2025-2026 Academic Catalog
Welcome to Virginia Tech! We are excited that you are here planning your time as a Hokie.
Welcome to Virginia Tech! We are excited that you are here planning your time as a Hokie.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Degree Core Requirements | ||
| Many courses in this list have prerequisites. Click on each course for its description and any co- or prerequisites. | ||
| CHEM 1015 & CHEM 1016 | Chemistry in Context and Chemistry in Context | 6 |
| or CHEM 1035 & CHEM 1036 | General Chemistry and General Chemistry | |
| ALS 2304 | Comparative Animal Physiology and Anatomy 1 | 4 |
| ALS 3204 | Animal Nutrition and Feeding 1 | 3 |
| ALS 3304 | Physiology of Reproduction 1 | 3 |
| DASC 2474 | Dairy Science and Industry 1 | 3 |
| DASC 2664 | Professional Discourse and Career Development 1 | 1 |
| DASC 3474 | Dairy Information Systems 1 | 3 |
| DASC 4374 | Physiology of Lactation 1 | 3 |
| DASC 4664 | Translating Dairy Science 1 | 1 |
| Subtotal | 27 | |
| Dairy Elective Courses | ||
| Many courses in this list have prerequisites. Click on each course for its description and any co- or prerequisites. | ||
| Select a minimum of nine credits from the following: | 9 | |
| Dairy Cattle Handling 1 | ||
| Dairy Science First Year Experience 1 | ||
| Entrepreneurship in Animal Agriculture 1 | ||
| Dairy Cattle Evaluation 1 | ||
| Animal Agriculture and the Environment 1 | ||
| Applied Dairy Cattle Nutrition 1 | ||
| Applied Dairy Cattle Genetics 1 | ||
| Dairy Ration Formulation 1 | ||
| Bovine Reproduction Practices 1 | ||
| Mammary Immunology 1 | ||
| Advanced Dairy Management Evaluation 1 | ||
| Dairy Enterprise Management 1 | ||
| Dairy Enterprise Management 1 | ||
| Field Study (maximum of 3 credits from 4964, 4974, and 4994) 1,2 | ||
or DASC 4974 | Independent Study | |
or DASC 4994 | Undergraduate Research | |
| Subtotal | 9 | |
| Option Science / Pre-Vet Requirements | ||
| Many courses in this list have prerequisites. Click on each course for its description and any co- or prerequisites. | ||
| Select one of the following: | 2 | |
| Introduction to Chemistry Laboratory and Introduction to Chemistry Laboratory | ||
| General Chemistry Laboratory and General Chemistry Laboratory | ||
| Select at least 23 credits from the following: | 23 | |
| Host Microbe Interactions | ||
| Concepts of Biochemistry | ||
BCHM 3XXX, 4XXX | Any BCHM at the 3000 level or higher | |
BIOL 2XXX, 3XXX, 4XXX | Any Biology at the 2000 level or higher | |
CHEM 2XXX, 3XXX, 4XXX | Any Chemistry at the 2000 level or higher | |
| General Physics | ||
| General Physics | ||
| General Physics Laboratory | ||
| General Physics Laboratory | ||
| Undergraduate Research (maximum of 3 credits) 1,2 | ||
| Subtotal | 25 | |
| Free Electives | ||
| Select credits needed to complete 120 credits | 12 | |
| Subtotal | 12 | |
| Pathways to General Education | ||
| Pathways Concept 1 - Discourse | ||
| ENGL 1105 | First-Year Writing (1F) | 3 |
| ENGL 1106 | First-Year Writing (1F) | 3 |
| Select 3 credits in Pathway 1a | 3 | |
| Pathways Concept 2 - Critical Thinking in the Humanities | ||
| Select six credits in Pathway 2 | 6 | |
| Pathways Concept 3 - Reasoning in the Social Sciences | ||
| AAEC 1005 | Economics of the Food and Fiber System | 3 |
| or ECON 2005 | Principles of Economics | |
| AAEC 1006 | Economics of the Food and Fiber System | 3 |
| or ECON 2006 | Principles of Economics | |
| Pathways Concept 4 - Reasoning in the Natural Sciences | ||
| BIOL 1105 & BIOL 1115 | Principles of Biology and Principles of Biology Laboratory | 4 |
| BIOL 1106 & BIOL 1116 | Principles of Biology and Principles of Biology Laboratory | 4 |
| Pathways Concept 5 - Quantitative and Computational Thinking | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Precalculus with Transcendental Functions (5F) | ||
| Elementary Calculus (5F) | ||
| Calculus of a Single Variable (5F) | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Introductory Statistics (5F) | ||
| Statistical Methods (5F) | ||
| Biological Statistics (5F) | ||
| ALS 3104 | Animal Breeding and Genetics (5A) 1 | 3 |
| Pathways Concept 6 - Critique and Practice in Design and the Arts | ||
| Select three credits in Pathway 6a | 3 | |
| Select three credits in Pathway 6d | 3 | |
| Pathways Concept 7 - Critical Analysis of Identity and Equity in the United States | ||
| Select three credits in Pathway 7 | 3 | |
| Students may have 3 more credits of free electives by choosing a course that double counts for Pathways 7 and 2, or Pathways 6. | ||
| Subtotal | 47 | |
| Total Credits | 120 | |
“in major” GPA courses indicated.
