Academic Units

DEPARTMENT OF ANIMAL AND AVSCERINARY SCIENCES (AVSC)

Chairperson: Barbour, E.
Professors: Barbour, E.; Farran, M.; Hamadeh, S.; Sleiman, F.
Departmental R.A.: Jaber, L.

The main function of the Department of Animal Sciences is to produce qualified graduates capable of serving the region in all areas of animal science: research, services, business, and education.

The department participates in offering courses within the FAFS undergraduate core program.  Selected senior courses that cover areas of major importance in animal agriculture (i.e., nutrition, physiology, management, production) are also offered to students wishing to select an area of emphasis in animal sciences.

The department also offers the BS degree in AVSCerinary Science at FAFS prepares the graduates for life-long learning and professional advancement in the field.  Students will get the solid basics in animal health, husbandry, nutrition, and breeding.  The curriculum is integrative, multidisciplinary and multifunctional allowing graduates to have broader abilities in finding jobs in the local, regional and world market.  This program will also prepare students to pursue their graduate studies in poultry and animal sciences as well as in the basic medical sciences.

The following courses are offered by the department:

Course Descriptions
 

Core Courses for the BS Degree in Agriculture

AVSC 222 General Livestock Production 2.3; 3 cr.
Modern principles and practices in beef, sheep, and dairy production and reproduction.

AVSC 226 Poultry Production 2.3; 3 cr.
Modern principles and practices in poultry production with special emphasis on Middle Eastern conditions. Prerequisite: AVSC 271.

AVSC 243 Genetics 3.0; 3 cr.

Principles of inheritance, with an introduction to modern genetics.

AVSC 271 Animal Nutrition 3.0; 3 cr.
Structure and functioning of digestive systems of livestock and poultry; bioenergetics, nutritional deficiencies, and nutrient requirements of farm animals. Prerequisite: NFSC 261.

AVSC 275 Anatomy and Physiology of Farm Animals 3.0; 3 cr.
Systematic anatomy and physiology of farm animals.

Elective Courses for the BS Degree in Agriculture

AVSC 241 Principles of Dairying 2.3; 3 cr.
Management, housing, feeding, breeding, and record-keeping in dairy production.

AVSC 242 Small Ruminant Production in Arid Regions 2.3; 3 cr.
Breeding, feeding, and management of sheep and goats under arid conditions.

AVSC 276 Animal Physiology Laboratory 0.3; 1 cr.
Pre- or co-requisite: AVSC 275.

AVSC 277 Animal Breeding 2.0; 2 cr.
Principles of permanent improvement of animal and poultry production. Prerequisite: AGRL 243 or BIOL 223.

AVSC 278 Feeds and Feeding 2.3; 3 cr.
Characteristics, conservation, and preparation of feeds; feeding of various classes of livestock.

AVSC 279 Companion Pet Birds and Animals 3.0; 3 cr.
Breed and stock selection, equipment, stocking densities, routine management, rearing, feeding, behavior and interaction with humans, optimum production, and health care of pet birds and pet animals. Open only to non-science majors.

AVSC 280 Aquarium, Marine, and Farming Fish 3.0; 3 cr.
A course that covers the different fishing techniques, fish farming, characteristics of fish, comparison of classes of fish, the setup of fresh water and marine aquariums, and the common diseases of fish.

AVSC 281 Production of Novel Avian Species 3.0; 3 cr.
Management practices in the production of economically beneficial avian species other than the domestic chicken (e.g., ratites, turkey, water fowl, etc.).

AVSC 282 Pet Birds and Animals 3.0; 3 cr.
A course that describes the anatomy and physiology of pets belonging to mammalia, reptilia, aves, and osteichthyes. The history, classification, breeds, selection, rearing, feeding, production, and health of sixteen pets will be studied. Prerequisite: BIOL 200.

AVSC 299 Special Topics in Animal Sciences 2 cr.
Library or laboratory research in a specialized topic. Prerequisites: fourth year standing and consent of instructor.

Core Courses for the BS Degree in AVSCerinary Science

AVSC 201 Microbiology I+II (Bacteriology and Virology) 2 cr.

The course summarizes the main characteristics of bacteria, fungi and viruses including their morphology, resistance, molecular structure, virulence factors, antigenicity, and animal and human pathogenicity.

AVSC 202 Animal Breeding & Genetics I 2 cr.

The course introduces the principles of Mendelian and population genetics and their application in breeding, improvement and management of farm, companion and pet animals with the goal of profitable animal production and improved health status. Selection and breeding methods are elaborated in addition to basic topics related to biotechnological advances in this field and its role in relation to other aspects of animal production.

AVSC 203 History of AVSCerinary Medicine 1 cr.

The course explores the beginnings of AVSCerinary medicine from Ancient times to the middle ages and ending with modern times and the specializations and different branches in AVSCerinary medicine.

AVSC 204 Pathology I 2 cr. 

The course is divided into two main topics. General pathology describes the causes and the common nature of disease processes including the genetic and immunological disorders, inflammation, neoplasia, and malformation.  Systemic pathology discusses the pathological changes of specific diseases according to the organ-systems and the whole pathology of certain infectious and non-infectious diseases in detail.

AVSC 205 Topographic and Applied Anatomy 2 cr.

The course is divided into six major sections starting with the palpable landmarks of the body followed by the topography of the thorax, abdomen, pelvic cavity and ending with the limbs. Superficial veins, sites of venous blood sampling, investigation points will be explored in different body parts.

AVSC 206 Clinical Diagnostics 2 cr.

The course deals with examination techniques and symptomology of internal diseases. The course is organized according to organs and organic systems, with special attention to the corresponding instrumentation used and species specific differences.

AVSC 207 Microbiology III (AVSCerinary Immunology) 2 cr. 

The subject introduces the protective functions of the hosts to different microbes, and the humoral and cellular immune system, and provides the theoretical background of immune-prophylaxis against infectious diseases.

AVSC 208 Animal Breeding & Genetics II 2 cr.

The course teaches the general and specific significance of cattle, swine, sheep, goat, horse, poultry, dog, cat and fur animal breeding in the world. It introduces the main productive characteristics of the internationally recognized breeds and types of the above mentioned species. The various methods of applied breed improvement and heritable diseases are discussed in detail according to the different species. The local aspects and facilities receive particular emphasis.

AVSC 209 Animal Nutrition + Dietetics I 2 cr.

The subject consists of an introduction to the basics of animal nutrition, characteristics of feedstuffs, animal feeding, and nutrition. The effect of different feedstuffs and feed additives on the animals' health, production, and reproduction will be addressed, in addition to the techniques of balanced ration formulation.

AVSC 210 Applied Ethology 2 cr. 

Applied ethology is the branch of animal science, which on the basis of the description of the innate behavior of farm animals and pets, studies the behavior of animals kept in intensive farming systems or, in the case of companion animals, kept in the close vicinity of humans. It also studies the effects of housing, nutrition, and attendants’ care on the establishment of behavioral patterns. This subject also deals with the formation, prevention, and treatment of abnormal behavior (misbehavior, ethostasis) and describes ethical aspects of animal welfare.

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