Exploring Top Animal Science Programs for High School Students

High school students looking to explore new academic subjects can consider specialized programs. These programs often feature college-level academics, skill-development sessions, and exposure to new industries and college majors. They also give students opportunities to build connections with professionals and college faculty. High school programs are particularly beneficial for those interested in pursuing a college major or career in a field not typically taught in high school. A program can solidify your interest in the field and demonstrate your preparation for college-level work to admissions officers.

Why Consider Animal Science Programs?

Animal science is a highly specialized field with few high school courses available. However, it leads to careers across agriculture, research, veterinary medicine, and more. In this blog, we’ve identified 15 top animal science programs for high school students to explore. We’ve emphasized selective programs hosted by prestigious institutions, particularly those featuring college-level academics, opportunities for research and practical work, networking opportunities, and guidance on preparing for college and careers in animal science. Many of these programs are also fully funded, making them both prestigious and accessible.

Benefits of Specialized Programs

Specialized programs offer numerous advantages. They provide students with:

• Exposure to College-Level Work: Engaging in rigorous academic content prepares students for the demands of higher education.

• Networking Opportunities: Building relationships with professionals and faculty can open doors for future internships and job opportunities.

• Hands-On Experience: Many programs include practical work, allowing students to apply what they learn in real-world settings.

• Research Opportunities: Students can explore their interests in depth, often culminating in a significant research project.

  
  

These elements combined can greatly enhance a student's college application and provide a competitive edge.

Top Animal Science Programs

Lumiere Research Scholar Program

Location: Virtual

Cost/Stipend: Not specified

Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective; small cohorts

Dates: Summer Cohort 1 June 2–August 19 | Summer Cohort 2 July 14–September 30 | additional cohorts year-round

Application Deadline: Rolling by cohort (Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter)

Eligibility: High school students with strong academic records; recommended GPA 3.3+

The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is a rigorous research program tailored for high school students. It offers extensive one-on-one research opportunities across a broad range of subject areas. The program pairs high school students with Ph.D. mentors to work on an independent research project. At the end of the 12-week program, students will have developed an independent research paper! They can choose to pursue a customized research topic in animal science under a mentor in the field or merge their interest in animal science with fields such as environmental science, biology, or medicine. You can find more details about the application here.

Michigan State University Multicultural Apprenticeship Program

Location: Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI

Cost/Stipend: Free; stipend provided

Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective

Dates: July 5 - July 31

Application Deadline: March 27

Eligibility: Current 10th and 11th-grade students

Michigan State University’s paid Multicultural Apprenticeship program is a four-week agriculture and animal science research program for high school students. Students will be paired with a professor from MSU’s College of Agriculture and Natural Resources to design and complete an individualized research project in veterinary medicine or animal science. The research will be supplemented with educational programming, including academic seminars on topics across animal science, food science, and agricultural engineering. Other features include leadership coaching, field trips, and networking sessions. Students will also hear from agricultural industry professionals and governmental figures in the field, learning about careers in animal science and beyond.

Purdue University C-PASA Program

Location: Purdue University, W Lafayette, IN

Cost: Free

Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not provided

Dates: July 12-17

Application Deadline: April 15

Eligibility: Rising 9th-12th-grade students

C-PASA at Purdue College of Agriculture is an agribusiness summer opportunity exposing high school students to academic and professional opportunities during a fully-funded stay on Purdue’s campus. Students will hear from faculty about potential majors they can pursue at Purdue, including Sustainable Food and Farming Systems, Pre-Veterinary Medicine, and Animal Science programs. They will also discuss post-graduation careers in the field. Students will gain hands-on experience in college-level animal science through visiting the College of Agriculture labs and conducting research projects with Purdue professors. C-PASA also provides networking and career planning opportunities through touring off-site research facilities, meeting with industry professionals, and visiting animal science and agriculture companies like Cargill.

University of Tennessee Veterinary Medicine Program

Location: University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine, Knoxville, TN

Cost/Stipend: Free

Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not provided

Dates: June 9–July 11

Application Deadline: January 30

Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors aged 16+; Tennessee residents attending high school or homeschool in TN; minimum GPA 3.0

The University of Tennessee hosts a fully-funded summer program for high school students interested in applying animal science to veterinary practice. Students will independently identify a veterinary practice to host them as summer interns, where they will complete five weeks of shadowing and providing support to professional vets. In addition to shadowing work, students will learn about life as a veterinary student at the University of Tennessee, culminating in a final on-campus week consisting of lectures, labs, and activities focused on topics across veterinary careers, animal diagnostics, clinical work in animal medicine, and more.

