BS in Horse Science
Middle Tennessee State University
Key Information
Campus location
Murfreesboro, USA
Languages
English
Study format
On-Campus
Duration
4 years
Pace
Full time
Tuition fees
USD 1,178 / per credit *
Application deadline
Request info
Earliest start date
Request info
* in-state tuition per credit hour: $385 | out-of-state tuition per credit hour: $1,178
Scholarships
Explore scholarship opportunities to help fund your studies
Introduction
Why should you study Horse Science at MTSU? What careers are available? Most people consider the obvious ones first: horse trainer, riding teacher, groom, barn manager, breeding/foaling manager, veterinarian, and farrier—careers that require hands-on work directly with horses. Many people do not consider the depth and scope of the U.S. horse industry. According to a 2018 survey by the American Horse Council, there are 7.2 million horses in the United States today. The horse industry contributes $122 billion to the gross domestic product and pays over $2 million in taxes annually. Over 1.3 million people own horses; 38 million people are horse enthusiasts who participate in horse activities but do not own a horse, and tens of millions of spectators enjoy horse events annually. The U.S. horse industry supports approximately 454,000 full-time-equivalent jobs directly involved with horses and 988,000 full-time indirect horse industry jobs that do not include hands-on work with horses but instead provide support to the industry.
At MTSU, students study with faculty who have a wide range of expertise as they find their niche and prepare for a future in the multi-billion-dollar horse industry. All levels of students are welcome, from beginner to world champion—we will teach you one stride at a time.
Admissions
Curriculum
Curriculum: Horse Science
Curricular listings include General Education requirements in Communication, History, Humanities and/or Fine Arts, Mathematics, Natural Sciences, and Social/Behavioral Sciences categories.
Freshman
- ANSC 1410 - Introduction to Animal Science 3 credit hours or
- ANSC 1401 - Introduction to Animal and Veterinary Sciences 3 credit hours
- AGRI 1000 - Orientation in Agriculture 1 credit hour
- HORS 1110 - Introduction to Horse Care and Use 3 credit hours
- PLSO 1610 - Elements of Plant Science 3 credit hours
- Mathematics 3 to 4 credit hours (MATH 1710 recommended)
- Humanities and/or Fine Arts 3 credit hours
- ENGL 1010 - Expository Writing 3 credit hours (Comm)
- ENGL 1020 - Research and Argumentative Writing 3 credit hours (Comm)
- BIOL 1110 - General Biology I 4 credit hours (Nat Sci) and
- BIOL 1111 - General Biology I Lab 0 credit hours (Nat Sci)
- BIOL 1120 - General Biology II 4 credit hours and
- BIOL 1121 - General Biology II Lab 0 credit hours
Subtotal: 30-31 Hours
Sophomore
- HORS 2400 - Fundamentals of Horsemanship 3 credit hours
- HORS 2480 - Equine Evaluation and Selection 3 credit hours
- Humanities and/or Fine Arts 3 credit hours
- Social/Behavioral Sciences 3 credit hours
- COMM 2200 - Fundamentals of Communication 3 credit hours (Comm)
- ENGL 2020 - Themes in Literature and Culture 3 credit hours (Hum/FA) or
- ENGL 2030 - The Experience of Literature 3 credit hours (Hum/FA) or
- HUM 2610 - World Literatures 3 credit hours (Hum/FA)
- CHEM 1010 - Introductory General Chemistry I 4 credit hours (Nat Sci) and
- CHEM 1011 - Intro to General Chemistry I Lab 0 credit hours (Nat Sci)
or
- CHEM 1110 - General Chemistry I 4 credit hours (Nat Sci) and
- CHEM 1111 - General Chemistry I Lab 0 credit hours (Nat Sci)
- CHEM 1020 - Introductory General Chemistry II 4 credit hours and
- CHEM 1021 - Intro to General Chemistry II Lab 0 credit hours
or
- CHEM 1120 - General Chemistry II 4 credit hours and
- CHEM 1121 - General Chemistry II Lab 0 credit hours
Choose 6 hours from:
- HIST 2010 - Survey of United States History I 3 credit hours
- HIST 2020 - Survey of United States History II 3 credit hours
- HIST 2030 - Tennessee History 3 credit hours
- HIST 2040 - Survey African American History I 3 credit hours
- HIST 2050 - Survey African American History II 3 credit hours
Subtotal: 32 Hours
Junior
- ANSC, AGBS, HORS, or PLSO elective 3 credit hours
- AGBS 3130 - Principles of Agricultural Economics 3 credit hours
- HORS 3300 - Equine Health 3 credit hours
