If you’re in college and chose animal science as your major, that’s a great option. You’ll get to learn about domestic animals like cattle, horses, poultry, and even pets, and understand what makes them healthy and strong.
Since you’ve already picked your major, you’re probably looking at what kind of degree you should get. An associate degree and a bachelor's degree shows you the world of animal science and gives you hands-on experience in the field, but they differ in time, cost, and what they can offer you after graduation.
If you’ve still got questions, don’t worry. This article is going to walk you through everything you need to know about the difference between an associate and bachelor’s degree.
Time and Cost Commitment
The biggest distinction between an associate and bachelor’s degree is the time and cost commitment. Here’s a break down of what it looks like:
- Associate Degree: This is usually a two-year time commitment at a community college or even at some universities. Because you’re spending less time, it costs a lot less. For animal science, an associate degree might cost between $3,500 to $8,000 per year.
- Bachelor’s Degree: This is a four-year time commitment at any university. A bachelor’s degree in animal science can cost a lot more depending on where you go. Private universities, like BYU-Idaho, can be as low as $5,000 a year, but others can be as high as $60,000.
If you’re looking for a shorter time commitment and a lower cost, then an associate degree is a great option. But because a bachelor’s degree takes longer, you can have a much stronger foundation in animal science.
What You Study
While both associate and bachelor’s degrees focus on general education and hands-on learning in animal science, how much you learn is going to be different. This shows up in what kind of classes you’re required to take:
- Associate Degree: Typically, only the foundational classes, like nutrition, handling, reproduction, and anatomy, are included in this degree. It usually doesn’t have many elective credits.
- Bachelor’s Degree: This is an extensive look into animal science, including classes in economics, biostatistics, physiology, and an internship. This degree offers emphasis options to help you focus your study on your desired career.
The depth of your study depends on the degree you choose, but it also affects what kind of careers you can have after graduation.
Career Opportunities After Graduation
For both associate degrees and bachelor’s degrees, there’s a lot of career options. They just vary in pay and level of expertise.
With an associate degree in animal science, you can find jobs like:
- Animal Caretaker: Care for all kinds of animals by feeding, watering, grooming, bathing, and exercising them as they need.
- Agricultural Inspector: Inspect the quality and safety of agricultural systems and equipment.
- Farmworker: Keep farms, ranches, and open ranges running by attending to the live animals that live there.
- Agricultural Technician: Collect samples and run tests for animal research, breeding, and nutrition.
With a bachelor’s degree in animal science, you can find positions like:
- Animal Scientist: Study animal genetics, nutrition, reproduction, growth, and development to use on farms and ranches.
- Zoologist: Research all kinds of wildlife, including their origins, behavior, genetics, life cycles, and even their diseases.
- Science Teacher: Teach students the basics of science and even the wonder of animal science in a high school classroom.
- Biologist: Use your background in animal science to research and study basic principles of animal life, like origin, anatomy, and more.
Which Degree Is Right for You
To sum it all up, we’ve made a helpful chart. Take a look:
| | Associate Degree of Animal Science | Bachelor’s Degree of Animal Science |
| Time, Cost, and Commitment |
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| What You Study | Foundational classes, like:
| Advanced classes, like:
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| Career Opportunities After Graduation |
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Wrapping Up
An associate and a bachelor’s degree are both great options for your education. An associate degree can offer you a shorter time commitment and a lower cost, but it doesn’t offer the same career benefits that a bachelor’s degree does. With a bachelor’s degree, you can find work as an animal scientist, zoologist, biologist, or even a science teacher. No matter which one you choose, these degrees can offer you good positions in animal science and the chance to work in a field that you love.
If you want to learn more about degree programs, check out BYU-Idaho’s Associate of Animal Science or the Bachelor’s of Animal Science.
Citations:
Research.com — Types of Animal Science Degrees and Their Salaries
BYU–Idaho — Tuition and Cost of Attendance
BYU–Idaho Academic Catalog — Animal Science Program
BYU–Idaho Academic Catalog — Animal Science Program
My Next Move — Animal Caretakers
My Next Move — Agricultural Inspectors
My Next Move — Farmworkers, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animals
My Next Move — Agricultural Technicians
My Next Move — Animal Scientists
My Next Move — Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists
My Next Move — Secondary School Teachers
My Next Move — Biologists