Academic Advising
CAFES Advising Center
Academic Advising is designed to help students reach their educational and career goals; it is a shared task between an advisor and a student. Ultimately, it is the responsibility of the student to make decisions about their goals, and academic advisors can assist in this process by helping the student understand options, determine resources and, when necessary, identify alternatives.
Visit the Advising Centers webpage for more information regarding your academics.
Four-Year Flow Chart
Cal Poly offers a wide variety of extracurricular activities for students. Often students choose to study for five years to get the most out of the opportunities available; however, it is very possible to graduate in four years. Students should develop a four-year plan with their adviser and check with their adviser each quarter to make sure that they are on track for graduation.
Please visit the College of Agriculture Catalog for more information by clicking on the link below. Also listed are links to specific parts of the Cal Poly Catalog related to the Animal Science (ASCI) Department.
Current Flow Charts and Curriculum Sheets
BS Animal Science Degree Requirements
Career Elective Areas
The curriculum for a bachelor's degree in Animal Science allows students to custom design their studies which will prepare them for the career of their choice. Students also have the option of completing a minor offered by another department in place of a CEA. In the past, Animal Science students have selected a number of minors. Students choose from nine different Career Elective Areas (CEA) to complete their curriculum. This flexibility allows Animal Science students to get the most out of their education at Cal Poly. Incoming freshman should discuss their choice with their adviser during their second year at Cal Poly, while transfer students should discuss their selection with their adviser during their first or second quarter at Cal Poly.
Students can select one of the following CEA or create their own with advisor approval.
Career Elective Areas
Minor Requirements
The minor requirements are listed on the Cal Poly Registrar's website.
Dairy Industries Minor
Equine Science Minor
Poultry Management Minor
Meat Science and Processing Minor
Rangeland Resources Minor
Senior Project
The senior project is a required capstone course for all Cal Poly students. Students develop project ideas while consulting faculty advisers, and these ideas should generally reflect students’ interests in a particular animal-based discipline or species. Senior projects can be a research project, an in-depth literature review, an advanced enterprise management experience, or a preplanned educational internship. Whatever the type of project, students are encouraged to choose project topics that are challenging, incorporate knowledge and skills learned in the past courses, provide opportunity for independent thought, and can be accomplished with the provided facilities, animals, equipment, materials and time.
Fulfilling the Senior Project Requirement in ASCI and DSCI
In the Animal Science Department, the Senior Project can be met through completing any one of three options-ASCI 477 or 478 or 479. Each approaches the senior project experience a little differently and, therefore, will appeal to students in different ways. Completion of any ONE of these, however, will fulfill the Senior Project requirement.
ASCI 477. Senior Project - Research Experience in Animal Science. 3 units
Term Typically Offered: F, W, SP
Prerequisite: Senior standing, ASCI 363 and consent of instructor. Recommended: one course in statistics.
Independent research experience in a specific area of animal science conducted under faculty supervision. Satisfies senior project requirement. Minimum 90 hours required. This course (477) typically involves work done in a research capacity within the activities and/or laboratory of the faculty member. Projects and responsibilities are variable according to the type of research being performed.
ASCI 478. Senior Project - Advanced Internship Experience in Animal Science. 3 units
Term Typically Offered: F, W, SP
Prerequisite: ASCI 363 and senior standing and approval by Faculty advisor of your choice.
Independent internship experience conducted under faculty supervision focusing on a discipline area of animal science. Completion of a project as a component of the internship. Satisfies senior project requirement. Minimum 90 hours required. Under the 478 option, students participate in an internship which includes the completion of a project approved by the faculty member and department head. This project is typically presented to the department faculty or other public forum as a condition of completion. An application is available from the ASCI Department office.
ASCI 479. Senior Project - Current Topics in Animal Science. 3 units
Term Typically Offered: F, SP
Prerequisite: Senior standing and ASCI 363.
Critical evaluation and formal presentation of current issues facing animal agriculture. Evaluation of current topics, analysis of supporting evidence and logic, and synthesis and formal presentation of the resulting perspectives on different approaches to current challenges. 3 lectures. This option is a structured course in which students complete a series of assignments, write one or more papers, deliver presentations and participate in debates relative to current topics in Animal Science.