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The Major Program

Avian Sciences is the study of birds and the ways in which they relate to and are useful to humans. The major combines the study of avian wildlife and their environments, production and marketing of domestic birds and eggs, caged exotic bird management, and basic and applied laboratory research on birds with a broad introduction to biological science.

The Program. The flexibility of the program and the close personal interaction between students, faculty, and specialists in the field give students a large role in selecting and designing their own course work. Students may specialize in a bachelor’s program that qualifies them for a particular career or they may choose a program to meet other broader intellectual and cultural interests.

Internships and Career Alternatives. Independent study, undergraduate research, and internships are emphasized in the Avian Sciences program. Birds for laboratory or special study are housed within the main building as well as at the research farm and the experimental aviary. An Avian Sciences major has a variety of career options: health-oriented research, teaching biology, game bird production, domestic and foreign agricultural extension and advisory services, governmental agencies, or the domestic or exotic bird industries. A recent survey has shown that the majority of Avian Sciences graduates enter graduate school or are employed by the domestic bird industry. The remainder of the graduates were evenly distributed in the categories of professional schools, avian biology agencies, educational fields, and individual jobs indirectly associated with birds.