GUIDE TO MAJORS AND PROGRAMS
College of Agriculture
Feed Science and Management
Overview
A feed science degree in the feed production or
pet food production option will position you to
be in demand upon graduation.
World demand continually grows for meat and
alternative fuels. A feed science degree, offered
only at Kansas State University, prepares you to
meet that demand. High-paying starting salaries
are typical. Graduates tend to progress quickly
to higher levels of responsibility in their careers.
Professional options
Careers
The degree includes a combination of disciplines
built around the study of the animal and pet
food business with emphasis on manufacturing
management. Graduates are sought after
by companies in the commercial feed and
integrated livestock and allied industries.
Starting salaries are among the highest of
graduates in the College of Agriculture. In
addition, feed science graduates tend to move
into positions of increasing responsibility and
pay. It is not unusual to see graduates managing
a plant or organization within a few years.
Students can be assured that their education
and skills will be in demand throughout their
working lives. The approximately 8,000 feed
manufacturing locations in the United States
produce more than 200 million tons of feed
or feed concentrates a year and employ more
than 100,000 people. The biofuel industry is
growing and offers additional employment
opportunities. The pet food option opens
doors into a higher-margin world with limitless
potential.
The feed science program at K-State began in
1951 at the request of industry representatives.
Today it remains the only bachelor’s degree
Points of pride
Kansas State University is the only institute in
the world to offer a four-year degree in feed
science and management.
program in feed science in the world. K-State’s
Department of Grain Science and Industry has
an international reputation in the feed and
allied industries. Students from all over the
world come here to study. K-State is a regular
recruiting stop for major companies.
Career possibilities include plant operations and
management in:
n Feed, pet food, biorefining and related
industries
n Corporate management
n Quality control
n Research and development
n Ingredient procurement
n Sales
n Processing facility design
n Equipment design and manufacturing
n Regulatory affairs
Employers
Commercial feed companies
Feedlots
n Pet food companies
n Large integrated food companies
n Ingredient suppliers
n Exporting companies
n Equipment manufacturers
n Biofuel companies
n Government
n
n
Job experience
Many feed science students spend summers
working in the feed industry. Most complete a
required summer internship in a feed or allied
company between their junior and senior years.
This experience gives students a chance to
evaluate the company, practice skills and learn
more about the industry. Many students receive
job offers following the internship.
Academics
Degree options
Students who complete the program will have a
Bachelor of Science degree in feed science and
management through the Department of Grain
Science and Industry.
Feed production
This option is for those wishing to follow the
conventional feed science program to prepare
for careers in the feed manufacturing and
animal nutrition fields, including pet food
manufacturing and other allied industries.
k-state.edu/admissions/academics
Pet food production
This option offers students many opportunities
in the growing pet food industry. Courses
cover all aspects of pet food nutrition, from
raw material procurement, milling and mixing
to extrusion, regulations, packaging, animal
validation and new product scale-up.
Pre-veterinary medicine students
Students may complete pre-vet professional
requirements while attaining a feed science and
management degree.
Minors
The Department of Grain Science and Industry
also offers five minors in bakery science, cereal
chemistry, pet food production, feed production
and grain handling operations. These minors can
be combined with any major taken at K-State.
A minor from the Department of Grain Science
and Industry will take you one step closer to
understanding the needs of the specialized
agriculture industry.
Faculty
The feed science faculty members are a valuable
resource. They draw from firsthand industry
experiences and are experts in their respective
fields. In addition to teaching, faculty members
conduct cutting-edge research, speak regularly
at professional meetings, and serve on
government and industry advisory boards. All
these activities allow faculty to bring the latest
topics, problems and solutions directly into the
classroom.
Advising
Faculty work with students to help them choose
classes, determine strengths and weaknesses,
and help them improve. Because there are a
select number of students majoring in feed
science, advisors and students often are on a
first-name basis.
Transferring
Students interested in transferring into feed
science should contact Charles Jones at
785-532-4082 or jonesc@k-state.edu.
Facilities
Feed science students are fortunate to be
exposed to state-of-the-art equipment. An
extrusion center with the latest technology and
grain storage research center are also available.
The O.H. Kruse Feed Technology Innovation
Center opened in 2013 as the premier research
and teaching feed mill in the country.
Activities
Activities in the Department of Grain Science
and Industry add to the K-State experience
by helping develop leadership abilities create
friendships and explore new ideas.
Clubs
The Feed Science Club brings feed science
students together in a group that promotes
professional and social activities while providing
hands-on opportunities to manufacture and
market feed products.
Top students in feed science are invited to
be a member of Alpha Mu, the grain science
honorary.
Financial assistance
Nearly two-thirds of the students in the feed
science and management degree program
receive a departmental scholarship ranging from
$200 to $2,000 or more annually.
Most scholarships are awarded based on
academic achievement, although financial need
is a secondary evaluation.
Suggested coursework
Freshman
Hrs. 4
3
1
3
3
14
Fall semester
BIOL 198
Principles of Biology
ENGL 100
Expository Writing I
GRSC 100
Grain Science Orientation
GRSC 101
Introduction to Grain Science
Social Science/Humanities Electives
Hrs.
