Equine Science AAS

Course work in the Equine Science Degree focuses on the physiological and behavioral science aspects of the horse and related industry professions. The curriculum also prepares students for further academic study and transfer of credits toward a bachelor's degree in an equine or Agriculture related degrees.  Some of the careers available to graduates include Vet Technician, Breeding Farm/General Farm Mgt., Training/Riding Instructor, College Professor/Instructor, Extension Horse Specialist, and Ag. Agent, and Equine Pharmaceuticals, Equine Nutritionist and related Industry Retail/Sales.

Upon completion of the Associate of Applied Science Degree, students will be able to:

• Discuss various diseases and ailments in a horse
• Perform basic medical care of horses
• Identify lameness that afflict horses
• Summarize the functional components of a bit and explain the action of different bit types in the horse's mouth
• Explain the anatomy and physiology of the horses' digestive system.
• Recommend nutritional consideration and feeding practices to meet the needs of individual horses.

This degree is completed primarily face-to-face, however some of the core curriculum requirements may be completed online or at other NCTC campuses. The program is designed to take two years to complete and is comprised of the following suggested pathway or course of study.

Degree Requirements

First Semester

First semester courses and credits required to earn the Equine Science Associate of Applied Sciences Degree

RUBRIC NUMBER	COURSE TITLE	SEMESTER CREDIT HOURS
AGEQ 1411	EQUINE SCIENCE	4
AGEQ 1305	EQUINE ENTERPRISE MANAGEMENT	3
AGRI 2330 OR AGRI 1325	WILDLIFE CONSERVATION & MANAGEMENT OR MARKETING OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS	3
AGRI 1315	FARM AND RANCH SHOP SKILLS I	3
AGEQ 1319 OR AGEQ 1370	WESTERN HORSEMANSHIP I OR PRINCIPLES OF RANCH RIDING I (TEAM)	3

Total credit hours for this semester

TOTAL HOURS	16

Second Semester

Second semester courses and credits required to earn the Equine Science Associate of Applied Sciences Degree

RUBRIC NUMBER	COURSE TITLE	SEMESTER CREDIT HOURS
AGEQ 1350	EQUINE REPRODUCTION	3
AGEQ 2310	EQUINE BUSINESS MANAGEMENT	3
AGEQ 2311	EQUINE SCIENCE II	3
AGEQ 2339	WESTERN HORSEMANSHIP II	3
OR
AGEQ 1371	PRINCIPLES OF RANCH HORSE II (TEAM)	3
AGEQ 1315	HORSE EVALUATION I	3

Total credit hours for this semester

TOTAL HOURS	15

Third Semester

Third semester courses and credits required to earn the Equine Science Associate of Applied Sciences Degree

RUBRIC NUMBER	COURSE TITLE	SEMESTER CREDIT HOURS
AGEQ 2373 OR AGRI 1419	INTRODUCTION VETERINARY TECH OR INTRO ANIMAL SCIENCE	3
AGEQ 2371 OR AGEQ 2315 OR AGEQ 1401 OR AGMG 2301	ADVANCED RANCH RIDING OR HORSE EVALUATION II (TEAM OPTION ONLY) OR EQUINE BEHAVIOR AND TRAINING I OR LIVESTOCK BUSINESS MANAGEMENT	3-4
EDUC 1300	LEARNING FRAMEWORKS	3
ENGL 1301 OR ENGL 1302 OR ENGL 2311	COMPOSITION I OR COMPOSITION II OR TECHNICAL & BUSINESS WRITING	3
BIOL 1411 OR BIOL 1413 OR BIOL 2406	GENERAL BOTANY OR GENERAL ZOOLOGY OR ENVIRONMENTAL BIOLOGY	4

Total credit hours for this semester

TOTAL HOURS	16-17

Fourth Semester

Fourth semester courses and credits required to earn the Equine Science Associate of Applied Sciences Degree

RUBRIC NUMBER	COURSE TITLE	SEMESTER CREDIT HOURS
CORE	SOCIAL/BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES	3
SPCH 1315 OR SPCH 1321	PUBLIC SPEAKING OR BUSINESS & PROFESSIONAL COMMUNICATION	3
AGEQ 2372 OR AGEQ 1322 OR AGEQ 2401 OR AGRI 1407 OR AGAH 1343 OR AGCR 1307 OR AGCR 2313	ADVANCED REINING OR FUNDAMENTALS OF RIDING INSTRUCTION OR EQUINE BEHAVIOR AND TRAINING II OR AGRONOMY OR ANIMAL HEALTH OR RANGE MANAGEMENT OR SOIL & WATER CONSERVATION	3-4
AGEQ 2386	INTERNSHIP EQUESTRIAN/EQUINE STUDIES	3
AGRI 1131	AGRICULTURE INDUSTRY	1

Total credit hours for this semester

TOTAL HOURS	13-14

Degree Total Hours:  60-61

Capstone Requirement: AGEQ 2386 Internship - Equestrian/Equine Studies is the capstone requirement and may not be substituted. It should be taken the last semester before graduation.