Iowa State University AgDiscover Program

Location: Iowa State University, Ames, IA

Cost/Stipend: Free

Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not provided

Dates: July 13–26

Application Deadline: To be announced

Eligibility: High school students aged 15–17

At Iowa State University’s fully-funded AgDiscover program, high school students will spend two weeks learning about academic and career opportunities in diverse agricultural fields. Students will study topics including animal science and veterinary medicine, participating in activities at Iowa State laboratories, zoological facilities, conservation areas, and an animal shelter. In the process, they will learn about Iowa State’s majors in Veterinary Medicine, Animal Science, Laboratory Technology, and Wildlife Ecology through networking and educational sessions with professors. Students will also gain industry exposure through visiting sites like farms and food processing facilities and attending guest lectures with agricultural scientists working for the US government, animal welfare organizations, local agricultural professionals, and more.

Stony Brook University SSRP Program

Location: Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY

Cost/Stipend: Free; housing ~$2,450 for residential students

Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Very selective; <5% acceptance rate

Dates: June 29–August 7

Application Deadline: February 5

Eligibility: Rising seniors aged 16+; U.S. citizens or permanent residents; must be nominated by their high school (up to 2 nominees per school)

SSRP is an advanced, fully-funded program for high school students offering an intensive STEM research experience, with opportunities to specialize in animal science. Students will be matched with a mentor and research team to complete a research project; past animal science options include working in the Marine Animal Disease Lab or pursuing animal-focused research in the Orthopaedics department. Outside of individual research, students will attend faculty lectures on other STEM topics offered at SSRP, including neurobiology, physics, ecology, and engineering. They will finish by writing a formal research paper on their findings, which they will present to the cohort at the end of the program. Many SSRP students have gone on to publish their work in scientific journals.

North Carolina State University IFAL Program

Location: North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC; North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, Greensboro, NC; or University of Mount Olive, Mount Olive, NC

Cost: Free

Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not provided

Dates: June 14 - June 19

Application Deadline: March 31

Eligibility: Rising high school seniors from North Carolina

The fully-funded IFAL program provides educational and career development to North Carolina high school students interested in diverse agricultural careers. Students will stay on-campus at one of three North Carolina colleges’ Schools of Agriculture, learning about academic programs in fields like Animal Sciences, Veterinary Bioscience, Food and Nutritional Sciences, and Environmental Health and Safety. They will also tour university labs, teaching farms, and research facilities while attending multiple daily educational seminars on specialized topics across animal sciences, entomology, and agricultural engineering. Other programming includes leadership training, career guidance, and visits to the North Carolina Farm Bureau and NC General Assembly.

University of California COSMOS Program

Location: UC Davis, UC Irvine, UC Los Angeles, UC San Diego, and UC Santa Cruz, CA

Cost: $5,518. Financial aid is available.

Acceptance rate/cohort size: Very selective; about 150-200 students at each campus

Dates: July 5 - July 31 or August 1, depending on campus placement

Application Deadline: February 6

Eligibility: Rising 9th–12th graders who are California residents | Specific Clusters typically have additional prerequisites

The University of California’s COSMOS offers a three-week academic and research experience for California high school students, where they’ll choose a specialization from dozens of “cluster” focus areas. If you’re looking for an animal science program, you can consider clusters such as Making an Animal: Development and Bioinformatics, Sustainable Aquaculture & Aquaponic Food Production, or Glowing Partnerships: Exploring Bacterial-Animal Symbiosis Through Bioluminescence. Under the instruction of UC professors, students will pursue hands-on coursework leading to group or individual research projects. In animal science program clusters, their work might include analyzing fish and shellfish welfare in food production systems, connections between animal and human development, or analyzing medical case studies of bacterial infection in animals.

Cornell University Sustainable Animal Husbandry Course

Location: Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, or Online

Cost: $8,399 (Residential) or $5,820 (Commuter/Online)

Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; 30-35 students, including Cornell undergraduates

Dates: June 23 - July 11 (in-person) or June 2 - June 20 (online)

Application Deadline: May 9 (in-person) or May 5 (online)

Eligibility: Rising 11th and 12th grade students

Cornell’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences gives high school students the opportunity to take the undergraduate Sustainable Animal Husbandry course alongside current Cornell students. In this course, students will study animal science and sustainable agriculture with a focus on animal genetics, animal agriculture systems in developing countries, domestication, and animal nutrition. They will also learn hands-on techniques for animal science research, including proper livestock handling. Students will complete three large-scale projects during the course, including a farmer interview on industry experience, a research project analyzing an animal science issue in connection with sustainable agriculture, and participating in an in-class debate. To prepare for college, they will also meet with members of Cornell’s admissions team to prepare for college applications and learn about majors like Animal Science, Community Food Systems, and Nutritional Sciences.

UC Davis Pre-College Exploring Animal Science Program

Location: University of California, Davis, CA

Cost/Stipend: $6,145 (residential) or $5,145 (commuter)

Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not provided

Dates: Two weeks starting July 21

Application Deadline: Rolling

Eligibility: Rising grades 10–12; ages 14–18

UC Davis’ Pre-College Exploring Animal Science program offers high school students a two-week introduction to animal science and academic opportunities in the field. Students will be taught by a researcher from UC Davis Animal Biology Graduate Group to study animal science and veterinary medicine. They will focus on topics including animal health, welfare, nutrition, and husbandry, gaining experience through tours, activities, and group projects at UC Davis’ Dairy Farm, Swine Barn, Horse Barn, and Sheep Barn. To plan for their future career, students will also attend guest lectures from veterinarians and professional animal scientists.

