Typically Offered: The course is offered during Spring and Summer semesters.
Prerequisites and Other Registration Restrictions: Two semesters of General Biology (01:119:115-116) and General Chemistry (01:160:161-162) are pre-requisites. An introductory course in Animal Science (11:067:142) is recommended. During fall and spring semesters, registration is for non-matriculated, off-campus students (see https://animalsciences.rutgers.edu/online) or by permission of the instructor. In the summer session, registration is open to all students. Registration is by special permission (contact Henry Bignell, hdbignell@sebs@rutgers.edu). On-campus students majoring/minoring in Animal Science will also need to complete Animal Nutrition Laboratory (11:067:331) to fulfill graduation requirements
Format: The online version of Animal Nutrition requires access to the internet to acquire the course material. The lecture material is all available online, with students interacting with the instructor and other students through emails, group discussion, and chats. All homework assignments will be submitted through email and the exams will be online. The lecture material consists of full text, animations and simulations with transcripts and audio, images, self-tests, and hyperlinked dictionary. Previous students have enjoyed the ability to interact with the lecture material and to work at a time and location convenient for them.
Description: Animal Nutrition is designed to help students learn the questions that they will need to ask when they wish to feed any animal. The course is divided into three general topics: digestive anatomy and physiology, the biochemistry of nutrients, and the feeding of physiological states. Many of the examples used in the course are for domestic livestock species simply because we know the most about those animals. However, we will discuss many species (humans, giraffes, dogs, birds, turtles) and the concepts of feeding for the stage of life the animal is in (maintenance, pregnancy, lactation, growth). More importantly, by the end of the course the student will have the tools to ask the right questions when they are faced with a new species, a new feed, or a new situation.
Examinations: Exams will be primarily short answer and essay and will be completed by students online.
Other Requirements: The online nature of the course provides students with a unique and important experience. Previous students have enjoyed the ability to interact with the lecture material and to work at a time and location convenient for them. However, these students have also found that taking a course in this manner requires a level of initiative and self-discipline that attending a resident lecture does not. Realize the commitment you are making in choosing to learn the material in this manner.