, the Wildlife Society, the Food Science Club, and the Food and Culinary Club.  Getting involved in these groups provides both a social and professional development dimension to the undergraduate experience. See also Activities and Programs Office.

Facilities and Resources

The College of Agriculture and Natural Resources supports the most expansive physical plant of any of the undergraduate colleges with a 350-acre teaching and research complex right on campus. Some classes and all lab sections meet in Townsend and Worrilow halls, only a 15-minute walk from the University Green. Our site includes several classrooms, faculty offices, a library, a study lounge, and an impressive computer lab, with the latest software and free access to E-mail and the Internet.  We also house teaching and research laboratories, including a large animal physiology lab and food science laboratories with high-tech equipment related to food processing, food microbiology and packaging.  

Additional on-site facilities include an indoor livestock arena; a new equine barn; a new state-of-the art dairy; a food-science test kitchen; and the Allen Biotechnology Laboratory, which is a biological safety level 3 facility.  Since about 95% of our students have never worked with large animals before coming to campus, the University farm is a popular part of many animal science courses as students work with poultry, horses, sheep, swine, beef cattle, and a dairy herd here on site.

The Delaware Biotechnology Institute, a multimillion-dollar facility adjacent to campus, blends government, educational, and industrial resources in one of the most impressive high-tech research facilities in the nation. Our affiliation with DBI provides undergraduates the opportunity to work in a state-of-the-art research facility with top-notch faculty in the biosciences field.