Southern Utah University

Course Syllabus

Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Fall Semester 2025

Principles of Animal Science (Face-to-Face)

AGSC 1100-01

Course: AGSC 1100-01
Credits: 3
Term: Fall Semester 2025
Department: ASNS
CRN: 30336

Course Description

This course is an introduction to the science of animal production and an overview of the major animal industries. Emphasis is given to the disciplines of nutrition, genetics, and reproduction and the common agricultural animals. This course fulfills the general education requirement for the Life Science knowledge area, is a prerequisite for upper-division animal science courses, and is a required course for all Agriculture-related degrees.

Required Texts

Suggested Text: Introduction to Animal Science, 6th Edition, By Damron, ISBN 0134436059

 

Learning Outcomes

  • Recognize contributions of domestic animals to humans.
  • Demonstrate basic knowledge of scientific principles and common terminology used in production and management of domestic animals.
  • Describe common components and characteristics of major animal industries.
  • Demonstrate competence in the for critical thinking and knowledge of the natural world.

Course Requirements

Exams

There will be four examinations given on Canvas in addition to a comprehensive final exam (see projected course outline for dates). Questions on exams will be from lectures, guest lecturers, assignments, required readings, videos, and text. Once you open an exam on Canvas, you must complete it. You can’t start over or wait to take it later.

  • A comprehensive final exam will be given during finals week. The final exam is not optional. The score on the final exam may replace the lowest exam score.
Course Requirements / Expectations

Class participation is highly encouraged.

Lecture outlines, PowerPoints, and recorded lectures will be posted on Canvas. Other information including the syllabus, handouts, assignments, etc. will also be posted. Grades on Canvas are not official, but will serve as a good guide. Final grades will not be posted on Canvas.

Class assignments are to be submitted through Canvas on specified due dates. Late assignments will not be accepted. The low assignment score will be dropped.

Grading

% of grade

Exams (5)40.0
Assignments and Participation60.0

Course Outline

  | Date  | Topic (chapters)
 | 27-Aug  | Course Introduction
 | 29-Aug  | Contributions of Animals (1-2)
 | 1-Sep  | Labor Day
 | 3-Sep  | World Animal Overview (3-4)
 | 5-Sep  | Nutrition (5)
 | 8-Sep  | Nutrition (5)
 | 10-Sep  | Nutrition (5)
 | 12-Sep  | Digestion (6)
 | 15-Sep  | Digestion (6)
 | 17-Sep  | Feed Classification (7)
 | 19-Sep  | Genetics and Breeding (8-9)
 | 22-Sep  | Exam #1
 | 24-Sep  | Genetics and Breeding (8-9)
 | 26-Sep  | Genetics and Breeding (8-9)
 | 30-Sep  | FFA Judging Contests
 | 29-Sep  | Biotechnology (10)
 | 1-Oct  | Biotechnology (10)
 | 3-Oct  | Reproduction (11)
 | 6-Oct  | Reproduction (11)
 | 8-Oct  | Reproduction (11)
 | 10-Oct  | Lactation (12)
 | 13-Oct  | Fall Break
 | 15-Oct  | Behavior (13)
 | 17-Oct  | Behavior (13)
 | 20-Oct  | Exam #2
 | 22-Oct  | Health (14)
 | 24-Oct  | Market Coordination (15)
 | 27-Oct  | Beef Cattle Industry (16)
 | 29-Oct  | Beef Cattle Industry (16)
 | 31-Oct  | Beef Cattle Industry (16)
 | 3-Nov  | Dairy Cattle Industry (17)
 | 5-Nov  | Poultry Industry (18)
 | 7-Nov  | Poultry Industry (18)
 | 10-Nov  | Exam #3
 | 12-Nov  | Swine Industry (19)
 | 14-Nov  | Sheep & Goat Industries (20)
 | 17-Nov  | Sheep & Goat Industries (20)
 | 19-Nov  | Horse Industry (21)
 | 21-Nov  | Horse Industry (21)
 | 24-28 Nov  | Thanksgiving Break
 | 1-Dec  | Other Animal Industries (22-25)
 | 3-Dec  | Exam #4
 | 5-Dec  | Animal Science Careers (26)
 | 8-9 Dec  | Final Exam

Instructor's policies on late assignments and/or makeup work

Late assignments will not be accepted.

Attendance Policy

Regular class attendance is expected. Please be on time and non-disruptive.

Students are responsible for all material discussed in class, whether in attendance or not. It is your responsibility to obtain notes from missed classes from someone other than the instructor.

Course Fees

No additional course fees required. 

Prerequisite

Agriculture Club

S.U.U. has an Agriculture Club for all interested students (not just Ag majors). The club provides a chance to meet people, serve in the community, participate in activities, and just have fun. Club meetings are Tuesday at 7:00 p.m. in SC 114. The Ag Club will sponsor a FFA Judging Contest at the SUU Farm and Diamond Z arena on September 30, 2025. If you are available, we would love to have you help with the contest.

