Bachelors Degree in Agricultural Sciences

Program Highlights

Agricultural Sciences Degree Program Highlights

Incorporating the fields of science, economics, and education with hands-on experience, McNeese State University’s bachelor’s degree in agricultural sciences equips you with the skills required to meet the needs of a variety of careers in agriculture, food science, and agribusiness. From animal science to pre-veterinary medicine, each of our degree programs offer high-quality instruction that is student-focused, experienced faculty committed to excellence in teaching and service, and interdisciplinary, experiential learning.

Choose from a variety of concentrations

Learn to work closely with animals with a concentration in equine science or pre-veterinary medicine, or focus on the human side of food science with a concentration in nutrition and dietetics, food technology or agribusiness. With nine different concentrations that each focus on a unique aspect of agriculture or food science, McNeese has a curriculum that’s exactly what you’re looking for.

At a Glance

Degree Type: Bachelor of Science (B.S.)

Program Length: 4 years (120 credit hours)

Availability:

Program overview

Explore More for Agricultural Sciences Majors

Exemplifying McNeese's mission and core values of student success, academic excellence, fiscal responsibility, and university-community connections, the bachelor's degree program in agricultural sciences pairs classroom training with unparalleled practical experience.

Financial Aid and Scholarships:

Each year, more than 150 scholarships are available for agricultural science majors, including the William Dows Blake Sustainable Agriculture and Natural Resource Conservation Science scholarship, the Daniel W. and Theadocia Hodges Richey Scholarship for Academic Excellence in Agricultural Sciences, the Calcasieu Kennel Club scholarship, and the Golden Saddle Rodeo scholarship. Contact the Office of Financial Aid to find out more.

Applied Research:

As an agricultural sciences major, you’ll have the opportunity to build on what you’ve learned in the classroom and gain real-world experience in your chosen field through internships with local and national organizations. In the past, students have acted as vegetation technicians for the Gulf Coast Soil and Water District, ecologists for the U.S. Army at Ft. Polk, alligator interns for the Louisiana Department of Fish and Wildlife, and as ranch hands for private ranches across the United States.

Specialized Facilities:

The Harold and Pearl Dripps School of Agricultural Sciences is the home of the state-of-the-art 7,350-square-foot CAMPP meat processing and production facility, which is the only federally inspected red meat harvest facility in the state. There, students learn the skills needed for a wide variety of jobs in food safety, meat processing and product preparation. McNeese is also one of just a handful of four-year universities with three working farms covering a combined 1,000 acres, where students can gain practical experience with livestock and equine research and development, native plants and biomass, and crop production.

National and International Conventions

Agricultural science majors have the opportunity travel to national and international academic and food industry conventions to present on their research. Previously, students have traveled to and presented at the American Society of Animal Science’s National Animal Science Annual Meeting, the Institute of Food Technologist’s Food Expo, the Louisiana Academy of Science’s Annual Meeting, and the American Meat Science Association’s RMC Annual Meeting.

Learn More

Agricultural Sciences Degree Concentrations

Agribusiness

With a concentration in agribusiness, you'll learn the business and management side of agricultural and food industries, including production, distribution and processing, supply and breeding, farm machinery and more. Student coursework is focused on economics, marketing, and management within these industries.

Agribusiness Curriculum

Agricultural Education Grades 6-12

Learn how to teach students the fundamentals of agricultural science, agribusiness, plant and soil science and animal science with a concentration in agricultural education. Upon graduation, you will be licensed to teach agricultural education in secondary schools.

Agricultural Education Curriculum

Animal Science

Study the biology, genetics, nutrition, physiology, growth, behavior, care and management of a wide variety of animals, including domestic livestock, zoo animals, horses, and companion animals with a concentration in animal sciences.

Animal Science Curriculum

Food and Nutritional Science

If you're interested in the science of food and nutrition but aren't looking to become a registered dietitian, this concentration is for you! In this course of study, you'll learn the principles of food science and nutrition management and how food effects human growth and development, health, and disease prevention.

Food and Nutritional Sciences Curriculum

Equine Science

The concentration in equine science combines the scientific and behavioral study of horses with an exploration of the business, management, and recreational aspects of the equine industry.

Equine Science Curriculum

Food Technology

Learn how to design, develop, and test new food technologies while gaining hands-on experience in the food industry, research laboratories and government agencies with a concentration in food technology.

Food Technology Program

General Agriculture

General agriculture is a flexible concentration option that will equip you with a broad knowledge in a variety of agricultural and food science areas, or allow you to tailor your degree program to fit specific interests or degree tracts.

General Agriculture Curriculum

Nutrition and Dietetics

With a concentration in nutrition and dietetics, start your path towards becoming a registered dietitian and gain a greater understanding of the nutritional health of individuals and communities and medical nutrition therapy.

Nutrition and Dietetics Program

Pre-Veterinary Medicine

With a concentration in pre-veterinary medicine, build a strong foundation in animal science and learn the knowledge and skills you'll need to continue your studies in veterinary school.

Pre-Veterinary Medicine Curriculum

Careers and Opportunities

What Can You Do with a Agricultural Sciences Degree?

Depending on your concentration, there are a wide variety of careers or graduate studies you could pursue with a degree in Agricultural Sciences. Here are just a few examples:

Graduate Schools or Programs

Master of Science in Integrative Biology
Master of Science in Chemistry
Master of Science in Agricultural Sciences
Master of Science in Environmental Science

Job Titles or Employers

Agribusiness Field Representative
Agricultural Loan Officer
Agricultural Resource Production Specialist
Agriscience Teacher
Agronomist
Animal Scientist
Biological Engineer
Crop Management Consultant
Farm Services Agent
Farmer or Rancher
Feedlot Manager
Food Inspector
Food Scientist
Government Program Manager
Grain Merchandiser
Natural Resource Policy Analyst
Plant and Animal Inspector
Plant Scientist
Poultry Production Manager
Rangeland Scientist
Regulatory Agent
Research Technician
Resource Economist
Rural Development Specialist
Soil Scientist
Swine Production Manager

Student Activities

Agricultural sciences majors have plenty of opportunities to get involved on campus in organizations that compliment their degree programs. Clubs include Block & Bridle , Collegiate Future Farmers of America, Ducks Unlimited, Hunt & Seat, Pre-Vet and the all-new Bee Club, where students can get hands-on experience in apiary science by caring for McNeese’s very own beehives.

Career Development and Leadership Events

Agricultural Sciences students can participate in a variety events designed to test their technical, leadership, and teamwork skills, including:

Area III FFA Leadership and Career Development Events
McNeese Invitational Judging Contest
American Jr Brahman Association Leadership Camp
American Farm School
McNeese 4-H & FFA Livestock Judging and Evaluation Camp

Rodeo

One of the few universities in Louisiana with a rodeo team, McNeese sends a number of competitors from both the men and women’s teams to the College National Finals Rodeo competition in Casper, Wyoming, every year. For the past two years in a row, the McNeese women’s rodeo team has won national championships in both individual and all around events.

Agricultural Sciences

Programs Related to the Bachelor’s in Agricultural Sciences

Not sure if the agricultural sciences bachelor’s program is right for you? Check out these other undergraduate degree programs at McNeese and talk about your options with a recruiter.

Bachelor of Science in Natural Resource Conservation Management

Bachelor of Science in Biological Science

Bachelor of Science in Chemistry

Bachelor of General Studies - Applied and Natural Sciences

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