- HORS 4440 - Equine Nutrition and Feeding 3 credit hours
- PLSO 3340 - Fundamentals of Soil Science 3 credit hours or
- PLSO 4310 - Forage Crops 3 credit hours
- ANSC 3440 - Livestock Management 3 credit hours
- Social/Behavioral Sciences 3 credit hours
- Elective/Minor courses 6 credit hours
- Upper-division elective 3 credit hours
Subtotal: 30 Hours
Senior
- HORS 3040 - Stable Management 3 credit hours or
- HORS 3430 - Horse Production 3 credit hours
- HORS 3410 - Horse Breeds and Genetics 3 credit hours
- HORS 4090 - Equine Reproduction and Breeding 3 credit hours or
- HORS 4550 - Equine Exercise Physiology 3 credit hours
- Elective/Minor courses 9 credit hours
- Upper-division electives 6 to 7 credit hours
- HORS 4040 - Equine Event and Facility Management 3 credit hours or
- HORS 4170 - Equine Industry 3 credit hours or
- HORS 4450 - Techniques of Teaching Horsemanship 3 credit hours or
- HORS 4460 - Behavior and Training of Horses 4 credit hours or
- HORS 4540 - Equine Assisted Therapy 3 credit hours or
- HORS 4545 - Equine Assisted Activities and Therapies II 3 credit hours
- HORS 4580 - Advanced Judging of Horses 3 credit hours
Subtotal: 28 Hours
Program Tuition Fee
Career Opportunities
As is true of most multi-billion-dollar industries, there are plenty of career opportunities that involve hands-on interaction with horses; however, there are even more careers that do not—that function more in a support role. Career examples include:
- A journalist for any of the major horse publications (breed or discipline-specific magazines); editor of horse publications; photographer; ad or website designer for horse publications or organizations; realtor specializing in horse properties; equine sales and marketing.
- Sales and marketing of support supplies: trucks, trailers, fencing, stables, tack and equipment, health supplies, riding attire, feed, hay, etc.; pharmaceutical representative selling products to equine veterinarians and horse owners.
- Licensed horse show officials, including inspectors, judges, show managers, show stewards, show announcers, regional representatives, and other designated qualified persons.
- Course designer for horse events (jumping, trail, eventing, combined driving, etc.); trailer designer; architect or engineer specializing in equine facilities, coliseums, riding arenas, and stables; agricultural engineer; racing regulator, racing steward, timing official, handicapper, tattoo inspector, racing secretary.
- Lawyer specializing in equine law, liability, equine contracts, environmental law, and equine syndication.
- Public relations for a breed or discipline-specific association; breed registry official; blood typing specialist.
- Equine scientist; equine geneticist; equine exercise physiologist; immunologist; formulation and testing of equine vaccines; equine behaviorist; equine reproductive physiologist; specialist in artificial insemination and embryo transfer.
- Equine nutritionist, equine feed specialist or nutrition laboratory technician; feed development specialist, pasture management specialist.
- Therapist specializing in therapeutic riding and equine-assisted therapies.
- Financial planner specializing in equine businesses; credit agent for horse properties; equine insurance agent.
- Horse extension specialist or extension agent (people who teach best management practices regarding horses to new owners); rangeland management specialist, Bureau of Land Management official; mounted police officer.
- University professor specializing in horses, technical school teacher, high school FFA teacher, and 4-H program coordinator.
- Equine or large animal veterinarian or board-certified veterinarian specializing in surgery, ophthalmology, radiology, pathology, pharmacology, clinical nutrition, gastroenterology, osteopathy, theriogenology, and others; equine sports medicine and rehabilitation specialist; veterinary technician, radiography technician, laboratory technician.
You may already know the horse career of your choice, or you may still be searching. MTSU’s Horse Science Program provides a variety of course experiences that will help you decide and provides the tools you need to be successful in the horse industry.
English Language Requirements
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