4
2
3
2
1
3
Spring semester
CHM 210
Chemistry I
COMM 105
Public Speaking IA
ECON 110
Principles of Macroeconomics
GRSC 150
Principles of Milling
GRSC 151
Principles of Milling Lab
MATH 205General Calculus and Linear
Algebra
15
Sophomore
Hrs. Fall semester
3 AGEC 120Agricultural Economics and
Agribusiness
4 CHM 230 Chemistry II
3 ENGL 200
Expository Writing II
3 GRSC 210CAD Flow Sheets for Grain
Processes
4 PHYS 113 General Physics I
17
Hrs. Spring semester
5 BIOCH 265Introductory Organic and
Biochemistry
or
3 CHM 350
General Organic Chemistry
and
2 CHM 351General Organic Chemistry
Laboratory
3 GRSC 310
Materials Handling
4 PHYS 114
General Physics II
3 STAT 325
Intro to Statistics
3 Social science electives
18
Junior
Hrs. Fall semester
3 ACCTG 231Accounting for Business
Operations
4 BIOL 455
General Microbiology
3 GRSC 510
Feed Technology I
1 GRSC 511
Feed Technology I Lab
3 ENGL 516
Written Communication for Science
3 Option A, B or C
17
Hrs. Spring semester
4 GRSC 651Food and Feed Product
Production
3 GRSC 661Qualities of Food and Feed
Ingredients
3 GRSC 688
Feed Technology II
1 GRSC 689
Feed Technology II Lab
3 ASI 318
Fund of Nutrition
3 Option A, B or C
17
Senior
Hrs. Fall semester
2 GRSC 591
Internship
3 GRSC 630Management Applications in the
Grain Processing Industry
3 Free elective
6 Option A, B or C
14
Hrs. Spring semester
3 GRSC 610Electricity and Its Control for the
Grain Processing Industry
3 GRSC 655Cereal Food Plant Design and
Construction
3 Free elective
6 Option A, B or C
15
Option A: Feed production
Required courses (7 hours) plus 11 hours from
specialization electives list.
Hrs.Courses
3 ACEC 420
Commodity Futures Marketing
4 GRSC 620Extrusion Processing in the Food
and Feed Industries
11 Specialization electives
Option B: Biofuels production
Required courses (13 hours) plus five hours from
specialization electives list.
Hrs.Courses
3 ACEC 420
Commodity Futures Marketing
3 ATM 545
Processing and Storage of Grains
3 GRSC 540Engineering Applications to
Grain/Food Products
1 GRSC 541Engineering Applications to
Grain/Food Products Lab
3 GRSC 745
Fundamentals of Bioprocessing
5 Specialization electives
3 AGEC 410
3 AGEC 515
3 AGEC 632
3 ASI 320
3 ASI 500
3 BIOCH 521
3 ECON 631
3 FINAC 450
0-3 GRSC 499
1-3 GRSC 590
1-3 GRSC 691
3 IMSE 501
3 MANGT 390
3 MANGT 420
3 MANGT 530
3 MANGT 531
Agricultural Policy
Food and Agric Business Marketing
Agri Business Logistics
Principles of Feeding
Genetics
General Bio-Chemistry
Principles of Transportation
Principles of Finance
Undergraduate Research in Grain Science
Grain Science Problems
Faculty-Led Study Abroad
Industrial Management
Business Law I
Management Concepts
Industrial and Labor Relations
HR Management
Minor in feed science
Grain science majors cannot use courses
required in their major as part of the feed
science minor.
Hrs.Courses
3 GRSC 101Introduction to Grain Science and
Industry
3 GRSC 510
Feed Technology I
1 GRSC 511
Feed Technology I Lab
3 GRSC 688
Feed Technology II
1 GRSC 689
Feed Technology II Lab
3 GRSC 661Quality of Feed Ingredients
3 GRSC 630Management Applications in the
Grain Processing Industry
or
3 GRSC 310
Materials Handling
17
For more information about grain
science and industry, contact:
Department of Grain Science
and Industry
Kansas State University
201 Shellenberger Hall
1301 Mid-Campus Drive North
Manhattan, KS 66506–5531
785-532-6161
grains@k-state.edu
grains.k-state.edu
For more information about
Kansas State University, contact:
Office of Admissions
Kansas State University
119 Anderson Hall
919 Mid-Campus Drive North
Manhattan, KS 66506-0102
1-800-432-8270 (toll free) or
785-532-6250
k-state@k-state.edu
k-state.edu/admissions
Option C: Pet food production
Required courses (11 hours) plus seven hours
from specialization electives list.
Hrs.Courses
3 ASI 520
Companion Animal Management
4 GRSC 620
Extrusion Processing in the Food and Feed Industries
3 GRSC 645
Pet Food Processing
1 GRSC 646
Pet Food Processing Lab
7 Specialization electives
Specialization electives
Hrs. Courses
3 ACCTG 241Accounting Investment and
Finance
4 ACCTG 331Processes and Controls
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concerning nondiscrimination policies is the University’s Title IX Coordinator: the
Director of the Office of Institutional Equity, equity@k-state.edu, 103 Edwards Hall,
Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas 66506, (785) 532-6220. The campus
ADA Coordinator is the Director of Employee Relations, charlott@k-state.edu, who
may be reached at 103 Edwards Hall, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas
66506, (785) 532-6277.
2016