DASC 4994 can be used to meet Option requirements or count toward Dairy Electives, but not both.
A 2.00 minimum overall and in-major GPA is required for graduation. Minimum DASC Credits Required for Graduation: 20. Total Credits Required for Graduation: 120
A DASC degree may be earned in combination with the first year of work in an accredited medical, dental, or veterinary school, provided that the following requirements are met: at least two of the three years of pre-professional work, including the third year, are in residence at VT; and a minimum of 90 semester credits of undergraduate work that include all the courses listed as Pathway to General Education, Dairy Science Common Degree Core, and 9 credits of Dairy Electives.
Prerequisites: Some courses listed on this checklist may have prerequisites; please consult the University Course Catalog (catalog.vt.edu).
Four credits of accelerated foreign language or two semesters of a single foreign language are required unless 2 units of a single foreign language are completed in high school. These credits do not count toward graduation requirements.
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall Semester | Credits | |
| ENGL 1105 | First-Year Writing | 3 |
| DASC 1464 | Dairy Cattle Handling 1 | 1 |
| DASC 1574 | Dairy Science First Year Experience 1 | 1 |
| MATH 1014 | Precalculus with Transcendental Functions or Elementary Calculus or Calculus of a Single Variable | 3 |
| BIOL 1105 | Principles of Biology | 3 |
| BIOL 1115 | Principles of Biology Laboratory | 1 |
| Pathways Concept 2 - Critical Thinking in the Humanities | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| ENGL 1106 | First-Year Writing | 3 |
| STAT 2004 | Introductory Statistics or Statistical Methods or Biological Statistics | 3 |
| BIOL 1106 | Principles of Biology | 3 |
| BIOL 1116 | Principles of Biology Laboratory | 1 |
| Dairy Science Elective | 3 | |
| Pathways Concept 6 - Critique and Practice in Design and the Arts A or D | 3 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| CHEM 1015 or CHEM 1035 | Chemistry in Context or General Chemistry | 3 |
| CHEM 1025 or CHEM 1045 | Introduction to Chemistry Laboratory or General Chemistry Laboratory | 1 |
| AAEC 1005 or ECON 2005 | Economics of the Food and Fiber System or Principles of Economics | 3 |
| DASC 2664 | Professional Discourse and Career Development | 1 |
| Dairy Science Elective | 3 | |
| ALS 3104 | Animal Breeding and Genetics | 3 |
| Credits | 14 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| CHEM 1016 or CHEM 1036 | Chemistry in Context or General Chemistry | 3 |
| CHEM 1026 or CHEM 1046 | Introduction to Chemistry Laboratory or General Chemistry Laboratory | 1 |
| AAEC 1006 or ECON 2006 | Economics of the Food and Fiber System or Principles of Economics | 3 |
| DASC 2474 | Dairy Science and Industry | 3 |
| ALS 2304 | Comparative Animal Physiology and Anatomy | 4 |
| Credits | 14 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| CHEM 2535 | Organic Chemistry | 3 |
| CHEM 2545 | Organic Chemistry Laboratory 2 | 1 |
| BIOL 2604 | General Microbiology 2 | 3 |
| BIOL 2614 | General Microbiology Laboratory 2 | 2 |
| DASC 3474 | Dairy Information Systems | 3 |
| ALS 3304 | Physiology of Reproduction | 3 |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| ALS 3204 | Animal Nutrition and Feeding | 3 |
| DASC 4374 | Physiology of Lactation | 3 |
| Dairy Elective | 3 | |
| Option Science/Pre-Vet Requirement Course | 3 | |
| Pathway 2 | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| BCHM 2024 | Concepts of Biochemistry 2 | 3 |
| OptionScience/Pre-Vet Course Requirement or Free Elective | 3 | |
| DASC 4664 | Translating Dairy Science | 1 |
| Pathways Concept 7 - Critical Analysis of Identity and Equity in the United States | 3 | |
| Free Electives | 4 | |
| Credits | 14 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| Pathway 1a | 3 | |
| OptionScience/Pre-Vet Course Requirement | 3 | |
| Free Electives | 5 | |
| Pathway 6a or D | 3 | |
| OptionScience/Pre-Vet Course Requirement | 3 | |
| Credits | 17 | |
| Total Credits | 120 | |
1. Listed courses are suggested and count toward the required number of dairy electives.
2. Listed courses are suggested and count toward the required number of Science/Pre-Vet option credits.
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