Poultry Science (POSC)

POSC 10003. Introduction to Poultry Science. 3 Hours.

To introduce the student to the career opportunities in the poultry science industry. Students will be introduced to biological sciences associated with poultry. Corequisite: Lab component. (Typically offered: Fall)

POSC 10602. Sustainable Integrated Small Animal Farming. 2 Hours.

Practical information on small scale animal production, including practical strategies for farm planning, issues of economic and environmental sustainability, best management practices, biosecurity, disease prevention, and farm safety will be presented. (Typically offered: Spring)

POSC 23403. Poultry Production. 3 Hours.

To develop a basic foundation about the practices utilized to produce broilers and turkeys. Course will highlight hatchery function and management; embryo development and hatching; chick/poultry transportation, preparation and maintenance of facilities for rearing birds, bird environment, nutrition, and health. Also to be covered are the different roles associated with live production in an integrated company. Corequisite: Lab component. (Typically offered: Fall)

POSC 23503. Poultry Breeder Management. 3 Hours.

Students will be introduced to the management practices used in production of young and adult chickens, turkeys, and other poultry with special emphasis on broiler, breeder, and market egg production. Lecture 2 hours, laboratory 3 hours per week. Corequisite: Lab component. (Typically offered: Spring)

POSC 24101. Domestic Animal Microbiology Laboratory. 1 Hour.

This course is designed for students working on their Poultry Science, Animal Science, and/or Food Science degrees. Students enrolled in this course will learn how to collect samples aseptically from live birds and meat samples, transport samples, and culture samples on a variety of different microbiological media. In addition, students will have the opportunity to visit one of the microbiology labs in the local poultry production facilities. Students will learn how to handle samples, stain bacterial cells, and identify unknown bacteria from field samples. A lab period will be assigned to teaching students on how to use bacteria in food production by teaching students how to prepare and sample yogurt. Corequisite: POSC 24103. (Typically offered: Fall)

POSC 24103. Domestic Animal Microbiology. 3 Hours.

Basic concepts of domestic animal and poultry microbiology including diversity, genetics, metabolism, growth, control of growth, pathogenesis, and immunology. Prerequisite: (BIOL 10103 and BIOL 10101) and (CHEM 12103 or CHEM 14103 or CHEM 14203). Corequisite: POSC 24101. (Typically offered: Fall)

POSC 30103. Exotic Companion Birds. 3 Hours.

Topics include basic care, health, breeding, bird evolution, anatomy, and nutritional management of commonly kept exotic companion birds, including parrots, cockatoos, macaws, finches, canaries, and pigeons. Discussion will include housing and care for individual pet birds and large scale breeding and production. Lecture/discussion 3 hours per week. Prerequisite: BIOL 10103. (Typically offered: Fall Odd Years)

POSC 30303. Animal Physiology. 3 Hours.

Fundamental aspects of central nervous, musculoskeletal, reproductive, digestive, immune, cardiovascular, respiratory and renal systems will be covered. The normal structure and function of these systems will be emphasized. Lecture 3 hours per week. Prerequisite: BIOL 10103. Pre- or corequisite: CHEM 14203 or CHEM 12103. (Typically offered: Spring)

POSC 31203. Principles of Genetics. 3 Hours.

Fundamentals of heredity, with special emphasis on the improvement of farm animals. Lecture 3 hours per week. Prerequisite: BIOL 10103 and MATH 11003 or higher. (Typically offered: Fall)

POSC 32203. Poultry Diseases. 3 Hours.

Common diseases affecting poultry reared under commercial conditions will be covered including diagnosis, therapy and prevention. Immunity, sanitation practices, and chemoprophylaxis will also be covered. Lecture 3 hours per week with some demonstrations, slides and videotapes. Prerequisite: ((BIOL 20003 and BIOL 20001) or (POSC 24103 and POSC 24101)), and junior standing. (Typically offered: Spring)

POSC 33801. Poultry Judging and Selection. 1 Hour.

Practice in production judging and flock selection. Laboratory 3 hours per week. (Typically offered: Fall and Spring) May be repeated for up to 4 hours of degree credit.

POSC 35103. Current Approaches in Agricultural Laboratory Research. 3 Hours.

A laboratory course to introduce students to current laboratory research techniques used in agricultural and life sciences. Hands-on laboratory exercises will emphasize current cellular and molecular research techniques, laboratory notebook keeping, data interpretation, and presentation of results. Prerequisite: BIOL 10103. (Typically offered: Spring Even Years)

POSC 351H3. Honors Current Approaches in Agricultural Laboratory Research. 3 Hours.

A laboratory course to introduce students to current laboratory research techniques used in agricultural and life sciences. Hands-on laboratory exercises will emphasize current cellular and molecular research techniques, laboratory notebook keeping, data interpretation, and presentation of results. Prerequisite: BIOL 10103. (Typically offered: Spring Even Years)

POSC 35504. Avian Anatomy. 4 Hours.

Detailed coverage of the external and internal anatomy of poultry, including formation and development of the egg and embryo. Lecture 3 hours, laboratory 2 hours per week. Corequisite: Lab component. Prerequisite: BIOL 10103. (Typically offered: Fall)

POSC 4000V. Special Problems. 1-9 Hour.

Special problems in the poultry sciences for advanced students. (Typically offered: Fall, Spring and Summer) May be repeated for up to 9 hours of degree credit.

POSC 4010V. Internship in Poultry Science. 1-6 Hour.

