Animal & Marine Science

The Animal and Marine Science Program prepares students for work and/or college in the fields of Animal and Marine Science. NCAHS courses are clustered into concentrations so that each student has the opportunity to obtain the knowledge and skills necessary to work and/or continue their studies in a specific field.

The following concentrations within Animal and Marine Science are available:

Canine Science
Equine Science
Farm and Livestock Management
Marine Science
Research Animal Technology
Veterinary Science

The Animal and Marine Science concentrations provide students with hands on experience working with a diverse range species. The following is a list of just some of the animals you will work with:

Marine & saltwater fish
Rabbits, guinea pigs, degus, hamsters, gerbils, mice, rats, chinchillas, ferrets
Zebrafish
Snakes, lizards, frogs
Horses, sheep, cows, pigs, goats
Various species of birds in the aviary

Career Pathways

Entry Level

- - Retail
  - Farm Labor and Service
  - Animal Caretaker
  - Groomer
  - Fisherman

Trade/Technical

- - Veterinarian Assistant
  - Veterinarian Technician
  - Research Laboratory Technician and Assistant
  - Dairy and meat service technician
  - Quality Control and Processing Food Inspector
  - Sales Representative and Product Representative
  - Meat Inspector
  - Agricultural Journalist
  - Horse feed Development
  - Farm Management Consultant
  - Aquarist
  - Animal trainer
  - Farrier
  - SCUBA instructor
  - Oceanographer
  - Boat captain
  - Animal massage therapist

Professional

- - Veterinarian
  - Biotechnology
  - Teaching and Education
  - Animal Geneticist
  - Research Laboratory
  - Science writer and illustrator
  - Breed Management
  - Livestock Investment Firms
  - Animal Nutritionist
  - Farm Management and Ownership
  - Government Inspection and Regulatory Agencies
  - Humane Animal Care
  - Pet Store Management and Ownership
  - Marine Biologist/Scientist
  - Aquaculture facility manager
  - Ship master
  - Animal chiropractor

Certifications

- OHSA 10

Skills

Animal and Marine Science majors learn a variety of skills for college and careers. Among the skills taught and learned are…

- - - Establish and maintain a healthy work environment
    - Develop effective management practices and organizational skills
    - Develop a commitment to professional standards
    - Ability to work effectively across disciplines as part of a team within the Animal and Marine Science industries.
    - Knowledge of animal and marine anatomy & physiology, breeding, genetics, and livestock production
    - Knowledge of animal behaviors, growth, and nutrition

Hands on Skills

Animal restraint
Animal husbandry
Dog grooming
Obedience & showmanship
Drug calculations, dosing & routes of administration
Tacking & horse grooming
Aquarium maintenance!
Shop safety & PPE

Program Partners, Projects, and Field Trips

Some of the Animal Science Program Partners:

Children's Hospital
Charles River Laboratories
New England Aquarium
GOFI (Golden Opportunities for Independent Living)
Meat Works
Harvard University
Southwick Zoo
University of Rhode Island
AstraZeneca
Massachusetts Society for Medical Research
Boston to Children's Hospital
Massachusetts General Hospital Center for Comprehensive Medicine
Capt. John Boats
Blue Stream Aquaculture
Capron Park Zoo
Mystic Aquarium

Internships

Arnold Arboretum

Massachusetts General Hospital Center for Comparative Medicine

Milton CAT

New England Wildlife Center, Weymouth