About the Department
The Department of Animal Science at Penn State has one of the oldest and best programs in the country.
Penn State Animal Science is a national leader for animal science teaching, research, and extension programs. Our small-school atmosphere facilitates a warm, welcoming, intellectually stimulating, and professional environment.
We’re industry focused and connected. We boast state-of-the-art facilities and world-class faculty with years of working experience in their fields. The best faculty in their respective disciplines are recruited from around the globe to push students to excel and move the needle on critical research. Our facilities are best in class and uniquely close to the heart of the Penn State experience. Barns, research plots, and laboratories are just steps away, including the new Animal, Veterinary, and Biomedical Sciences Building.
Student success drives the department. Our undergraduate programs offer students hands-on science with real-world applications, excellent internship experiences, robust scholarship opportunities, and high job placement.
Our graduate programs offer master of science and doctoral degrees. Graduate students receive in-depth training in core science and management disciplines, conduct groundbreaking research, and teach classes.
Student success and cutting-edge, well-funded research are the lead departmental drivers. Students are encouraged to participate in meaningful research from the first semester of their freshman year.
Current Animal Science research areas include animal products and human health, dairy, deer, equine, livestock, meat science and muscle biology, nutrient management and environmental stewardship, poultry, quality and safety of animal foods, and reproductive biology and fertility.
Meet our faculty, staff, and students, and see why we are one of the premier animal science hubs in the country.
Latest News
July 7, 2025
Hristov Recognized at Annual ADSA Meeting
Alexander N. Hristov, Ph.D., P.AS., distinguished professor of dairy nutrition in Penn State’s Department of Animal Science, was named Fellow of the American Dairy Science Association at its annual meeting in Kentucky last week.
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July 7, 2025
Penn State Excels at 2025 ADSA Student Meetings
Eight undergraduate students represented Penn State at the 2025 American Dairy Science Association—Undergraduate Student Division (ADSA-USD) meetings held in Louisville, KY, from June 20-24.
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June 25, 2025
Penn State College of Ag Sciences names Harbaugh Scholars for 2025
Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences has awarded funding to six faculty members across three teams to support the development of innovative curricula through the college's Harbaugh Faculty Scholars program.
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June 22, 2025
Equine science faculty, students earn recognition at international meeting
A team of Penn State students, accompanied by faculty from the College of Agricultural Sciences and educators from Penn State Extension, earned honors for their research at the 2025 Equine Science Society Symposium, which was held in Fort Collins, Colorado, in early June.
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Department of Animal Science
Address
439 Shortlidge Road, Room 109University Park, PA 16802
- Email AskDAS@psu.edu
- Office 814-865-1362