Supervised work experience with private or government organizations to introduce students to professional areas of work in poultry science. Prerequisite: Junior standing. (Typically offered: Fall, Spring and Summer) May be repeated for up to 8 hours of degree credit.

POSC 4020V. Research Experience. 1-6 Hour.

An undergraduate research experience should familiarize students with the research process and expand their knowledge in areas of poultry science through scientific literature searches and hands-on experiential learning. (Typically offered: Fall, Spring and Summer) May be repeated for up to 6 hours of degree credit.

POSC 40303. Statistical Process Control in the Food Industry. 3 Hours.

Analysis of processing data related to compliance with regulatory limits, quality & safety limits and internal & external customer specifications. Emphasizes statistical process control chart development, including understanding data and chart selection, calculating statistical limits, and interpreting process performance. Prerequisite: Instructor consent. (Typically offered: Irregular)

POSC 4100V. Special Topics in Poultry Science. 1-4 Hour.

Topics not covered in other courses or for a more intensive study of specific topics in poultry science. (Typically offered: Irregular) May be repeated for degree credit.

POSC 41203. Legal Issues in Animal Agriculture. 3 Hours.

An issues-oriented course focusing on the legal issues involved in the production of poultry, swine and livestock. Emphasis will center on the laws, regulations and policy arguments involved in animal confinement, antibiotic use, humane slaughter and veterinary medicine, along with other related issues. The wide range of regulation from local to state to federal, depending on the issue will be studied and discussed. (Typically offered: Spring Odd Years)

POSC 41603. Companion Animal Nutrition. 3 Hours.

This course is designed to focus on the digestive anatomy, physiology, and nutrient metabolism of non-herbivorous companion animals, primarily dogs and cats. Topics discussed will also include an overview of the pet food industry, its regulations and commonly utilized ingredients. Students will gain a deeper understanding of nutrition as it relates to life stages and various disease states that can affect both dogs and cats. This course will require a Saturday trip to one or two off campus facilities. Prerequisite: ANSC 31433 or POSC 43403. (Typically offered: Spring)

POSC 42103. Integrated Poultry Management Systems. 3 Hours.

Major managerial systems in the integrated commercial poultry industry. Development of an understanding of the basic decision making processes of poultry companies and the factors influencing those decisions. Prerequisite: POSC 23503 and AGEC 11003 and AGEC 23003. (Typically offered: Spring)

POSC 42303. Value Added Muscle Foods. 3 Hours.

An intense study of muscle structure and how it relates to the development of further processed meat products. Muscle ultrastructure, protein functionality, product development, and quality analysis will be covered. In class hands on activities will also be included to allow students to obtain experience of producing processed meat products. Prerequisite: POSC 43104. (Typically offered: Spring Odd Years)

POSC 43104. Egg and Meat Technology. 4 Hours.

Study of the science and practice of processing poultry meat and egg products; examination of the physical, chemical, functional and microbiological characteristics of value added poultry products; factors affecting consumer acceptance and marketing of poultry products and the efficiency of production. Corequisite: Lab component. Prerequisite: (CHEM 14203 and CHEM 14201) or (CHEM 12103 and CHEM 12101) and BIOL 10103 and BIOL 10101. (Typically offered: Fall)

POSC 43403. Poultry Nutrition. 3 Hours.

Principles of nutrition as applied to the formulation of practical chicken and turkey rations. Lecture 3 hours per week. Prerequisite: CHEM 26103 or CHEM 36053 and junior standing. (Typically offered: Spring)

POSC 44103. Animal Welfare. 3 Hours.

This multi-disciplinary course introduces students to the principles and application of animal welfare and will emphasize farm animal welfare and production issues. (Typically offered: Spring)

POSC 46103. Muscle Growth and Development. 3 Hours.

This is an undergraduate level course offering detailed insights into skeletal muscle morphological, physiological, cellular, and molecular factors affecting muscle structure and function, with special emphasis on cellular and molecular regulation of muscle growth and development, such as myo-, fibro-, and adipo-genesis. And the relationship between the properties of skeletal muscle and meat quality. ANSC 30303 and(or) CHEM 38103 are recommended as a prerequisite(s). (Typically offered: Fall)

POSC 48001. Seminar: Research Topics. 1 Hour.

Required by all poultry science majors. Prerequisite: Junior or Senior standing and SPCH 10003. (Typically offered: Spring Odd Years)

POSC 48101. Seminar: Professionalism. 1 Hour.

Addressing issues associated with preparation for finding and retaining your first job in the poultry industry. Lecture 1 hour per week. Prerequisite: Junior or Senior standing. (Typically offered: Fall Odd Years)

POSC 48201. Seminar: Problem Solving. 1 Hour.

Real world problem solving of poultry production systems. Lecture 1 hour per week. Prerequisite: Junior/ senior standing. (Typically offered: Spring Even Years)

POSC 48301. Seminar: Processing Regulations. 1 Hour.

Processing plant procedures and regulations with an emphasis on problem solving. Lecture 1 hour per week. Prerequisite: Junior or senior standing. (Typically offered: Fall Even Years)

POSC 49203. Brain and Behavior. 3 Hours.

Covers cellular through neural systems, major brain functions and comparative neuroanatomy. Topics include ion channels, membrane and action potentials, synaptic integration, neurotransmitters, major brain regions of mammals and birds, sensory and autonomic nervous systems, neuroendocrine system, and control by the brain of critical functions and behavior. Lecture 3 hours per week. Prerequisite: (ANSC 30303 or POSC 30303) or PSYC 20003, or BIOL 24103, or BIOL 24003, or BIOL 25473. (Typically offered: Fall)