PSIX-26 Late-Breaking: Increasing exposure of undergraduate students to animal agriculture: Creation of a face to face and online general animal science course as part of a university core curriculum.

摘要

An imperative objective for a core curriculum is provision of relevant general animal science educational experiences as today’s students are increasingly removed from animal agriculture. This objective was met by creation of a general animal science course to introduce basic biological principles of livestock to students of any academic major. Step 1 was creation of face to face and online sections of a General Animal Science course, and Step 2 was inclusion of the course in the University Core Curriculum to fulfill Life and Physical Science requirements. The course objective is to further student comprehension of environmental and human impacts on the production of livestock and food. Topics include genetics, nutrition, growth, reproduction, and meat science. Mandated core learning outcomes of critical thinking, written and visual communication, empirical and quantitative skills, and teamwork are included. The course consists of consecutive modules with individual learning outcomes, content, engagement activities and both quantitative and qualitative assessments. Inclusion in the University Core Curriculum sparked an interest in students from majors across Texas A&M University. Total enrollment increased 15% in the 4 yr since the initial offering as an option within the University Core (1,029 enrolled students in 2014–2015 vs 1,208 enrolled students in 2017–2018). Demand by non-majors has also resulted in a 625% enrollment increase in the online section over 4 yr (20 enrolled students in 2014–2015 vs 145 enrolled students in 2017–2018). Inclusion of General Animal Science within University Core Curriculum and delivery through both face to face and online platforms provides incentive and opportunity for students who would not traditionally enroll in an animal science course. Completion of General Animal Science by non-animal science majors may serve as a mechanism for addressing the significant challenge of communication between animal agriculture and the general public.