High Schools

Animal Science & Management

In this program, you will learn routine animal care practices, customized nutrition planning, and training techniques. You will perform health assessments, investigate animal genetics, and create preventative management plans to identify and treat common diseases. You will build career skills by exploring the business side of the industry, creating scheduling plans, managing financial reports, interacting with customers, and learning the regulations of running an animal-focused business.

A woman in a light blue shirt leans on a reception desk, looking towards the camera.

Career Expectations

Work with various small animals (cats/dogs/rodents/rabbits/birds/reptiles)
Bathe/clip nails/cut/brush animal hair/fur
Exercise animals/provide companionship
Use equipment associated with small/large animals
Maintain safe/sanitary habitats for various types of animals
Use various types of bedding (straw/aspen/paper/corncobs)
Extended standing, stoop/bend, lift/carry objects < 80 pounds
Hold/restrain animals during examinations
Prepare labels/samples for laboratory examination
Prepare medical reports/treatments delivered/care recommendations
Assist with euthanizing/disposal of animals
Distinguish details/differences visually and differentiate various sounds

A student in a black hoodie looks down at a guinea pigs on a scale

Ohio Department of Education & Workforce Development Courses

Year 1

Animal Health
Companion Animal Selection, Nutrition, and Management

Year 2

Animal Science and Technology
Business Management for Agriculture and Environmental Systems

View complete course guide here

Next Ready Skills

At Great Oaks, you’ll do more than learn a trade; you’ll master NextReady skills like clear communication and problem-solving that help you get hired. You will get a head start on building a professional reputation for being dependable, adaptable, and technically skilled before you even graduate

Effective Communicators

Clear communicators provide health updates on animals to owners while using active observation of animal behavior to ensure safety and give/recieve feedback from colleagues.

Critical Thinkers

Critical thinkers utilize reliable research to manage species-specific needs, analyze animal issues to propose solutions, and reflect on learning to share with others.

Adaptable Navigators

Adaptable navigators adapt care protocols for various species and quickly adjust their handling techniques when an animal’s disposition changes unexpectedly, and persevere through the challenges of training unsocialized animals

Accountable Employees

Accountable employees take responsibility for feeding and grooming decisions, share relevant information with others, and maintain strict ethical standards for the humane treatment of animals.

Skilled Professionals

Skilled professionals keep relevant on animal care/restraint/sanitation procedures/grooming skills to provide industry-standard care for client pets.

Bottom Line: If you enjoy the business and science of animals, don’t mind hard work, and want a career managing animal health and habitats, Animal Science & Management may be right for you.