DURHAM, N.H. — For students interested in a focused two-year course of study that will propel them into the workforce more quickly than a four-year degree and provide a strong foundation for a rewarding career, the University of New Hampshire’s College of Life Sciences and Agriculture on the Durham, N.H. campus offers three highly regarded associate degree programs in our Thompson School of Applied Science: Applied Animal Science, Forest Technology and Veterinary Technology. After the completion of any of these degrees, students who qualify can transfer into some of our four-year programs and earn their bachelor’s degree with two additional years of full-time study.
While meeting key state workforce needs in the areas of agriculture, veterinary medicine and forestry, all three programs also offer a pathway for students who qualify to transfer into the relevant four-year programs after they earn their associate degree and obtain a bachelor’s degree in just two additional years with a full-time course of study. Read about the exciting work being conducted across the College of Life Sciences and Agriculture in our magazine Thrive.
Applied Animal Science: A Solid Foundation for Career in the Field of Farm Animal Production and Management
The Applied Animal Science program prepares students for successful careers in animal production and management. Students handle farm animals starting week one and learn to work safely with farm livestock and poultry while building a strong foundation in the science and business of animal agriculture. The curriculum focuses on decision-making, technologies, and processes that address the realities modern agriculture. Our teaching facilities include the Fairchild Dairy Teaching and Research Center, the Organic Dairy Research Farm, the Lou and Lutza Smith Equine Center and Tirrell Horse Barn and two teaching animal high tunnels.
Students in the AAS program participate in unique, hands-on learning courses, including Cooperative Real Education in Agricultural Management (CREAM), during which they manage our student-run dairy cooperative on campus and the Poultry Experiential Education Program (PEEP).
Veterinary Technology: Learning How to Be Vital Part of an Animal Care Team
The Veterinary Technology program is accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) and prepares students for careers as veterinary technicians. The curriculum includes a blend of classroom instruction and hands-on experiences, and students gain real-world experience through supervised clinical rotations at local veterinary clinics and hospitals and at UNH’s own on-campus clinic, PAWS, which serves low-income pet owners in the area.
Students graduate with an exceptional range of animal care experience, a diverse skill set that prepares them to work in many settings within the veterinary field, and the knowledge they need to take the national Veterinary Technician National Exam (VTNE) to become a licensed veterinary technician.
Forest Technology: Working to Manage and Solve Natural Resource and Environmental Challenges
Forest Technology students learn how to inventory natural resources; design, plan, and supervise forest harvesting operations; map and survey forest land; develop a forest management plan; and mitigate forest health issues – all while applying principles of conservation and sustainability.
Students in the program, which is accredited by the Society of American Foresters, spend a lot of time in UNH’s largest “classroom” on campus: the more than 3,000 acres of woodlands land owned and managed by the university. Students also work in UNH’s on-campus sawmill, which has served the UNH community as a facility for research, education, and sustainable lumber production since 1968.
The Thompson School of Applied Science is an academic unit of the College of Life Sciences and Agriculture and offers the associate degree programs at the University of New Hampshire (UNH). The UNH College of Life Sciences and Agriculture is the oldest of five colleges at UNH. We are scientists, scholars and educators committed to teaching, research and public service. Our work in the areas of natural resources, agriculture, biological systems, health and nutrition has helped earn UNH nationwide recognition as a top-tier land, sea and space grant university.
The University of New Hampshire is a flagship research university that inspires innovation and transforms lives in our state, nation and world. More than 16,000 students from all 50 states and 71 countries engage with an award-winning faculty in top ranked programs in business, engineering, law, liberal arts, and the sciences across more than 200 programs of study. UNH’s research portfolio includes partnerships with NASA, NOAA, NSF, NIH and USDA, receiving more than $100 million in competitive external funding every year to further explore and define the frontiers of land, sea, and space.
–Anthony S. Davis, Dean
College of Life Sciences and Agriculture
University of New Hampshire
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