The University of Alberta reports strong beginning enrolment in its first year of classes for its new Animal Health degree, with 77 students signed up for the new program.
The B. Sc. in Animal Health program is meant to provide students with “a strong foundation to pursue careers that go beyond the field of veterinary medicine and touch on every aspect of animal health,” program chair Craig Wilkinson said in a release.
Such aspects range from livestock production regulation to food safety programs, to pet food supply and service industries like training and boarding programs, Wilkinson said.
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And for students who are pursuing veterinary medicine, the degree lets them complete courses required for application to Western Canada’s two veterinary schools in Calgary and Saskatoon, he added.
Students receive core education in basic sciences applicable to the field, as well as specific courses important to animal health including physiology, immunity, nutrition, welfare and behaviour, and the relationship of animal health with food safety and product quality, the university said.
The university’s program offers three majors – food animals, companion and performance animals, and food safety and quality. “Animal health is a growing sector with rapid expansion in areas such as livestock production regulation, animal health and public health surveillance, food safety and quality assurance programs, and pharmaceutical and nutraceutical industries,” the university said in its release.
And the tremendous growth of the companion-animal sector is providing opportunities both with major companies and as entrepreneurs in the supply and service industries, the university added.
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Theprogramprovides “astrongfoundation topursuecareersthat gobeyondthefieldof veterinarymedicine andtouchonevery aspectofanimal health,”
craig
wilkinson
animal health program chair