Cornell University Veterinary Medicine: Science and Practice Program

Location: Cornell University, Ithaca, NY

Cost: $8,399

Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; 30-35 students, including Cornell undergraduates

Dates: June 23 - July 11

Application Deadline: May 9

Eligibility: Rising 11th and 12th grade students

Cornell’s Pre-College program in Veterinary Medicine: Science and Practice is an undergraduate summer course open to high school students interested in the animal science behind veterinary medicine. Students will learn about the anatomy and physiology of animals commonly treated by vets and clinical applications of animal science under the instruction of Cornell professors. They will complete college-level coursework and assignments, including class discussions, lectures, and projects. Students will also learn about careers in veterinary medicine, animal science, and other related fields. As they will be taking the course alongside current Cornell undergraduates, they will get the chance to learn about their experience as students at Cornell’s College of Veterinary Medicine. Students taking the on-campus course will also get to speak with the undergraduate admissions team to prepare for applying to Cornell.

North Carolina State University Veterinary Professions Advising Center Program

Location: North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC

Cost/Stipend: $750 (commuter); $1,000 (residential)

Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective

Dates: July 6–10 (Session 1) | July 13–17 (Session 2)

Application Deadline: April 6

Eligibility: Rising 9th–12th graders and graduating seniors aged 15+; must be a U.S. or U.S. Territories resident

North Carolina State University provides a five-day experience hosted by the Veterinary Professions Advising Center to prepare high school students for college-level study and careers in veterinary medicine. Students will take a tour of NCSU’s College of Veterinary Medicine and College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, learning about careers and NCSU’s majors in veterinary medicine and animal science. They will work directly with animals like sheep and pigs, participate in dissection labs, and visit an animal clinic. Students not admitted to the in-person program may attend the Virtual VetCAMP.

Cornell University Young Birders Event

Location: Cornell University, Ithaca, NY

Cost/Stipend: $650

Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective

Dates: June 26–29

Application Deadline: March 16

Eligibility: Rising 10th–12th grade students aged 14+

Hosted by Cornell’s eBird project, an online platform where scientists and the public document bird populations, photographs, and sightings, the Cornell Lab Young Birders Event hosts a small group of high school students for a week of birding and academic study in the animal science of ornithology. Students will tour the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and network with Cornell scientists to learn about careers and academic programs in the field, and hear lectures on the Lab’s ongoing research from professors and students. They will also participate in extensive birding trips in the Ithaca region, including the Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge and the Finger Lakes. Additionally, students will learn advanced techniques in recording and sound editing birdcalls and finish the week with a final presentation on their experience in the program and ornithology.

Eckerd College Animal Studies Program

Location: Eckerd College, St. Petersburg, FL

Cost/Stipend: $1,975

Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not provided

Dates: June 14–19

Application Deadline: Rolling starting in January

Eligibility: Rising 10th–12th grade students

Eckerd College’s Animal Studies program for high schoolers provides undergraduate-level coursework in animal science under the direction of Eckerd faculty. Students will study topics including animal behavior, research and observation, animal rehabilitation, wildlife conservation, and animal-assisted interventions. To explore post-high school options, they will learn about Eckerd’s Animal Studies major and how the field merges natural sciences, social sciences, and humanities to provide a comprehensive analysis of animals and human-animal relationships. Students will complete hands-on work, including field research in Eckerd’s biodiverse location on the Gulf of Mexico, including a scientific wildlife research survey. To provide industry exposure, they will also tour facilities, including aquaria, zoos, and animal shelters in the region.

Brown University Psychology Across Species Program

Location: Brown University, Providence, RI

Cost: Varies by residential/commuter format; financial aid available

Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Somewhat selective

Dates: June 30–July 11

Application Deadline: Rolling; ends May 9

Eligibility: Students in grades 9–12; ages 14–18

Brown Pre-College offers an animal science program for high school students through its course Psychology Across Species: Animal Cognition and Behavior. Students will learn about academic methods for studying human and animal cognition, focused on learning, attention, and memory in primates, canines, rodents, and other species. They will study comparative cognition, ecology, and evolution to analyze how animal psychological processes have evolved over time, as well as the cognitive differences between humans and other animals. Students will discuss advanced topics including conditioning, abstract cognition, and social behavior, and supplement their coursework with guest lectures from industry professionals and tours of Brown’s animal labs.

Stephen is one of the founders of Lumiere and a Harvard College graduate. He founded Lumiere as a Ph.D. student at Harvard Business School. Lumiere is a selective research program in which students work one-on-one with a mentor to develop an independent research paper.