ADA Statement

Students with medical, psychological, learning, or other disabilities desiring academic adjustments, accommodations, or auxiliary aids will need to contact the Disability Resource Center, located in Room 206F of the Sharwan Smith Center or by phone at (435) 865-8042. The Disability Resource Center determines eligibility for and authorizes the provision of services.

If your instructor requires attendance, you may need to seek an ADA accommodation to request an exception to this attendance policy. Please contact the Disability Resource Center to determine what, if any, ADA accommodations are reasonable and appropriate.

Academic Credit

According to the federal definition of a Carnegie credit hour: A credit hour of work is the equivalent of approximately 60 minutes of class time or independent study work. A minimum of 45 hours of work by each student is required for each unit of credit. Credit is earned only when course requirements are met. One (1) credit hour is equivalent to 15 contact hours of lecture, discussion, testing, evaluation, or seminar, as well as 30 hours of student homework. An equivalent amount of work is expected for laboratory work, internships, practica, studio, and other academic work leading to the awarding of credit hours. Credit granted for individual courses, labs, or studio classes ranges from 0.5 to 15 credit hours per semester.

Academic Freedom

SUU is operated for the common good of the greater community it serves. The common good depends upon the free search for truth and its free exposition. Academic Freedom is the right of faculty to study, discuss, investigate, teach, and publish. Academic Freedom is essential to these purposes and applies to both teaching and research.

Academic Freedom in the realm of teaching is fundamental for the protection of the rights of the faculty member and of you, the student, with respect to the free pursuit of learning and discovery. Faculty members possess the right to full freedom in the classroom in discussing their subjects. They may present any controversial material relevant to their courses and their intended learning outcomes, but they shall take care not to introduce into their teaching controversial materials which have no relation to the subject being taught or the intended learning outcomes for the course.

As such, students enrolled in any course at SUU may encounter topics, perspectives, and ideas that are unfamiliar or controversial, with the educational intent of providing a meaningful learning environment that fosters your growth and development. These parameters related to Academic Freedom are included in SUU Policy 6.6.

Academic Misconduct

Scholastic honesty is expected of all students. Dishonesty will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent (see SUU Policy 6.33). You are expected to have read and understood the current SUU student conduct code (SUU Policy 11.2) regarding student responsibilities and rights, the intellectual property policy (SUU Policy 5.52), information about procedures, and what constitutes acceptable behavior.

Please Note: The use of websites or services that sell essays is a violation of these policies; likewise, the use of websites or services that provide answers to assignments, quizzes, or tests is also a violation of these policies. Regarding the use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI), you should check with your individual course instructor.

Emergency Management Statement

In case of an emergency, the University's Emergency Notification System (ENS) will be activated. Students are encouraged to maintain updated contact information using the link on the homepage of the mySUU portal. In addition, students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the Emergency Response Protocols posted in each classroom. Detailed information about the University's emergency management plan can be found at https://www.suu.edu/emergency.

HEOA Compliance Statement

For a full set of Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) compliance statements, please visit https://www.suu.edu/heoa. The sharing of copyrighted material through peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing, except as provided under U.S. copyright law, is prohibited by law; additional information can be found at https://my.suu.edu/help/article/1096/heoa-compliance-plan.

You are also expected to comply with policies regarding intellectual property (SUU Policy 5.52) and copyright (SUU Policy 5.54).

Mandatory Reporting

University policy (SUU Policy 5.60) requires instructors to report disclosures received from students that indicate they have been subjected to sexual misconduct/harassment. The University defines sexual harassment consistent with Federal Regulations (34 C.F.R. Part 106, Subpart D) to include quid pro quo, hostile environment harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking. When students communicate this information to an instructor in-person, by email, or within writing assignments, the instructor will report that to the Title IX Coordinator to ensure students receive support from the Title IX Office. A reporting form is available at https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?SouthernUtahUniv

Non-Discrimination Statement

SUU is committed to fostering an inclusive community of lifelong learners and believes our university's encompassing of different views, beliefs, and identities makes us stronger, more innovative, and better prepared for the global society.

SUU does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, sex (including sex discrimination and sexual harassment), sexual orientation, gender identity, age, ancestry, disability status, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, military status, veteran status, or other bases protected by applicable law in employment, treatment, admission, access to educational programs and activities, or other University benefits or services.

SUU strives to cultivate a campus environment that encourages freedom of expression from diverse viewpoints. We encourage all to dialogue within a spirit of respect, civility, and decency.

For additional information on non-discrimination, please see SUU Policy 5.27 and/or visit https://www.suu.edu/nondiscrimination.

Pregnancy

Students who are or become pregnant during this course may receive reasonable modifications to facilitate continued access and participation in the course. Pregnancy and related conditions are broadly defined to include pregnancy, childbirth, termination of pregnancy, lactation, related medical conditions, and recovery. To obtain reasonable modifications, please make a request to title9@suu.edu. To learn more visit: https://www.suu.edu/titleix/pregnancy.html.

Disclaimer Statement

Information contained in this syllabus, other than the grading, late assignments, makeup work, and attendance policies, may be subject to change with advance notice, as deemed appropriate by the instructor.