The University of Alberta has launched a new animal health degree designed to give students a broad foundation for careers in animal health.
Larkin Joevenazzo, a first year student in the program, hopes to become a veterinarian.
The new degree fulfils the requirements to apply for veterinary medicine.
“If I don’t get in, I have a degree in the animal health field,” said Joevenazzo of Calgary.
Craig Wilkinson, chair of the program in the faculty of agricultural, life and environmental sciences, said the degree gives students a strong foundation.
Read Also
Final crop reports show strong yields, quality
Crops yielded above average across the Prairies this year, and quality is generally average to above-average.
The degree program has three majors: food animals, companion and performance animals and food safety and quality.
Food animal majors receive a base in the biology and production of dairy, beef, poultry and swine and the connection to food industries and the environment.
Students in companion and performance animal courses focus on dogs, cats, horses and exotic pets and develop knowledge of nutrition, behaviour, reproduction and the human-animal bond.
Food safety and quality offers an expansive view of the food industry, giving students an understanding of the entire chain from on-farm husbandry of livestock to food processing, including food microbiology and quality assurance.
Joevenazzo said graduates have a number of career options from working in pharmaceutical sales, food safety and quality assurance programs to livestock production regulations.
The first classes began this fall with 77 students enrolled.
